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Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Tom's Guide
I walked 6,500 steps with the Fitbit Charge 6 vs Pixel Watch 3 — and I'm surprised by the winner
Want the best Fitbit available today? Your choices come down to the Fitbit Charge 6 and Google Pixel Watch 3. Both devices are powered by Fitbit and produced by Google, but that's where the similarities end. The Fitbit Charge 6 was announced in 2023 and remains the brand's flagship band-style fitness tracker. The Pixel Watch 3, meanwhile, launched in 2024 and is Google's one and only smartwatch offering, though it comes in two sizes. For this test, I pitted the smaller 41mm Pixel Watch 3 ($349) against the Fitbit Charge 6 ($159). With Google winding down the Fitbit brand, there's a good chance that the Charge 6 is the end of the road for perhaps the brand's most beloved wearable line. So, is the Pixel Watch 3 a good replacement for the Charge 6, at least from a fitness tracking standpoint? There's only one way to find out. Let the test begin! The Google Pixel Watch 3 is a full-featured smartwatch with all of Fitbit's best fitness tracking and wellness features built in. Though it's considerably more expensive than the Fitbit Charge 6, the Pixel Watch 3 has way more smart features, too. It also works with a gigantic range of third-party apps. The Charge 6 does not. The Charge 6 could be one of the last devices to bear the Fitbit name. Launched in 2023, this high-end tracker sports a small AMOLED touchscreen and boasts impressive fitness-tracking chops. It also has better battery life than its modern smartwatch cousin and is lighter on the wrist. Did I mention it's also about half the cost of the Pixel Watch? If you've read my previous walk test articles, you can probably go ahead and skip to the next section. For those new here, this is how these comparisons go down: With a smartwatch on either wrist, I begin tracking my walk. As a control, I manually count each step I take; my favorite Bose Quiet Comfort headphones help drown out the distraction. To help me keep track of the total, I click an old-school manual tally counter every hundred steps before starting my tally over again at one. In this case, I repeated that process 65 times before finding a nice quiet park bench to settle down on and record the data. Oh, and as an extra control, I recorded the walk using Strava on my trusty iPhone 12 Mini. Check out the results below: Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Fitbit Charge 6 Google Pixel Watch 3 Control Step count 6,546 steps 6,653 steps 6,500 steps (manual count) Distance 3.01 miles 3.4 miles 3.41 miles (Strava) Elevation gain no data 325 feet 303 feet (Strava) Average pace 22 mins, 21 secs per mile 19 mins, 48 secs per mile 18 mins, 20 secs per mile Average heart rate 114 bpm 114 bpm n/a Max heart rate 164 bpm 164 bpm n/a Calories burned 527 calories 529 calories n/a Device battery usage + 1% - 9% n/a Well, well, well — look at which device was closer to my actual step count total by a whole seven steps; it's the Fitbit Charge 6. For what it's worth, both devices beat Strava's tally of 6,558 steps. Unfortunately for the small but mighty Charge 6, things get a little funky when we move on to distance data. Despite nailing my step count total with impressive accuracy, the device appears to have severely undercounted my distance covered by a whopping 0.4 miles... that's not an insignificant difference. The Fitbit Charge 6 frustratingly also does not report elevation gain data, even though it technically could using the onboard GPS. And while I didn't intend for this walk to be hilly, living in Seattle, Washington, a few hundred feet of elevation gain is par for the course when cruising around town on foot. The Pixel Watch 3 does report climb data, which looks perhaps a tad inflated for this walk — I tend to trust Strava as the gold standard here — but still accurate enough for my needs. Of course, had the Pixel Watch 3 undercounted my climb by 22 feet (compared to Strava), I might not be so forgiving. Strava provides two pace metrics including an average moving pace — reported above — and an elapsed pace, which tends to be slower. In this case, my elapsed pace was 19 minutes and 15 seconds per mile, much closer to the Pixel Watch 3's metric. Inflated pace data from the Fitbit Charge 6, meanwhile, makes sense given it measured a considerably shorter walk, distance-wise. Nothing warms my heart more than two devices capturing similar heart rate data during these head-to-heads, and it doesn't get any more precise than this. The same goes for calories burned. Finally, while the Pixel Watch 3 burned through 9% of its battery during my roughly one-hour-and-seven-minute walk, the Charge 6 somehow managed to gain 1% battery (from 98% when I left to 99% when I returned). In today's battle of the Fitbit-powered Google wearables, the underdog Charge 6 comes out on top. However, even though the Fitbit Charge 6 managed a closer step count total to my manual count, the Pixel Watch 3 proved more accurate across the board. Still, I'm impressed that the older, more affordable wearable was able to keep up with the newer and higher-end Pixel Watch 3. Ultimately, the Charge 6 remains one of the best fitness trackers for the money in 2025, especially if you like easy-wearing devices with great battery and onboard GPS so that you can leave your phone at home. Which fitness trackers and/or smartwatches should I test head-to-head next? Let me know in the comments below.
