The release of the new Fitbit Charge 3 raises questions concerning whether it would be a better option than Fitbit Ionic or other fitness trackers on the market.
In this article, we’ll go through the features of two Fitbit and see which would take the cake in this comparison: The Fitbit Charge 3 vs Ionic.
Fitbit Charge 3 vs Ionic Quick Comparison
Features |
Fitbit Charge 3 |
Fitbit Ionic |
|---|---|---|
Release Date | 7th of October 2018 | 1st of October 2017 |
Battery Life | 7 days | GPS mode: 10 hours. Smartwatch mode: 5 days. |
Dimensions | 1.9x4x8.7 inches | From 5.5 to 9.3 inches in circumference |
Weight | 1.7 ounces | 1.2 ounces |
Connectivity | BLE, WiFi, NFC (Special edition) | BLE, WiFi, NFC |
Notifications | Call, texts, and smart app notifications | Call, texts, and smart app notifications |
Water Resistance | Yes up to 50 meters | Yes up to 50 meters |
Music | Doesn’t store music | Stored on the watch |
Platform Support | Android and iOS | Android and iOS |
Virtual Assistant | Can be connected to Alexa | Can be connected to Alexa |
Customer Reviews | 4 Stars | 3.5 stars |
Price |
Fitbit Charge 3 Overview
PROS
- Comfortable to wear
- Many useful functions
- Great display
CONS
- A little overpriced
- Heart rate monitoring isn’t the most extensive
It’s true that the Fitbit Charge 3 doesn’t deliver a function or doesn’t have a feature that is exclusive to it. However, it takes all those that already exist and packs them into a refined package, with a more sleek design, and more affordability of price relative to the performance it has to deliver.
Fitbit Ionic Overview
PROS
- The ability to make payments
- Great display
- Superb screen resolution
- 15 built-in sport apps
CONS
- No built-in music storage
- Doesn’t have a multi-sport mode
The Fitbit Ionic would fit the category of fitness trackers more than smarwatches. It does have online payments and bilt-in GPS, but for the same price tag, you can get another device that offers a lot more. It’s worth mentioning that is has a nice display and a solid battery life, so it’s still a good value for the money.
Fitbit Ionic vs Fitbit Charge 3 In-Depth Comparison
Design, Display, and Colors
Fitbit Charge 3
The Charge 3 looks a lot like its predecessor: The Charge 2.
The screen is vertical, and the shape and size are pretty much the same as the those of the Charge 2’s.
Its aluminum body and Gorilla Glass 3 that are similar to the of the Versa’s and Ionic’s give it an advantage over the former. Its display is also a splendid touchscreen that supports grayscale colors and not just the black and white colors.
Its screen size is also 40% bigger in area than that of the Charge 2.
You can get the Charge 3 in a woven material in black or blue, or the special edition in a perforated white or lavender sports band for a couple of extra dollars.
Fitbit Ionic
The Fitbit Ionic’s dimension 1.9 x 4 x 8.7 inches and it weighs 1.7 ounces, which isn’t the lightest of fitness trackers. Compromising some of the portability for the sake of the amazing color LCD touchscreen seems reasonable.
Its high-resolution display that reaches up to 1000 nits and is protected by strong Gorilla Glass 3 like the Charge 3.
It shows you the fitness stats you need like calories burned and floors climbed and it has 17 clock faces you can choose from to suit your style best.
Winner: The Fitbit Ionic.
Fitness features
Both the Fitbit Charge 3 and Ionic deliver hourly activity tracking. Throughout the day, they keep track of how many steps you’ve taken, floors you’ve climbed and calories you’ve burned.
They also have multi-sport recognition and SmartTrack that automatically recognize and record different activities like walking, dancing, biking or sports such as football.
They also have swim-tracking features and are water resistant up to 50 meters. They display some swim metrics like length and stroke used.
Both the trackers also have continuous heart rate monitoring and Cardio Fitness Level to give you a clear and accurate picture of how healthy your heart is.
They also have reminders for you to move, which encourage you to reach a daily goal of steps, and an hourly goal of 250 steps. This helps you stay active and keep blood circulation in check.
Fitbit Charge 3
Although the Charge 3 doesn’t have built-in GPS services, it can be connected to a phone to get a retrospective route of your walk or run. It also has a SpO2 sensor that measures the amount of oxygen present in the blood and thereby shows you how athletic you are as it shows you how effectively you’re breathing and the quality of the way blood is transported throughout your body.
Fitbit Ionic
The Fitbit Ionic has built-in GPS and still wins over the Charge 3 by having personalized on-screen coaching as well as exclusive Adidas on-screen workouts.
Winner: The Fitbit Charge 3.
Smart features
Both the Fitbit Charge 3 and Ionic display call notifications, text notifications, and smart app notifications on their display.
They also allow you to quickly respond to text via the Quick Replies feature.
Both trackers also notify you with calendar alerts to remind you of any meeting, appointments, or events that are upcoming. They have NFC chips that allow you to make payments with your watch, although this is available for the Special Edition of the Charge 3.
Fitbit Ionic
The Fitbit Ionic has an advantage over the Charge 3 because it gives you access to some apps through the tracker, and can store and play up to more than 300 songs, features that the Charge 3 lacks.
Winner: The Fitbit Ionic.
Health features
Both the Fitbit Charge 3 and Fitbit Ionic track your steps and calories burned.
They also keep track of your sleeping patterns, where they record the duration and quality of sleep, as well as the amount of time spent in each sleep stage (Light, deep, REM).
They’re also capable of keeping track of female health-related things like menstrual cycle, duration of the period, symptoms, and ovulating; all of which can be very helpful to your gynecologist to give you a more accurate diagnosis.
Read more: Which is the best smartwatch for ladies?
Both trackers also provide you with guided breathing sessions that help regulate heartbeats and reduce stress and anxiety.
Winner: Tie
Battery Life
Fitbit Charge 3
The Fitbit Charge 3’s battery life can keep it running for about 7 days on a single charge.
Fitbit Ionic
On 1-2 hours of charging, the Fitbit Ionic can last up to 10 hours on GPS mode. On Smartwatch mode, its battery life extends up to 5 days.
Winner: The Fitbit Charge 3.
Accessories and price
Either of the trackers can be accessorized with Fitbit accessories and have customizable clock faces, but no designer accessories.
When it comes to price, the Charge 3 is a lot more low-budget than the Ionic, even when it comes in its special edition, the Charge 3 is still about 30 dollars less in price than the Ionic.
Winner: The Fitbit Charge 3.
Which Is Better The Fitbit Charge 3 or Ionic? Final Words:
Bottom line, From the practical point of view, the Fitbit Charge 3 still performs as strongly as the Charge 2 but with more features and a more solid battery life.
And compared to the Fitbit Ionic, it only lacks a couple of features that may easily be overlooked if your main concern with the tracker is the exercise features but it comes at a quite more affordable price.
The Ionic, on the other hand, may seem a little overpriced seeing the little difference in features, but its stunning display and how big and clear that stats appear on it compensate for the difference in price.
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