Lower worth, related tips
The Fitbit Charge 6 provides you coronary heart charge algorithms stolen from the Pixel Watch, YouTube Music controls, Peloton connectivity, and a extra snug design for those who care about sleep monitoring. The cash you save in comparison with the Sense 2 will purchase you one other couple of years of Fitbit Premium. That mentioned, prepare for a tiny show.
ForHigher measurement, weight for sleep monitoringYouTube Music controlsConnects to fitness center equipmentAbout half the priceAgainstNo altimeter, gyro, or cEDANo calling or voice assistantTiny, dim show makes notifications tougher to learn
No compromises
The Fitbit Sense 2 provides you a superbly vibrant show that is far more readable and useable, with a design that is not a lot heavier than the Charge 6. It might not have a number of the Charge 6’s new tips, however you might discover its elevation monitoring, voice instructions, and on-wrist calling far more helpful. That mentioned, you might need to await a sale on this costly watch.
ForBigger, brighter showBluetooth calls and Alexa voice assistantAll-day stress trackingAltimeter and gyroscopeAgainstNo YouTube Music controlsNo HR broadcastingMore costly
Despite their completely different costs and appears, the Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Sense 2 comparability is not as completely different as you would possibly count on. The Charge 6 tracker has a lot of the identical options because the Sense 2 flagship watch, and even a few distinctive tips that the Sense 2 has but to obtain months later.The Sense 2, alternatively, has the good thing about a way more readable show and some unique well being instruments. While it prices twice as a lot, we have regularly seen its worth dip by $100 throughout offers occasions, making it extra tempting to improve than you would possibly assume.Below, we’ll observe all the similarities between the Fitbit Charge 6 and Sense 2, earlier than explaining the particular options that solely include certainly one of them.Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Sense 2: What’s the identical?Why you’ll be able to belief Android Central
Our professional reviewers spend hours testing and evaluating services and products so you’ll be able to select the perfect for you. Find out extra about how we take a look at.Swipe to scroll horizontallyCategoryFitbit Charge 6Fitbit Sense 2Display1.04-inch AMOLED (326 ppi); 450 nits brightness; Gorilla Glass1.58-inch AMOLED (300ppi); 1,000 nits brightness; Gorilla Glass 3MaterialsRecycled aluminum case; silicone band with aluminum buckleAluminum case; silicone band with aluminum buckleBattery life7 days; about 5–6 hours GPS6 days; about 5 hours steady GPSCharge time2 hours (proprietary cable)2 hours (proprietary cable)Health sensorsHRM, SpO2, ECG, EDA, pores and skin temperatureHRM, SpO2, ECG, cEDA, pores and skin temperature, ambient mild, accelerometer, vibration, NFCOther sensors and trackingAccelerometer, ambient mild, GPS + GLONASS, vibration motorAccelerometer, altimeter, ambient mild, GPS + GLONASS, gyroscope, microphone, speaker, vibration motorConnectivityBluetooth 5.0; NFC; HR broadcast on fitness center toolsBluetooth 5.0; NFCTap-to-payGoogle WalletGoogle WalletMusic playbackYouTube Music solely (w/ sub)NoneNavigationGoogle Maps (w/ related cellphone)Google Maps (w/ related cellphone)Sports modes4040Water resistanceUp to 50 metersUp to 50 metersDimensions1.52 x 0.73 x 0.46 inches1.50 x 1.50 x 0.45 inchesWeight30g 37.6gEven although the Fitbit Charge 6 and Fitbit Sense 2 do not share a lot resemblance on the floor, they’ve a lot of the identical tracked well being knowledge beneath the floor.They each monitor coronary heart charge (HR), resting HR, dangerously excessive or low HR readings, irregular coronary heart rhythm (AFib), blood oxygen (SpO2), respiratory charge, menstrual well being, and pores and skin temperature. Specifically for AFib detection, you’ll be able to examine actively with the ECG sensor or obtain passive warnings from the optical sensor.Both trackers can even rely steps and decide how arduous you are figuring out by utilizing a 3-axis accelerometer for wrist monitoring.(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)The Charge 6 is among the solely health bands to supply built-in GPS and GLONASS, matching the Sense 2. Both will use “Dynamic GPS” and pull knowledge out of your cellphone to attempt to enhance your location accuracy, however can even work as a standalone tracker for those who depart your cellphone at residence.While the Charge 6 technically lasts in the future longer per cost than the Sense 2 (seven days vs. six days), it lasts the identical period of time when monitoring location knowledge (about 5 hours every). They even take the identical period of time to recharge to 100%: two hours apiece.