Fitbit's newest affordable device might be its most stylish yet
UPDATED: Shortly after actually putting the Luxe up for pre-order, Fitbit has detailed the swanky new tracker with a customary press release, failing however to reveal the specific "spring" launch date for the US or other markets "worldwide."
Perhaps more importantly, the device has been formally unveiled on Google's official blog as well, highlighting the search giant's commitment to boost Fitbit's brand awareness going forward. That being said, the Luxe is still not available from the US Google Store. Our original story follows below.
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The Fitbit Luxe is already up for pre-order directly from its manufacturer (but not its new parent company just yet), fetching as little as $149.95 in a "regular" version and as much as $199.95 in a love-it-or-hate-it Special Edition combining an eye-catching gold steel case with... an even flashier gold stainless steel "Parker Link Bracelet" from the "timeless" jewelry brand Gorjana.
Affordable doesn't have to mean ugly
The "jewelry" design is pretty obviously the main thing that sets the Luxe apart from the slightly cheaper and older Fitbit Charge 4, even in its entry-level configurations available in stylish Lunar White/Soft Gold, Black/Graphite, and Orchid/Platinum hues, all three of which include a robust stainless steel body and a flexible, clean, and slim silicone strap.
In addition to the base options, "fashion-forward" customers will also be able to opt for a range of woven, leather double wrap, and stainless steel mesh bands "starting this spring" in exchange for anywhere between $35 and $80 extra.
Compared to the popular Charge 4, the Fitbit Luxe is clearly thinner and lighter overall, which unfortunately impacts the stellar battery life, bringing it down to a slightly less impressive endurance rating of "up to 5 days" between charges.
Win some, lose some
There doesn't seem to be a GPS chip built into Fitbit's newest activity tracker, which makes the device less than ideal for running and other types of outdoor exercises. On the decidedly bright side of things (both figuratively and literally speaking), the Fitbit Luxe comes with a "vibrant" AMOLED color display in tow, which explains (at least in part) its higher retail price compared to the black and white Charge 4.
While we don't have any details on screen size and resolution at this time, we do know an ambient light sensor will be in charge of automatically adjusting brightness to go easy on the eyes at night and maximize visibility during the day, which is a very cool feature for the sub-$200 price segment.
Other than that, the two's lists of features look pretty much identical, at least at first glance, including everything from in-depth sleep tracking (with sleep stages and an overall sleep score), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, 24/7 heart rate tracking, menstrual health supervision, and last but certainly not least, top-notch water resistance allowing you to use the Fitbit Charge 4 and Luxe at the swimming pool without ever worrying about any type of damage.
The Fitbit Luxe also promises to help its future owners better manage their daily stress levels, which is a feature that's now available across the brand's entire line of trackers and smartwatches, including the Charge 4, Inspire 2, Versa 2, and of course, last year's Sense and Versa 3.
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