The up and coming Fitbit Charge HR fitness band looks like a very middle of the road fitness product according to the advanced review given by AppleInsider. It’s good points include a better optical system for finding and monitoring a pulse through the false signals given off by arm hair and a proper buckle strap made of flexible elastomer for a comfortable and secure fit which helps with the first point by keeping the optical heart rate sensor in constant contact with the skin for accurate readings.
With Fitbit Charge HR’s real-time heart monitoring capability the device takes readings at five-second intervals throughout the day and plots results on a graph for later perusal. Personalized zones in fat burn, cardio or peak activity can be tweaked via the iOS app and uploaded to the Fitbit Charge HR.
The device also comes with a sleep monitoring function with new algorithms that automatically determine when a user falls asleep, supposedly delivering more accurate data for sleep trend computation. One can also set a vibration alarm. With this the good points of this device have all been addressed. The utility functions of the device are subpar. For instance users who connect pair Charge HR to an iPhone can see incoming call notifications displayed on their wrist, but functionality is limited in that the device vibrates when a call comes in, but users can’t dismiss or send the call to voicemail. Going further, due to it’s open recharge plug, located on the unit’s back, the Fitbit Charge HR is merely water-resistant as opposed to water-proof and thus cannot be used while swimming.
Battery life is stated by the developer to be around five days of normal use with two-hour charge times. As with all devices of this type this is dependent on how often the user makes use of it’s active functions either by checking their heart rate thus activating the display or sinc the device via Bluetooth 4.0. At a projected cost of 150$ this is the sort of device that is perhaps something one should buy some time after release as it is not the sort of great trend-setter worth opening day prices.