Gizmodo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Gizmodo
This Fitbit Charge 6 Matches Last Prime Day Price, Arrives Before Father's Day If You Order Now
Fitness is a pretty long and arduous affair, and requires a huge amount of commitment. Not only do you need to eat well, and ideally with a good mix of macronutrients, but you also need to actually exercise, and even sleep well. We're still working on that last one. One major thing that can really help is actually tracking your stats, and the best way to do that is with this Fitbit Charge 6, which is currently 25% off on Amazon. There are a lot of fitness trackers out there now, but Fitbit is one of the most reliable companies around on that front, and they have a great balance of value and features too. It's just a solid investment for your own health, and that's what this is all about. Well, that and having a little bit more accountability. See at Amazon This Fitbit Charge 6 Tracks It All The Fitbit Charge 6 has oh so many features, so let's go through them. As a fitness tracker, it can, of course, keep an eye on your heart rate as you'd expect. However, this can actually allow it to transmit your heart rate to compatible devices, like an elliptical trainer or treadmill at a gym. This means you don't have to keep tracking your wrist to make sure you're working as hard as you want to. That's not all it tracks though. It's also capable of keeping an eye on your stress levels, which may or may not make you more stressed, but will hopefully help you try to relax at the very least. It can also track your sleep schedule, and not only rate you and offer ways to improve, but also has a 'Smart Wake' alarm, which can do a great job of waking you up more naturally during your sleep cycle. You can also actively track where you're running and even help guide yourself through new routes. That's because the Fitbit Charge 6 can link to Google Maps to not only let you see where you've run on a map, but even give instructions, just in case you're running somewhere you're not familiar with. It even pairs with Google Wallet, which means you can use to to pay for things, just in case you realize you've forgotten your drink, but you're already halfway through your run and you're nowhere near home. That's an awful lot of work from one device, especially one that's down to $120 right now on Amazon. See at Amazon
Tom's Guide
05-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
JBL Charge 6 review: JBL's got greatness playing on repeat
Price: $199 / £149 / (approx. AU$310)Colors: Black, Blue, Funky, Pink, Purple, Red, Sand, Squad, WhiteSize: 9.0 x 3.9 x 3.7 inchesWeight: 2.17 poundsBattery life (rated): 28 hoursConnectivity: Bluetooth 5.4 with SBC and AACDurability: IP68-rated JBL makes some solid wireless earbuds and headphones (Tom's Guide recommends the 4-star Live 770NC), but its portable speakers are even better and more coveted. The all-new JBL Charge 6 follows suit with notable improvements that elevate this carriable bass-blaster to top contender status. The speaker delivers vibrant sound that can be customized through the JBL Portable app (iOS/Android) while additions such as an artificial intelligence sound mode and lossless audio really impress sonically. A full charge was enough for me to entertain crowds for an entire weekend, and I also really liked that the Charge 6 doubled as a power bank to juice up handheld devices and play music simultaneously. Sadly, however, digital assistance and a speakerphone are MIA. The lack of backwards compatibility may also be a dealbreaker for those who already own previously released JBL speakers. The new Playtime Boost battery-saver mode also requires you to make a sacrifice on the audio quality front. Despite those minor issues, though, the Charge 6 is an excellent value and one of the best portable Bluetooth speakers you can buy under $200. You can purchase this speaker for $199 / £149 / AU$310 directly from the JBL website or at online retailers such as Amazon and Best Buy. The speaker is available in nine colors: Black, Blue, Funky Black (with neon pink and blue accents), Pink, Purple, Red, Sand, Squad (aka camo), and White (pictured above). The variety of bright and bold colorways is something you won't find on many competitors and I think the Miami-Vice-inspired Funky Black design looks awesome. JBL portable speakers are built with durability in mind: The Charge 6 is composed of hard post-consumer recycled plastic and dons a rugged woven fabric wrap that protects the drivers. IP68 certification keeps the speaker drop-, dust-, and waterproof up to 1.5 meters submersion for 30 minutes. It's not something you'll want to want to submerge for hours at a time, but know it'll survive an accidental drop in the water. The Charge Series' signature details like the embossed logo and physical buttons on the top remain present in the Charge 6. While the Charge 6 weighs about the same as the Charge 5 (est. 2.2 lbs.), it is heavier than most other handheld speakers like the Beats Pill (1.49 lbs.) and Sonos Roam 2 (0.93 lbs.). Luckily, it isn't cumbersome to lug around, thanks to the removeable handle strap. The strap isn't the highest quality, but it's dependable for transporting the Charge 6 from one location to another and the speaker's sturdy shell should assure you that it won't break if the strap doesn't hold up. The control scheme is a simple one: All controls are placed on the top. The