Fitbit has announced its new $179.95 Charge 5 fitness tracker, which sports a thinner design, a new color touchscreen, and the ability to take electrocardiogram measurements.
Credit: Fitbit
Compared to the Charge 4, the new Fitbit activity tracker is a big upgrade for the company. It packs a full-color, always-on AMOLED touch display, a 10% thinner case, and an overall rounder and sleeker design. Users now navigate the device's user interface with swipes and taps -- there's no longer any capacitive elements.
The health features on the Fitbit Charge 4 have also been overhauled. Alongside the ECG feature, the Charge 4 also has an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor to measure stress. Both the ECG and EDA sensors were previously present on the company's Fitbit Sense smartwatch, but this is the first time they've been packed in a fitness tracker.
Fitbit has also added a new "Stress Management Score" to the Charge 5, as well as exercises to deal with stress -- including meditation sessions with Deepak Chopra and a collaboration with meditation app Calm.
Beyond the health features, the Charge 5 also sports SpO2 and skin temperature variance sensors, NFC payment support, a built-in GPS, and sleep tracking features. Fitbit says that the battery life is rated to last about seven days on a charge.
On the software side, the company is adding a new "Daily Readiness Score," which analyzes a user's exertion levels, heart rate variation, and sleep to recommend whether they should do a challenging workout or something gentler like yoga.
The Fitbit Charge 5 retails for $179.95 and is available in black, silver, and gold. Preorders begin on Wednesday, and Fitbit says the device will ship in the fall.