I had high hopes for my Fitbit Charge 3 based on company advertising and what I could glean from their website. Unfortunately, my response to the product at this point can be best described as "meh," because several things were not as I would have expected:

1. While the heart rate measurement is usually close to other accurate instruments I have to use for comparison, such as my Kardia and other measurement equipment at the gym, my Fitbit is sometimes inexplicably off by as much as 20-30 bpm. It's not frequent, but troubling nonetheless.
2. The SpO2 blood oxygen sensor doesn't do what you would expect. While other smart watches give you a blood oxygen level reading when you want it, the Fitbit Charge 3 doesn't. All you can get is high-level aggregate data as part of a sleep analysis. So, if you want to keep an eye on your O2 levels in your workout like I did, prepare to be greatly disappointed.
3. The app disappoints, which is a significant consideration given that you have a pay a substantial on-going fee to use all of it. I was previously using just my iPhone and Apple Health to track general activity. As a whole, I find it easier to input and track my activity in Apple Health than in the Fitbit app. For example, if I spend some time on the treadmill, the process for adding this data manually is harder in the Fitbit app than it should be.
4. Sleep analysis in the app is not worth the premium service fee. As an example of why I feel that way about it, if I go to sleep at 9:30pm and get up 12:15am to use the bathroom, it doesn't count that as me having slept and won't let me see any sleep analysis for that period despite the fact that I slept the whole time. Then if I go back to sleep for another 4.5 hours, it thinks that I only slept 4.5 hours that night when I actually slept closer to 7.5. Why would I pay premium service charges when it can't even figure out when I'm sleeping?
5. Stair counting is off. My iPhone does a remarkably good job of it. The Fitbit Charge 3, not so much.

If you're considering buying, don't just take my word for it. Search their user community forum and you'll find lots of people talking about these issues without any sort of meaningful response from Fitbit. Having spent my career working in the technology space, I have to confess that, as a whole, their management of user community concerns is not what I'd expect from a market leader.

On the plus side, the Fitbit Charge 3 is an "OK" product that you can accessorize with third-party bands and screen protectors. It has some handy "smart watch" features that you could get in a much cheaper device. The base app, though disappointing, is still better than those available for some of the cheap knock-offs.

As a whole, it does not live up to my expectations based on the price-point, nor does it or provide the functionality that a reasonable consumer would expect from looking at their website, such as blood oxygen level readings when you're working out. There are cheaper devices that offer this, so why Fitbit is behind the curve on this, I can't fathom. It isn't the behavior of a market leader. And, even if you pay the premium on-going fees, the app still can't even figure out when I'm actually sleeping.

All said, I find the Fitbit Charge 3 to be an overpriced, mediocre smart watch with watch functionality lagging behind that of cheaper competitors. I give it 3 out of 5 based on functionality and cost, but an extra +1 star simply because the phone apps of competing knock-offs are even worse in comparison. I feel like if all you want is the smart watch itself, the Fitbit Charge 3 is over-priced and you might be better served by a cheaper brand that will actually give you oxygen readings on-demand. The app is still better than what the knock-offs offer, though, so in making your decision about what type of smart watch to get, you might have to make a trade-off between watch functionality on your wrist (O2 etc.) versus the phone app's reliability.

If you're looking for a way to stay on top of your fitness goals and track your progress, then the Fitbit Charge 3 is the perfect solution. This fitness activity tracker is packed with features that will help you stay motivated and on track, no matter what your goals may be.

One of the standout features of the Fitbit Charge 3 is its sleek and stylish design. The tracker is available in a variety of colors, and the band is comfortable and lightweight, making it easy to wear all day long. And with a battery life of up to 7 days, you won't have to worry about constantly recharging your device.

But the real magic of the Fitbit Charge 3 lies in its ability to track your fitness progress. The tracker can monitor your heart rate, calories burned, and even track your sleep patterns. And with the Fitbit app, you can set goals and track your progress over time, giving you the motivation you need to stay on track.

In addition to its fitness tracking features, the Fitbit Charge 3 also offers text and call notifications, making it easy to stay connected even while you're working out. And with its water-resistant design, you can even wear it while swimming or showering.

Overall, the Fitbit Charge 3 is the ultimate fitness tracker that will help you crush your health goals. It's stylish, comfortable, and packed with features that will keep you motivated and on track. If you're looking for a way to take your fitness to the next level, then the Fitbit Charge 3 is definitely worth the investment. Highly recommended!

I have had an off brand fitness charger for about 6 months and enjoyed it, but I really wanted to upgrade to Fitbit. My daughter got one of these and loved it, so I ordered one for myself. I got the one that comes with a black and white band. One side of the band has a smaller or larger piece to use. I used the smaller one. My version is the special edition which comes with two different bands.

I was surprised that you do not have to wear this tight at all to get the heart rate monitor to work. It works with a little green light and seems accurate to me. I have another monitor and it registers the same. It instructs you to put it on so that it can slide up and down. I like to wear it that way as it's more comfortable and do not have any issues getting anything to work.

So far everything is working great. I was surprised that there were no instructions in the box except to download the app, but once I did that it walked me through setting up my Fitbit Charge 3. The tracker bracelet comes with a charging cord. You have to clamp it on the back and then plug it into a usb plug. They tell you to do that first as part of the set up. After that it walked me through setting up my account and downloading an update that took about 15 minutes to complete. After that it was up and running and functional.

This blows my other cheaper fitness tracker out of the water. The reason I chose this one was the guided breathing exercises. I have some generalized anxiety and wanted to use this to try to combat that. Also the heart rate tracker can sometimes show when I might be putting myself under stress, so it seemed like a great feature for me.

