Fitbit Charge 6 Integrates Much of Google’s Ecosystem

As more and more fitness trackers and smartwatches come out, I’ve noticed that manufacturers are becoming more focused on their own ecosystems. Apple, of course, has been doing this for years, but Google is starting to do it with its new devices, and the Fitbit Charge 6 is a great example of how choosing a fitness tracker has become less dependent on what the device offers. and more details about which ecosystem you are already involved in.

Google is coming

One of Fitbit’s smart moves with the Charge 6 was to put more Google directly into the device. You can now take advantage of Google Maps integration on your Fitbit Charge 6 , as well as manage YouTube Music playlists right on your wrist. Both of these are nice additions, but they’re only really suitable if you’re already using various Google services, including Google Pay.

I use Apple Pay on my Apple Watch all the time, and was worried about giving up that convenience while testing the Fitbit Charge 6. Luckily, Google Pay now works on the tracker, allowing you to pay for food, gas, or anything else. , simply by placing your wrist near the sensors. It’s really comfortable, and because the Fitbit is so lightweight, it doesn’t feel like you’re lifting a bag of bricks at the checkout counter.

Now, you can’t pick up the Charge 6 and start playing Spotify on it, just like you can’t use it to integrate with other health apps—it’s either the Fitbit ecosystem or nothing. It’s a system that relies heavily on itself, and while that’s not a bad thing if you don’t use Google’s various services, you’ll miss out on a lot of the new features the Fitbit Charge 6 offers if you try to use other health apps instead.

Installation

When testing a fitness tracker or smartwatch, I look for ease of access. While the Fitbit Charge 6 doesn’t offer any complicated menus to sort through (everything about the software on the device is simple), setting it up was a real nightmare. What should have taken me 10 minutes tops ended up taking over an hour as I had a few issues getting the Fitbit app to work correctly and then issues getting the Charge 6 to connect and update properly.

This is also not an isolated problem. After some googling, I found that several people had encountered the same problem. While I eventually figured it out, it’s hard not to knock off points for the potential problems you might run into, especially if they’re as widespread as they appear to be when searching on Google.

Once you’ve got everything set up, all you have to do is enter the information into the Fitbit app if you haven’t already, and then be all set to track your fitness stats.

Minimalist experience

While I liked the bulk and weight of the Apple Watch Ultra 2 , the light and thin design of the Fitbit Charge 6 makes it a convenient device as well. It fits nicely on your wrist, and the included straps give you more than enough leeway to find something that suits you.

I like how easy it is to navigate through the different menus and that everything is located in its own area. You won’t have to switch between fifteen different layers to set up sleep mode or start a workout. This is nice, especially compared to real smartwatches that require you to navigate through various menus to complete tasks.

On the other hand, the Fitbit app is not as minimalistic and requires many steps to access all your information. Additionally, many advanced features, such as Readiness, are locked down by Fitbit Premium, the monthly subscription service. While I don’t mind paying for things, I find it odd to have some of the best features that make Fitbit stand out from other fitness trackers behind a paywall.

Installation

Perhaps one of my favorite features of the Fitbit Charge 6 is that it makes it easier to track my sleep. I have a lot of trouble sleeping, so it’s important for me to monitor how my body is doing and how much sleep I’m getting. Unfortunately, you can’t wear something like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 while you sleep—it’s too big. This is where devices like the Fitbit Charge 6 really shine.

Because the Fitbit 6 is so thin and light, it’s virtually invisible during the day, and when you crawl into bed at night, it’s pretty easy to forget it’s there—at least until you move your hand and turn on the backlight on the watch screen. blinds you. This doesn’t happen in sleep mode, but I did notice the backlight turning on a few times while testing the device.

Overall, however, the Charge 6 works great without getting in the way while still offering the features you’d expect from a larger fitness tracker. It won’t offer the same functionality that Garmin does, but it still does a lot and offers some great features if you’re already part of the Google ecosystem with YouTube Music and Google Maps.

Bottom line

All issues aside, the integration that Fitbit has implemented here is exceptional. Google Maps navigation works very well, and although I was worried it would be too small on the tiny display, it wasn’t difficult to read at all.

I’m also a big fan of Fitbit’s minimalist nature, and while I love most of my Apple Watch Ultra 2, during testing it was nice to wear something much lighter and thinner. It’s also more useful for niche tracking features like sleep tracking. Accuracy is also an important feature of Fitbit, and the readings it provides are top-notch and compare well with other tracking sensors. Battery life is also one of the best among fitness trackers: I managed to use it for three days during testing, and only on the third day did it drop below 65%. You can definitely get the seven-day battery life that Fitbit claims on the box.

Ultimately, this is the best Google of all Fitbits, and it works great. The device isn’t all that different from the Charge 5 and retains all the great features and functionality you’d expect from a Fitbit device of this type. While some may fault Fitbit for not fundamentally changing the design, I’ve always been a fan of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and what Fitbit is offering with the Charge isn’t broken at all.

The Fitbit Charge 6 can be purchased for $159.95 on the Fitbit website and various third-party retailers.

Pros:

• Lightweight and minimalist design
• New integrations with Google
• Accurate tracking

Minuses:

• The best features are locked behind a paywall
• The new features are only worth it if you’re in the Google ecosystem.