Fitbit Charge 5 review: the new all-rounder
A TEST REPORT from David Haydl 
on November 16, 2021, 11:00 p.m. | Write a comment
Even if Fitbit many different Product series, the Charge series is by far the best known. This has now been expanded with the Fitbit Charge 5. I could see what she can do.
We only recently looked at them Fitbit Luxury, a tracker in the lowest price range from Fitbit. Now we are climbing one step further on the price ladder and we arrive at the Fitbit Charge 5.
Although this is theoretically the middle class, in practice the user gets some features that would otherwise have to dig a little deeper into their pockets. For example, you can create an EKG or scan the stress level using your own sensors. In the following lines you can read what else the batch is convincing and whether there are any weaknesses.
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Unboxing and initial setup
The packaging was given a similar coat of paint to that of the last FitbitProproducts. The primary color of this is based on the selected color variant for the Charge 5, you can see the model name and some logos, the most important features are advertised and some small information texts are printed. Nothing new at this point.
Now you have to remove the plastic seal and pull out the box with the contents of the package downwards. After opening, the wearable appears immediately, plus a charger, a longer bracelet for users with a larger wrist and operating instructions are included in the box.
The package contents: As always. (Image: TechnikNews)
As always, the Fitbit app from the Play Store or the App Store is required for setup. There you initiate a pairing by tapping on your avatar and selecting “Add device” in the menu that opens. Then the batch must be selected in the list of devices and connected to the power supply. The smartphone and the bracelet should then find each other and a code should appear on the display of the latter. This must be entered on the smartphone. After that you just have to install more updates – but that's about it. Alternatively, you can use Google Fast Pair for pairingprouse cess.
At this point it should also be mentioned that the Fitbit Charge 5 often synchronized with my smartphone much faster than other models. However, I cannot say whether this is a coincidence.
Design and workmanship
Fitbit slightly revised the design and yet the Charge 5 is still recognizable as such. The housing of the tracker is still elongated and the heart rate sensors and the contacts for the charger were installed on the back. The pages are still blank. The wearable is available in black, silver and gold.
The display meets all the criteria that one could wish for. It is four times brighter than that of the Charge 4, the color rendering is excellent thanks to AMOLED, the image is very sharp and we have an optional always-on mode, through which the time and (depending on the dial) some fitness data even when inactive Status are visible on the display. The size of the display also fits perfectly in my eyes. The Luxe didn't have a little display space for my taste, but I can read everything better here and navigating through the Fitbit OS is also easier.
There are no deductions on my part in the design and display. (Image: TechnikNews)
The left and the right side are apparently each equipped with a button that actually isn't one. Instead, what you see are the sensors for the ECG and stress level recording. In my opinion, it could have been designed a little more simply. A pressure sensitive button for maneuvering through the system was not returning. To do this, you have to swipe from left to right on the screen to go back one step in menus. The display can only be woken up by tapping or lifting the wrist. The latter works very reliably and is more accurate when lying down than with other FitbitProducts.
As mentioned, the back was equipped with the sensors for measuring the heart rate and the contact points for the charger. The sensors are also permanently active on this fitness tracker and alert you to any anomalies. Regarding the loading mechanism, I can say that I like the fact that Fitbit switched to a magnet, but it's a little too weak for me.
Picture: TechnikNews
The housing is made of aluminum and the workmanship is on a very high level. The entire construction is much more stable than its predecessor, the Charge 4, which is made of plastic. This went hand in hand with the fact that a scratch on the house wall could mean death for batch 4. Now these worries are a thing of the past. In addition, the latest Fitbit is waterproof up to 50 meters.
The wearing comfort is also at a very high level. The case weighs next to nothing and is therefore hardly noticeable on the wrist. This is a good thing and especially important if you wear it permanently on your wrist.
You can hardly feel the Fitbit Charge 5 on your wrist. (Image: TechnikNews)
Battery life and sensors
The Fitbit Charge 5 should last a maximum of seven days on one battery charge. I almost always came to this value in my test phase, although with low usage and the always-on display switched off, an even longer runtime would probably be possible. In less than two hours, the bracelet is ready for use again. Fitbit has always been good at keeping its promises here and this time it's no different.
Of course there are also a lot of sensors on board. In addition to those already mentioned, there is an acceleration sensor, an SpO2 sensor for oxygen saturation, a temperature sensor, integrated GPS and NFC for contactless payment with Fitbit Pay. The GPS is used for tracking routes during workouts, and the accuracy of this one is comparable to similar ones Products is.
Sport and wellness functions at a glance
Now we come to the most important point, the sports and wellness features. Fitbit came up with some new ideas and we will now go over the key points.
First we would have the recording of training sessions, in my case running. But there are 19 other modes and SmartTrack automatically recognizes when you start one of the supported sports. In the app, after a training session, you can see the length and the distance covered on a map at the very top. You also have the option of showing where you had which heart rate and how fast you were in certain sections. This information is visible again for each kilometer, followed by the minutes of the active zone gained. This is a point system for staying in higher heart rate zones. So you have a good motivation to give even more during training. And last but not least, you get a history of the heart rate and the number of calories burned.
After a workout you have to recover at some point, more precisely sleep, and the Fitbit Charge 5 records that too. Every morning, the app evaluates how long you slept in total and how this time is divided into the individual sleep phases. You can also see the course of the heart rate and the estimated oxygen deviation. Large fluctuations in this evaluation can be associated with breathproproblems.
After stress management with the Sense. was introduced, the feature is also available for the Charge range. An index is determined by placing your thumb and forefinger on the sensors on the sides of the housing. This tells you how stressed you are. In addition, you can record your mood in the app.
Screenshots: TechnikNews
Another index is the daily form index. This indicates whether you are ready for a new training session or whether you should treat yourself to relaxation. It is calculated based on sleep data and heart rate, among other things. In addition, recommendations are made based on the index. The app can occasionally spit out workout videos that are precisely tailored to the current index. For me personally this is rather superfluous because I can assess my body pretty well. But for people who get into regular exercise, the value is sure to come in handy.
Another new feature is the ability to create an EKG using the Charge 5. All you need to do is open the app on the wearable and touch the housing. The whole thing is completed within a few minutes and the result can then be shared with a doctor. I couldn't test it because I'm not yet 22 years old.
Now is also a good point to briefly discuss Fitbit Premium. This is a subscription service that unlocks additional content and analyzes. This includes video meditations from Calm, the determination of the daily form index or other values and explanations for the sleep analysis, the stress level calculation and others.
Prices and availability
You can get the Fitbit Charge 5 in the Fitbit store, at Amazon and at some retailers. The RRP is 179,95 euros, with six months of Fitbit Premium included in this price.
Fitbit Charge 5: conclusion
The Charge series is getting better and better, meanwhile there are only subtle differences to the Sense and Co. These are sometimes just the support of voice assistants, the number of sensors and the full-fledged operating system. Nevertheless, you save around 100 euros with the charge.
The lightweight aluminum housing, the long battery life, the reliable recording of workouts and the amount of information that Fitbit can provide with the data collected made a positive impression. You can now read everything that could be of interest to you about your own health in the Fitbit app. The weak magnet for the charging puck and the somewhat cumbersome navigation through the OS were less convincing. In addition, Fitbit could have hidden the sensors a little better on the sides.
Picture: TechnikNews
Finally, let's clarify who the Fitbit Charge 5 is aimed at. In my opinion, it is suitable for everyone who is looking for a faithful fitness companion in everyday life and not several times pro want to charge the battery for a week. You should also be aware of whether you can do without the additional functions of the Sense and Versa mentioned above.
Thank you for providing the Fitbit Charge 5.
