Fitbit Cost 4 overview: A wise, streamlined health tracker watch

If you wish to change your well being over the long run, it comes all the way down to forming habits. A College of Southern California research discovered that creating long-term behavioral change comes all the way down to repetition, secure cues, and intermittent rewards. So whether or not you’re a devoted health fanatic or simply making an attempt to fulfill your day by day step depend, a dependable health tracker will help you attain your objectives and kind wholesome habits. However with so many merchandise providing completely different capabilities and designs, choosing the right health tracker might be overwhelming. The straightforward interface, simply accessible controls, and app to trace your progress make the Fitbit Cost 4 health tracker a streamlined device to enhance your well being with out overwhelming you with information and choices. 

For such a small gadget, the Fitbit Cost 4 packs a strong suite of options. The health watch affords mandatory well being options like 24/7 coronary heart price monitoring, built-in GPS for mapping exercises, and sleep monitoring. On the similar time, it gives sensible options which might be helpful outdoors the fitness center—like Spotify controls, one-tap funds, and an extended seven-day battery life that cuts down on charging. Over the a number of weeks once I wore the watch, I built-in new well being habits into my day by day routine and improved my health routine.

The Fitbit Cost 4’s design

Most Fitbit fashions promise skinny profiles and light-weight design. The Cost 4 mannequin isn’t any exception. It measures 1.5-inches lengthy, lower than 1-inch huge, and roughly one-half-inch tall. This newest mannequin weighs 30 grams, which is simply 1 gram greater than its Cost 3 predecessor. To place that in perspective, even the smaller 40mm Apple Watch 6 weighs in at 47.1 grams. In case you’re searching for the most effective health tracker to put on day-in and day-out, Cost 4 can match the invoice. 

The Fitbit Cost comes with a typical—and considerably boring—silicone band, however you’ll be able to all the time swap it out for quite a lot of Fitbit Cost 4 bands of various colours and supplies that fit your type. I opted for a woven purple band that resembled a bracelet however simply interchanged it with the silicone possibility for extra intense exercise periods. 

The biggest a part of the system is the 1-inch (measured diagonally) LED touchscreen. Regardless of its comparatively low 100 x 160 pixel decision, it’s easy to scroll by means of apps, peruse information, and handle settings with the swipe of your finger. The inductive button on the left aspect of the watch lets you simply wake or sleep on the display screen, which got here in useful once I wished to clear alerts or notifications. The structure is tight, however nicely thought out and total straightforward to navigate.

The Fitbit Cost 4 is designed to be minimal and light-weight sufficient for on a regular basis put on so you’ll be able to observe all of your health data in excessive element. Even whereas lifting weights, working, or slipping on a coat it by no means impeded my motion, which is important for me relating to wearable tech. 

Setting Up Your Fitbit

Earlier than you’ll be able to start monitoring your health routines and kit as much as attain objectives, you’ll have to arrange the Fitbit Cost 4. Fortunately, mine got here partly charged so I didn’t want to attend to put on it, I simply clipped on my alternative of the Fitbit Cost 4 bands and adjusted it to my wrist dimension.

Although you’ll be able to see a majority of your stats from the LED touchscreen, the Fitbit app lets you preserve observe of achievements, mindfulness, sleep, train, coronary heart price, weight, and even water consumption. The app mechanically units your objectives for every metric, however you’ll be able to simply modify these numbers to match your preferences. I’ve examined different apps like MyFitnessPal and the pre-installed Apple Well being app, however this selection consolidates all well being data in a single seamless and user-friendly interface to finally save time and cellphone space for storing. 

To arrange your Fitbit account, you’ll have to sync the watch to a sensible system with Bluetooth and create a consumer profile that features your top, weight, and gender. Creating the profile takes little time, relying on what number of changes you need to make to the pre-set health objectives. These targets embody eight hours of sleep, exercising 5 days per week, a 64-ounce water counter, and 10,000 steps a day. 

I stored these settings, however nonetheless felt challenged to achieve objectives regardless of my comparatively energetic life-style. Over time, you’ll be able to ramp up your objectives to take care of the problem. In the long term, this may increasingly assist to stop burnout from making too many drastic adjustments without delay. 

