Relative to other smartwatches like the Apple Sport Watch (starting from $300-$350), the Pebble Time Steel ($250) or the Samsung Gear S2 ($300), the Fitbit Blaze is cheaper than many other popular smartwatches. But does it have enough features to stand up to the Apple Watch and does it actually help you get fit?
On its website, Fitbit brags about its "BREAKTHROUGH FEATURES": PurePulse(TM) Heart Rate, Connected GPS, On-Screen Workouts and its Color Touchscreen. Its "ESSENTIAL" functions are "Multi-Sport", All-Day Activity and Sleep, Music Control, Call, Text and Calendar alerts and accessories. Let's explore the features in more depth now.
BREAKTHROUGH FEATURES
PurePulse HeartRate
PurePulse HeartRate allows you to see your heart-rate and what exercise zones you were in the duration of your workout. It also shows you how many calories you burned. Using your heart rate zones, you can then optimize your workouts, increasing training efficiency. It also helps you make sure if you're keeping your workouts intense and effective. You can also see at what times of the day you were most active.
[AFTER THE JUMP: We look at more functions and features of the Fitbit Blaze!]
Connected GPS
GPS allows you to see where you ran and view your pace and duration of your workout.
On-Screen Workouts with FitStar
Your watch will coach you through a series of exercises and coach you through it. Unfortunately, the Blaze doesn't record how many reps you've done during the time.
Multi-Sport
You can pick modes such as running/biking/cardio and see updated stats on your watch.
SmartTrack
SmartTrack automatically logs your workouts for you so you don't have to.
Workout Goals/Summaries
After completing your workout, you can see your daily and weekly progress on the screen.
Color Touchscreen
Pretty much self-explanatory. The Blaze has a high resolution touchscreen.
All-Day Activity
The Blaze will measure your activity all day.
Long Battery Life
The Blaze can run up to 5 full days on a single charge.
Auto Sleep Tracking
Like other Fitbits, the Blaze tracks your sleep activity.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the Fitbit Blaze is a good way to track your stats and information, but as a smartwatch it is painfully limited with notifications and other functions expected in a smartwatch. If you want to get started in fitness and secure your devotion to getting fit with a smartwatch that will force you to workout, then the Fitbit Blaze is for you. If you were looking for a smartwatch with more fitness functions, I'd recommend looking elsewhere. The Blaze smartwatch is a good idea and with more features added to it, it will also become a good product. This is Fitbit's first attempt at making a smartwatch, and with more time and development, the Blaze will become a smartwatch you want to use in your regular life. But for now, wait off on the Blaze.
The slightly lower price point is appealing to me and I do like the look of a watch style better than the fitbit 'bracelet.' If it's price were even lower like $100ish, I think they could find a market for people who want the apple watch etc but are priced out.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. If the price was lower (like the price of their Fitbit Alta) they would get more customers in that price bracket.
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