Fitbit has announced that the Fitbit Charge 2, the latest iteration to its most popular fitness tracker, is now rolling out in major retailers around the world.
In the new wearable device, the company touts a reimagination of the Fitbit Charge HR and the proprietary PurePulse technology, the wrist-based heart rate tracker that powers Fitbit's health and fitness tools. The result is a purportedly enhanced fitness experience and smarter wearable technology.
"We've maintained our focus on health and fitness with Charge 2 and it reflects our deep understanding of what consumers want in wearable device, with a sleek new look, and a fitness experience that is more engaging, motivating and personal than ever," Woody Scal, chief business officer at Fitbit, said in an official statement.
According to Fitbit, the Charge 2 builds on the classic features that catapulted the Charge HR to a dominant position in the market's wearable technology category. Aside from the PurePulse technology, for example, the latest device can also track cardio fitness level and help calm the body and mind through its relax-guided breathing session feature.
The Fitbit Charge 2 also has GPS connectivity, which means it is able to precisely tell real-time stats such as the distance covered when walking, running or biking. Other features include the 17-mode tracking to cover sports activities and workouts. The device can also automatically shift to different tracking states such as when its user is sleeping or in between high-intensity exercise.
New features include longer battery life, which Fitbit claims can last up to five days of usage. The Charge 2 will also come in a sleeker design with the capability to switch bands. Its display also got bigger while the device itself became more capable in handling granular fitness data.
Finally, previous weaknesses identified with the Charge HR are also expected to be addressed. There were reports, for instance, that reveal the tendency for its band to peel and for users to experience synchronization problems.
Some would also miss some key functionalities that are available in other Fitbit devices such as waterproofing. This particular feature seems to be the norm these days with the latest Apple Watch boasting the same capability as well.
The Fitbit Charge 2 will retail for $149.95. Two editions, a 22-karat rose gold and a matte-black gunmetal trackers, will be sold for $179.95 come December. Users can also purchase the interchangeable straps from $29.95 to $69.95 this coming October.
Fitbit's aggressive push toward smarter fitness tracking wearable underscores the tech industry's increasing interest on the healthcare segment. This is evidenced in the way Apple is reportedly improving its HealthKit solution used in its Apple Watch line.