Key Options of the Fitbit Cost 4

The Fitbit Cost 4 has carried over all of the options that put the earlier mannequin within the dialog for the most effective smartwatch for health. There are some upgrades on this newest model that you just gained’t discover within the Fitbit Cost 3 or earlier fashions. In comparison with the Cost 3, the Fitbit Cost 4 has extra highly effective sensors to precisely measure health information. They embody a three-axis accelerometer, an optical coronary heart price monitor, altimeter, GPS, and relative SpO2 sensor. Although these specs may sound advanced to the common consumer, they’re translated into accessible data that even health novices can perceive. 

Regardless of the wealth of knowledge out there by means of the Fitbit monitoring methods, I relied primarily on the train, BPM, and step tracker to achieve new health objectives. All of those classes (and extra) are featured on the homepage inside the app—making it handy to test updates as you progress all through your day. 

Fitbit Premium

If you wish to entry much more monitoring options, the Fitbit app affords a Premium service, which can value $9.99 per 30 days or $80 per yr. Whereas I didn’t make the leap on shopping for the Premium aspect of the app, there have been a couple of bonus metrics that the free part left to be desired. When monitoring my health objectives over the 2 weeks I wore the smartwatch, I wished to simply examine earlier information to my present metrics for an total report, which is simply provided with Premium. 

Along with this 30-day compiled set of knowledge, Premium additionally affords 150 exercises, guided meditation, and in-depth sleep evaluation. Whereas the common app provides loads of options to set your private well being objectives, the Premium possibility is value it for those who’re searching for guided exercises and extra exact monitoring instruments. In case you’re going to take the leap into Fitbit {hardware}, you’ll possible additionally need to put aside the finances for a Premium membership.

Fitbit Cost 4 day-to-day use

No matter your present health stage, the Fitbit Cost 4 can inspire you to implement new wholesome habits into your day by day routine. Whereas I initially deliberate on utilizing the health watch to measure my pre-established exercise routine, it stunned me by introducing new objectives that felt difficult, but achievable. I maintained my 5 exercises per week, however built-in new habits, like an extended morning stroll to get steps in earlier than work. 

Whether or not you’re a marathon runner or want a leisurely yoga session, this health tracker can measure your exercise exactly with its three-axis accelerometer and the optical coronary heart price sensor. Earlier than exercising, you may have the chance to enter your exercise of alternative from the Fitbit shortcuts menu; the alternatives embody run, bike, stroll, treadmill, and outside exercises. Whereas I want there was a energy coaching possibility, the Cost 4 mechanically detects your workout routines so you’ll be able to nonetheless chart metrics like coronary heart price, Energetic Zone minutes, and distance. 

Throughout my exercises, checking in on these stats inspired me to problem myself. This was one of many best advantages for me—as somebody who maintains a constant health routine, I might be caught in a stoop the place I lose motivation. The Fitbit Cost 4 pumped me as much as hit the pre-set objectives and reinvigorated my exercises. 

You can too unlock awards once you obtain your day by day health objectives and share them inside the app with different customers within the Fitbit group. This portion of the app serves as a social networking web site the place you’ll be able to be a part of teams to share objectives, ideas, or help. For those who need to share progress or achievements, this operate is a good way to affix a health-oriented group. 

Further Options

Whereas the Fitbit Cost 4 is before everything a health watch, it affords added options like Spotify management, tap-to-pay, and cellphone notifications. The music controls and notifications got here in hand whereas biking and figuring out, so I may depart my cellphone with out lacking any calls or messages. Customers can even activate Do-Not-Disturb Mode for those who’re desirous to disconnect whereas working or stress-free. 

This health tracker additionally makes use of a small vibration to remind you to get steps in for those who’ve been sedentary. Whereas at work I hardly ever hit the 250 steps-per-hour objective set by the system, nevertheless it might be a useful reminder for many who need to get their steps in all through the day. In case you’re not a fan of this step tracker operate, you can too customise your settings to regulate once you get reminders. 

Who Ought to Purchase the Fitbit Cost 4?

Whether or not you’re a devoted health fiend or try to create new habits, the Fitbit Cost 4 will help you are taking management of your well being. This health tracker is neatly designed with repetition, secure cues, and rewards to make goal-setting simpler. The options and exact information assortment system paired with the app can help you observe your progress and keep accountable in a single streamless device. Whereas this decide comes at a better value than another health watches, the price is on par with the high-quality capabilities and options the Fitbit Cost 4 affords.