I have also been losing weight since spring and I wanted an app and tracker that would help me track that and give me some motivation. The tracker will show how many pounds you have lost toward your goal. I was able to go back and add my starting weight from March so that it showed my total weight loss rather than just what I lost since getting the tracker. I love that!

It has a bunch of optional features like one where it prompts you to take some steps if you have not reached 250 in any hour you set it up to use this feature. The 250 is a static amount but you can change which hours it does this. I sort of like that the amount is such that I can get up and walk around the house and get the steps in. It alerts you 10 minutes before each hour that you have not met the 250 steps yet.

The other reason I wanted the fitbit was to help track my sleep. My other one would think if I got up to go to the bathroom that I was up after that. The fitbit shows that I was awake but then shows when I have gone back to sleep and counts it all as one night. I think it does a great job. With that.

The fitbit has many other features too numerous to mention and probably some I have not discovered, but I mainly wanted to mention my favorites. I am almost 60 and not super tech savvy, and was able to set this up without having any issues.

Thanks for reading my review

Becky Brooks

So I purchased in 2020 & used it - almost- everyday . It tracked my steps and also notified me of someone calling my phone.
I loved it !

But here we are in 2023 and it literally just
Pooped out on me /:
The screen is frozen and when I try to restart it, it won't .
It sucks . I'll probably have to buy another one since I'm way past the return time,

But it does work . The life of the Fitbit just doesn't last long

Tldr summary: Charge 3 is the activity band I have always wanted, finally.

Who you are and what you do will dictate whether this review will help you. I am over 45, female, professional, busy and I want stay healthy and become healthier over time. I care about my health but I also have other stuff to do.

I use a Fitbit because I want to try to keep moving throughout the day and be mindful but not obvious at work and then try to do low and moderate intensity workouts 3 to 5 times a week. There, I said it. The Fitbit needs to fit the rest of my life and it finally does. I feel the Charge 3 has something valuable to offer for the person who is in the back or middle of the fitness pack.

Appearance first: I want my Fitbit to match my professional persona at work and not exude a gym vibe. This has always been my problem with activity trackers in general; I think they are unattractive at work with a suit. I really like the Charge 3 size; it isn't too wide, it isn't too thick, the face isn't too big. To me, it can look like a watch and not some giant work out thing. I switched out the band for more professional and feminine straps from Amazon and I think it looks like jewelry at my professional job.

The Fitbit has made this the easiest band to change straps. It is no problem at all and feels secure. I can tell when it is clicked into place and I lost a Fitbit before so this is important to me. I bought the black Charge because I can buy off brand, affordable straps and not worry about metals clashing. I do not pay for the "designer" bands from Fitbit... I bought 2 leather slim profile and one rose gold slim band for less than $20 each on Amazon. I have the plastic cheap one it came with for actual sweaty or swimming work outs. I think a man could buy a thicker strap and it would look masculine.

Visual/face: I like the face of the Charge 3. I have it set to see time, date, and stat. It is a lot easier to scroll through the other available information than the Alta and it is a lot more readable. I like the choices of watch faces but I don't anticipate changing it now that I found one be that works for me.

Function: I like the heart rate, the sleep cycle, the waterproofing. I like everything about what it shows me. I think the sleep cycle is accurate for me. The heart rate is accurate. The heart rate tracks all day without missing a reading. The battery is better than my Alta and lasts 5 days for me. I don't do notifications or use the smart watch features so cannot comment on it and that may be why my battery is lasting longer. I use the 2 minute breathing a couple of times a day. I use the 250 steps an hour challenge now that I can see it on my new watch.

Other review comments: I did the Firmware update and have no problems connecting to my work iPhone or my personal Samsung phone and tablet. No issues syncing so far. I wore with my Alta at the same time and steps matched. I have been testing my steps for 4+ years and I find Fitbit accurate for me. I agree My Fitness Pal is best for food tracking vs the Fitbit app.

App: I realistically don't want to join a gym and it is too cold for me to make myself swim right now. As you can tell by reading this, I am not a hard core person for exercise. I am trying the Fitbit Coach and I like it. I travel and I like that I can just do the exercises anywhere and there are a lot of choices of activity. I like that there are inside and outside exercises and things in can just do in my living room or hotel room. I like that there are all different lengths of exercises from 10 min to 18 minutes to an hour. It is a small commitment, no equipment needed, as convenient as you can get, and a lot of variety. I am trying for a month and I think this is what I have been looking to add to the my walking 10,000 steps a day.

I see the Fitbit as a tool but I don't want it to annoy me. Most of the time I found the badges and challenges tiresome and making something out of nothing. I do like knowing I walked to the Moon but really it is just kind of not relevant. I was only using the Fitbit for steps and checking the app once a week or maybe less. Now I feel like I am going to take advantage of the more sophisticated offerings. I like seeing the graphs that show REM sleep and resting heart rate and cardio insights. This is the first time where I feel the app is offering me more than just glib surface information.

Other bands I have used: I had the One, which I liked because it was hidden but didn't do much. I had to dig down my shirt or look at my phone to see my steps. I bought the little tiny Fitbit Flex 2 and the metal holder was ridiculously hard to get the Fitbit in and out of and didn't show anything - you had to look on your phone. The Alta had a slim profile but was hard to see and super hard to change bands. Ultimately I lost the Flex2 due to a necklace malfunction and abandoned the Alta for not being useful enough to justify wearing something I thought was ugly. I briefly had delusions of fitness grandeur and have a Garmin Vivoactive HR. It was too hard core for me and too big and plastic. Alas, Garmin made me realize I am just not into fitness as a "lifestyle."