Quick sheet | Data |
|---|---|
Screen | Monochrome OLED, approx. 1.69" |
Dimensions | approx. 37 x 16 x 13mm |
Weight | 18g (depending on bracelet) |
Measure | heart rate raised approx. all 5 sec |
Waterproofing | waterproof (pool/shower use) |
Recharge | proprietary magnetic clamp, approx. 2 hours (no wireless charging) |
Fitbit has always known how to segment. On the one hand, more “watch” models with more data, on the other hand, bracelets that do the job without making noise.
Here, the idea is simple: stay under a psychological bar. At this price, you are buying a daily health gesture, not a gadget to get applauded. The result is a product that appeals to people in a hurry, to “I'll get back to it Monday” profiles, to those who want to monitor their sleep without wearing a disc on their wrist. This positioning also explains the frustrating choices (minimal screen, no advanced sensors), but above all it explains the consistency: Fitbit focuses on adherence, not on demonstration.
The price is around €100sometimes less on sale. And that changes the expectation: we accept a “tight” offer, provided that the heart of the product holds up.
On the ground, it shows: the features aim for habit. Reliable step counting, follow up nights that Fitbit knows how to make it readable, and notifications which avoid taking out the phone every three minutes. It is not an object of performance, it is an object of rhythm. At this price level, the question becomes almost intimate: do you want to train like an athlete, or just regain control of a day that goes by too quickly? The answer dictates everything else.
| To Read : Amazfit or Fitbit: which one really makes your life easier when you're starting out?
A tracker can be judged in mirror image. Too thick, too shiny, too “sporty”: it ends up in a drawer, even if it is good.
Fitbit chose a slim silhouette, almost a technical jewel. On the wrist, it goes with a blazer, a sweater, a black dress. And that, for an object meant to be worn 24/7 (sleep included), is a non-negotiable condition.
We are on approximately 37 x 16 x 13mmFor 18g. This number is clear: we quickly forget it, even on the keyboard, even when tightening a slightly fitted sleeve.
The most notable shift: Fitbit removes the physical button. Instead, sensitive areas with haptic feedback. On paper, it's cleaner, more waterproof, more “designer”. In real life, it requires a little learning. And when you're in a hurry... you press too hard, not in the right place, you start again. So.
The bracelet in elastomer does what is asked of it: flexible, without aggressive angle, it does not stick too much to the skin even after a brisk walk. Over an entire day, it remains stable, does not rotate, and does not “saw” the wrist bone.
I noted a very concrete point: under a coat, the whole thing doesn't stick well. Thicker trackers end up getting stuck in a sleeve, and it's annoying. Here, Fitbit holds a fine line, almost textile in feeling. For continuous wear, it's real comfort.
The case is sober. No ornament, no “extreme sport” effect. The finish is clean, and the case/strap junction remains discreet, which avoids the “assembled plastic” look.
In user feedback, we often find the same phrase: “I keep it day and night”. It's not poetry, it's a success indicator for Fitbit. A tracker that is removed loses its value, period.
A monochrome OLED screen is pretty. It's clear, contrasting, almost graphic. But there is a trap: daylight, real daylight.
Fitbit focuses on a simple interface and a display without frills. The advantage: no overload. The disadvantage: when the brightness peaks, the “simple” becomes “illegible”. And there, the usage breaks down a bit.
| To Read : Fitbit Inspire 3: my opinion after a real week on the wrist
Indoors, no drama. In the metro, in the office, the text remains clear, the numbers stand out, the notifications are clean (with contact names and even emojis, which seems innocuous… but really helps sort the urgency from the noise).
In direct sunlight, it's a different story. On a quay, on a bike, on a terrace, we find ourselves tilting our wrist, looking for the perfect angle. It breaks the gesture. For a product Fitbit which sells fluidity, this is the main point that is lacking. Insight: the screen is not “bad”, it is just too shy for outdoors.
The haptic zones replace the button: you “press” the edge of the case, the feedback vibrates, the action is validated. When fingers are dry, it rolls. When it rains, when you get out of the shower, when you sweat… it gets complicated.
Concretely, the touch may hesitate. We repeat the gesture, we trigger another action, we get annoyed. This is the kind of micro-friction that matters, because a tracker lives in imperfect moments. There, Fitbit made a design choice, and it sometimes pays off in ergonomics. Key phrase: a touch interface should forgive water, not endure it.
The principle: get straight to the point. Vertical navigation, tiles, quick actions. And a philosophy: the display bracelet, the pilot phone.