playback button is flanked between the volume buttons. Above them is a flat backlit control strip with three buttons: Bluetooth, power on/off, and Auracast. Each button produces solid tactility and responds to intended commands. You'll need the buttons, as the Charge 6 does not come with voice assistance. (For comparison, the Beats Pill supports Siri and Google Assistant.) Thankfully, connectivity remains a strong point for the series. Range extends to about 40 feet before stuttering. You can pair two Charge 6 speakers together through Auracast for stereo sound or pair up to 100 Auracast-enabled JBL speakers at once. The Charge 6 isn't backwards compatible. In other words, you can't pair it with the Charge 5 or any JBL models programmed with Party Boost. Also, multipoint technology is absent, so you can't pair the speaker to two media devices at the same time. I loved the bassy, full-powered sound that the Charge 5 dished out. JBL's latest speaker is just as dynamic on the audio front and hosts a handful of features that heighten the listening experience. Bass is impactful right out of the box. JBL's 20mm tweeter and newly designed woofer transmit deep lows to your ears, along with crisp mids and highs. Instruments sound more distinctive, and vocals have more depth. Bangers like Travis Scott's 'Butterfly Effect' reverberate with intensity. The Charge 6 doesn't hold back on the track's immense boom effects and synths, which create a euphoric vibe the longer you're immersed in the track. I thought the heavily emphasized low end would create mass distortion, but that wasn't the case. Despite its reliance on thumpy sound, the Charge 6 demonstrates fantastic frequency range. The tinny hi-hats on Tupac's 'I Get Around' remain transparent over the prominent and punchy snares, while chill reggae bops like Q's 'be with ya' have resonant midrange that make the singer's falsettos more impactful and personal. Live performances are equally satisfying to hear — Fleetwood Mac's rendition of 'Everywhere' at Warner Brothers Studios made for a serene listen. Employing the customizable EQ or pre-engineered presets will either increase or decrease quality, depending on recordings. The default Signature gets you the most balanced sound. Chill brings the bass levels down a few notches and Energetic raises them higher, causing minor distortion at high volume. Another feature that can affect output is Playtime Boost, a new mode that prioritizes power preservation over sound quality. JBL's AI Sound Boost mode adjusts sound in real time based on your listening environment and is mostly effective. Anyone with detailed hearing can pick up on the clearer-sounding lows and mids. Lossless audio is becoming more common on wireless Bluetooth speakers. I loved testing the feature on the Beats Pill and found it just as enticing on the Charge 6. The differences in clarity and depth are obvious when it's connected to a wired device. One speaker is enough to fill an entire room with loud, engaging sound, and connecting two or more speakers (up to 100) creates broader 360-degree sound. The JBL Portable app is easy to navigate, looks attractive, and provides access to some features. I already touched on big ones: AI Sound Boost, Auracast connectivity, custom EQ, lossless audio, multi-speaker connectivity, and presets. Other extras include a battery level indicator, firmware updates, and the Playtime Boost mode. Everything you need is in the app. A full charge gives you up to 24 hours of battery life – the same as the Beats Pill. This is more than enough listening time for a weekend's worth of day parties. Bear in mind that high volume and special features reduce playtime by about 3 to 4 hours. Even then, you're given plenty of power to keep jams bumping at the family cookout. Playtime Boost mode extends listening time to 28 hours. Turning it on will decrease sound quality; I noticed a huge dip in bass response. The Charge 6 lets you recharge portable devices, including MP3 players, smartphones, tablets, and your dead portable chargers. Its built-in battery isn't powerful enough for laptops. According to JBL, a 10-minute quick charge nets you 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of use. There is no denying the Charge 6's greatness. Updates to audio performance, battery life, connectivity, and portability cement it as a top pick for brand loyalists and consumers who want a speaker that sounds as robust as it looks. AI Sound Boost does an impressive job optimizing playback based on surrounding ambient noise, while lossless audio results in hi-fi bliss over USB-C connection. Longer playtimes and widespread pairing of up to 100 speakers make this a terrific mini party speaker. Still, I think it's not the be all, end all of Bluetooth speakers. It's baffling why there wouldn't be a speakerphone or voice assistance on a sixth-gen product. Not having a USB-C cable bundled with the purchase is chintzy, especially when JBL is pushing lossless audio, which requires the accessory. Not having backwards compatibility with last-gen speakers also feels like a betrayal to fans who've already invested heavily in JBL's wireless audio ecosystem. Those who own the Charge 5 are within their right to stick with it since the speaker holds up well against the competition, though everyone else will want to consider picking up the Charge 6 for its futureproofing and premium perks that are unavailable on older JBL models.
