San Francisco-based Fitbit recently released the Fitbit Charge 4, its latest lineup of fitness trackers equipped with the much-requested GPS. How does the new Charge 4 fare against the top-selling and more budget-friendly Fitbit Inspire HR fitness tracker? Our in-depth comparison below will help you decide which Fitbit better suits your health and fitness needs.
With built-in GPS and 24/7 heart rate monitoring, the Charge 4 is an essential upgrade for fitness fans.
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Fitbit Charge 4 vs Inspire HR Fitness Tracker Comparison Chart
| Model | ||
|  | |
| Price | Check Price | Check Price |
| Display | OLED Touchscreen | OLED Touchscreen |
| Dimensions | 1.4″ x 0.9″ | 1.45″ x .63″ |
| Strap | Classic Band | Classic Band |
| Colors | Black Rosewood Storm Blue/Black | Black Lilac White |
| GPS | Built-in | Connected |
| Call & Text Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Awake | Yes | No |
| Water Resistance | Up to 50 meters | Up to 50 meters |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes | Yes |
| Pedometer | Yes | Yes |
| Altimeter | Yes | No |
| Calorie Burn Tracker | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Resting Heart Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Active Zone Minutes | Yes | No |
| Blood Oxygen Level | Yes | No |
| Swim Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Female Health Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Fitbit Pay | Yes | No |
| Compatibility | Apple iOS 12.2 or higher Android OS 7.0 or higher Windows 10 version 1607.0 or higher | Apple iOS 12.2 or higher Android OS 7.0 or higher Windows 10 version 1607.0 or higher |
| Subscription | 90-day free trial of Fitbit Premium | 90-day free trial of Fitbit Premium |
| Battery Life | Up to 7 days | Up to 5 days |
Design and Comfort
The
The aesthetics of the
The
The Charge 4 Special Edition comes with a sleek reflective woven band as well as the classic black band, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, built-in GPS and more.
GPS
The
Fitbit has included a long-overdue upgrade to its flagship fitness tracker: a built-in GPS. The Charge 4 comes with a built-in GPS so you can track and record your distances, steps, and pace in real-time even without your phone. It also features a map that shows the intensity of your exertion at certain points of your workout, cycling, or training.
On the other hand, the Inspire HR needs to be connected to your phone’s GPS to be able to track and record the aforementioned data. If you don’t mind carrying your phone with you all the time, then this isn’t a big issue.
Health and Fitness Tracking
The
Fitbit’s Charge 4 and Inspire HR offer the following essential health and fitness tracking features:
- set fitness goals and track your progress
- monitor your resting heart and heart rate zones
- give customized reminders to move, hydrate, or even sleep
- track sleep stages and give insights for better sleep quality and overall health
- track swim sets
- monitor menstrual cycles and record symptoms
- track and record steps, distances, pace and calorie burn
- get guided breathing sessions based on your heart rate
Waterproof for up to 50m, the Fitbit Inspire HR is great for tracking an array of activities and wellness metrics.
As the newer fitness tracker, the
- measure elevation (e.g track floors climbed)
- measure blood oxygen levels through its SPO2 sensor
- map your workout intensities and exertion level throughout your route
- wake you up during the most ideal time based on your sleep scores and stages
- set goals, get alerts, and receive bespoke recommendations based on your heart rate through the Active Zone Minutes
One of the latest upgrades found in the
Connectivity and Compatibility
Connecting the Charge 4 and the Inspire HR with iOS, Android, and Window is easy and straightforward
Pairing and setting up either the
Fitbit made sure that its devices are compatible with any platform. Both the Charge 4 and the Inspire HR can be synced with iOS, Android, and Windows 10 and later. If you’re an Android user, you can set-up your fitness tracker to receive alerts and notifications. Where the Charge 4 trumps the Inspire HR is its NFC connectivity, which we’ll talk about in the next section.
With built-in GPS and 24/7 heart rate monitoring, the Charge 4 is an essential upgrade for fitness fans.
Smart Features
The
One of the major features in the
The latest
Battery Life and Additional Features
The
Long battery life is imperative if you want to consistently monitor your heart rate. You can wear your Fitbit for days, and even during your sleep, thanks to their strong battery life. At full power, the Charge 4 can last for up to 7 days while the Inspire HR only lasts for up to 5 days. However, keep in mind that frequent or continuous use of the Charge 4’s GPS will yield significantly shorter usage hours.
As they both have a 5ATM certification, this means that the Charge 4 and the Inspire HR can be submerged for up to 50 meters of freshwater. This allows you to track and record your sets, pace, distance, and intensity while doing water activities such as swimming, surfing or rowing. However, they are not recommended for use in saunas or hot tubs. Something to consider when choosing a Fitbit band for your water activities is the woven bands don’t dry as fast the classic bands.
Verdict
The
With built-in GPS and 24/7 heart rate monitoring, the Charge 4 is an essential upgrade for fitness fans.
Waterproof for up to 50m, the Fitbit Inspire HR is great for tracking an array of activities and wellness metrics.
While the recently launched Fitbit Charge 4 comes with more bells and whistles than the Fitbit Inspire HR, the latter offers almost the same health and fitness tracking features as the flagship fitness tracker. The Inspire HR can help you achieve your health and fitness goals for a fraction of the cost of the Charge 4. If you don’t mind missing out on a built-in GPS, altimeter, blood oxygen level sensor, Active Zone Minutes, NFC connectivity, Spotify control, and longer battery life, the Inspire HR is enough for tracking your fitness activities.
FAQs
Only the
Yes, but only the
The Fitbit Charge 4 supports Fitbit Pay. The Inspire HR doesn’t.
You can download and install the Spotify app on the