The Fitbit Charge 5 is a slim fitness tracker from Fitbit, which Google now owns. Launched in September 2021 at $179.95, it adds a colour AMOLED screen, ECG, stress scans and built-in GPS to the Charge line. Shoppers still weigh it against cheaper trackers today. Reviewers call it Fitbit’s most advanced tracker.
Our review team at Eat Proteins checked Tech Advisor, T3, TechRadar, Woman & Home and Best Buy Canada. The tracker is worth buying for casual users, and reviewers praise its display and sensors. They also flag lag, missing apps and Premium paywalls. Price and rival models complete the picture for buyers. Each point below traces back to named reviewers.
The big picture is clear. The Charge 5 gives beginners strong health insight at a fair price, but serious runners need more. Read on to learn what the tracker does, who skips it, and how it stacks up against the Charge 4 and Luxe. Pricing, safety notes and buying options follow too.
Is the Fitbit Charge 5 Worth Buying?
Yes. The Fitbit Charge 5 is worth buying for shoppers who want a colour tracker with ECG and GPS. Tech Advisor calls it the best value inside Fitbit’s ecosystem. T3 names it the best tracker Fitbit sells today, after a price cut and several feature updates. Reviewers praise the screen and sensors. Battery lasts about seven days per charge with typical use.
Here’s the catch. The tracker launched at $179.95, and richer insights sit behind a Fitbit Premium subscription. Our team at Eat Proteins sees that trade-off as fair for casual users. Serious runners need a different tool.
Does the price still hold up? Mostly, yes. T3 first called the tracker too expensive. Later feature rollouts and a Black Friday discount changed that verdict.
Does the Fitbit Charge 5 Track Fitness Well?
Yes. The Fitbit Charge 5 tracks daily fitness well with heart rate, built-in GPS and more than 20 exercise modes. Woman & Home praises the heart rate and distance stats. Active Zone Minutes buzzes the wrist at each new heart rate zone. Time in those zones counts toward a 150-minute weekly goal. Sleep scores and stress data join the dashboard in the app.
But accuracy has limits. Why? T3 found the GPS antenna sits under the bezel, close to the skin. Fitbit advises a looser fit for GPS, and a looser fit hurts heart rate accuracy. Firmware can’t fix hardware.
Bottom line: the tracker suits walks, gym sessions and casual runs. For marathon training, Woman & Home points shoppers toward Garmin.
What Is the Fitbit Charge 5?
The Fitbit Charge 5 is Fitbit’s most advanced fitness tracker, released in September 2021 with a colour AMOLED touchscreen. Tech Advisor says it fuses tracker convenience with smartwatch functions. The stainless steel case is 10% thinner than the Charge 4, and the design drops every physical button. Navigation relies on taps and swipes across app panels.
In fact, three launch colourways exist: Black/Graphite, Lunar White/Soft Gold and Steel Blue/Platinum. Every unit ships with a silicone Infinity Band. Twelve optional straps were available at launch, from sport bands to Horween leather.
Key Specs:
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Display | 1.04-inch (26.4 mm) colour AMOLED touchscreen |
| Case | Stainless steel, 10% thinner than the Charge 4 |
| GPS | Built in |
| Sensors | Heart rate, SpO2, ECG and EDA |
| Water | Water resistant for swim tracking |
| Launch price | $179.95 / £169.99 / AU$269.95 |
Who Is the Fitbit Charge 5 For?
The Fitbit Charge 5 suits beginners and regular exercisers who want health insight without a full smartwatch. Woman & Home calls the interface easy for new and seasoned Fitbit fans. Sleep-focused users also benefit from a nightly score built on REM, light and deep sleep data. Stress-aware users also get EDA scans, alarms and countdown timers on the wrist.
Who looks elsewhere? Music lovers and marathon runners. The tracker drops Spotify control, and the GPS layout limits serious run training.
What Features Does the Fitbit Charge 5 Have?
The Fitbit Charge 5 packs ECG, EDA stress scans, SpO2, sleep tracking, GPS and Fitbit Pay into one slim band. T3 calls it one of the most feature-rich fitness trackers on the market. An always-on display, over 20 watch faces and a smart wake alarm round out the list. Most extras and watch face changes run through the Fitbit app on an iOS or Android phone.
