With the announcement of four new devices thus far in 2019, Fitbit is off to a strong start in the year 2019. The Fitbit Inspire HR is one of these options. The fitness band is intended to take the place of the Alta HR as well as other older devices like the Flex 2, Zip, and One.
Alongside the standard Inspire, the Inspire HR was introduced for the first time in January of this year. However, up until March, it was only accessible to Fitbit’s corporate, Fitness, health plan, and health system partners as well as the clients of those organizations. It will be fascinating to see how it compares against Charge 3, which is now the most popular fitness band in San Francisco now that it is available to everyone.
Here is a breakdown of the key differences between the two options, in case you’re still undecided about which one to go with.
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Design Comparison of the Fitbit Inspire HR and the Fitbit Charge 3
The sleek and athletic appearance that has become the hallmark of products manufactured by a company based in San Francisco is maintained by the Fitbit Charge 3 watch. Even though it has a more contemporary design than its predecessor, it is still easily identifiable as a wearable device manufactured by Fitbit.
The tracker is constructed using extremely lightweight materials, such as an aerospace-grade aluminum shell and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for the display. Aluminum that has been given an anodized finish makes up both the housing and the buckle. In terms of its measurements, the Charge 3 has a width of 18.3 millimeters, a depth of 11.8 millimeters, and a weight of under 29 grams.
A look that is analogous to that of Inspire HR, albeit more understated. It is 16.2 millimeters slimmer and weighs only 20 grams, making it somewhat lighter than the Charge 3 model. The casing of the Inspire HR is made of plastic so that it may remain lightweight. The item has a depth of 12.6 millimeters, which makes it a little bit more substantial than charge 3.
Both of these trackers come with a grayscale OLED screen that is touch-responsive. The screen is off by default, but it will light up when you flip your wrist or tap on the wearable device. Charge 3 is the one that is somewhat simpler to read because it is slightly larger than the other charges.
The trackers each include a single button on the left side that provides rapid access to the settings as well as access to the main menu. The Charge 3 includes a nearly undetectable button that uses inductive technology, while the Inspire HR has a physical button.
Both of these trackers have bands made of rubberized material that are buckled at the ends. Wristbands are easily interchangeable, allowing you to customize their appearance to complement a wide variety of outfits and styles.
There is also a clip-on adapter available for use with the Inspire HR, which allows the tracker to be removed from the strap and fastened directly onto clothing. This is to accommodate those customers who, in the past, would have chosen the Zip option. It is important to keep in mind that it will not track your heart rate while you are in that position.
When it comes to their overall appearance, there is not much of a difference between the two fitness bands. The size change, which makes Charge 3 a little more noticeable when it’s being worn, is probably the most notable distinction. Additionally, it is constructed out of materials that are of a slightly higher quality. The Inspire HR is the way to go if you’re looking for a form factor that’s extremely thin.
It is important to be aware of the changes that can be found behind the hood.
The two individuals make use of the same vibration motor, 3-axis accelerometer, and optical heart rate monitor. In addition to this, however, the Charge 3 is equipped with both an altimeter for determining floor levels as well as a SpO2 sensor. The final one of them has the capability of measuring the amount of oxygen in your blood, and Fitbit is planning to put it to use very soon, primarily in the context of tracking how well you sleep at night. At the time this article was written, the feature had not yet been activated.
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Battery life and resistance to water are compared between the Fitbit Inspire HR and the Charge 3
Battery life is very crucial, but there is always going to be a trade-off between other factors like size, screen quality, and others. It is not at all desirable for you to have to charge your fitness band every single night.
Charge 3 fares marginally better than Charge 2 in this regard. It has enough power to function normally without being recharged for up to seven days. The battery life of the Inspire HR can last for up to 5 days.
In addition to that, the wearables are water resistant. Both come with an outstanding water-resistance rating of 5 ATM, which indicates that they may be submerged to a depth of up to 50 meters at a time. Swimming sessions will be automatically tracked as well, but with only the most fundamental information.
Fitbit Inspire HR vs. Fitbit Charge 3: Key Differences
On one of these two gadgets, the average individual will be able to find pretty much all they require for tracking their fitness at all times of the day and night. This includes monitoring of your heart rate throughout the day, as well as steps, distance, active minutes, calorie burn, and advanced tracking of your sleep. In addition to these features, there is automated activity identification, connected GPS, guided breathing, a mode for several sports, movement reminders, and some more advanced performance measurements such as VO2 Max.
Now we will discuss the distinctions.
As was previously stated, the Inspire HR does not come with an altimeter. Using measurements of pressure in the air, an altimeter can determine changes in altitude. At the third charge, the entire number of flights of stairs you have been climbing will be added up and used as a factor in the calculation of how many calories you have burned. Your calorie output will be more accurate as a result of this.
The other distinction lies in the fact that the Charge 3 comes equipped with a blood oxygen sensor. However, as Fitbit is not now making use of this, it does not and will not truly do anything until the capability is enabled. Until then, it is essentially useless.
The other significant distinction that is worthy of being mentioned is the size of the screen. Because Charge 3 is bigger, it is much simpler to read, which is very helpful when you are moving around a lot. This is especially important to keep in mind if you want to check your numbers while you’re jogging but just have a moment to spare.
Despite the fact that these are fitness bands, they come equipped with some of the same features that are found on smartwatches. To help you stay connected while you’re on the go, silent alarms and basic notifications are included with both models. However, in order to read the messages in their entirety, you will need to utilize your phone.
The Charge 3 goes a step further than its predecessors by allowing Android users the ability to respond to text messages as well as the choice to either accept or decline incoming phone calls. There is also a version called the Special Edition, which is more expensive and has an NFC chip for making contactless payments.
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The verdict between the Fitbit Inspire HR and the Charge 3
You are not going to make a mistake by selecting either of these two options. Both provide the majority of what an ordinary individual requires in order to track their fitness progress.
It should come as no surprise that you should go for the Inspire HR if you want your appearance to be sleeker and less noticeable. Bear in mind, however, that you will not be able to track the number of floors you climb, the SpO2 sensor, or the battery life, which is only 5 days as opposed to the 7 days you receive on the Charge 3 model. It is also constructed with materials that are of a somewhat lower premium, which contributes to the price differential working in its favor. Aside from that, everything is pretty much the same.
If you don’t mind spending about $50 more (you can check the price difference on Amazon below), the Charge 3 also has a larger display, which translates to more information being displayed on the screen at one time. The choice comes down to which of the two designs you like, as well as whether or not the Charge 3’s additional capabilities are sufficient to justify the increased cost.
