14 DAY TRIAL // Fitbit used the CES 2016 show in Las Vegas to take the wraps off the Blaze, the company's new smartwatch that marks an important milestone in its history.
Blaze is Fitbit's first fitness tracker/smartwatch that comes with a color touchscreen, thus trying to stay close to what other devices are offering, including those made by Apple and Microsoft.
Fitbit's new creation has a rather unusual shape for a device that's supposed to be worn on the wrist, so it could take a while until you get used to its hexagonal face. It uses stainless steel casing, but Fitbit is giving customers the possibility of further customizing the device by getting different bands and frames.
You aren't changing just the band, but also the frame, so the centerpiece of the device, which is the display incorporating the battery and all the sensors, plays the role of a pop-out tracker, similar to the one of the Fitbit Flex. As far as customizations go, owners will also be allowed to change the face of the watch with a few pre-installed versions, with more to be added by Fitbit in the coming months. Also, the stainless steel frame will be the only one available at launch, but the parent company promises to release more soon.
No GPS, but excellent HR tracking
Just like its predecessors, Fitbit Blaze comes with its own operating system, but it still works with the majority of smartphones out there via Bluetooth to show notifications, alarms, text and calendar alerts. It has the typical fitness tracking features, but there are also a few highlights that could help it win the hearts of buyers.
For example, the device incorporates FitStar, the company that Fitbit purchased in March, to offer guided workouts. This is a feature that's already available on rival devices, such as Microsoft Band, but given the fact that Blaze has its own proprietary operating system, you cannot install third-party apps. So offering guided workouts from the very beginning was critical.
Additionally, Fitbit Blaze comes with what's being called MultiSport Mode, which can automatically detect the type of exercise you make and collect correct data. Fitbit says this is possible thank to older versions of its devices and users who manually tracked their exercises, so Blaze is now capable of accurately detecting different types of sports automatically.
The device has a heart rate sensor and all the usual stuff, but it lack GPS. Fitbit actually says that it comes with Connected GPS, which sounds great for marketing but, in fact, means that it uses your phone's GPS capabilities for increased accuracy.
PurePulse is one particular feature that can actually bring in some buyers, as it greatly improves the accuracy of the heart rate monitor. The device thus reads HR data every five seconds during the day and every one second during workouts, so you thus get pretty much the most accurate data available right now from a smartwatch.
Fitbit Blaze features a battery that can last for up to 5 days, partially thanks to the lack of GPS, and comes by default with classic elastomer bands in black, blue, and plum that are available separately for $29.95 (€25). The leather band called Luxe is also offered in black, grey and camel for $99.95 (€85) while a stainless steel version in silver can be yours for $129.95 (€121).
The device is already up for pre-order at Fitbit for $199.95 (€185).
