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Tom's Guide
3 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.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Make His First Father's Day Special With One of These 41 Thoughtful Gifts
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." It's his first Father's Day—a big deal! He's living the dream, and that means two things: 1) He's happy 2) He's tired. The diaper changing, the late nights, the early mornings. Not to mention he hasn't had time for a workout in months. This is the best thing he's ever done, but it's hardest thing he's ever done. Hence, this Father's Day, no matter if he's your husband, cousin, friend, or... coworker (maybe sit this one out), get him a first Father's Day gift that'll make his first run at parenthood a hell of a lot easier. Here's some pointers: The best gift for him should help him not stress much about being a dad. We say either go functional (diaper bag, dad shoes, or a biometric safe) or fun (TV, video games, or booze). We've got 41 first Father's Day gifts to make that happen—including killer sleep upgrades, useful gadgets, fun family games, and gag-worthy laughs that he can relish on his own or with his baby. Help the new dad celebrate his first newly ratified fatherhood status the right honestly, that kid needs to go the fuck to sleep. $14.83 at been stressed as hell since the baby got here. These goggles do massages and heat treatment to help dad relax, decompress, and get some sleep. $169.00 at when he's got a kid sitting on his shoulder, he'll need to keep tabs on only the essentials and nothing more. $89.00 at got a busy few years ahead. Get him a nice travel coffee mug. $38.00 at you become a dad, you lose time to think about anything other than the kid. This jacket is Austin Butler's style hack, and it'll work just as well on the new dad. $109.99 at that're so comfortable he'll never take them off. $128.00 at at get me wrong, an Oura Ring is great, but like I've been saying, a new dad needs simplicity. The Fitbit Charge 6 is the best fitness gadget for that. There's no hidden signup fees. And, it gives him actionable data to improve his health and make sure he's able to play with the baby for years to come. $159.95 at at all know that once the baby arrives there's not a lot of cooking time, that's why gift cards and subscription food boxes are always so helpful during that first year. Our favorite is currently from Wildgrain, a handful of our editors are big fans at the moment. Fresh bread, pasta, even cookies will be delivered to his doorstep. He can freeze them until he's ready to cook. The food quality is fantastic and the whole family wins on this one. $100.00 at at became a new dad this year, he deserve something big. Get him this Hermes Bracelet and every time he wears it he'll be reminded of this time in his life. $435.00 at Expensive? Yes. But, it'll replace his gym membership, and 30 minutes on this thing is all he'll need to stay in baby wrangling shape. $1799.00 at that with a warm book light so he can read to the baby (or himself) without disrupting either of their sleep schedules $14.99 at more than ever, he's going to relish his quiet time. Putting the baby to bed, taking a hot shower, and sitting down to binge watch The Bear is great... But doing it in a plush bath robe makes it transcendental. $127.50 at space for his lunch, the baby's snacks, and a couple beverages... Plus it's tough enough to handle whatever spills and accidents come his way. $29.50 at diaper bag that looks good enough to be a work bag. He'll appreciate it. Plus, he can get his own duffel to match. $230.00 at just some stuff that kids should not lay a finger on. He'll keep them safe and sound in this portable safe instead. $235.00 at think dad deserves a new windbreaker, so get him one that he'll own for years to come from Canada Goose. $575.00 at This is our absolute favorite blender, and now it comes in a brand new mini version. He will be able to make his dad smoothie every where he goes. $115.00 at fight against the Dad Bod starts today. Both setups (running stroller or handheld carry) will help keep him feeling fit. $649.95 at days, he can't listen to music past 9pm, so a great pair of noise cancelling headphones are the perfect purchase. JBL makes a stellar pair. (And they're cheaper than the AirPods Max.) $299.95 at JBLNew father? Time to adopt the shoe favored by dads all across America. $199.99 at New BalanceTo capture all of the indelible, first-time moments that'll soon follow, and to stick them on the fridge immediately after, this mini camera will do (and it comes with ample film, a chic case, and more). $189.95 at you've ever tried Eberjey's super soft pajamas, then you know there's no going back. Ensure he gets the most comfortable sleep possible. $138.00 at the new dad that's trying to eat healthy but also doesn't have the time to cook. Sakara has him covered. $140.00 at SakaraThe ultimate lazy-man gift, perfect for wearing around the house, out running errands, and bneyond. $150.00 at AloPicture this: he falls asleep next to the crib, draped in this cozy blanket. $239.20 at the man that's always on the move, a sophisticated toiletry bag is always a welcome gift. $140.00 at coffee table book that also doubles as family vacation inspo. It's two gifts in one. $142.00 at can get this bracelet engraved with a sentimental