Meet Fitbit’s new Charge activity trackers

Nearly a year after Fitbit revealed its last fitness gadget, it looks like its next devices will be called Charge. The wearables passed through the FCC revealing the moniker and designation as a “wireless activity tracker.” Thanks to a USPTO filing, we can glean that it’ll carry the usual waterproofing alongside pedometer and altimeter for tracking steps, sleep and calories burned. On top of those expected features, the paperwork also indicates that a heart rate sensor, navigation info, weather forecast, call notifications and volume control will also be lumped in for syncing up with your phone.

According to in-store pics here in the US tweeted by @etownsendex, it looks like there will be two models: Charge and ChargeHR. It seems likely that the latter moniker indicates the pulse-tracking chops. Based on those images, the pair looks similar to last year’s Force with a built-in display. What’s more, both models have already popped up over at Russian retailer IVPstore for 7,500 rubles ($184) and 9,000 ($220) rubles respectively. If you’ll recall, the Force was part of a voluntary recall earlier this year due to reports of skin issues, so we’ll look for the Charge pair to leverage new materials to avoid the same fate.

New @fitbit coming? Haven’t heard about it, called Fitbit Charge hr. Force replacement? @Gizmodo @digg #leak? #tech pic.twitter.com/HSQ893ydbh

– Ed Townsend (@etownsendwx) October 11, 2014

Filed under: Wearables

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Source: FCC, USPTO, @etownsendwx (Twitter)