Fitbit Ionic vs Charge 4 Comparison – Which Should You Buy?

Which is better between Fitbit Ionic vs Charge 4? I think Ionic is a better smartwatch, but Charge 4 is a better choice if you need a cheaper fitness companion

The Charge 4 is the latest fitness tracking device from Fitbit, it succeeds the Charge 3, and now comes with inbuilt GPS, NFC and music control as well as being a complete fitness tracker. Sams can be said about the Ionic released in 2017, but still one of the best sellers on the market. In this post, I compare the Ionic vs Charge 4 to find the differences and to help you decide which is a better bargain.

Meanwhile compare the specs of the Charge 4 vs Ionic to see the differences, further down, you’ll see the similar features as well as the differences.

Fitbit Ionic vs Charge 4: Specifications

	Fitbit Ionic	Fitbit Charge 4
ABOUT DEVICE
Device name	Fitbit Ionic	Fitbit Charge 4
Device type	Sport/Fitness smartwatch	Sport/Fitness smartwatch
Predecessor		Fitbit Charge 3
Successor		N/A
Date Released	August, 2017	March, 2020
Gender	Unisex	Unisex
WHERE TO BUY	BUY AT AMAZON	BUY AT AMAZON
DISPLAY
Display size	1.42 inch	1.57 inch
Display type	LCD	OLED (monochrome)
Display resolution	348 x 250 pixel	__
Pixel density	306 ppi	--
Display always-on	Yes	No
Input type	Touchscreen 3 buttons	Touchscreen
BODY
Shape	Rectangular/curved	Rectangular/curved
Casing material	Aerospace-grade aluminium	Resin
Strap material	Elastomer	Elastomer
Bezel Material	Aluminum	Resin
Weight	30g	27 g
Color(s)	Charcoal/smoke grey Blue/burnt orange Blue-grey/silver	Rosewood Black Storm blue/black
Dimension	38 x 45 x 12 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	Corning Gorilla glass 3	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	4GB (2.5GB available)	__
Memory card slot	No	__
MEDIA
Audio	mp3/mp4	No
Microphone	No	No
Loudspeaker	No	No
Camera	No	No
Music streaming	Yes	No
CONNECTIVITY
Bluetooth	Bluetooth v4.0 LE	Bluetooth v4.0 LE
NFC	Yes	Yes
Wi-Fi	Yes	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	No	Yes
Menstrual cycle tracking	Yes	Yes
Blood pressure	No	No
ECG Tracking	No	No
Blood oxygen	No	Yes
Preloaded sport modes	Yes	Yes, 20+
PLATFORM
Operating system	Fitbit OS	Fitbit OS
CPU	--	--
GPU	--	--
Chipset	--	--
SENSORS
GPS	Yes	Yes
Accelerometer	Yes	Yes
Gyroscope	Yes	__
Heart rate sensor	Yes	Yes
Barometer	Yes	Yes
Compass	No	No
Pulse Ox.	No	Yes
Altimeter	__	__
ECG	No	No
Thermometer	No	No
Ambient light	Yes	No
OTHER FUNCTIONS
Interchangeable straps	Yes	Yes
Custom watch face	Yes	Yes
Voice Assistant	No	No
Compatibility	Android, IOS Check supported devices	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	Mixed usage: up to 5 days	Standby: 10 day+ Mixed usage: 7 days Continuous GPS Tracking: 5 Hrs
Charging mode	USB based charging dock	Charging Dock
Charging duration	About 1-2 hours	About 1-2 hours
BOX CONTENTS
	Fitbit Ionic	Fitbit Charge 4
	Strap (small and large)	Strap (small and large)
	Magnetic charging dock	Charger
	Quick start guide	Quick start guide

Fitbit Charge 4/Ionic Similar Features

The list below shows all the features similar to both the Ionic and Charge 4.

1. Inbuilt GPS

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.

2. Personalised Reminders

Stay on track toward your goals with personalized reminders that remind you to stay active, get hydrated, stick to a sleep schedule, and more.