message, the name of his child—the opportunities are endless. $525.00 at he can keep track of all of his appointments, his child's appointments, and his date nights with his partner. $285.00 at may need a few drinks, and now he can have a cocktail at demand. $275.00 at audiophile is really going to love this luxe turntable, and he will have fun picking out records to listen to while he tends to his fatherly duties. $479.00 at is tough to come by these days. Give him the tools (a smart alarm clock and sunrise lamp) to gently wake him up, making sure he gets the most out of those R.E.M. cycles. $400.49 at getting aches and pains he's never had before. A percussion massager will keep him feeling young. $129.00 at maybe he really needs to chill out. But the new legalized 70 percent THC corpo-weed makes him feel like he's dying. Dad Grass makes a CBD alternative. It chills him out without blasting him off to Mars. $70.00 at because keeping his espresso warm is now demoted to the second spot on his morning to-do list doesn't mean it's no longer desired. Get him Ember's smart mug. $149.95 at he'll never forget. $15.39 at cuteness could be his if you get him this Wi-Fi-enabled digital picture frame. The best part is, you can send photos directly to the frame to surprise him, and he can "like" it to let you know he's watching. $139.99 at dads need a pair of pants that can stand up to spit-up stains and everything else his suddenly hectic life throws his way, without sacrificing comfort or style. Mack Weldon's nailed it with these Ace sweats, elastic waistband and all. $88.00 at You Might Also Like Kid Cudi Is All Right 16 Best Shoe Organizers For Storing and Displaying Your Kicks
Tom's Guide
01-06-2025
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Japanese walking vs running — which is best for you?
So you're looking to increase your cardiovascular endurance, and you don't know whether to prioritize running or the Japanese Interval Walking Training (IWT) method that's growing in popularity right now. Below, we put the two head-to-head to help you decide which is best for your routine. In case you hadn't heard of it, the Japanese IWT method involves alternating your pace as you walk. You'll walk for three minutes at a low intensity, followed by three minutes at a higher intensity, repeated five times. It was developed in Japan by researchers, and is supported by the research of Dr Hiroshi Nose published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings. You can read what happened when our fitness editor tried Japanese walking for a week. Both interval walking and running are great forms of cardio. They'll both raise your heart rate and metabolism, and strengthen your muscles and joints over time. You can also expect both walking and running to help boost your mood and reduce your stress levels. They can also be used to lose weight, if paired with a good diet. If weight loss is your goal, you'll want to focus on being in a calorie deficit, which means burning more calories than you consume. If weight loss is your goal, you might be keen to know which form of cardio is likely to burn more calories. While the exact number of calories you burn depends on a number of factors, including intensity, workout length and biological factors like age, weight, sex, hormones and more. The best way to keep track of how many calories you're burning is to wear one of the best fitness trackers, which will do this for you. We have our concerns about Google's long-term plans for the brand, but right now, the Fitbit Charge 6 is the best fitness tracker on the market today thanks to its lightweight and diminutive size, support for an enormous range of workout types, and a smattering of useful smart features like Google Wallet and Google Maps. That said, as a rough guide, according to the Omni calculator, a 155-pound adult will burn around 375 calories running a 5K at a gradient of 1%. On the other hand, a 155-pound adult doing a 30-minute interval workout is more likely to burn between 100-200 calories, although this number will vary based on how hard you push yourself and any incline you cover. If you're looking to burn calories, you'll get there faster with running. Of course, burning calories isn't the only reason to work out. If you're a complete beginner or you're recovering from an injury, walking is much lower impact, so it might be a better place to start. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. What's more, if you're heading out for a run, you'll need a pair of supportive sneakers (check out the best running shoes to buy right now here), and probably a sports bra. As walking is lower impact, you won't need fancy equipment, although we'd recommend comfy shoes here too. The Saucony Ride 18 is our favorite running shoe for beginners. It's a no-fuss shoe that's comfortable, reliable, and responsive. And, you can get it for less than $100. The real answer to this question is which form of cardio to you enjoy the most. If you hate running, or running for 30 minutes is unachievable right now, it might be that interval walking is great way to burn more calories than you would if you walked at a steady pace. If you're a marathon runner, you might find walking intervals leave you wanting to move faster. There's no right or wrong, and both are fantastic ways to add more movement to your day and look after your physical and mental health.
