Fitbit offers numerous devices in the activity tracking market, from plain and simple to its smartwatches. Both the Fitbit Charge 3 and Fitbit charge 4 are smartwatches focused on modern fitness tracking.
The latest device to join the Fitbit family is Fitbit Charge 4 with the same design but with new features like Active Zone Minutes, Workout Intensity Map, NFC. By the time you finish reading this article, you will know everything about Fitbit Charge 3 and 4.
Fitbit Charge 3 and Fitbit Charge 4 are excellent wristwatches for fitness tracking. Both models have their features. So it really comes with what you’re looking for in a tracker. Let’s wristwatches track against each other from display to their new added features. Let’s look at how they are compared.
| Fitbit 3 | Fitbit 4 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35.8 x 22.7 x11.8mm | 35.8 x 42.7 x12.5mm |
| Display | 1.57-inch OLED full touchscreen, Grayscale, TFT | 1-inch OLED full touchscreen, Grayscale, TFT |
| Battery life | 7 days | 7 days up to 5 hours with GPS |
| Weight | 29 grams | 30 grams |
| Compatibility | iOS 12.2 or higher Android OS 7.0 or higher | iOS 12.2 or higher Android OS 7.0 or higher |
| GPS | __ |  |
| Heart Rate Monitor | | |
| Step Counter | | |
| Water resistance | | |
| Swim tracking | | |
| Sleep tracking | | |
| NFC | | |
| Active zones minutes | __ | |
| Workout Intensity Map | __ | |
| Bluetooth | | |
| Apps | | |
| Spotify, Agenda Connect & Control | __ | |
| Sensors | Optical heart rate tracker, 3-axis accelerometer, altimeter, SpO2, Vibration motor | GPS, Optical heart rate tracker, 3-axis accelerometer, altimeter, SpO2, Vibration motor |
| Prices | $150 | $150 |
Fitbit Charge 4
| Display | 1.57-inch OLED monochrome touchscreen Display resolution: 100*160 pixels Display color depth: |
| Materials used | Case material: Platic Resins Strap material: Elastomer Bezel Material: Plastic resins |
| Dimensions | Body dimensions: 35.8*22.7*12.5 mm Body net weight: 27 g Adjustable length: 140-180 mm (small band) 180-220 mm(big band) |
| Water resistance | Yes, 5 ATM |
| Memory | 4 GB internal storage |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes |
| SpO2 Sensor | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
| GPS | Yes |
| Sleep Tracker | Yes |
| Microphone | No |
| Battery | non-removable lithium-polymer Without GPS: 7 days With GPS: 5 hours |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Supported Systems | Android and iOS |
| In the box | Charging cable two size wrist band user manual warranty card |
| Other features | Accelerometer Optical heart rate monitor Vibration motor Altimeter |
Pros
- Built-in GPS
- Active Zones Minutes
- Sleep tracking
- NFC
- Swim tracking
- Water-resistant
- Female health feature
Cons
- Slightly larger
- No storage for Music
- Lack of color display
Fitbit Charge 3
| Display | Grayscale 1 inch OLED Touchscreen Display resolution: 126*29 |
| Material Used | Case: Aluminum Strap: Silicon |
| Dimensions | Body dimensions: 1.6 x4 .04 x 8.9 inches Body net weight: 49 g |
| Water resistance | Yes. 5ATM |
| Memory | RAM: – Storage: – |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes |
| SpO2 Sensor | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
| GPS | No |
| Sleep Tracker | Yes |
| Microphone | No |
| Battery | Non-removable battery[Lithium-ion polymer] 7-day battery life |
| Connectivity | WiFi1 inch: Yes Bluetooth: Yes |
| Supported Systems | Android or iOS |
| In the box | Fitbit Charge 3 Band strap ×1 Dedicated charging cable x1 User manual x1 |
| Other Features | Tracks your steps, distance, sleep, stress, fitness level, heart rate, and calories. |
Pros
- Water-resistant
- Larger display than previous models
- Improved sensors
- Improvement in battery life
- Sleep tracking
- Female health feature
Cons
- Monochrome display
- Lack of music controls
- No built-in GPS
What are the differences?
