Charge HR - possible upgrade?

[Jamsade]

Hello everybody!

I am pretty sure that I'm posting in the wrong forum so apologies if so.  I am a Fitbit user of a Charge HR, it works really well for me and I've tried various other devices/brands out there.  I'm a fan of Fitbit and so far so good, it seems to be working for me.

Now, I also have an Apple Watch.  So currently I wear one on each wrist.  The two do double up at times (the steps and sport facilities of the Apple Watch do not compare at all so I don't use them).  I have thought about combining the two, perhaps I need to get the Blaze but I am not sure if I would miss any function ... does anybody have any advice? Has anybody been in a similar situation?  I want to continue with Fitbit, but just seems silly having both devices at times.

I've researched the Blaze but note that it doesn't have GPS (does this bother anyone?) and I can't actually answer calls on it, can I?

Thanks all.  Nice to meet anybody who can keep me going through the blips in exercise!

Sadie

[USAF-Larry]

I don't have the Blaze (yet), @Jamsade, and do use the Charge HR. I don't mind not having the GPS, though, since I use the one in the phone to link the MobileRun in the FitBit app.  I would assume it would be the same with the Blaze.

[Dominique]

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@Jamsade wrote:

I've researched the Blaze but note that it doesn't have GPS (does this bother anyone?)

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I’m sure you will get better answers from people who actually have both, but my understanding is the Blaze is primarily a fitness tracker with limited smartwatch functionalities.

I can, however, answer your question regarding GPS: personally, the lack of GPS doesn’t bother me. For one thing, I’m recording all my longer walks/runs in Runtastic (with my phone’s GPS). I started already 2.5 years ago, way before the Surge and the Blaze became available, and I’m continuing using it, even now I have both a Surge and a Blaze. The Surge GPS sucks the battery like crazy (even with the latest firmware update that promises 10 hours of GPS use), so I keep recharging my Surge every second day or so. The Blaze has much better battery life (thank – partly – to lack of GPS), but I find I’m having problems connecting it to my phone’s GPS (again, it doesn’t bother me much, as I don’t really need GPS in Fitbit). My connection problem may have to do with the fact I’m using an el’cheapo Android phone, I’m sure it works fine with an iPhone.

But now that you have already invested in an expensive Apple Watch, would you be ready to dump it in favour of the Blaze?

[Jamsade]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.  The lack of GPS (or connected GPS) doesn't bother me with the HR so I guess it shouldn't with the Blaze. Hmm.. 

[Jamsade]

Thank you Dominique for taking the time to reply.  I wonder if that is the reason for your issue with GPS. Personally, for me I really like the GPS function but do currently run it from the Fitbit app on my phone.

The Apple Watch sadly isn't what I thought it would be, I don't use it at full capacity at all and the sport function I don't use at all. The step count is quite inaccurate, compared to Fitbit.  My intention was to go over to Apple but this made me go back to my Charge HR.  I do like texts that come through, emails, can you actually read the texts on the Blaze? I'm guessing you can't reply or take the calls.

Thanks!

[jcommisso]

I also have the Fitbit Charge HR and the Apple Watch 42mm stainless steel. I used to have a Zip but I lost it on vacation, so now I just disabled HR on my Charge HR and put it in my pocket. I'm thinking about getting another Zip so I don't have to put my Charge HR in my pocket. I question my Apple Watch more than I question my Fitbit. The Fitbit seems to have more accurate step data than the Apple Watch, although I do like the health ring. 

Edit: You can also try apps like Sync Solver or Power Sync for syncing Apple Health to Fitbit.

[Rich_Laue]

@Jamsade since you have an Apple Watch, I'll assume your phone is also an Apple Phone.

• Yes the Blaze is able to answer or reject calls.
• However you do not communicate through the Blaze, and must pick up the phone our turn on speakerphone opt-in. There is a feature request to do this automatically.
• The GPS will work the same as the AW in that it connects to your phone's GPS unit, and records your trip. Viewwble on a map after a sync.
• Texts will be readable, but your not able to respond, can't imagine typing on a screen that small.
• There will be no features on the Charge HR missing from the Blaze.
• Some of the things like track a walk, run, hike, have been moved from the app to the Blaze. No need to take the phone out.
• There are a total of 18 exercises available for the Blaze that can be directly track. 
• Only 7 at a time can be loaded onto it.
• Don't forget the Blaze also has interchangeable bands

See this link to compare ttrackers.

I'm resisting the urge to move this post to the Blaze forum. Oh I have in to my urge. LOL.

[AngelaMa]

Hello @Jamsade welcome to the Fitbit Community! 🙂 The Blaze does not have GPS but you can use the Connected GPS to track your activity, you can read more about it here.  Also the feature to answer the calls is currently only available for iOS to read more about notifications click here. I use a Blaze and the Charge HR and I must admit the ability to change bands and the display of the Blaze are a few of the reasons why I love my Blaze!  

@USAF-Larry, @Dominique, @jcommisso and @Rich_Laue thanks for your amazing cooperation! 😉 

I'll be around if you have any questions! 🙂