![]() While this feature has been available on higher-end GPS watches, it's nice to see it coming to lower-cost devices, and being made accessible to the average person. In addition to resting heart rate, the Charge 2 can also estimate your VO2 Max score, which it dubs "Cardio Fitness." VO2 Max is a gauge of the maximum amount of oxygen your body can process during physical activity, and is generally considered a good measure of your overall fitness level. That's pretty much in line with the Forerunner 235 (whose optical heart rate monitor I've tested to be accurate), which measured my average heart rate at 154 beats per minute, and a max of 182. On my run, it measured my average heart rate at 150 beats per minute, with a max of 181 bpm. The Charge 2's heart rate monitor proved more accurate. Still, if you want to precisely measure how far you've run, you're going to need a GPS watch, as we outline in our guide to using tech to run a 5K. Fortunately, Fitbit allows you to fine-tune the Charge 2 by manually inputting your stride length. The same thing happened on a second run, but this isn't too unusual for accelerometer-only fitness trackers. Here, the Fitbit overcounted my distance, giving me credit for having run 3.34 miles. ![]() I also took the Charge 2 on a 3-mile run, while wearing the Garmin Forerunner 235 GPS running watch on my other wrist. During a walk, it measured 500 steps as 462, which is a bit less accurate than other fitness trackers, but not appreciably so. Like other fitness trackers in this price range, the Charge 2 uses an accelerometer to record distance. This is a really handy feature if you like to run with an iPod. MORE: How to Make the Most of Your FitbitĪnother feature missing from the Charge 2 that's included on the vivosmart HR is the ability to control music from the band. However, unlike the vivosmart HR, which will automatically increase your steps target based on the number of steps you take each day, the Charge 2 will keep your goal at the same number until you change it yourself. This is a nice feature, but if you're already carrying your phone, there's no real reason to also have a separate fitness tracker.įitbit has expanded activity tracking to include running, weights, treadmill, workout, elliptical, bike and interval training. If you use the Charge 2 in connection with your Android or iPhone while running, it can tap into the smartphone's GPS to give you a more accurate distance and pace measurement. That's still more limited than the vivosmart - which also shows Facebook and Twitter, as well as the weather - but the Charge 2's screen at least gives a bit more info at a glance than before. As before, you get call and text notifications, but now the watch will show calendar events, too. Smartphone notifications have been beefed up on the Charge 2. Beefed Up Notifications and Exercise Tracking I also found it hard to see outdoors, especially in bright sunlight I wish there were a way to reverse the colors (like on the vivosmart HR) so that it could be black text on a white background, or vice versa. While it doesn't have a touch screen like the vivosmart HR, it uses its accelerometer to detect a tap.Īs with many other fitness trackers - but not the vivosmart HR - the Charge 2's display doesn't remain on indefinitely you have to move your wrist or tap the Charge 2 to get the screen to turn on. Similar to the Misfit Shine, you can tap on the Charge 2 to switch menus. ![]() (Image credit: Jeremy Lips / Tom's Guide)
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