Certainly one of Fitbit’s most popular fashions, the Cost, has a brand new model out: the Cost 6. It has Google Maps, Google Pockets, and YouTube Music controls in-built, together with coronary heart charge sensing that the corporate says is its most correct to this point. You possibly can preorder it now for $159.95, solely about $10 greater than the Cost 5’s present value. Right here’s what’s new:
Google says the center charge monitoring is now extra correct
The sensors on this gadget look like the identical as on the Cost 5, however Google says the Cost 6 now makes use of algorithms borrowed from the Pixel household of smartwatches. Consequently, it says, coronary heart charge is extra correct, and so are the metrics like Readiness that make use of coronary heart charge detection.
Some Google apps are in-built
The Cost 6 is extra according to the Google ecosystem than the Cost 5 was. It makes use of Google Pockets as a substitute of Fitbit Pay, and has controls for Google-owned YouTube Music.
The Cost 6, just like the Cost 5, has built-in GPS and GLONASS. New on this gadget is the power to make use of Google Maps on the watch itself, so long as you’re inside Bluetooth vary of your cellphone. (All of the Google apps require you to have your cellphone close by.)
To make use of the Cost 6, you’ll have to create a Google Account if you happen to don’t have already got one, somewhat than utilizing a Fitbit account.
You possibly can management music out of your Cost (once more)
Fitbit dropped assist for Spotify playback when the Cost 5 got here out, however music controls are again—this time for YouTube Music.
You’ll want a subscription to YouTube Music Premium to make use of this function, although. Buying the Cost 6 will get you a one-month free trial.
The Cost 6 can connect with some health club gear
The Cost 6 helps the Bluetooth Coronary heart Charge Profile, which lets you see your coronary heart charge on the display of suitable units from NordicTrack, Peloton, Concept2 and Tonal, in addition to the Peloton app. You could find an inventory of Cost 6-compatible machines right here.
The Cost 6 now has a zoom function
If it’s laborious to learn the textual content on a tiny watch display, the Cost 6 now has a function that permits you to zoom in.
How the Cost 6 gadget compares to the Cost 5
Bodily, the Cost 6 is similar dimension because the Cost 5, but it surely now has a aspect button, the place the Cost 5 had none. Google calls it a “haptic” button, and clarified to The Verge it’s not a mechanical button. It does buzz while you press it, although. For those who’ve used a MacBook with a haptic trackpad, or an iPhone with a haptic House Button, you’ll get the thought.
The Cost 6 suits a minimum of some Cost 5 bands, in case you’d want totally different strap colours than the three manufacturing facility fashions. These are offered in obsidian (black gadget, black band), coral (rose gold gadget, heat purple band), and porcelain (mild silvery gadget, off-white band).
The best way to preorder the brand new Cost 6
The Cost 6 shall be obtainable “later this fall,” however you may preorder it now. Google says it’s obtainable from Google and Fitbit’s on-line shops together with “choose world retailers,” with extra availability coming this fall. We’ve seen it at these shops to date:
You’ll want a Fitbit Premium subscription to make use of among the options, just like the readiness rating, and to entry exercises by the Fitbit app. Once you purchase a brand new Cost 6, you get six months of the Premium subscription free. You’ll additionally want a YouTube Music Premium subscription to make use of the YouTube Music controls, and a Google Account (somewhat than only a Fitbit account) to make use of the gadget in any respect.
