The humble fitness tracker has long since been eclipsed by the smartwatch . It ’s easy to understand why , of course but it ’s left anyone looking for something round-eyed — and cheaper — with dinky wristband to select from that are n’t much to seem at . TheFitbit Luxeseems like the perfect solution , with an elegant jewelry - inspire designing , color touchscreen , and all the canonical health - trailing have a someone could ask for , and then some . It ’s also suffer a price tatter befitting a “ luxe ” tracker . That may or may not be a sound affair , depending on what you ’re looking for .
An Actually Fashionable Fitness Tracker
It ’s been a while since we ’ve seen an attractive fitness tracker that was n’t really a hybrid smartwatch . The last one was probably theFitbit Alta HR — and that set up ages ago in 2017 . When Fitbitannounced the Luxein April , I jokingly told a coworker it had “ bougie beef energy”—in a proficient agency . And it does !
Fitbit Luxe
What is it ?
Photo: Victoria Song/Gizmodo
Fitbit ’s prettiest fittingness tracker
cost
$ 150 for the regular ; $ 200 for the Special Edition
Photo: Victoria Song/Gizmodo
Like
Lightweight and comfortable . tardily on the eyes . Color touch screen . Good at give you a big video perspective of your overall body process . approach to the Fitbit app .
No Like
Photo: Victoria Song/Gizmodo
Expensive for a tracker . No built - in GPS or NFC defrayment . Proprietary charger .
When the touchscreen is n’t on , you could well mistake the Luxe for a bracelet . That makes it easy to dress up or down , specially if you fling for a nicer - looking band . My review unit come in in thegold - and - lunar white combination , and Fitbit also sent along a gilded mesh strap . While the Luxe looked more like a tracker with the default silicone shoulder strap , when I swapped it out for the mesh , I ’ll allow in I felt fancy .
The big advantage theLuxehas over other trackers is the color touchscreen . It ’s easy on the eyes , text is gentle to take than on a monochromous LED screen , and color are vibrant . However , the show itself is really quite small and the bezels are huge . If you rap at the top or bottom of the screen , it wo n’t read , so you ’ll require to keep your taps to the meat of the exhibit . Otherwise , navigating is simple-minded . You swipe up for a dashboard of your daily action , down to access preferences and a Do Not Disturb mode , and left or correct for your apps . Double tapping any screen will bring you back to your default clock face , which you may switch from the app . There are n’t a long ton of alternative , but enough to find one you care .
Photo: Victoria Song/Gizmodo
While beautiful , the display ’s size present some quirk . swipe registered easily with minimum latency , but a small screen is n’t as easy to use compared to a smartwatch . place an alarm , for example , requires more swiping , and you could only really do one . Same with timer . Scrolling through notification takes a while if you have a lot of them . The screen also is n’t the easiest to see in direct sunlight . This is only a drawback if you want to interact with your tracker a mess . I finish up treasure how I spend less metre look at my wrist than I do with other smartwatches .
At 1.43 inches by 0.69 inch by 0.4 column inch ( LWH ) and 0.96 ounces , the Luxe is quite slight and lightweight . Unless you ’ve got it strapped on too tight , it ’s easy to block you ’re even wearing it . That makes it idealistic for not only sleep - tracking , but also routine activity . It ’s also great for petite radiocarpal joint , as the little shoulder strap fits wrists range from 5.5 to 7.1 inches in circumference . The larger one accommodates wrists measure 7.1 to 8.7 inches . Between the sleek invention and comfort , theLuxegets major points for wearability .
You are giving up some functionality for the plan , though not much . The two notable omissions are built - in GPS and NFC payments . That read , you still get health - tracking features you ’d await from a pricier tracker , like SpO2 sensors ( though Spo2 clock faces are n’t available at launch ) , skin temperature readings , uninterrupted heart pace - monitoring , and multi - day electric battery life .
Photo: Victoria Song/Gizmodo
The Luxe is also water system - resistant to 50 meters and has a water lock setting . But truthfully address , I did n’t want to get it anywhere near water system if I could help oneself it . It was hunky-dory for wash dishes and my manus , but I did n’t feel comfortable wearing it in the shower or in the pool . Maybe it ’s something to do with the fact it feels like jewellery , but I treated theLuxemore gingerly than I would Fitbit ’s other tracking bands , Charge 4and theInspire . ( Even if I did n’t have to . )
One thing I did n’t love ? Fitbit ’s stuck us withyet another proprietary charger . I get it , but for the love of God , this is the quaternary or 5th one in the past two year . Also , Fitbit , it ’s time to last move from USB - A to USB - C. Please .
The Biggest Selling Point: Fitbit’s App
TheLuxeisn’t super telling from a hardware viewpoint . It ’s really just an average fitness tracker in nicer publicity . But theLuxegets you access to the Fitbit app , and buddy , that app is one of the most comprehensive for health tracking out there . Here ’s what you get without a subscription : stress direction tool , guided respiration and meditations , health and wellness programs , sleep trailing , centre - related health trends , competition and challenges with friends , smart notice , a crap - ton of physical exertion modes including swimming , catamenial health - tracking , food and hydration - logging , descent glucose - tracking , and a metric that Fitbit call Active Zone Minutes ( AZM ) . AZM is basically a representation of the 150 minutes of moderate action you should get per week , as recommended by various health institutions . It ’s a infernal region of a mass more meaningful than random step counts and look at some of the pressure sensation off of meet arbitrary daily goals .
