Will Ionic display HR, speed/pace while walking?

[SunsetRunner]

I have almost no experience with smartwatches or fitness trackers, so please explain things to me with that in mind.

I’m looking for two metrics (yes, that’s right — only 2!):

First, I want to see my heart rate as I’m walking. I don’t want to see a record of my heart rate after my walk. I don’t want charts and graphs. I don’t want to look at my smartphone at all. I want to walk and lift my wrist up and look at the device and see my current heart rate. This one seems pretty straightforward to me as the products appear to list this information unambiguously.

Second, and so far I’ve been unable to see what Fitbit products – if any – do this: I want to see how fast I’m walking, as I’m walking. Again, don’t want a record, or chart/graph afterwards; don’t want to look at my smartphone at all. I want to walk and life up my wrist and look at the device and see my current walking speed. It looks like I will have to convert from pace (1 mile in __ minutes) to speed (__ miles per hour), and I can do that. But I’m not sure which devices will display this information on the device’s display in real-time as I’m walking.

So, what, if any, Fitbit products will do these two things?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[LZeeW]

@SunsetRunner   All Fitbits that have an Exercise app can display your current heart rate and your current pace on the screen when you are using the Exercise app.  If you want to be able to see them both at the same time, then you want an Ionic/Versa 2/Versa Lite.  These devices have a customizable screen and display three real time stats.  The Charge 3/4 and Inspire HR show three real time stats, but don't let you customize the screen the same way.  You can see your heart rate and your pace, but you can't see them both on the screen at the same time.  You tap or swipe on the watch face to get to the different screens.

Does this help?  BTW, the Ionic is the most expensive choice of the devices.  You are buying a device with things you don't want or need by buying an Ionic.

[SunsetRunner]

LZeeW, thanks for your reply. What is an "Exercise app"? Is it a separate purchase or something that comes as part of the OS/programming of the device?

Another item that might be helpful to make explicit is that I don't require any history. I only need the real-time info available on the device, even if I don't have a phone with me. I think - but am not positive - that this means a device with an internal GPS will be fine. I'm not sure how much I have to use/access a Fitbit app on my phone, but am interested in minimizing this, so need a device that can be used stand-alone and without touching my phone every time I go for a walk.

(BTW, I'm not sure if I want to see both measurements at once or can make do with swiping -- will have to think on that. I do want to buy the least expensive device that will do what I want, but didn't see a more general forum to ask which devices would meet my needs.)

[LZeeW]

@SunsetRunner   The Exercise app is part of the programming and you don't need to buy anything extra.  The Exercise app lets you track things like walks, runs, etc.  With any Fitbit, you must track your walk with the Exercise app because that is the only way you can see real time pace.

I found your similar post on the Charge 4 forum and could see a little more about what you are looking for and that you used to use a Zip.  If you are looking for bare bones, "good enough" detail, you can track your walks without GPS at all and get real time pace, but with a little limitation.  You used a Zip, so you know that Fitbit uses a steps x stride length to calculate your distance.  You can track a walk without GPS at all and you can see your pace based on that steps x stride length equation.  If you walk with a typical stride, don't have a physical limitation or anything that might affect your gait, then the calculated pace might be good enough for what you want.  BTW, I have a favorite trail that goes through a long tunnel.  I always track that one with the GPS off, so I know that you can do this.

If that is the case, then you can also choose the Inspire HR.  I know this is a bit overwhelming, but I have another idea for you.  There are many good videos on YouTube that have a lot of great information.  Try browsing YouTube.