Smartwatch: Fitbit announces Charge 4 with GPS and seven-day battery

The California company Fitbit has launched the Charge 4 sports watch. Among other things, it offers the option of recording the route with an integrated GPS module during a running lap or a walk as well as on a bike tour. With the predecessor, you also had to have your smartphone with you.

The battery of the Charge 4 should last around seven days in continuous operation. This should mean the constant measurement of heart rate and other body data, but probably not the additional use of GPS. If the route is recorded frequently, the battery should be able to make fewer days – but it is not yet clear.

Charge 4 supports Fitbit Pay. This is the option that has been available for a long time with other manufacturer’s wearables to make contactless payments via around 500 banks and financial service providers in 44 countries and with ten transit systems worldwide.

In addition to jogging, cycling and other popular sports, the Charge 4 – unlike its predecessors – can also record kayaking, canoeing, skiing and snowboarding. An innovation for athletes is the determination of the active zone minutes. This should enable the user to better track how long he has been in the fat burning zone, the cardio zone and the high-performance zone.

Artwork of the Fitbit Charge 4 (Image: Fitbit)

In addition, the Fitbit can perform the usual tasks of a fitness tracker – counting steps, estimating calories and analyzing sleep, which is traditionally a highlight at Fitbit. In addition, an SpO2 sensor is installed, which measures the oxygen saturation in the blood and thus indicates breathing interruptions during sleep.

Charge 4 is according to the manufacturer “water-repellent up to 50 meters”, it has a touchscreen and three side buttons. Information about the display and the size of the housing is not available. The wearable is to appear in several variants in the course of April 2020, the prices start at around 150 euros.