3. Automatic Exercise Recognition

Automatically record select exercises like running, biking, and more & see detailed workout information in the Fitbit app.

4. 20+ Preloaded Sport Modes

Choose from 20+ exercise modes like run, bike, swim, yoga, and more, set a goal, and get real-time stats during your workouts.

5. Personalised Insights

Get insights based on your personal stats and specific guidance on how to improve.

6. Swimproof

Water-resistant up to 50M, so you can wear your tracker or smartwatch in the shower, pool, and beyond.

7. Sedentary Reminders

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.

8. Workout Intensity Map

After outdoor exercise, check your workout intensity map in the Fitbit app to see your heart rate zones throughout your route.

9. Heart Rate Zones

Use your personalized fat burn, cardio, and peak heart rate zones to optimize your effort during workouts.

10. Advanced Sleep Tools

Unlock a Sleep Score breakdown and personalized tools to help you sleep better.

11. Guided Programs

Follow customized, step-by-step programs that help you build healthier habits in key areas.

12. Health and Fitness Tracking

Track activity, weight, sleep, and nutrition and see your progress in the app.

13. Cardio Fitness Score

Get a better understanding of your fitness level and see how you can improve over time with a personalized Cardio Fitness Score.

14. Comprehensive Sleep Tracking for Light, Deep and REM Stages

See your time spent in light, deep, and REM sleep stages and get sleep insights to help you improve.

15. Female Health Tracking

Know your body on a deeper level using your tracker or smartwatch with the Fitbit app to follow your cycle, record symptoms, and more.

16. Guilded Breathing Sessions Help You Manage Stress

Find moments of calm throughout your day with personalized breathing sessions based on your heart rate.

17. All Day Heart Rate Tracking

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.

18. All Day Activity Tracking

Track steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, hourly activity, and stationary time.

19. Sleep Score

Based on your heart rate, time asleep, and restlessness, this personalized score helps you better understand your sleep quality each night.

20. Sleep Tracking

Understand your rest with automatic sleep tracking and silent alarms on your wrist & bedtime reminders and helpful tips in the app.

21. Resting Heart Rate

Wear your tracker or smartwatch all day and night to record your resting heart rate and track heart rate over time.

22. All Day Calorie Burn

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.

23. Syncs Wirelessly With Compatible Devices

Automatically sync to most popular iOS and Android devices to show your stats, trends, and progress on your Fitbit dashboard.

24. Make Payments Directly From Watch

Use your credit and debit cards to make secure purchases anywhere that accepts tap-and-pay. See participating banks.

25. Smartphone Notifications

See call, text, or calendar notifications on screen & get push notifications from smartphone apps. Available when your phone is nearby.

26. Connect and Control Music on Spotify

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.

27. App Dashboard

Set goals, track progress, and get a more complete picture of your health and fitness—all on your dashboard in the Fitbit app.

28. Sleep Mode

Use the sleep mode to mute smartphone notifications and stop your screen from turning on at night.

29. Do Not Disturb Mode

Use do not disturb mode when you want to mute call, text, calendar, and app notifications during the day.

30. On-Wrist Stats

Check your stats on your Fitbit tracker or smartwatch—and get the nudge you need to reach your goals.

Fitbit Ionic vs Charge 4: Differences

Which Should You Buy?

First of all, it’s important to state that from the design, features, and otherwise, the Ionic is a more comprehensive smartwatch (if I can also call the Charge 4 a smartwatch, though looks more like a smartband). The Ionic is of a higher quality which you can see from the design. While it has a more durable aluminum case and Corning Gorilla Glass 3, Charge 4 case is made of resin. Similarly, it also has a brighter and more colorful LCD display compared to the monochrome LCD of Charge 4. In other words, I think it’s right to say that the Ionic is a better smartwatch with more features like music storage and up to 5 days long battery life

Charge 4, on the other hand, is way cheaper, yet has lots of fitness tracking features in addition to the newly added Active Zone Minutes that allow you set target heart rate and has up to 7 days long battery life that allows you go longer from a single charge. I conclude by saying that, Charge 4 is better choice for you if you need a cheaper fitness companion.

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