I am a Fitbit user and previously I had Fitbit Charge 6, which was an amazing fitness tracker, and recently I got Fitbit Air too.
So in this blog post, I am going to compare both watches, Fitbit Air and its previous version Fitbit Charge 6, and will tell you an honest review.
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Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Charge 6: Which Should You Get?
So friends, Fitbit Air is a screenless fitness tracking band whereas Fitbit Charge 6 has a screen. The Fitbit Air costs around hundred dollars whereas Fitbit Charge 6 comes with similar pricing, but this is a bit older device so there has also been a little price drop in the US market.
But if you go for the secondhand market, then obviously you are going to get Fitbit Charge 6 at a much cheaper price than Fitbit Air at the moment.
Design and Size
These two have very different designs. When it comes to Fitbit Air, it is slightly lightweight and gives a more compact feel, which is absolutely excellent. Whereas Fitbit Charge 6 is also compact but is thicker and heavier, and you also get a screen on it.
The heart rate sensor is actually identical on both these tracking bands, but the newly launched Fitbit Air simply takes the sensors from the older Fitbit Charge 6. However, there is some improvement and if we compare the sensors, Fitbit Air is much improved overall.
Also, the Fitbit Air is 12g whereas Fitbit Charge 6 is 29g, so it is almost two times heavier. When you wear it at night, you are obviously going to notice the difference.
If you want something to wear while sleeping or to track your sleep, then Fitbit Air definitely has a huge advantage because of its size and compact design.
Screen
Fitbit Charge 6 comes with a screen, and when you compare it with Fitbit Air, then obviously Fitbit Charge 6 has the advantage because Fitbit Air is a screenless device.
So if you are a person who wants to keep notifications on the tracking band, or wants to check the time, date, or step count without grabbing your phone, then Fitbit Charge 6 is a winner for you.
Also, one big deal breaker is that in both devices you won’t see a live step count on the band. So when I pay attention to checking data, I found that I simply lose motivation to walk. When you have to open the app to check steps, you tend to walk less, so you don’t get as much motivation compared to a device that shows it on screen.
Read this Also: Fitbit Air vs Amazfit Helio Comparison
GPS
Another big advantage goes to Fitbit Charge 6 as it comes with internal GPS whereas Fitbit Air does not have any internal GPS. To track your GPS, you have to keep your phone in range while tracking exercise. So in my opinion, Fitbit Charge 6 is best for GPS tracking or to get mapping.
Notifications
In Fitbit Charge 6, you can see notifications straight on the watch as it comes with a screen. A lot of people these days want to keep checking notifications without their phone, so for them this is a big advantage.
But there are many people who want to stay distracted from such things and do not actually care about notifications disturbing them. For them, Fitbit Air is the winner.
At the same time, you also get the option to disable notifications on Fitbit Charge 6 for those who do not want to receive them.
NFC
In Fitbit Charge 6, you get NFC and you can even use Google Wallet for payments, but in Fitbit Air you do not get any NFC support.
ECG Support
Those who are fitness freaks and want to keep checking their ECG report will be glad to know that Fitbit Charge 6 comes with ECG support and gives very accurate data.
On the other hand, Fitbit Air does not have ECG support as it does not have the required sensors for it.
Step Counter
Fitbit Charge 6 is actually a big winner in step counting as Fitbit Air actually gives less accurate data.
So if I talk in general, in Fitbit Charge 6 I get a fairly decent count, but sometimes it does overcount a bit.
Other Features
In Fitbit Charge 6, you can also control music, see navigation on your maps, and use many other features, while in Fitbit Air you do not get such features.
Heart Rate Sensor
Fitbit Air is definitely better than Fitbit Charge 6 in heart rate sensing, as it has a more refined heart rate sensor. Although they both have the same sensors, the reading is more consistent on Fitbit Air.
I even tested it against my Apple Watch and Samsung Watch and got similar heart rate data to Fitbit Air.
Battery Life
I think both devices have good battery life. In Fitbit Charge 6 you get 5 to 6 days of battery life and in Fitbit Air you get one or two days more.
But if you are using GPS on Charge 6, you will obviously get a one or two day battery life drop. This completely varies on standby conditions and depends on the user’s usage.
Which Watch Should You Get?
To be honest, I am not a smartwatch user and do not like using a smartwatch. In that case, Fitbit Air is a winner. Even if you want to track a lot of sleep, Fitbit Air is the one for you.
But there are many people who want to use it as a smartwatch, like getting notifications and other features. For them, Fitbit Charge 6 is also a good choice.
