One of the best fitness trackers you can buy is on sale for up to 12% off during the holidays

What’s the deal?

The Fitbit Charge 6 in the Porcelain/Silver band is on sale for $139 on Amazon. If you want to save more money, the tracker with the gold case and red band has seen an 18% discount, bringing it down to $130. You better act fast because there are only a few red devices in stock.

Why this deal is ZDNET recommended

Smartwatches need to be charged at least every other day, and millions don’t want another device loaded with third-party apps and constant distractions on their wrist. The Fitbit Charge 6 offers a powerful wearable in a sleek form factor with a battery life that only requires a top-up once a week.

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With Google owning Fitbit, I see more Google integration in Fitbit devices. The Charge 6 includes support for playback controls of Google Music, Google Maps prompts on the tracker, and Google Wallet payment support. These features are provided in addition to the useful Fitbit functions, including detailed sleep tracking, EDA scans, Daily Readiness score, ECG measurements, step tracking, and an integrated GPS receiver for detailed outdoor tracking.

I wore a silver aluminum Fitbit Charge 6 with a porcelain band for a few weeks of testing, but the Charge 6 is also available in Obsidian/Black Aluminum and Coral/Champagne Gold Aluminum for $99. 

Looking at the hardware, Fitbit provides a lovely 26 x 21.8 mm AMOLED touchscreen color display. It is made with Corning Gorilla Glass, which looks superb and responds flawlessly to swipes and taps. The aluminum case surrounds the display and extends to the back heart rate sensor with nice curves and appealing aesthetics. The tracker is water resistant to 50m, so you can wear it 24/7 without worry.

The heart rate sensor on the back has greatly improved. Fitbit states that it is 60% more accurate during vigorous activities than older Fitbit devices. The sensor also supports ECG and EDA measurements to help detect heart rate irregularities and monitor stress.

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The Fitbit Charge 6 also supports sharing your heart rate readings with some supported gym equipment, including treadmills, rowing machines, and bikes. Check out this Fitbit support site to see if this functionality supports your equipment. While the Fitbit Charge 6 is not listed on the official list, I tested it with my Hydrow rowing machine, which connected in seconds. With improved accuracy during activities and lots of movement, this is a nice capability if you don’t own an HR chest strap.

There’s a haptic button on the left side of the Charge 6. With this model, there is a designated target area to help you improve your accuracy in hitting it, and it is better than no button that we saw on the Charge 5. I’m still more of a fan of a physical button, but I understand that for construction and water resistance, it is preferred to use a haptic button.

The Fitbit Charge 6 has an infinity silicone band, but there are plenty of other options, including sports bands, Horween leather bands, woven bands, hook/loop bands, and vegan leather bands ranging from $30 to $50. Bands from the Charge 5 continue to work on the Charge 6, so if you want to upgrade after a couple of years, the Charge 6 is worth considering.

The software on the watch is easy to navigate, with swipes and taps providing access to key data and utilities. Google Maps works in combination with the app on your connected phone, so turns and other key information are presented on the Charge 6 while your phone remains in your pack. YouTube Music playback controls are supported for YouTube Premium subscribers, so you can store your phone away while exercising and still have control of your music. 

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Google Wallet works to support payments right from your wrist, but entering the PIN by scrolling up and down one digit at a time is a bit of a pain. Some work on making this easier is needed, or I will never use Google Wallet on the device.

Unlike a smartwatch and some past Fitbit devices, the Charge 6 does not have third-party apps available. However, Key Google, Fitbit, and basic clock utilities are provided on the watch and in the Fitbit app, so you can manage whether or not the apps appear on the Charge 6 as you navigate around the tracker. You can also customize nearly 30 watch faces. 

The Charge 6 has an integrated GPS receiver, so you can run, walk, hike, and exercise outside without your phone. I tested this out for running and walking with an Apple Watch Ultra 2 on my other wrist and was very pleased with the accuracy of the GPS on the Charge 6. The Charge 6 supports GPS and GLONASS, while other watches typically support at least five global navigation satellite systems, so it will never be as accurate as dedicated GPS sports watches in challenging environments.

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Google provides six months of free Fitbit Premium service with a Charge 6 purchase. Fitbit Premium is required for the Daily Readiness Score and other advanced features in the Fitbit application.

Compared to the Charge 5, I am very pleased to see the return of the floor’s climbed metric, improved heart rate sensor performance, side haptic button, and Google goodies (Wallet, Maps, and YouTube Music). The Charge 6 is also $20 less than the Charge 5’s launch price. The Fitbit Charge 6 is much better to sleep with than my larger smartwatches. Using the Charge 6 has me considering whether I need a full-size watch mounted on my wrist all the time.

ZDNET’s buying advice

While smartwatches are popular and often heavily promoted, having another device on your body that needs your attention may not be best for you and your mental health. 

Google offers the Fitbit Charge 6 as a device that captures key health and wellness data comfortably while minimizing the distractions of third-party apps and constant notifications. Sleeping with it on your wrist is very comfortable, and the data captured can be used to improve your health and lifestyle.