Fitbit Alta HR vs Flex 2 vs Charge 2: We compare the new Fitbit Alta HR, Fitbit’s first fitness tracker of 2017, with the Flex 2 wrist band and Charge 2 tracker. What’s the difference and which Fitbit wearable is best for you? Here’s our full tracker comparison review.
Anyone after a simple, slimline and affordable fitness tracker will most likely get along with the Fitbit Flex 2. This basic wearable is designed to be strapped to your arm and forgotten about, thanks to its slender and super-light build, all the while tracking your movements and calorie burn.
However, if you’re serious about your fitness, you can upgrade from the Flex 2 to the Fitbit Charge 2 or the spangly new Fitbit Alta HR. These trackers boast a full-on display and built-in coaching features to help you really feel the burn. And with heart rate sensor tech you can even monitor your recovery rate.
To make things simple, we’ve covered exactly what features and design elements each Fitbit tracker packs in, so you know which one is best for you. Here’s our full Alta HR vs Charge 2 vs Flex 2 comparison review.
Fitbit Alta HR vs Flex 2 vs Charge 2: Specs
| Fitness tracker | Fitbit Alta HR | Fitbit Flex 2 | Fitbit Charge 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switchable bands? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Screen? | Yes | No (LED feedback) | Yes |
| Customisable clock face? | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Battery life | Up to 5 days | Up to 5 days | Up to 5 days |
| Heart rate monitor? | Yes | No | Yes |
| Auto sleep tracking? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Water resistant? | No | Yes | No |
| UK Price | From £129 | From £69 | From £139 |
Fitbit Alta HR vs Flex 2 vs Charge 2: Design
When it comes to fitness trackers, Fitbit knows that not everyone wants some plastic-looking wrist band strapped to their arm day and night. We all love a bit of sexy tech and it’s possible to dress up all three trackers here so they look the biz on a night out.
The Fitbit Alta HR, Flex 2 and Charge 2 therefore all come with the option to switch the bands for a different colour or design, quickly and simply.
The new Alta HR can be grabbed in a selection of colours, with the unit itself available in stainless steel as standard. A special edition gunmetal grey or rose gold version is also available, for £30 more. As for the wrist bands, they come in black, blue grey, purple and orange, plus a pink version for the special edition rose gold model.
Alta HR owners can also grab a leather band for an extra £20, in brown, indigo or lavender. And there’s even a proper ‘steel’ band, if you’d rather have style than light design.
The Alta HR is 25 percent slimmer than the Charge 2, which sports a very similar look and feel otherwise. The fatter Charge 2 also sports a selection of band colours and the same special edition models as the Alta HR, so is just as customisable.
With the Flex 2, you get a much more limited range of band colours – just four in all. As for the tracker itself, it actually slips inside the band rather than snapping onto it, so the body is hidden when in use. Only the notification LEDs poke through the surface of the band.
However, because of the very compact nature of the Flex 2, you can actually slip it into alternative types of jewellry. There’s a bangle and a pendant housing available from Fitbit, on top of the usual wristbands. And of course there’s the usual stylish options as well as the standard plastic bands.
Swimmers take note: the Flex 2 is the only water resistant tracker in this round-up.
Fitbit Alta HR vs Flex 2 vs Charge 2: Sensors and features
All three Fitbit trackers in this round-up boast motion tracking, automatically recording your activities and detecting when you’re running, performing aerobic workouts and so on. They can also all remind you to move around if they detect you’ve been stationary too long. And if you want to keep track of how well you’ve slept, all three can do that too.
However, the Flex 2 is pretty basic compared with the Charge 2 and Alta HR. For only the Charge and Alta trackers boast heart rate sensors, to monitor your pulse when you’re active. These two trackers also have loads of built-in features such as guided breathing sessions, fitness training and other bits.
Fitbit Alta HR vs Flex 2 vs Charge 2: Screen and notifications
The Flex 2 offers basic feedback and notifications support via its five LEDs. But the Charge 2 and Alta HR are the trackers to check out if you want some a serious smartphone companion and on-the-go instant feedback.
Their built-in displays are quite basic but give you a simple menu system, which allows you to see exactly how close to completing your goals you are. You can also access the fitness features, check out exactly who’s calling, get a synopsis of any incoming messages and so on.
Fitbit Alta HR vs Flex 2 vs Charge 2: UK price
You can pick up the Fitbit Alta HR from March 13 here in the UK. It’ll cost £129 for the standard version, or £149 if you want the special edition Alta HR. You can grab fitness and leather bands for £19.99, or the Luxe metal bracelet for £69.99.
If you want to grab the Flex 2, that’ll cost you just £69 here in the UK. As for the Charge 2, that starts at £139.
Check out our full Flex 2 review and Charge 2 review, and stay tuned for our in-depth Fitbit Alta HR review.