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Authors: TheIndianSubcontinent News AgencyThe Fitbit Charge 2 has proved to be one of the company’s best-selling fitness trackers, but there are rumors that it's ready for a reboot and that the firm might be planning to release the Charge 3 quite soon.Fitbit doesn’t usually release new fitness trackers every year, instead waiting until new technology becomes the norm and only then refreshing its trackers.
In the last 12 months we've seen the company release both the Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa, but we expect to see new fitness trackers rather than smartwatches later this year.You'll find all the rumored Fitbit Charge 3 details below, but we’ve also come up with a list of a few improvements we’d like to see.Cut to the chaseWhat is it Fitbit's next big headline fitness trackerWhen is it out Leaks suggest some point in 2018What will it cost Launch price of around $150 (£129.99, AU$250) Fitbit Charge 3 release dateThere isn't much information about the release date for the Fitbit Charge 3, but sources speaking to Bloomberg have claimed Fitbit is planning to launch the new tracker at some point in 2018.Fitbit released the Charge 2 in September 2016, so we may see the company announce a new tracker at IFA in September 2018 as it would be two years after the we first saw the Charge 2.Fitbit Charge 3 specs and featuresLittle is known about the Fitbit Charge 3 so far.
The source that suggested the 2018 release date above did say the company is working on a "sleeker" version of the Charge 2 and the Fitbit Blaze, which would make sense, as Fitbit is sure to want to improve the design of the fitness tracker for its next iteration.It may also be more of a smartwatch than a simple fitness tracker.
Fitbit has said it's planning a range of smartwatches beyond the Ionic, and reports show that smartwatches are growing in popularity while basic bands decline, so it would make sense for Fitbit to smarten up its range.We'd also expect more fitness features for the Charge 3, for example GPS is a likely inclusion, and you can read about what we'd like to see from the tracker below.Fitbit Charge 3 priceThe Fitbit Charge 2 cost $150 (£129.99, AU$250) at launch so we'd expect this tracker to cost around the same amount, but nothing is confirmed yet.What we want to seeHere's our list of everything we'd like to see from the rumored Fitbit Charge 3.1.
Better data usesOne of the things the Fitbit app struggles with is giving you useful information from the data you've collected.With a heart rate sensor, sleep tracking and likely expanded fitness features for the Charge 3 we want the app to use that data in meaningful ways, giving you further insight into your health.2.
A slimmer designThe Fitbit Charge 2 improved on the design of the Fitbit Charge HR, but there is still a lot of work to be done here.Fitbit's Charge 2 is a thick device and doesn't sit flush with your wrist, so we hope to see a thinner design on the Charge 3 when it eventually launches.3.
A more reactive screenSome criticized the Charge 2 for having a screen that wasn't properly touch-sensitive.
It moves through menus with a tap, but it doesn't work as responsively as the touchscreen on your phone or a smartwatch, so we'd like to see a fully touch-sensitive screen on the Charge 3.4.
Better alarmsYou can use the Charge 2 as an alarm, but the functionality is limited.
Something we'd like to see on the Charge 3 is an alarm that works in a window of time that you set but only wakes you up when you're in light sleep.For example, you could set an alarm for anytime between 7AM and 7:30AM, but it would wake you up at 7:15AM if it realized you were in light sleep at that time.5.
GPS built-inGPS on the Fitbit Charge 2 worked by linking up to your phone, requiring you to carry your handset with you, so it was quite limited.We'd like to see Fitbit build GPS into the Charge 3 itself, to make it a more effective device for those who want to take it out running without a phone in their pocket.d40fb960d1829f752effd8697d13b4c2.jpg#
