The Charge 4 is the latest fitness tracker from Fitbit, it succeeds the Charge 3 which is very popular among fitness enthusiasts. There’s isn’t much additions with the release of the Charge 4, but it comes with a peck of new features that include inbuilt GPS, NFC, and the ability to control music on Spotify.
Fitbit Charge 4: What’s New?
The new features that come with the Charge 4 are;
- Inbuilt GPS: Unlike Charge 3, Charge 4 comes with an inbuilt GPS that allows you to track real-time pace and location without carrying your phone along.
- NFC: The Charge 4 now has NFC in all models, unlike the Charge 3 where it was only available in the Special Edition. This will allow you to make payments directly from the watch.
- Sleep Mode: The Charge 4 features sleep mode that allows you to mute notifications on your smartphone.
- Control and Play Music on Spotify: You can use the Charge 4 to control and play music from streaming services like Spotify.
- Do Not Disturb Mode: The Charge allows you to activate the do not disturb mode that mutes notifications for calls, SMS, and otherwise.
- Active Zone Minutes: Active zone minutes is the new feature that comes with the Charge 4 and might come to other models via updates. This feature allows you to set the target heart rate, which the Charge 4 will alert you when the target is reached. A great way to manage your training intensity.
- Lightweight Design
- 5ATM Waterproof Rating
- A Comprehensive Fitness Tracker
- Keeps You Connected To All That Matters to You
- About 7 Days Long Battery Life
Just like Charge 3, Charge 4 is also very lightweight. It has a case made of resin and the straps made of elastomer. The display is still the same monochrome LCD display, not so bright, but easy to read even under sunlight. The Charge 4 comes in two models; the Regular edition and Special Edition. The difference between the two models is that the Special Edition comes with additional woven polyester straps.
The straps can be changed, just in case you don’t like the one that comes with it.
The Charge 4 is rated 5ATM which means it waterproof up to 50 meters, this makes it swim-proof and can be worn to the pool or otherwise.
The Charge 4 ships with a handful of inbuilt sensors that include GPS, heart rate monitor, and accelerometer that enables it to track your active life comprehensively. It’ll track your sleep, steps, floors climbed, locations, real-time pace, and many other related stats. It also features preloaded sport modes that allow you choose your preferred workout mode.
The Charge 4 is designed to notify you when you receive a notification on your phone. This will allow you to stay connected to all that matters to you. And with Fitbit Pay available on all models, you can make payment directly from the device.
With mixed usage, the Charge 4 can last up to 7 days. This can be lower or higher but depends on actual usage.
Features of Charge 4
The list below list the features of the Charge 4.
- Inbuilt GPS
- Active Zone Minutes
- Personalised Reminders
- Automatic Exercise Recognition
- 20+ Preloaded Sport Modes
- Personalised Insights
- Swimproof
- Sedentary Reminders
- Workout Intensity Map
- Heart Rate Zones
- Advanced Sleep Tools
- Guided Programs
- Health and Fitness Tracking
- Cardio Fitness Score
- Comprehensive Sleep Tracking for Light, Deep and REM Stages
- Female Health Tracking
- Guilded Breathing Sessions Help You Manage Stress
- All Day Heart Rate Tracking
- All Day Activity Tracking
- Sleep Score
- Sleep Tracking
- Resting Heart Rate
- All Day Calorie Burn
- Syncs Wirelessly With Compatible Devices
- Make Payments Directly From Charge 4
- Smartphone Notifications
- Connect and Control Music on Spotify
- App Dashboard
- Sleep Mode
- Do Not Disturb Mode
- Up To 7 Days Battery Life
- On-Wrist Stats
Inbuilt GPS lets you see your real-time pace and distance without a phone, then get a map of your route in the Fitbit app.
Feel a buzz when you reach your target heart rate zones during exercise and celebrate when you earn extra minutes outside of workouts.
Stay on track toward your goals with personalized reminders that remind you to stay active, get hydrated, stick to a sleep schedule, and more.
Automatically record select exercises like running, biking, and more & see detailed workout information in the Fitbit app.
Choose from 20+ exercise modes like run, bike, swim, yoga, and more, set a goal, and get real-time stats during your workouts.
Get insights based on your personal stats and specific guidance on how to improve.
Water-resistant up to 50M, so you can wear your tracker or smartwatch in the shower, pool, and beyond.
See how long you’ve been active throughout the day and get reminders to fit in a few extra steps when you’ve been sitting a bit too long.
After outdoor exercise, check your workout intensity map in the Fitbit app to see your heart rate zones throughout your route.
Use your personalized fat burn, cardio, and peak heart rate zones to optimize your effort during workouts.
Unlock a Sleep Score breakdown and personalized tools to help you sleep better.
Follow customized, step-by-step programs that help you build healthier habits in key areas.
Track activity, weight, sleep, and nutrition and see your progress in the app.
Get a better understanding of your fitness level and see how you can improve over time with a personalized Cardio Fitness Score.
See your time spent in light, deep, and REM sleep stages and get sleep insights to help you improve.
Know your body on a deeper level using your tracker or smartwatch with the Fitbit app to follow your cycle, record symptoms, and more.
Find moments of calm throughout your day with personalized breathing sessions based on your heart rate.
Use 24/7 heart rate to better track calorie burn, see your resting heart rate trends, and get real-time guidance to optimize your workouts.
Track steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, hourly activity, and stationary time.
Based on your heart rate, time asleep, and restlessness, this personalized score helps you better understand your sleep quality each night.
Understand your rest with automatic sleep tracking and silent alarms on your wrist & bedtime reminders and helpful tips in the app.