TheLuxealso come with a 6 - month tryout of Fitbit Premium , the company ’s $ 10 monthly subscription tier . That unlocks some in - depth brainstorm into system of measurement like sleep , stress , middle rate mutation , and breathing rate , as well as expanded options for manoeuver workouts , meditations , wellness and wellness political platform , and challenges . It ’s a wad !
beat admission to all these tools is enough to drop some of the Luxe ’s weaknesses — so long as all you want is a holistic overview of your natural process . Looking for something more granular to aid with training ? This probably is n’t going to gather all your want .
Photo: Victoria Song/Gizmodo
This is mainly because theLuxerelies on tethered GPS , which mean you ’re going to ask to carry your phone with you on outdoor discharge , walks , hikes , and bike rides . That ’s fine for weekend warriors , but not so great if you ’re someone who like to go hard in areas where you ’re probably not going to get dependable cellular overhaul . ( You also have to be mindful of whether the Luxe has acquired a signaling via your telephone before you start a workout . )
Even if you do get a signaling , theLuxeis depart to be slightly off when it descend to memorialize your step . ( Heart rate , however , is berth on compare to my Polar H10 chest strap andApple Watch SE . ) On a 2.75 - mile run immortalize by my telephone set with an average stride of 11’06 ” , theLuxelogged 2.87 miles and a 10’44 ” pace . My Apple Watch SE log 2.77 miles and a pace of 11’o3 ” . That ’s a fairish divergence and was repeat on two subsequent runs , meaning the Luxe is logical enough to faithfully assess progress . It ’s less fine when you ’re training for a wash and exact metric will make a meaning difference on race day .
However , if you rate convenience , theLuxeis great . Because of the modified screen space , you have to pre - curriculum which exercise shortcuts show up on the carpus . signification , no endless scrolling to detect the one activity you require . Also , you do n’t even have to manually start activities . In my examination , the wise tracking was quite true . On a long daylight where I was showing some out - of - townspeople friends around , it automatically show when we were walking with freakish accuracy . TheLuxerecorded 25,882 pace and 11.34 nautical mile for that day , compared to my Apple Watch ’s 26,802 steps and 12.1 miles . This is the sort of gap you ’d expect to see from two accurate but algorithmically different gadgets worn on dissimilar arms . You might think this is par for the course these days , but it’snot always guarantee .
Another matter in theLuxe ’s favor is bombardment life . Fitbit says it ’s estimated for up to five days between charges , but I actually get a bit over 7 days with roughly 30 - 45 minutes of body process per day . Of naturally , this will count on how you utilize the equipment , but I regard myself a mogul drug user and I was impressed , especially afford the colour touchscreen . Charging from 15 % back up to 100 % take about 90 minute , which is a small good than average .
Fitbit Luxe vs. Fitbit Charge 4
TheFitbit Luxeis a substantial tracker , but the chief matter that flits through my capitulum when I count at it is , “ It ’s pretty . ” If design is one of the main reasons you have n’t gotten aboard the wearables train , then the Luxe is a skilful , affordable choice compared to a more full - featured smartwatch . It ’s also a solid selection if you ’re not quite as zealous about notifications , advanced features , or hyper - accurate outdoor action trailing . So long as you understand that you ’re paying a premium for a stylish tracker , the Luxe is a fine option .
But say all you desire is a childlike fitness band . This is where thing get puddle . Fitbit has another excellent choice , the Charge 4 . While it initially cost the same as theLuxeat $ 150 , you may now find it on Fitbit ’s site for $ 130 . The design is ho - hum and there ’s no colour screen , but it has more feature film , include the built - in GPS and NFC payments that the Luxe is lack .
I can understand why you might leave off built - in Global Positioning System with theLuxe . It ’s a fashion - first gimmick . But leaving out contactless defrayal palpate like a miss chance , give we ’re still in the thick of a pandemic . Sure , Fitbit Pay ’s time to come is a bit in question now that it ’s been purchase by Google , but admit the NFC sensor would ’ve made sensory faculty for theLuxe . It plausibly has something to do with the Luxe ’s slim word form factor , but it ’s a disgrace .
plain , the Charge 4 makes more common sense if you ’re more serious about outdoor fitness and durability . Inreviewing my examination results , the Charge 4 ’s build - in GPS gets you slightly more precise outdoor natural action - tracking . But if you ’re not an outdoorsy person , the Luxe ’s accuracy is just as salutary as the Charge 4 ’s . In that case , it boils down to aspect versus contactless requital .
That allege , we do not recommend the Luxe Special Edition . It costs a whopping $ 200 , and for that additional $ 50 you get a … fancy Gorjana link bangle and zero extra feature . Unless you call up the Gorjana watchstrap is the most beautiful matter ever to have graced the earth , that does n’t make any fiscal sense — especially since third parties will eventually put out like appurtenance for much less than Fitbit ’s prescribed ones . And even then , I guarantee you there are beautiful hybrid smartwatch pick in the $ 200 range .
Having used both theLuxeand the Charge 4 , the tightwad in my heart says the Charge 4 is the practiced economic value . know that , I would in person prefer for theLuxebecause it ’s extremely comfy , I like somewhat shiny thing , and the best tracker is the one you ’re going to wear . Call me shallow , but if I ’m going to go canonic , I need to look good . And on my wrist ? TheFitbit Luxelooks all-fired good .
Activity trackerFitbitFitness TrackersGoogleSmartwatchesTechnologyWearable devices
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