(Image credit score: Android Central)On the software program facet, the Fitbit Charge 6 and Sense 2 share the identical 40 sports activities modes for monitoring actions, plus the identical auto-recognized actions like operating or biking. This was one of many main Charge 6 upgrades over the Charge 5, because the latter solely supported six on-device modes at a time.They additionally share two key Google apps, courtesy of Fitbit’s new guardian firm. You can use tap-to-pay by way of Google Wallet or observe Google Maps instructions in your wrist. Keep in thoughts that for Maps, you should seek for a vacation spot and begin your journey in your related cellphone. Also, the Sense 2’s bigger show does depart room for extra navigational knowledge, although the Charge 6 has the necessities.Both the Sense 2 and Charge 6 include six free months of Fitbit Premium. To briefly summarize the advantages, you’ll be able to count on a Sleep Score and Profile, a Daily Readiness Score primarily based in your tracked sleep restoration and actions, well being traits over time, guided exercises or meditations with professional coaches, and advisable recipes.Of course, after your trial ends, you may must hold paying for Premium with both Fitbit.(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)Lastly, each the Sense 2 and Charge 6 have a facet button…form of!The Sense 2 has a bodily button, changing the wonky haptic button of the unique Sense. Instead of getting to squeeze the pebble to activate the show or return to the house menu, you simply faucet the petite, handy button. Our reviewer referred to as it a “much-needed improvement” for usability.The Charge 6 does use a haptic button as a substitute of a bodily one, so that you do squeeze the physique to activate it. The distinction is that it is half the width of the Sense 2, so this finger place is considerably extra pure and simple to drag off. Our reviewer, who was skeptical about this characteristic, ended up preferring it: “it works as it should,” he mentioned, “without being prone to accidental presses like a physical button.”So although the Sense 2 and Charge 6 buttons are completely different, the standard of the person expertise is comparably good whichever you select.Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Sense 2: Why the Sense 2 is healthier(Image credit score: Android Central)With the Fitbit Sense 2, you get a number of key upgrades over the Charge 6 that you just won’t need to miss.The most evident is the mic/speaker combo, used for Bluetooth calling or chatting with voice assistant instructions. We’re nonetheless pissed off that Fitbit misplaced entry to Google Assistant, one thing the unique Fitbit Sense supplied, however Alexa is actually higher than nothing.You additionally get a 1.58-inch show that hits 1,000 nits of brightness. Even although a number of the greatest Android watches now hit 2,000 nits, 1,000 remains to be higher than most health watches, and far more seen in direct daylight than the Charge 6’s 1-inch, 450-nit AMOLED show.Reading notifications is far simpler, extra menu textual content is seen on display screen, and the watch face can present a number of knowledge fields without delay — whereas the Charge 6 solely reveals one by one. For one thing like inputting your PIN for an NFC cost, you’ll be able to enter it in moments on the Sense 2, whereas the Charge 6 makes you swipe up and down to seek out the suitable quantity 4 instances.(Image credit score: Android Central)In phrases of health monitoring, the Sense 2 has a gyroscope that works in tandem with an accelerometer to supply extra correct wrist monitoring throughout actions, making it good to have however not essentially important.The larger improve is the altimeter: monitoring elevation change is important for outside monitoring, particularly for runners or cyclists. Otherwise, there isn’t any context for why you are operating slower with a better coronary heart charge than typical, which can alter Fitbit’s Cardio Score estimate and its exercise suggestions.Plus, the Charge 6 has some documented GPS accuracy points, although the GPS-only Sense 2 is not essentially significantly better as a GPS-only machine.Rounding out the Sense 2’s upsides, it has a steady EDA sensor (cEDA) that measures your stress ranges and coronary heart charge variability all through the day. The Charge 6 has a guide EDA sensor that makes you sit nonetheless for 3 minutes to take a stress studying, making it a lot much less handy to get that knowledge.On high of that, solely the Sense 2 enables you to take guide pores and skin temperature readings, whereas the Charge 6 solely collects this knowledge passively at night time.Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Sense 2: Why the Charge 6 is healthier(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)When Google introduced the Fitbit Charge 6, it defined the way it has the “most accurate heart rate tracking on a Fitbit tracker yet,” because of an “improved machine learning algorithm that brings over innovation.”So although the Sense 2 has a “multi-path” optical HR sensor that gathers extra correct knowledge, the Charge 6 closes the hole with ML knowledge to seek out the identical end result throughout vigorous actions when your tracker might not keep flush together with your wrist. And it does so at half the worth of the Sense 2.On that very same observe, the Charge 6 gathers a lot of the identical well being knowledge because the Sense 2 — far more than the pricier Versa 4 — with a extra snug type issue that is higher suited to sleep monitoring. The Sense 2 is admittedly a lot thinner and lighter than your typical health watch, however you are still extra prone to ignore the burden of the Charge 6 whereas figuring out.(Image credit score: Michael Hicks / Android Central)As for Charge 6 exclusives, solely the health tracker has a YouTube Music widget for controlling your playlists. The Sense 2 has no music playback controls in any respect, a irritating omission in comparison with a lot of the greatest health trackers. That provides the Charge 6 an edge, however provided that you pay for YouTube Premium; Spotify or Apple Fitness followers are out of luck.A extra common perk is the Charge 6’s capacity to broadcast your coronary heart charge by way of Bluetooth to treadmills, ellipticals, rowers, and train bikes. Nordic, Peloton, Concept2, and Tonal are the present companions, and Fitbit has promised different companions down the road.Fitbit additionally gave the Charge 6 a “Zoom + Magnification” characteristic to make it simpler to learn notifications on the small show, one thing the Sense 2 does not have. That mentioned, the Sense 2 does not really want this for the reason that show is a lot bigger.Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Sense 2: Which do you have to purchase?We ranked the Fitbit Charge 6 and Sense 2 at #2 and #3 for our greatest Fitbit information, respectively. But that does not imply the Sense 2 is worse, merely that the Charge 6 is the higher discount with 80–90% of the identical instruments for half the worth.The Fitbit Sense 2 often is the more sensible choice for outside athletes, because of the brighter show, altimeter for elevation monitoring, and the power to take cellphone calls on the go together with your cellphone in your pocket. But for those who do not care about these options, or do not want steady stress-tracking knowledge, then you definitely should not overpay for the Sense 2.The Fitbit Charge 6 might swimsuit indoor athletes higher due to its Broadcast HR instrument and the truth that it will not hinder your wrist as a lot when power coaching. It’s additionally extra snug when worn at night time, with a lot of the identical well being metrics. Just needless to say its small show will frustrate you for those who’re somebody who reads a whole lot of notifications in your wrist.Fitbit may launch a brand new Fitbit Sense 3 in 2024, if it follows its typical two-year launch sample. If you are extra tempted by a Fitbit watch, you might need to wait till this summer season within the hope of one thing higher, until you see the Sense 2 at an important worth. We do not count on a Fitbit Charge 7 anytime quickly, so the Charge 6 is price shopping for now for those who’re in any respect .
The greatest health tracker
Choose the Fitbit Charge 6 for its light-weight design, fitness center tools connectivity, YouTube Music controls, or its extra cheap worth level. Skip the Charge 6 for those who care a couple of readable show otherwise you’re a runner or bicycle owner who must know what number of flooring you’ve got climbed throughout a exercise.
Smartwatch improve
Choose the Fitbit Sense 2 if you’d like each single characteristic that Fitbit has to supply with none compromise, together with a extra conventional smartwatch type issue. Skip the Sense 2 for those who’re on a finances, if you wish to prioritize one thing lighter, or if you wish to maintain out for the Sense 3.