FitBit, the global leader in the wearable space, is finally in India. Wearables have been gaining ground in India thanks to the availability of really affordable activity trackers from companies like Xiaomi, but FitBit will be the first company to launch a bouquet of devices aimed at different types of users. I decided to test the FitBit Charge HR as it is the first wearable in the Indian market that keeps a constant tab on your heart rate.
FitBit Charge HR
Rs 12,990
FitBit has been on Indian wrists for a while now, mostly brought in by people who visit the US or other geographies where it is available. But it is only now that you can buy a FitBit directly in India. The Charge HR looks like a large version of the very popular Flex band. However, unlike the Flex this has an LED display with a control button. But there is also a sensor at the back that constantly keeps monitoring your heart rate. FitBit recommends that users wear the band a finger length away from the wrist bone for best results. It is also recommended that the band be worn loose, especially since you will be wearing it the whole day.
What is good?
The FitBit Charge HR is a simple, no-nonsense device. It has just one button that lets you move through the data sets the band is collecting through the day. So the first click shows time, then steps, distance covered and calories burnt. A long 3-second press of the buttons initiates an activity period, like when you start a jog or a wait training session. It can be ended with another long press. Can’t get simpler.
Almost all activity trackers are limited to counting the steps you take and translating this to distance covered and calories burnt. But we tend to overlook the fact that calories are burnt even when you are idle and end up not counting this at all. But Charge HR, through its PurePulse Heart Rate, can track you even when you are asleep and thus shows a more accurate calorie count than other devices.
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