Key Features:
- ECG app for heart rhythm checks
- EDA Scan for stress response
- SpO2 blood oxygen estimates
- Sleep score with smart wake alarm
- Built-in GPS for outdoor routes
- Fitbit Pay for NFC payments
- Daily Readiness Score with Premium
Software has gaps. What’s missing? Tech Advisor notes the Agenda, Weather and Spotify apps from the Charge 4 are gone. Best Buy Canada adds that voice assistants and music controls are absent too.
Does the Fitbit Charge 5 Have ECG and Stress Tracking?
Yes. The Fitbit Charge 5 has an ECG app and an EDA Scan app for heart rhythm and stress checks. The ECG needs a finger and thumb on the metal sides for 30 seconds. The EDA scan lasts three minutes and reads sweat gland activity as a stress signal. Both tools came over from the pricier Fitbit Sense. The finger-based method is simple and quick to repeat daily.
To be clear, the ECG isn’t a medical device. Best Buy Canada calls it an early warning system. Users can share the data with a doctor through the Fitbit app. The EDA sensor did little for that reviewer, though anxious users may value it.
What Is the Daily Readiness Score?
The Daily Readiness Score is a morning rating that shows whether the body is ready for training or needs recovery. T3 compares it to Garmin’s Body Battery. The score draws on heart rate variability, sleep and recent activity. Workout and meditation suggestions from the Fitbit app library follow the number. The feature requires a Fitbit Premium subscription.
Calibration takes time. How long? T3 says roughly two weeks, while Best Buy Canada suggests four days to start. Woman & Home reads a score under 30 as a rest day. A score around 70 signals a green light.
What Do Fitbit Charge 5 Reviews Say?
Fitbit Charge 5 reviews are mostly positive. Praise lands on the display, comfort and health sensors, while criticism targets price and software. Tech Advisor, T3, TechRadar and Woman & Home all rate the tracker as a strong Fitbit option. Complaints centre on lag, missing apps and Premium paywalls. Few reviewers call it perfect, but most call it a smart buy.
Reviewers agree on the big picture. Why does that matter? The same pros and cons repeat across outlets, and patterns beat any single opinion.
What Do Reviewers Like About the Fitbit Charge 5?
Reviewers like the bright AMOLED display, the comfortable band and the health sensors. T3 wore the tracker 24/7 and never minded it during sleep. FitStraps praises the screen in direct sunlight. Tech Advisor reports no skin irritation across weeks of wear. Even so, the large screen earns smiles in daily use. In plain English: comfort and clarity win fans.
Battery earns praise too. How long does it last? Woman & Home saw a full seven days, even with GPS. FitStraps got five days with the always-on screen, and about two days under heavy GPS use.
What Do Reviewers Complain About?
The most common complaints are laggy menus, a dim always-on screen, missing apps and a small display. Tech Advisor found swiping lagged often. T3 calls the always-on mode too dim and a drain on battery. Woman & Home notes the screen shows one core stat at a time. Mid-workout checks get fiddly as a result. Stair counts vanish because the altimeter is gone.
Common Complaints:
- Laggy touchscreen menus
- No Spotify or music controls
- No altimeter or stair count
- Two-hour full charge time
- Premium paywall for deeper insights
- GPS signal trouble on runs
How Does the Fitbit Charge 5 Compare to Alternatives?
The Fitbit Charge 5 sits above the Charge 4 on health sensors and below the Sense on smartwatch features. Reviewers rate it the best Fitbit tracker for fitness, but not the best for fashion or marathon training. Price, battery and sensors decide the right pick. The Sense and Versa 3 handle apps, voice tools and music better. Buyers weigh trade-offs.
Fitbit Tracker Comparison:
| Model | Price | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Charge 5 | $179.95 | Colour AMOLED, ECG, EDA and GPS |
| Charge 4 | $149.95 | Monochrome OLED, GPS and Spotify control |
| Luxe | $149.95 | Fashion design, no GPS and no NFC |
Fitbit Charge 5 vs Charge 4: Which Is Better?
The Charge 5 beats the Charge 4 on display, build and sensors. The Charge 4 wins on price and Spotify control. TechRadar notes the Charge 5 has a full colour AMOLED screen and a stainless steel case. The Charge 4 launched at $149.95 with a plastic case and a monochrome screen. The Charge 5 drops the Agenda app. Short answer: better hardware, fewer apps.
