Fitbit Charge 3 review (early verdict): probably best in class… yet still weirdly uninspiring

Fitbit has long been the leader in fitness trackers. That was originally with step counters such as the Alta, but they also have more serious running watch and smartwatch type devices such as the Versa and Ionic. However the really BIG products for the brand are actually the Charge series, which are somewhere in the middle, with pulse tracking, GPS (albeit via your smartphone rather than built in) and basic smartwatch type features, in a relatively small package that is still recognisably a band rather than a watch. And now there is a third one. And it is called the Fitbit Charge 3. 

It's an unimaginative name, but with a few new features – waterproofing to 50m down, a contactless payment system, a more comfortable fit and, uh, a new type of button – it perfects the template laid down by the Charge HR and Charge 2. 

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Fitbit Charge 3: release date

You can pre-order the Fitbit Charge 3 now, with units shipping in early October.

Fitbit Charge 3 vs Fitbit Charge 2

The Charge 3 sits more comfortably and just as discreetly on your wrist as the Charge 2, despite greatly increased (40% bigger) touchscreen real estate. The button of old is now a capacitive thing with subtle vibrating feedback that, to be honest, is not as good as an actual button. It does allow the Charge 3 to be waterproof however, so it's a worthy addition.

Also new and improved is a full, 7-day battery life (up from 5). There's Fitbit's contactless payment system too, although this is only supported by Santander and a few 'challenger' banks in the UK.

Despite all these improvements, the Charge 3 is notably lighter than its predecessor. I don't think it's actually any more attractive than the earlier Charges, but it is a literally more wearable, wearable.

As noted, the headline improvement is full waterproofing for the first time on a Charge. This means you can wear it in the pool, where it will count your laps, or the bath, where it won't.

In terms of comfort if not sexiness, the Charge 3 is greatly improved. The reason I don't think it necessarily looks better is that the Charge 2 was more masculine looking, at least to my eyes, whereas the Charge 3 has a more unisex feel. And I am a man, alas.

Fitbit Charge 3 review: genuine improvements could be coming to the fitness tracking (but not yet) 

The main issue with Fitbits – and practically all other fitness wearables – is that they don't coach you to get better, or tell you how well you're doing in a useful and relatable way. They just give you a bunch of isolated stats and leave you to get on with it. However, there are little signs that Fitbit has recognised this and wants to change things.

It's not really directly related to the Charge 3 as it will be in the app only, but what is being promised are personalised, more useful insights, based on the data provided from the Charge 3, and the rest of the Fitbit range. This is described as 'coming soon', which may or may not mean at launch. Fitbit promises that, 'dynamic insights about your activity, heart rate, nutrition and sleep… help you reach your goals with positive reinforcement and tips to course correct when needed.'

Okay, that's a bit woolly, but done right, actually could be a life-changer. We'll have to wait and see.

Fitbit says its 'PurePulse' heart rate tech has been improved and now claims greater accuracy during exercise, with 'a better measure of calorie burn and resting heart rate to optimise workouts and help uncover health trends.'

However, this is a) not saying much, considering how hopelessly inaccurate Charge 2 is when you're really going for it and b) possibly stretching a point on the other claim.

An all-new 'relative SpO2 sensor' gives the 'potential to estimate changes in blood oxygen levels and help track new health indicators, like sleep apnoea.'

I think what this means in practice is that it will do nothing at all of any use at launch, but could become useful in the future.

Another interesting innovation, although again not perhaps a life-changer, is the option to set goals for your workouts. So whether you're cycling, swimming, running or lifting, you can opt to be alerted when you reach your chosen target for calories burned, distance or duration. This is a solid, motivational feature potentially, and I can confirm that the little celebration graphics when you hit targets are on point.

The screens on the Charge 3 will now show data you'd previously need to go into the app for, such as hydration, sleep and weight.

There are familiar features from previous Fitbits, such as being able to tap into your phone's GPS to get real-time speed and distance stats when running or cycling, plus the very handy, if not always 100% reliable Run Detect, which automatically starts tracking you when it notices you're running. 

The Versa's Female health tracking is also on hand to log your periods and, with a forthcoming software update, calculate ovulation. 

Fitbit Charge 3 review: genuine improvements could be coming to the sleep tracking (but not yet) 

Sleep tracking is almost as big with Fitbit users as fitness tracking, and Charge 3 will debut more or less at the same time as a beta version of something called 'Sleep Score'. Fitbit says, 'Using key metrics tracked by any Fitbit device with advanced 24/7 PurePulse heart rate tracking, Sleep Score will provide a nightly score to help give you a more complete picture of your overall sleep quality and what factors affect it.' 

In the new relative SpO2 sensor found on Charge 3 will also allow for the tracking of breathing disruptions, 'which can be indicators of health issues such as allergies, asthma or sleep apnoea.'

Smart features include call, calendar and messaging notifications as well as ones from specific apps, 'like Facebook and Uber'. 'A select number of popular brand apps' will also make their way onto Charge 3, will be added on device in the future, 'similar to those offered on Ionic and Versa.'

Fitbit Charge 3: straps and special editions

Fitbit Charge 3 is available in black with a graphite aluminium case or blue-gray with a rose gold aluminium case for £129.99. A Charge 3 Special Edition is available for £149.99 and has NFC, and is the only model that supports Fitbit Pay. It also boasts 'an exclusive, white silicone sports band with a graphite aluminium case or lavender woven band with a rose gold aluminium case'. So that's nice.

Additional straps cost from 19.99 to £59.99 and are way easier to put on and take off than they used to be.

Fitbit Charge 3: early verdict

First up, let's just reiterate that we've not actually used the Charge 3 in anger. And yet its promised feature set is so familiar, and Fitbit's quality control so reliable, that we feel like we already know exactly what it will be like to use. It is comfortable, it will give people data they may or may not use, and will help to motivate them, a bit, via Fitbit's excellently laid out app and popular social network.

We'd argue that there's a lot good about the Charge 3, and almost nothing exciting. It's like certain recent flagship phones – which, sure, are beautiful and awesome devices by any reasonable metric, yet raise little more than a shrug because they are really not a huge leap forward from last year's model. But more so, because unlike phones fitness wearables have never been all that beautiful, or all that awesome. They're accessories, not essentials.

So our early verdict and likely final verdict is this: by definition, Charge 3 should be the best 'traditional' fitness tracker you can buy, when it ship in October – the Charge 2 has been top of our Best Trackers list since its launch in 2016, and it beats that in most ways. Nothing about it will surprise anyone, though.

What will be interesting to see is firstly whether Fitbit can really deliver personalised and genuinely useful insights into your health, fitness and sleeping habits, as it's promising. 

And secondly, whether it takes an entirely different approach with future products. Because seriously, after the Charge 2, Blaze, Ionic and Versa, we feel like we've seen this set of core features in slightly differently-shaped wearables quite enough now.

• Fitbit Charge 3 is available to pre-order now, priced from £129.99