Fitbit Luxe vs Inspire 2 (2021): Which Fitness Tracker Has The Edge?

Fitbit has been expanding its lineup of fitness trackers and its latest addition — the Luxe — takes a more fashion-focused approach to wearables. At first glance, however, it’s easy to mistake the new device with the Inspire 2. Both trackers sport a slim and lightweight profile compared to the flagship Charge 4. But outside of aesthetics, how different are the two? To see which wearable has the edge, check out our Fitbit Luxe vs Inspire 2 comparison below.

Fitbit Luxe vs Inspire 2 Comparison Chart

Design and Style

Fitbit’s Luxe and Inspire 2 are slim and lightweight fitness trackers. The Luxe, however, has more of a jewelry-like design compared to the sporty Inspire 2.

The Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 2 are essentially slim and lightweight wristbands. Unlike the Charge 4, the display on both devices is narrower. In terms of profile, however, the Luxe is slimmer and more refined than the Inspire 2. Users will also appreciate how the Luxe’s screen is embedded into a stainless steel case. On the Inspire 2, Fitbit uses a durable but less stylish resin material.

When it comes to screens, the Luxe is a lot more interesting. The tracker is the first in Fitbit’s lineup to boast a color AMOLED touch display. If you’re getting the Inspire 2, you’ll have to make do with a greyscale backlit OLED screen. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing as it does extend the device’s battery life.

Now out of the box, the Fitbit Luxe comes with silicone bands. However, these are fastened by an anodized metal buckle and tang. The color of the buckles also follows that of the case — whether it’s stainless steel, gold, graphite, or platinum. There’s also a special edition of the Luxe made in collaboration with gorjana jewelry featuring a stainless steel link bracelet in soft gold.

On the Inspire 2, the buckle is still made from plastic. While not as premium as metal, it’s more comfortable to wear during exercises and workouts. You can get the Inspire 2 in black, lunar white, and desert rose bands. The wearable is also compatible with other Fitbit bands, including the jewelry-like steel mesh and the quirky bloom prints.

Activity and Fitness Tracking

The Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 2 can track several fitness activities. However, both devices lack a built-in GPS and altimeter, so you miss out on a few metrics.

Fitness tracking has always been the strength of Fitbit, so expect consistent performance from the Luxe and Inspire 2. Both devices, for instance, track your standard metrics like calories burned and total steps taken. They also monitor heart rate trends, including resting heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV).

Users can monitor pace and distance in real-time but only with a smartphone nearby since the tracker doesn’t come with built-in GPS. The Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 2 also lack an altimeter, so floors climbed and elevation are not recorded. For hikers and trail runners, you’ll probably be better off with the Fitbit Charge 4 that comes with both the GPS and altimeter.

Fitbit has pre-loaded the Luxe and Inspire 2 with over 20 exercise modes. Several activities can be auto-detected through what it calls the SmartTrack feature. However, the metrics from these auto-detected activities tend to be basic. Detailed metrics are more accessible on core activities like the run, walk, bike, and treadmill modes.

Read our Fitbit Inspire 2 vs Charge 4 comparison here.

Health and Wellness

While most health monitoring tools are the same for both devices, the Luxe is equipped with an SpO2 sensor — a feature not on the Inspire 2.

Fitbit has been putting greater emphasis on health monitoring tools in their devices. The Luxe and Inspire 2 are no different. Fitbit has equipped both trackers with 24/7 heart rate monitoring, a staple feature in today’s wearables. Based on your heart rate, you can even keep tabs on your stress levels and get guided breathing sessions.

Through the Fitbit App, users also have access to a range of wellness applications. Reflections, for instance, allow you to note down if you feel calm or stressed. A Mindfulness tile, on the other hand, offers calming mindfulness sessions. You can even track your sleep breathing rates.

Speaking of nocturnal habits, both the Luxe and Inspire 2 have pretty reliable sleep monitoring capabilities. While other devices only cover the duration of your nightly rest, Fitbit’s wearables identify sleep stages and provide corresponding sleep scores.

Where the Luxe has an edge, however, is the presence of SpO2 monitoring. It’s a feature becoming common in high-end devices like the Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch. While not a replacement for medical devices, Fitbit notes that oxygen saturation monitoring provides users a good indication of changes in their health and fitness.

Smart Features and Battery Life

The Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 2 have limited smart features. The latter, however, enjoys a longer battery life.

When it comes to smart features, you only get the basics on the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 2. Both wearables are compatible with Android and iOS smartphones. If your phone is nearby, you get call, text, and app notifications. Unfortunately, there is no NFC on both, so you don’t get support for Fitbit Pay. There are no dedicated Spotify music controls on the Luxe and Inspire 2 as well.

The Inspire 2, however, comes with built-in Tile finding technology. If you have one of these Tile Bluetooth trackers, you can pair it with your wearable, so you get alerts if you leave or lose your Fitbit. But it’s only practical on the Inspire 2 since the device has the option to be used on a clip.

In terms of battery life, the Inspire 2 still has the edge. Part of it is due to the use of a greyscale display. Users get up to 10 days of power on the Inspire 2. The Fitbit Luxe, which is equipped with a color AMOLED display, has a battery life of up to 5 days. Both have a charge time of two hours.

Verdict

Get the Fitbit Luxe if you want the best lightweight fitness tracker from Fitbit. Opt for the Fitbit Inspire 2 if you’re on a budget.

The Fitbit Luxe introduces a stylish aesthetic to Fitbit’s brand of fitness trackers. Beyond appearances, however, it’s also an upgrade over the Fitbit Inspire 2. Apart from the color display, the Luxe adds advanced health sensors for blood oxygen saturation and skin temperature variation. If these tools are something you’ll benefit from, then the Luxe is a better device.

For most people, however, the Fitbit Inspire 2 comes across as a reasonable alternative. After all, it boasts the same fitness and activity tracking features as the Luxe. Its design might also appeal to users who prefer something sporty to take to the gym. And at about two-thirds the price of the Luxe, it’s a budget-friendly wearable.

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