The Fitbit Charge 6 Runs Google Apps, Brings Back the Side Button

Google-owned Fitbit released its latest fitness tracker for preorder on Thursday. Despite noticeable upgrades, including Google algorithms for better heart rate tracking, Fitbit debuted the Charge 6 at a lower price point than its recent predecessor. 

Fitbit priced the Charge 6 at $159.95, a $20 drop from the cost of the Charge 5. The Charge 6 has a nearly identical form factor to the 5 and is available for pre-order now, with plans to ship later this fall. The wearable has a week-long battery life and brings back a side button (a haptic feedback one) after almost six years of a contentious invisible touch sensor. 

The Charge 6 has the first accessibility feature on a Fitbit, with Zoom + magnification: a few taps on the smart band’s screen allow users to adjust font size and magnify words.

The Charge 6 is also the first Fitbit with integrated Google tools, including Google Maps, YouTube Music and Google Wallet. Users can get turn-by-turn directions, listen to music and pay for a meal through the new Fitbit, expanding its functionality to make it more similar to a Pixel Watch.

Furthering its use of Google's tools, Fitbit tapped into a machine-learning algorithm from the Pixel Watch to hone its heart rate monitoring. The result of this collaboration is “the most accurate heart rate on a Fitbit tracker yet,”  according to the company, with up to 60% more accurate readings during vigorous exercise. 

The Charge 6 connects to compatible exercise equipment, including machines from NordicTrack, Peloton, Concept2 and Tonal. It also has a built-in GPS for outdoor workouts. Users can leave their phones at home, Fitbit said, and count solely on the fitness band for YouTube Music and workout stats. 

Fitbit’s presence in the health and fitness wearable market peaked in early 2014, when the company had about 45% of the market. Nearly 10 years later, after a 2021 acquisition by Google, Fitbit is the third largest wearable vendor, with 5.5% of the market and $1.16 billion in revenue at the end of 2022. 

Google is poised to release its latest Pixel Watch at its annual event next week.