CNET
19-05-2025
- Business
- CNET
Walmart Deals of the Day: $41 Discount Drops Fitbit Charge 6 to a Record-Low
As of now, Walmart hasn't released any details about when its Memorial Day sale will kick off. However, you don't have to wait to start saving. Walmart's deal page is jam-packed full of bargains year-round, and we've rounded up some of the very best ones you can shop right now below. For today, May 19, that includes a record-low price on the top-rated Fitbit Charge 6, $50 off a two-burner BlackStone griddle and an pro-grade SteelSeries streaming microphone that you can pick up for nearly half-off. The Fitbit Charge 6 is our top pick for the overall best fitness tracker of 2025. It has a sleek and simple design, but doesn't skimp on features. It boasts more than 40 preset exercise modes, as well as a built-in GPS, sleep tracking, an ECG function and much more. It also has some helpful smart features like on-wrist notifications and turn-by-turn navigation. Plus, it's waterproof up to 50 meters, and the vibrant AMOLED display is easy to see even on sunny days. It also boasts an impressive seven-day battery life. Just note that only the porcelain is being sold by Walmart. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. Get ready for your Memorial Day cookout with $50 off this outdoor BlackStone griddle. It features a two-burner 22-inch flattop griddle with 361 square inches of total cooking space -- enough for over a dozen burgers or 60 hotdogs. It's propane-fueled and produces up to 21,000 BTUs of heat. Other features include two side shelves, a paper towel holder, a protective hood and built-in tank storage. If you're an aspiring streamer or podcaster, this deal is a great chance to upgrade your setup without breaking the bank. This pro-grade microphone is equipped with an extra-large capsule for richer, fuller broadcast-quality audio, and this deal includes SteelSeries' Sonar sound mixing software so you can easily customize your recording. Plus, it comes with an XLR stream mixer with mappable controls so you can adjust your audio on the fly.
Forbes
14-05-2025
- Health
- Forbes
Fitbit Owners Get Three Interesting New Features
Fitbit Charge 6 Reports of the imminent death of Fitbit may be misplaced, as Fitbit owners just got three new interesting features. The trio of features are part of Fitbit's Labs project, and they use Google Gemini AI to enhance the heath-related experience for Fitbit owners. Fitbit announced the upgrades on the Fitbit Community blog. And while one requires joining a waitlist, it sounds like these experimental extras could be worth checking out. They are dubbed the Medical Record Navigator, Symptom Checker and Unusual Trends. Let's dig in. Symptom Checker is the AI-enhanced version of what a doctor will often advise you not to do — searching the web for symptoms. Fitbit says it will ask a few follow-up questions after you start off describing your symptoms, to try to home in on some possible causes. This should, with any luck, avoid the web search effect where folks manage to convince themselves their slightest ailment may be down to a terminal condition. The goal is to help you work out if it's something that actually requires more research, or the help of a medical professional. Next up is Unusual Trends, which could potentially significantly increase the real-world smarts and usefulness of today's ordinary fitness trackers. Fitbit says this is used to recognize changes in stats you probably wouldn't ordinarily notice, even if you see them in a graph on the Fitbit app. That might be a change in your breathing rate, for example. Unusual Trends will inform you of the fact, while apparently not going as far as to suggest what might be the cause. I've often noticed correlations in my heart rate behaviour and HRV during and around bouts of illness, so this feature could act as a form of proof of reinforcement if you are feeling a little 'off' at any point. It's also an example of one of the more difficult areas of consumer wearable tech — not so much harvesting accurate stat data, but finding a way to make it useful for the average person. The final new Fitbit Labs feature is the one with a waitlist attached. And while it could prove super-useful, it arguably also has the least mainstream appeal. Medical Record Navigator lets you upload results and reports you've received from medical professionals, and it will analyze the data to provide digestible summaries of what they mean. Fitbit suggests you'll use this one to 'quickly understand complex medical terms and get a better understanding of your results.' To get access to these features, you need to opt in to Fitbit Labs under the You tab of the app and enable each Labs feature. Fitbit Labs is available to U.S. users, and Fitbit says some will require a Premium subscription.
