Fitbit Charge 2 Review

Quick Take

From day one, Fitbit’s goal has been simple: create quality devices that will motivate you to live a more active lifestyle. The Charge 2 fitness tracker can help you to do just that. It features all the highlights of the original Charge and more, adding a bunch of features such as Relax Mode and Interval Mode to help you enhance your health and fitness routine. We do have some qualms, however. The tracker isn’t waterproof and the software can be glitchy. This may lead you to opt for a newer model such as the Charge 4. Learn more about the Charge 2’s range of features and whether you should invest in the device below.

What To Know About the Fitbit Charge 2

Slim and lightweight, the Charge 2 is a good option for someone who is looking for a discreet fitness tracker that isn’t too intrusive. If heart-rate monitoring is also one of your top priorities then the Charge 2 could work for you. It features PurePulse technology to track your heart-rate automatically and
continuously. You can use this to ensure you are working out in your desired heart-rate zone. The Charge 2 will display your current zone above your heart-rate reading (Fat Burn, Cardio and Peak) so you can enhance your training sessions. Other Fitbit features are part of the package too, such as smartphone notifications, automatic sleep tracking, and connected GPS (there isn’t a GPS built in, but you can connect your phone for this purpose). Given the device’s compact nature we aren’t surprised that it doesn’t feature a built-in GPS or allow for onboard music storage.

Other Fitbit Charge 2 Key Features and Specs:

• PurePulse automatic wrist-based heart-rate tracking
• Simplified heart-rate zones (Fat Burn, Cardio and Peak)
• Movement reminders
• SmartTrack™ auto-exercise recognition
• Smartphone notifications
• All-day activity tracking
• Auto sleep tracking and silent alarms
• Personalized Cardio Fitness Score
• Can use connected GPS during run mode
• Rechargeable battery, with battery life up to five days
• Guided breathing sessions

Design

Sensors & Components

The Charge 2 features the following sensors and components:

• A MEMS 3-axis accelerometer, which tracks your motion patterns
• An altimeter, which tracks altitude changes
• An optical heart rate tracker

You won’t need to change the battery on the Charge 2. It features a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, and the battery will last up to 5 days. As for connectivity, it features Bluetooth 4.0. You can view your steps taken, distance covered, calories burned, active minutes, floors climbed and all-day heart-rate (and heart-rate zones) on the OLED tap display.

Functionality

The Cahrge 2 features a range of features which you can use to enhance your overall health and wellness. One of these is the sleep tracking features. The Charge 2 can automatically track your sleep and wake you peacefully with silent alarms. Then there is the Relax mode. Working in tandem with the PurePulse feature (for continuous and automatic pulse tracking), the Relax Mode uses visual aids and vibrations to teach you how to level your breathing and time it to sync with your heart beats. There are 2 and 5-minute breathing sessions, where you can “see” your heart beat and are instructed on how to breathe in tune with it. This is a handy feature for helping to regulate stress throughout the day.

Another exciting feature to note is the interval mode. For those looking to lose weight or to maximize their routine, interval mode is a welcome addition. It sets up exercise intervals, alternating high and low-intensity moves, which maximizes the energy you use and how many calories you burn. You can get an instant picture of your cardio health with the Cardio Fitness level feature. Your score is calculated using your user profile, heart rate and exercise data to determine your VO2 Max level.This score can show you peak levels, so you know when you’re working at your optimal level. This is ideal for helping to lose weight or make your current routine more challenging. As well as allowing you to see your heart rate on your tracker, the PurePulse feature displays a heart icon which alerts you to which heart-rate zone you’re working in (Peak, Cardio, Fat Burn). You can customize these zones in the app.

Although GPS is only available when you connect to your smartphone, this connected GPS feature does allow runners to access GPS to map put their routes if they bring their smartphone with them. Although this isn’t as handy as having a GPS built in, we’re happy to see that there is still the option to track your trails and view your progress in the app after workouts.

Verdict

The Charge 2 is a good all-round fitness tracker that will help guide you through your day, pushing you to move more, eat better and take time to breathe. From heart-monitoring to interval training, it has a solid selection of features that will help you enhance your overall health and wellness by being more in tune with your daily activity. With the heart-rate tracking and customized zones, it can also make your exercise sessions more efficient. That said, it’s an older model now, and Fitbit have released a bunch of new models (including a Charge 3 and Charge 4) that we think get you more bang for your buck.