Both Fitbit Charges come with some similar features and some newly added features in them. Similar features might be improved in the upgraded version of the Charge. There are some significant features upgrades with Charge 4. Let’s examine what each Fitbit Charge has to offer.
Display
Fitbit Charge 4 and Fitbit Charge 3 look similar at the first glance. But you can find slight differences when you put both Charge 3 and 4 side by side. Charge 4 seems a lot larger on paper than Charge 3. Because Charge 3 dimensions are 35.8 x 22.7 x11.8mm and Charge 4 dimensions are 35.8 x 42.7 x12.5mm which is slightly larger than Charge 3.
Battery Life
Fitbit Charge 4 and 3 offer full 7-day battery life including sleep, swim, and normal exercise tracking. Additionally, Fitbit Charge 4 has new features of GPS, if you turn GPS on, then battery life will be lessened for 5 hours due to the chip constantly sending and receiving a signal.
Active Zones Minutes
Active Zones Minutes uses your heart rate zones to determine the intensity of your workout. In Charge 4 to get Active Zone Minutes, you need to evaluate your heart rate into the fat burn zone. A person has a different preference in their daily routine you can set different Active Zone Minutes goals. It is the default setting in Charge 4.
App
Large numbers of apps can’t be run in Charge as Versa does, but it has its library to cover the basics function. You get new ones: Agenda and Spotify in Charge 4. Agenda is a mini-calendar and Spotify controls the music on your phone. Besides, both Charges have exercise, alarms, timers, weather, settings.
Built-in GPS
These new features added in Charge 4 built-in GPS help the person to get an idea of the distance during hikes, run, or a ride. Map of their route can be also seen afterward on the Fitbit app. Apart from this Fitbit Charge 3 works in pair with your smartphone to track your GPS data, known as connected GPS.
Fitness and Health
Fitbit Charge’s main features revolve around fitness and health tracking. They are adding new features to every updated version of Fitbit Charge. Some apps and features to help you get and stay fit.
| Charge 4 | Charge 3 |
|
|
Workout Intensity Map
The users can get detailed of the different heart rate zones passed through along the way after syncing the GPS data from the tracker. The pace of details will be highlighted on the map. Blue refers to when you’re below zones, yellow indicated fat burn, orange corresponds with cardio zone and red occurs when you hit your peak.
Near Field Communication(NFC)
NFC may be another additional feature in Charge 3 and Charge 4. It was included in the special edition of Charge 3. Buyers have to pay extra for the special edition to get built-in NFC payment functionality. It is the default setting in Charge 4.
Price Differences
The price of Charge 3 and Charge 4 is $150. The special edition of Charge 3 adds an extra of $20 to the purchase of it. The Special Edition (SE) of Charge 3 added NFC in its function, where Charge 4 SE has the same functionality as Charge 4 is the only difference in them.
What’s The Similarity Between Fitbit 3 And Fitbit 4?
The time difference between Fitbit Charge 3 and Charge 4 released is two years. Charge 3 was released in August 2018 and Charge 4 in early April 2020. Especially Charge 3 gains popularity in its release and continues up to now before Charge 4 was released. Both Charges have similar features like water resistance, swim-tracking, sleep tracking, heart rate monitor, Bluetooth. Despite they have some similar features yet Charge 4 added built-in GPS, Spotify, and agenda connect and control in its features. NFC can be found in the special edition of Charge 3 but it is the default feature in Charge 4.
Fitbit Charge 4 vs Charge 3: Should I upgrade?
While Charge 3 still has its popularity of becoming the best fitness tracking device according to the need of the health and fitness of the people upgraded Charge 4 may be a good option. Upgraded version Charge 4 has added new features to keep your body stay fit and fine. Besides each person has a different perspective for buying fitness tracking devices. But if you want more from your fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 4 is worthy of upgrading.
In fact, you might be addicted to Charge 4 addition of built-in GPS, Workout Intensity Map and having Fitbit Pay as a standard feature. Since it has improved in sleep tracking and workout too. Spotify is also another feature for the lover of Spotify users that gives you another reason to upgrade. However, there isn’t a huge price difference between them.
You might not need extra features? Charge 3 has plenty to offer for those people. It may be the best starter tracker for those who are new to the fitness tracking device world. If you urge for upgrading, we’d recommend the Charge 4 for new features it has an offer to users.
