Fitbit today announced the worldwide first launch of its Charge 2 in Australia (just in time for Fathers Day) with an update to its popular Flex activity tracker – the Flex 2 – following in October.
The Charge 2 is the successor to the company’s well-regarded Charge and Charge HR trackers. It’s a reimagined and redesigned product with a bigger display than its predecessor (4 times larger) with interchangeable bands. It adds two new features – Multisport tracking and connected GPS.
On the software side, Fitbit’s added a fitness score to the Charge 2, allowing you to get an at-a-glance measurement (VO2 Max) of how well you’re tracking towards your personal fitness goals. It’s also recognising that wellness isn’t just about activity, but also inactivity with the watch able to take you through 2- and 5-minute guided breathing sessions to help you relax and de-stress. It’ll also remind you to get up and move if you’ve been still for a while.
Charge 2 is on sale today at Harvey Norman, JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks and Rebel Sport and on fitbit.com. Officially, it’ll run you $249.95 for the tracker and a classic fitness band (black, blue, plum, teal) with extra bands available for $49.95 each and premium leather “Luxe” bands (blush, pink, brown and indigo) at $119.95. There’s also special editions coming later this year in gunmetal and rose gold at $289.95.
Coming this October, Flex 2 is a big update over the original Flex activity tracker. It’s now smaller and water resistant (the word is “swim-proof”) and the core tracker can be removed and used with number of accessories offering different wear modes to suit your lifestyle.
Flex 2 brings automatic exercise tracking to the table, recognising workouts like walks, runs, rides, elliptical, sports, aerobic workouts and, now that it’s water-resistant, swims (laps, duration and calories burned in the pool).
The original Flex’s screen-less design carries over to Flex 2, with a series of LEDs adorning the tiny body of the new tracker. The LEDs blink and flash in different ways for different situations (calls, texts, goal status, etc).
Fitbit’s also making it easier for Flex 2 to fit your lifestyle, with a number of accessories available for the tiny new tracker so you can wear it in different environments and different company without it looking out of place (no wearing that bright blue bracelet to a black tie dinner!). There’s Fitbit’s own bracelets and pendants in materials like stainless steel, 22k-plated gold and lariat-style necklaces, but also premium accessories designed by the likes of Public School and Tory Burch coming in 2017.
Flex 2 hits stores in October, but it’s up for pre-order now at fitbit.com. RRP for the base model will be $149.95 (one band in black, lavender, magenta or navy) with spare bands available in 3-packs for $49.95. The bangle in gold or rose gold is $169.95 while the stainless steel version is $149.95 and the pendant is $169.95 in gold and $129.95 in stainless steel.
The Charge needs an eInk always on display so it can also work as watch. I have a Charge HR and wear a real watch as well. The Charge needs a button pressed or a tap or flick to bring up the time. A simple thing but a big drawback.