Wear your tracker or smartwatch all day and night to record your resting heart rate and track heart rate over time.
Better understand the total number of calories you burn—all day and during workouts—to manage your weight and stay on track toward your goals.
Automatically sync to most popular iOS and Android devices to show your stats, trends, and progress on your Fitbit dashboard.
Use your credit and debit cards to make secure purchases anywhere that accepts tap-and-pay. See participating banks.
See call, text, or calendar notifications on screen & get push notifications from smartphone apps. Available when your phone is nearby.
Control your music, “like” songs, and browse recent playlists and podcasts all from your wrist. Works with phones nearby; Spotify Premium subscription required. Not available in all countries.
Set goals, track progress, and get a more complete picture of your health and fitness—all on your dashboard in the Fitbit app.
Use the sleep mode to mute smartphone notifications and stop your screen from turning on at night.
Use do not disturb mode when you want to mute call, text, calendar, and app notifications during the day.
The battery lasts up to 7 days on a full charge. Up to 5 hours with GPS; varies with use and other factors.
Check your stats on your Fitbit tracker or smartwatch—and get the nudge you need to reach your goals.
Fitbit Charge 4 Pros
- Lightweight design.
- Inbuilt GPS.
- Music control.
- NFC for Fitbit Pay.
- Over 5 days long battery life.
Fitbit Charge 4 Cons
- No ambient light sensor.
- No always-on display.
Fitbit Charge 4 Specifications
| Fitbit Charge 4 | Fitbit Charge 4 Special Edition | |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|
ABOUT DEVICE |
||
| Device name | Fitbit Charge 4 | Fitbit Charge 4 Special Edition |
| Device type | Sport/Fitness smartwatch | Sport/Fitness smartwatch |
| Predecessor | Fitbit Charge 3 | Fitbit Charge 3 |
| Successor | N/A | N/A |
| Date Released | March, 2020 | March, 2020 |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
WHERE TO BUY |
||
DISPLAY |
||
| Display size | 1.57 inch | 1.57 inch |
| Display type | OLED (monochrome) | OLED (monochrome) |
| Display resolution | __ | __ |
| Pixel density | -- | -- |
| Display always-on | No | No |
| Input type | Touchscreen | Touchscreen |
BODY |
||
| Shape | Rectangular/curved | Rectangular/curved |
| Casing material | Resin | Resin |
| Strap material | Elastomer | Elastomer Woven Polyester |
| Bezel Material | Resin | Resin |
| Weight | 27 g | 27 g |
| Color(s) | Rosewood Black Storm blue/black |
Black/ granite |
| Dimension | 35.8 x 22.7 x 12.5 mm | 35.8 x 22.7 x 12.5 mm |
| Strap size | 140 - 180 mm (small) 180 - 220 mm (large) |
140 - 180 mm (small) 180 - 220 mm (large) |
| Screen protection | Hardened glass | Hardened glass |
| Durability test | ||
| Waterproof rating | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
CLOCK FEATURES |
||
| Time/Date | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
MEMORY |
||
| RAM | -- | -- |
| Internal storage | __ | __ |
| Memory card slot | __ | __ |
MEDIA |
||
| Audio | No | No |
| Microphone | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | No | No |
| Camera | No | No |
| Music streaming | No | No |
CONNECTIVITY |
||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v4.0 LE | Bluetooth v4.0 LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| Bluetooth calling | No | No |
NOTIFICATIONS |
||
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes |
| Reminder | Yes | Yes |
CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
||
| Network Technology | No | No |
| SIM | No | No |
FITNESS TRACKING |
||
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max. | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Blood pressure | No | No |
| ECG Tracking | No | No |
| Blood oxygen | Yes | Yes |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes, 20+ | Yes, 20+ |
PLATFORM |
||
| Operating system | Fitbit OS | Fitbit OS |
| CPU | -- | -- |
| GPU | -- | -- |
| Chipset | -- | -- |
SENSORS |
||
| GPS | Yes | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | __ | __ |
| Heart rate sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | No | No |
| Pulse Ox. | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | __ | __ |
| ECG | No | No |
| Thermometer | No | No |
| Ambient light | No | No |
OTHER FUNCTIONS |
||
| Interchangeable straps | Yes | Yes |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | No | No |
| Compatibility | Android 7.0+ iOS 12.2+ Check your device compatibility |
Android 7.0+ iOS 12.2+ Check your device compatibility |
| Payment system | Fitbit Pay | Fitbit Pay |
| Companion app | Fitbit App | Fitbit App |
BATTERY |
||
| Battery type | Non-removable lithium polymer | Non-removable lithium polymer |
| Battery capacity | _ | _ |
| Est. battery life | Standby: 10 day+ Mixed usage: 7 days Continuous GPS Tracking: 5 Hrs |
Standby: 10 day+ Mixed usage: 7 days Continuous GPS Tracking: 5 Hrs |
| Charging mode | Charging Dock | Charging Dock |
| Charging duration | About 1-2 hours | About 1-2 hours |
BOX CONTENTS |
||
| Fitbit Charge 4 | Fitbit Charge 4 Special Edition | |
| Strap (small and large) | Strap (small and large) Woven Strap (small and large) |
|
| Charger | Charger | |
| Quick start guide | Quick start guide | |
Conclusion
Fitbit Charge 4 is no doubt a fantastic watch, although looks more like a smartband. The design is decent with added fitness tracking features that makes it a more comprehensive fitness tracker than Charge 3. If you already own Charge 3, I don’t think an upgrade is really necessary. Otherwise, if you have to choose between these two, Charge 4 is a better bargain.