Gizmodo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Gizmodo
Forget Garmin, Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker Hits Year's Lowest Price Right Before Memorial Day
If you've been eyeing a fitness tracker for some time to boost your routines and that seamlessly blends health insights with smart features, the Fitbit Charge 6 is the definitive choice for you. This high-end, classy device offers comprehensive health monitoring, built-in GPS, and integration with tons of Google apps, all wrapped in a stylish Porcelain design. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast or just starting your wellness journey, walking a few steps at a time, the Fitbit Charge 6 provides all the tools you might ever need to stay on track. See at Amazon For a limited time only, the Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker is available for just $119.45, down from its original price of $159.95. That's a 25% discount on one of Fitbit's most advanced and elegant trackers. This deal also includes a 6-month Fitbit Premium membership, offering personalized insights designed to help you in your journey, guided programs, and much more to elevate your health and fitness experience to the next level. Tune in And Move to Your Beat The Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker stands out from its competitors with its ability to monitor heart rate directly on compatible exercise equipment, which ensures the most accurate readings possible during either hard workouts or taking a quick, speedy walk. With over 40 different exercise modes, a built-in GPS, and daily readiness scores, it learns your routine and adapts to your fitness level, rhythm, and goals. This incredible device also tracks your sleep patterns, detects possible apneas, stress levels, and offers mindfulness sessions to support your overall well-being. Designed for all-day wear and regular everyday use, the Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker boasts a solid 7-day battery life and is water-resistant, making it suitable for various activities and weather conditions. Its integration with several Google apps like Google Maps and Google Wallet adds a lot of convenience, allowing you to navigate and make payments freely, directly from your wrist. The included small and large bands ensure a comfortable fit for most wrist sizes. At only $119.45, the Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker offers an exceptional value for those seeking a comprehensive fitness tracker without the need to break the bank. With a 25% discount from its original $159.95, and a 6-month Premium membership included, this deal provides both savings and enhanced features to support your health journey. Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to invest in your well-being. Head to Amazon right now to take advantage of this amazing offer while it lasts. See at Amazon
Tom's Guide
13-05-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Best fitness tracker deals in May 2025 — here are the top sales on Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung and more
Fitness tracker deals are a must if you want to keep an eye on your activity and your budget at the same time. Luckily for fitness fans everywhere, some of the best fitness trackers we've tested are seeing awesome discounts that you don't want to miss. You don't need to spend a lot of money to get an awesome fitness tracker, and that's proved by the Amazfit Band 7. We rank it as the best fitness tracker under $50 and right now, it's on sale for an even better price. Make sure to get the Amazfit Band 7 on sale for $42 at Amazon while you can. Or, if you're a serious runner who wants a fitness tracker to match, you can get the Garmin Forerunner 265 on sale for $349 at Amazon. It comes with a ton of useful advanced training metrics, a bright AMOLED display and its battery life lasts up to 13 days with GPS mode off. All my favorite fitness tracker deals are listed below. For more savings, check out the best headphone deals. In our Amazfit Band 7 review, we said this is a straightforward wearable with all the basic fitness-tracking features you'd expect. Accuracy and battery life both impress, especially for this price. Weighing just one ounce, it also won't slow you down. We rank it as the best fitness tracker under $50. We tested the Charge 6 and found that it was easily the best fitness tracker for most people. The on-device menus are easy to use, the screen is bright even in direct sunlight, and the tracker lasts six days between charges. It's an ideal option for keeping tabs on your daily activities and light exercise, with all the data accessible in the Fitbit app. Plus, the Charge 6 has Google Maps and Google Wallet (for contactless payments) and an ECG for keeping tabs on your heart health. