Which Fitbit must you purchase in 2025? I evaluate the Fitbit Cost 6 and Encourage 3 side-by-side that will help you determine!
I spent a while with the Fitbit Cost 6 final week, and truthfully? It shocked me. A light-weight, slim, and feature-packed health tracker, it jogs my memory of my premium smartwatch, besides it prices approach much less. However that bought me excited about the Fitbit Encourage 3, launched a yr earlier than the Cost 6 and even cheaper. Within the battle of Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3—how do they actually evaluate? Is the Cost 6 price the additional money, or does the Encourage 3 supply a greater bang in your buck?
As somebody who’s been reviewing health wearables for over 5 years, I do know that specs on paper don’t inform the entire story. So, I put these two trackers head-to-head to search out out which one really deserves a spot in your wrist.
Let’s break it down—Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3: which one wins? I’m right here that will help you get one of the best health tracker in your cash!
Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3: Worth
In in the present day’s market, it looks as if issues get costlier by the day. So, if you happen to’re trying to save in your subsequent health tracker, each the Fitbit Cost and the Fitbit Encourage 3 are fairly inexpensive. The Cost 6 prices $159—it’s the newer mannequin and has GPS included.
Then again, the Fitbit Encourage 3 prices simply $99. That’s proper, it’s a tech gadget beneath $100—virtually remarkable in 2025’s costs. However! The Encourage 3 was launched in 2022 and doesn’t have GPS or any Google options.
In case you’re taking a look at value alone, the clear winne is the Encourage 3. It’s $60 cheaper than the Cost 6, so that you’ll have the principle well being options, plus some cash left for groceries—at all times a great factor!
Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3: Design & Construct
Design is necessary. Certain, you need to save on a health tracker, however you don’t need to put on junk. I hear you. So, let’s have a look at the design and construct of those 2 fashions.
The Cost 6 has a wider AMOLED show at 1.52″. It offers me extra space to see notifications from Google or instructions from maps. What’s extra, the case is aluminum and the band is a premium-quality silicone. It’s accessible in Black, Champagne Gold/Coral, and Silver/White.
Then again, the Encourage 3’s case is manufactured from plastic, and the show is simply 0.76 inches extensive. The silicone band is light-weight and cozy. It’s additionally a bit narrower than the Cost 6’s.
I’m giving the model factors to the Cost 6. Though the Encourage 3 was designed after the trendy Fitbit Luxe, the Cost 6 has a wider show. I additionally like that the watch case is manufactured from sturdy aluminum as a substitute of plastic.
What’s extra, the Cost 6 has a group of cool clock faces and a greater variety of band kinds.
Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3: {Hardware}
As a busy mother, I couldn’t dwell with out the well being and health options on my smartwatch. I examine my steps, coronary heart charge, and stress ranges simply by glancing at my wrist. The Fitbit Cost 6 and Encourage 3 have the identical useful options, however they differ in some necessary methods.
First, the Encourage 3 has all the essential monitoring you’d count on from a health tracker. That’s because of its accelerometer and optical coronary heart charge monitor. It additionally comes with purple and infrared sensors that allow it monitor blood oxygen ranges.
The Fitbit Cost 6 has extra sensors—even one which measures pores and skin temperature modifications. There are additionally completely different sensors for the ECG and EDA Scan apps. The ECG sensor can measure your physique’s stress primarily based in your coronary heart charge and electrodermal exercise. One other key characteristic the Cost 6 has is built-in GPS. Certain, you may monitor your runs on the Encourage 3 utilizing your telephone’s GPS however the Cost 6 can monitor your milage itself—cool stuff!
Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3: Well being and Health Options
Now, clearly, the completely different {hardware} offers the trackers completely different well being and health options. For it’s half, the Encourage 3 shares many of the fundamental options you’ll see on the Cost 6. That features Day by day Readiness Scores, and a variety of train modes like biking, yoga, and operating. The Fitbit Cost 6 has an extra 20 sports activities, supplying you with extra monitoring choices.
The Cost 6 is the winner right here! As a more recent health tracker, it has extra sensors and, thus extra capabilities. As well as, it additionally affords turn-by-turn instructions all through your route and provides you YouTube Music management. In order for you superior well being and health monitoring options, the Fitbit Cost 6 is an effective way to go!
Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3: Battery Life
One factor that irks me about my present smartwatch is its battery life. It runs for about 6 hours after which dies. I can use it for about half of my day which is simply not adequate. Battery life is a vital consideration with wearables. So, study from my mistake and ensure your health tracker can final no less than 24 hours.
Truly, the Fitbit Cost 6 can final 7 occasions that quantity with as much as 7 days of battery life. However, the encourage 3 takes the cake with as much as 10 days of battery life—and it solely prices $99.99! After all, It’s necessary to recollect to not repeatedly use the always-on show and the blood oxygen—they’ll drain your battery extra shortly.
Sure, the Encourage 3 wins by way of battery life. It has fewer sensors and options to energy, so it could supply an extended lifespan. It’s good for individuals who love tech devices however hate charging them each day (like me).
Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3: Sleep Monitoring
Certainly one of my objectives this yr is to make sleep a precedence. I recruited my smartwatch for assist, and it gave some me nice insights into why I wasn’t sleeping like I ought to and the way I may enhance.
Fitbits are recognized for high-quality sleep-tracking and the Fitbit Cost 6 and the Encourage 3 don’t disappoint. Each have an SPO2 pulse oximeter sensor—it sheds gentle in your sleeping patterns.
Nevertheless, with each health trackers, you’ll want a Fitbit Premium subscription to unlock the extra superior sleep knowledge—like a sleep-stage evaluation, sleep coronary heart charge, and a information to enhance your sleep and bedtime routine. You additionally get a day by day readiness rating on each gadgets.
I’m gonna name sleep monitoring a draw between the Fitbit Cost 6 and Encourage 3. They provide principally the identical advantages and benefits—particularly if you happen to pay for the subscription.
Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3: Smartwatch Capabilities
I like that my smartwatch syncs with my calendar and notifications. I’ve set reminders for 1 hour earlier than my children’ after-school actions—that approach, I can ensure that I don’t overlook the place I’ve to go—oh sure, it has completely occurred! However when evaluating Fitbit Cost 6 vs. Encourage 3, which has extra smarts?
There’s no query about it: the Fitbit Cost 6 is far more superior. As the primary Fitbit with Google app compatibility, you will get notifications from Google’s apps and will pay along with your wrist utilizing Google Pockets.
Encourage 3, however, solely affords Calendar notifications and Discover My Telephone. In case you’re a busy individual round city—dashing between soccer practices and piano classes or operating your personal enterprise, these options most likely received’t be sufficient for you.
My Verdict
So, which health tracker is a greater purchase? Total, the Fitbit Cost 6 fits extra individuals. Its {hardware} is newer, it has built-in GPS, and works with Google apps. Add to {that a} wider display screen,t and you may depend on it as a smartwatch and health tracker.
However—if all you’re after is an affordable and efficient health tracker, the Encourage 3 is a good all-around selection. It covers all of the health, well being, and sleep monitoring fundamentals. Plus it has an superior battery life and a glossy and cozy design.
So, finally, all of it comes all the way down to you and the way you intend to make use of your health tracker. Superior or minimal, which one would you purchase?