On a daily basis, this makes the product quite “silent”. We consult, we close, we continue our day. But as soon as we want to adjust a specific option, we quickly understand the hierarchy: Fitbit prefers to centralize everything in theapplication.
We swipe up and scroll down: steps, calories, heart ratetimer, alarms, guided breathing exercise. THE features visible are those that are really used at 8 a.m. as well as at 11 p.m.
I got into the habit of checking the heart rate resting before a coffee (yes, it's a little ritual). The figure is there, stable, without staging. Same thing for the follow up steps: it motivates without infantilizing you. But the interface has its limits: no personalized shortcuts worthy of the name, and back and forth which sometimes gives the impression of walking in a narrow corridor. Insight: it’s simple, not always quick.
Everything that matters a little is regulated in theapplication : dials, objectives, profiles, management of notificationshealth parameters, history. The bracelet remains a window.
That’s good: Fitbit knows how to make clear screens on the mobile side. But it imposes a discipline: if you hate configuring, you will live with the default choices. And if you like to tweak, theapplication becomes your daily cockpit. Little truth: the product is half bracelet, half software. Final insight: without theapplicationthe object loses its finesse.
The strength of Fitbitthat’s what it says about your day. Not just “12,000 steps”, but a readable thread: sleep, activity, trends, weak signals.
There compatibility is wide: it turns on Android as on iOSand the experience remains consistent. There connectivity is done without drama as long as the phone is not too aggressive about saving energy.
In theapplication Fitbitwe recover a detailed reading of sleep (phases, regularity, score), a follow up activity, and alerts in the event of heart rate too high or too low. This type of alert, without being anxiety-provoking, can serve as a safeguard when you chain fatigue + coffee + subway.
THE notifications are also better managed on the mobile side: who has the right to interrupt your day, at what time, with what level of detail. On iOSthe display remains clean and readable; on Androidthe granularity is often more flexible depending on the brand. And on the synchronization side, the link goes to Bluetooth : stable overall, sometimes a little slow if you let it drag on for several days without opening theapplication. Insight: at Fitbitthe value is in history, not in the minute.
We arrive at the moment when some people pick up: “Does he have everything?” No. And it's voluntary. Fitbit cut with a knife.
This tracker has a tight technical sheet. The positive effect: fewer promises, fewer bugs, and a autonomy which holds up. The negative effect: no magic for running or hiking.
Two pillars: accelerometer for movement, optical sensor for heart rate. And Fitbit uses this base well: steps, calorie estimation, activity detection, follow up sleep (where variations in rhythm count as much as movements).
The measurement of heart rate all 5 seconds gives a fine enough frame for everyday life. For a regular walk, a leisurely jog, a bike ride without sprinting, that's more than enough. Insight: two sensors, and a health story that stands up.
No GPS integrated. No gyroscope. No barometer. No blood oxygen sensor. No cadence sensor either. It's clear. For the actual race distance, the GPS therefore depends on the smartphone.
And that changes usage: if you go for a light run, without a phone, you will have a follow up of activity based on movement, but not a precise trace. In town, it can be okay; in the park, it quickly becomes approximate. Another detail: no NFC, therefore no payment. There connectivity is limited to what is strictly necessary, which makes the object simpler… but less “Swiss army knife”. Final insight: the absence of GPS is the real sorting between “routine” and “serious sport”.
The optical sensor is one of those elements that we believe to be secondary, until the day it lies. And a sensor that lies destroys trust.
On this point, Fitbit delivers consistent performance for everyday life, with clear limits as soon as you increase the pace. Nothing shocking, but you should know that before getting carried away.
When idle, the reading is stable. Over several days, we see trends, we identify short nights, weeks that are too busy. THE follow up sleep is particularly solid: Fitbit stages the data without making it theatrical. We understand what is happening, we act a little, or not. But at least we know.
With regular exercise (fast walking, leisurely cycling), the curve remains consistent. That's enough to set a comfortable zone, avoid burning out, and progress slowly. Insight: to “move better”, it’s reliable.
As soon as you start split training, sudden changes in pace, or a HIIT type session, the sensor can smooth out the peaks. We can see the rise… late. We see the descent… too late. For rope training, this is a really good idea.
Add to that the GPS absent: even with the telephone, the management of the session becomes less fluid than with a sportier watch. THE features remain focused on “well-being” and regularity, not performance. Final insight: Fitbit suitable for constant effort, not explosive effort.
The best autonomyit's the one that makes you stop thinking about it. Stop calculating. No longer say “damn, I forgot the cable”.
