Fitbit Charge 2 preview: Taking charge

Fitbit announced two new activity trackers in the run up to IFA 2016, one of which was the Charge 2, which succeeds both the Charge and Charge HR. 

The new device follows the design cues of the Fitbit Alta and brings with it a lovely big display, interchangeable straps and a few additional features compared to its predecessors. 

We got our hands on it at the consumer electronics show in Berlin to see what it was like and find out whether it could be the new activity tracker to beat.

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Fitbit Charge 2: Design

The Fitbit Charge 2 can still be recognised as a Charge device, though it has quite a few changes compared to the Charge and Charge HR. For starters, the display on board the Charge 2 is five times larger than that of the older devices and it sits on a solid, stainless steel body like the smaller Fitbit Alta. The result is a lovely looking device that is certainly more appealing than its popular predecessors.

On the underside of the display is where you’ll find the PurePulse heart rate monitor, along with the clips for changing the 21mm-wide textured elastomer strap to one of the other available options for a different look. The straps are fastened with a stainless steel buckle, as the Charge HR was, and it feels secure and comfortable on the wrist.

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The stainless steel body gives the Charge 2 an air of premium about it and the chamfered edges look great. There is a button on the left-hand side, as there was with the previous Charge devices. This allows you to flick through the various metrics on the display from steps counted to heart rate and everything in between. The larger display is nice and easy to read with crisp text and it makes the Charge 2 that little bit more exciting than the previous options, especially with the addition of smartphone notifications.

There are several colours available for the Charge 2 including plum and silver, which is shown, along with black and silver and blue and silver. These are the three standard options, but there is also a lavender and rose gold option, along with a black and gunmetal option. We loved the plum but if we had a choice, that lavender and rose gold option would certainly be the one we’d opt for – it’s lush.

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Fitbit Charge 2: Features

The Fitbit Charge 2 carries over all of the features found on the Charge HR, meaning it adds a few to the Charge before you even consider the extras. As we mentioned, heart rate monitoring is on board, and the Charge 2 will also measure steps counted, distance travelled, floors climbed, calories burned, active minutes and sleep.

In addition to these, the Charge 2 introduces Connected GPS, meaning it uses your phone to provide map and route data. It also offers Multi-Sport tracking and smartphone notifications, both of which can be found on the Fitbit Alta. The Multi-Sport tracking means the Charge 2 will automatically recognise certain sports, such as yoga, while smartphone notifications include calls, texts and calendar alerts but no third-party alerts sadly.

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It isn’t waterproof like the new Fitbit Flex 2 or Withings Activite Steel HR so you can’t take it swimming, but the Fitbit Charge 2 does introduce two new features comprising Cardio Fitness Level and Guided Breathing.

The Cardio Fitness Level feature will give you a personalised fitness score over time, while Guided Breathing will provide personalised breathing sessions based on your heart rate. Basically if your boss has annoyed you and your heart rate has increased dramatically, the Charge 2 will help calm you down. 

First Impressions

The new Fitbit Charge 2 is a lovely looking device that improves on its predecessors in a few areas, but especially in design.

We of course couldn’t test out the accuracy of the Charge 2 during our brief time with it, but we have high hopes if its predecessors are anything to go by.

Our biggest complaint with the Fitbit Alta was that it didn’t offer heart rate monitoring and it wasn’t waterproof. Well, the Charge 2 is pretty much a larger version of the Alta with the missing features, expect the waterproofing. Is the Charge 2 the activity tracker to beat? We don’t know that until we review it but no doubt it will be in the running.

• Fitbit Charge 2 and Fitbit Flex 2: Release date, specs and everything you need to know
• Fitbit Charge 2 vs Charge HR vs Charge: What’s the difference?