Straps and chargers differ. Do old accessories carry over? No. Charge 4 bands won’t fit, and Livingetc adds that the charging port changed. Upgraders replace both.
Fitbit Charge 5 vs Fitbit Luxe: Which Is Better?
The Charge 5 is the better pick for health features. The Luxe wins on style and a lower price. Livingetc puts the Luxe about $30 cheaper at $149.95. The Luxe lacks built-in GPS and NFC payments, and the Charge 5 lasts a couple more days per charge. Pick the Luxe for jewellery looks alone. Pick the Charge 5 for ECG, stress scans and GPS on the wrist.
What’s more, the Luxe targets a female market with a jewellery look. By comparison, the Charge 5 has a more unisex design.
Is the Fitbit Charge 5 Safe to Use?
Yes. The Fitbit Charge 5 is safe for everyday wear, and reviewers report no skin irritation with the silicone Infinity Band. Tech Advisor wore it day and night for weeks. T3 found the band comfortable enough for sleep. A Gorilla Glass 3 lens also protects the display from everyday knocks. Skin-friendly materials help wearers who dislike bulky bands.
Medical limits matter. Does the ECG diagnose disease? No. The ECG checks for signs of atrial fibrillation, and TechRadar says the tracker isn’t a medical tool. Heart concerns need a doctor, not a wristband.
Who Should Avoid the Fitbit Charge 5?
Three groups get better value from other devices than the Fitbit Charge 5. Competitive runners need stronger GPS, which T3 says this tracker can’t deliver. Spotify users lose wrist controls. Budget shoppers find the Charge 4 cheaper, so price decides for them. Hikers lose elevation data, which Best Buy Canada flags as a real drawback for mountain climbs.
Better Off With Another Device:
- Marathon and run-focused athletes
- Spotify and music-on-wrist users
- Shoppers who want insights without Premium
- Users who need altitude or stair data
How Much Does the Fitbit Charge 5 Cost?
The Fitbit Charge 5 costs $179.95 in the US, £169.99 in the UK and AU$269.95 in Australia at launch. T3 and TechRadar both quote those figures. Street prices drop during Black Friday and Prime Day sales, and TechRadar expects discounts as the model ages. A 6-month Fitbit Premium trial comes included in the price. Check the live price before buying.
Cost Breakdown:
| Item | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fitbit Charge 5 | $179.95 | Launch US price |
| Fitbit Charge 4 | $149.95 | Launch price |
| Fitbit Luxe | $149.95 | Average price |
| Fitbit Premium | 6 months included | Needed for Daily Readiness |
Is the Fitbit Charge 5 Worth the Price?
Yes. The Fitbit Charge 5 is worth the price when ECG, stress tracking and GPS matter more than music control. Tech Advisor ranks it the best bang for the buck in Fitbit’s range. T3 reversed an early ‘too expensive’ verdict once the missing features arrived. Casual users get the most value from the sensors, and the free Premium trial softens the entry cost.
Does the paywall matter? Yes. Daily Readiness needs Premium, and Best Buy Canada says richer sleep and SpO2 data do too. Buyers budget for the subscription after the trial.
Where Can You Buy the Fitbit Charge 5?
Shoppers can buy the Fitbit Charge 5 from Fitbit directly and from major retailers such as Best Buy and Amazon. T3 lists Fitbit US, Fitbit UK and Fitbit Australia as official stores. Best Buy carries the Soft Gold 2021 model with customer reviews on its product page. Compare prices across all three stores before checkout, since sales vary by retailer.
Why Should You Trust Eat Proteins Reviews?
Eat Proteins cross-checks every product against multiple independent reviewers before giving a verdict. Our experts compare specs, prices and real complaints, so you skip the hype. The Fitbit Charge 5 passed that test for casual users. Runners and music fans need to look at rivals first. Honest verdicts beat marketing copy every single time we publish.
What Should You Do Next?
Ready to decide? Check today’s price before the next sale ends. You’ll get a colour tracker with ECG, stress scans and GPS for less than a smartwatch costs. Don’t miss out on the discount. Waiting costs money. And here’s the best part: the Premium trial adds six free months of insights. Join the Eat Proteins list for more honest reviews like this one.