Fitbit Alta HR Review
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- The Good
- Sleep stage tracking
- Silent alarm
- Activity recognition
- Sends reminders to move during times of idleness
- The Bad
- Touch screen is small
- No altimeter
- No GPS location
- Not water-resistant
Fitbit offers an array of fitness trackers, but if you’re looking for one that you may actually wear 24/7, the Fitbit Alta HR will probably fit the bill. This slender wristband lets you monitor your health from your wrist. The Fitbit Alta HR offers a large selection of wristband colors, which are available separately. This incarnation of the Fitbit follows the company’s trend of going smaller but better.
- Price
- $128.95 to $149.95
The consistency in pricing across various vendors is refreshing. The Fitbit Alta HR is on the high end for similarly sized fitness trackers while coming in as an economical choice from a technological viewpoint. Included with purchase are a charging cable and wireless sync dongle. If you want to shop the selection of interchangeable band colors, you’ll pay a variety of prices for them, ranging from $5.99 to $19.99 each.
- Tracking
- Steps
- Distance
- Calories burned
- Sleep time in stages: light, deep and REM
- Heart rate
The Fitbit Alta HR is up to speed with the standard features that any fitness tracker worth its weight in sweat includes. However, it goes further in displaying notifications for incoming calls, text messages and calendar events. For all its good features, the Fitbit Alta HR comes up lacking if you’re looking to track the number of floors climbed. And the Alta HR doesn’t have a “relax” mode for times when you’re just vegging out.
- Features
- Automatically recognizes your activity
- Syncs to Apple, Android and Windows devices
- Customizable features allow you to set goals and track your progress
- Connects with friends to share information
- Fitbit app gives you access to personalized fitness coaching
- Continuous, automatic heart rate tracking
The Fitbit Alta HR lacks the GPS of previous versions of Fitbit trackers and can’t check you out at the coffee shop with mobile pay features. But it does deliver a powerful fitness tracker in a sleek, compact design. The Alta HR incarnation of the popular Fitbit is prettier than its predecessors. And the wide selection of interchangeable bands makes it even more appealing.
- Specs
- Weight
- 0.8 ounces
- Dimensions
- 1.6 inches x 0.6 inches x 1.3 inches
- Battery
- 7-day battery life
- Wrist measurements
- 5.5 inches to 6.7 inches in circumference
- Display
- OLED display
- Warranty
- One-year warranty on parts
The Fitbit Alta HR is lightweight and compact. It maintains its sleek, compact design without sacrificing the necessary features that keep it competitive in today’s market. The lack of water-resistance is a disappointment for some, but the overall quality tends to offset that.
Fitbit Alta HR: User Reviews
Fitbit Alta HR: Comments
With its Alta HR, Fitbit has incorporated a continuous heart rate sensor into a compact, slim, stylish fitness tracker. The design looks less like a computer and more like a fashion accessory. The touchscreen turns on and off based on wrist movements, so you’ll need to learn not to accidentally activate your screen. The slightly curved screen sits comfortably on the wrist, and the automated activation means you aren’t constantly hitting buttons.
You can see your activity stats and the time on the screen, and personalize other information displays using portrait or landscape clock face options. It is missing some of the features of other fitness trackers, but if you can get through the day without them, the Fitbit Alta HR is a good choice.
How Does Fitbit Alta HR Work?
The Fitbit Alta HR uses SmartTrack™ technology to log your activities automatically. The heart rate sensor tracks your heart rate in peak, cardio and “fat burn” zones. The device allows you to see this information in real time on the display.
If you prefer, you can go about your life during the day, then sync the band with your phone to look at your Fitbit dashboard. The Fitbit app will chart your activities so you can see how you’re doing.
What Makes Fitbit Alta HR Stand Out?
While it may not appeal to everyone, the sleep monitoring feature of the Fitbit Alta HR could be a boon for an insomniac. It uses the Alta’s continuous monitoring of the heart rate to track sleep cycles. It’s like Santa Claus – it sees you when you’re sleeping and knows when you’re awake. It can even determine what stage of sleep you’re in, based on your heart rate.
When you sync the data, the Fitbit app will graph your sleep stages on your dashboard. It will display diagrams with percentages for each type of sleep you experienced. The app will also provide you information on what these percentages mean. It will tell you how your daily activities impact your sleep patterns.
Common Reviews of Fitbit Alta HR
The availability of various swappable bands is a popular feature with the Fitbit Alta HR. There are even stylish leather and metal options available. The Alta HR allows you to create fitness goals, such as boosting your daily step count or drinking more water. However, some users found it was less than reliable when it came to delivering the reminders to push them toward these goals.
The lack of an altimeter to track the number of stairs you take is a disappointment. The Alta HR is not water-resistant, presenting a problem for swimmers and those who sweat heavily when working out. Because it doesn’t recognize the difference in workout type, you’ll have to manually enter whether you’re doing a biking class or Zumba.
Is Fitbit Alta HR for Me?
Unless you’ve just got your heart set on tracking the floors you’ve climbed and a GPS locator when you’re running, the Fitbit Alta HR is a solid piece of fitness tracker technology that should take care of any health tracking needs you have. It is a stylish design that works well for men and women alike.
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