Here, Fitbit scores points, especially against products that shine on the technical sheet but require too frequent recharging.
Fitbit announcement until 10 days. In practice, with notifications active, regular measurements and synchronizations, we often stay in this zone. And it changes the mood: less mental load, more continuity in the follow up.
This autonomy long also makes nighttime wear more natural. We don't sacrifice sleep to recharge. And since sleep is one of the strong points of Fitbitit’s a virtuous circle. Insight: a week without load is a week of full data.
Charging is via a proprietary magnetic clip cable. It fits correctly, it's not wireless, and you have to remember not to lose the accessory. Count approximately two hours to leave.
This system is the classic compromise: practical, but closed. When traveling, if you forget the cable, you don't improvise. The good news: with this autonomyforgetting is rare… but it does exist. Final insight: excellent endurance, proprietary charge to accept.
Actual usage | What it gives | Impact |
|---|---|---|
Walk + office | stable data, notifications clean | easy routine, 24/7 wear |
Running with phone | GPS via smartphone, correct trace | ok for “running light”, not for manic analyst |
Split | peaks of heart rate sometimes smoothed | less useful for progressing precisely |
Sleep | follow up detailed and coherent | best everyday value |
Every clean product has its angles. Here they are clean: a discreet design and a autonomy which is reassuring, against a minimal interface and a screen that is too plain on the outside.
To illustrate, I followed “Camille”, a very realistic common thread: 34 years old, marketing, 45 minutes of walking a day, yoga on Sunday, desire to sleep better, no desire to wear a watch. His verdict is like that of many: “I don’t want everything, I just want to hold on.” And Fitbit answers that pretty well.
Lightness, as we have said, changes life. The bracelet slips into a silhouette, it does not impose itself. And the connectivity remains stable, which avoids the “mute” tracker syndrome for three days.
THE follow up basic health is clean: sleep, activity, rhythm alerts, guided breathing. No need for 30 sport modes. Fitbit relies on clear and regular reading, and it fits well with daily use. Insight: this is an object of habits, not an object of exploit.
The screen lacks punch outside, and it's annoying when you just want to check some information while walking quickly. Haptic controls are sometimes a lottery in the rain. Nothing dramatic, but it breaks the “discreet premium” feeling.
The absence of GPS integrated is the tipping point for runners. Yes, there is GPS of the phone, but it requires the smartphone, the pocket, the battery, the authorizations. For some, it's no. For others, it's just fine. Final insight: no GPStherefore no high level sporting promise.
| To Read : Galaxy Fit 3 vs Inspire 3: which is more “simple and effective”?
Faced with a Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4, Fitbit sometimes seems expensive for the technical sheet. Xiaomi often offers a more flattering screen and an aggressive price ratio. But the follow up sleep and the readability of trends in theapplication are less “edited”, less digested.
Faced with an Amazfit GTS, we change category: color screen, watch look, more metrics, often GPS (depending on versions) and a more spectacular rendering. In return, the object is more present on the wrist, and theautonomy may vary depending on usage. Fitbit remains the choice of discretion and software that holds your hand without squeezing too hard. Insight: competitors appear more complete, Fitbit seems more “tenable”.
Positive reviews often focus on durability, comfort, clarity of notificationsand the follow up sleep which helps to restore order. Some also appreciate simplicity: you don't get lost in menus, you go about your day.
The reviews are just as consistent: sometimes frustrating interface, readability in direct sunlight, capricious touch controls, and less reliable sports measurement when the intensity increases. There connectivity can also be finicky if the phone cuts out the background, especially on some Androidwhile on iOS it is often “cleaner” once the authorizations have been set. Last detail often cited: no NFC, no payment, and proprietary charge. It doesn't bother everyone, but it exists. Final insight: Fitbit pleases when you accept its modesty, not when you ask it to be a sports watch.
Test method : worn day/night in Paris, alternating brisk walking, transport, an endurance running session with GPS via smartphone, and observation of sleep over several weeks. Update : February 2026. Sign : Anne-Marie Guérineditor & field tester.
To choose if you want some Fitbit simple: sleep, notifications, autonomyand an object that is forgotten.
Avoid if you are aiming for pure performance: interval training, need a GPS integrated, ultra-readable display in direct sunlight, and controls always perfect in the rain.
And if you're hesitant: just ask yourself this — “do I want a watch, or a beat?” The right choice is often this one.
Please share by clicking this button!
Visit our site and see all other available articles!