(Android Authority) Fitbit Charge 5 vs Charge 6: What’s new and which should you buy?

Fitbit is synonymous with fitness trackers, and its Charge series is largely responsible for this. While the Fitbit Charge 5 added some specific wellness monitoring kit, the new Fitbit Charge 6 brings more Google-focused features to your wrist. Does this make it better, and what else is new? Learn more in our Fitbit Charge 5 vs Charge 6 comparison.

Fitbit Charge 5 vs Charge 6: Specs

	Fitbit Charge 6	Fitbit Charge 5
Display	1.04-inch AMOLED Full-color Touchscreen	1.04-inch AMOLED Full-color Touchscreen
Dimensions and weight	36.7 x 23.1 x 11.2mm 37.64g All measurements do not include a band	36.7 x 22.7 x 11.2mm 28g All measurements do not include a band
Materials	Aluminum, glass, and resin	Aluminum, glass, and resin
Limitations	Operating temp.: 14 to 113 degrees F Max operating alt.: 28,000ft	Operating temp.: 14 to 113 degrees F Max operating alt.: 28,000ft
Phone compatibility	Android 9 Pie or later iOS 15 or higher You MUST use a Google account to log in	Android 9 Pie or later iOS 15 or higher
Battery and power	Up to 7 days advertised battery life Charge time (0 to 100%): Two hours (advertised) Proprietary charger included in box	Up to 7 days advertised battery life Charge time (0 to 100%): Two hours (advertised) Proprietary charger included in box
Sensors	Optical heart rate monitor Sleep tracking AFib monitoring 3-axis accelerometer Built-in GPS + GLONASS SpO2 monitoring EDA & ECG sensors Ambient light sensor	Optical heart rate monitor Sleep tracking AFib monitoring 3-axis accelerometer Built-in GPS + GLONASS SpO2 monitoring EDA & ECG sensors Ambient light sensor
Connectivity	Bluetooth 5.0 NFC	Bluetooth 5.0 NFC
Durability	Water resistant up to 50m No official IP rating	Water resistant up to 50m No official IP rating
Services	Google Wallet/Pay Google Maps (connected notifications only) YouTube Music (connected controls only) Notifications (read-only) Heart-rate transmission to supported gym equipment	Fitbit Pay Notifications (read-only)
In-box contents	Fitbit Charge 6 Proprietary charger Small wrist band Large wrist band Six-month Fitbit Premium trial subscription Paperwork	Fitbit Charge 5 Proprietary charger Small wrist band Large wrist band Six-month Fitbit Premium trial subscription Paperwork

Fitbit Charge 5 vs Charge 6: Design

Smartwatches and fitness trackers launched in 2023 look an awful lot like their predecessors, and the Fitbit Charge 6 continues that trend. Fitbit’s new tracker largely recycles the design of the Charge 5, including the flush band fitting, metal bezels surrounding a generous AMOLED display, and strap fastening mechanism. What is new is a physical button, which replaces Charge 5’s unreliable inductive groove. This was among our biggest gripes with Fitbit’s former fitness tracker during our review, and we’re thrilled the pusher returns on the new model. The Charge 6 does add substantial weight to the package, though. It now tips the scales at over 37.6 grams — a 34% increase over the Charge 5. It’s also slightly wider, but you’ll barely notice this without a tape measure.