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is one of the best smartwatches and one of the best fitness trackers you can get, especially if you have a Samsung phone. From its Energy Score feature to its heart health tracking, we loved this watch in our Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review. It has a BioActive sensor on board that includes a PPG heart rate/ECG/blood oxygen reader and bioelectric impedance analysis sensor for a full picture of your body composition. The Apple Watch 10 boasts a thinner/lighter design, faster charging, and a new FDA-authorized sleep apnea detection feature. Other new key features include 30% more screen area, rounded corners, and a first-ever wide angle OLED display. In our Apple Watch 10 review we said the optimized watchOS 11 experience and faster charging are worthwhile and make this the Apple Watch to get for most people. It's also packed with fitness tracking features, including step, heart rate, sleep, cycle, activity tracking and more. The Forerunner 265 is the best Garmin watch for most people, especially runners and triathletes. Our Garmin Forerunner 265 review (4.5/5 stars) shows that it offers reliable and detailed sports tracking and training analysis, plus useful smarts like music storage and NFC payments — all in a lightweight and attractive watch with a bright AMOLED screen. If you want fitness tracking without encumbering your wrist, the Oura Ring 4 is the device you want. It's the best fitness tracking ring we've tested and it earned a perfect 5-star rating in our Oura Ring 4 review. It's comfortable to wear, pretty and includes useful tracking metrics like sleep, stress, heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature and more. This is the Garmin to get if you're buying a running watch for the first time. It offers a bright screen, easy to read stats, and long battery life. You'll also have access to PacePro suggested workouts, which is like having a running coach on your wrist. In our Garmin Forerunner 55 review, we said this watch was like having an expert coach on your wrist. The Forerunner 265 is the best Garmin watch for most people, especially runners and triathletes. Our Garmin Forerunner 265 review (4.5/5 stars) shows that it offers reliable and detailed sports tracking and training analysis, plus useful smarts like music storage and NFC payments — all in a lightweight and attractive watch with a bright AMOLED screen. In our Garmin Venu 3 review, we said this is "one of the best smartwatches for fitness-tracking we've ever tested." Its intuitive lifestyle guidance and battery life that lasts over two weeks make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to buy a fitness watch. If you want fitness tracking without encumbering your wrist, the Oura Ring 4 is the device you want. It's the best fitness tracking ring we've tested and it earned a perfect 5-star rating in our Oura Ring 4 review. It's comfortable to wear, pretty and includes useful tracking metrics like sleep, stress, heart rate, SpO2, skin temperature and more. The Oura Ring 3 has 5-7 days battery life, elite sleep and health tracking features and an intuitive app. It tracks everything from sleep and heart rate to blood oxygen and readiness. Oura also partners with Strava and FDA-approved Natural Cycles, which is a bonus for female members. Retail and discount pricing varies for models. This deal is on the Heritage style with an iconic flat-top design. The Apple Watch 10 boasts a thinner/lighter design, faster charging, and a new FDA-authorized sleep apnea detection feature. Other new key features include 30% more screen area, rounded corners, and a first-ever wide angle OLED display. In our Apple Watch 10 review we said the optimized watchOS 11 experience and faster charging are worthwhile and make this the Apple Watch to get for most people. It's also packed with fitness tracking features, including step, heart rate, sleep, cycle, activity tracking and more. The current-gen Apple Watch SE sports an S8 processor, Crash Detection capability and watchOS 11. In our Apple Watch SE review, we called it the best Apple Watch value you'll find. While it's not as fully featured with health tracking features as the Apple Watch 10, it can still count steps and monitor heart rate. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is one of the best smartwatches and one of the best fitness trackers you can get, especially if you have a Samsung phone. From its Energy Score feature to its heart health tracking, we loved this watch in our Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review. It has a BioActive sensor on board that includes a PPG heart rate/ECG/blood oxygen reader and bioelectric impedance analysis sensor for a full picture of your body composition. The Samsung Galaxy Ring is the best smart ring for Android owners, particularly folks who own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone. Subscription-free and brimming with AI-backed health-tracking tools and wellness insights, it also boasts a week of battery life, a lightweight and comfortable design, and solid durability. In our Amazfit Band 7 review, we said this is a straightforward wearable with all the basic fitness-tracking features you'd expect. Accuracy and battery life both impress, especially for this price. Weighing just one ounce, it also won't slow you down. We rank it as the best fitness tracker under $50. Our Amazfit Active 2 review said this is a sleek smartwatch boasting impressive fitness, health and sleep-tracking tools ordinarily found on far pricier models. The same goes for its design. An all-metal case, AMOLED touchscreen, pair of physical buttons and week+ of battery all suggest a starting price greater than $99. Fortunately, that's not the case.
