Fitbit Charge 5 now official, packs ECG, stress level and SpO2 monitoring for under RM900

The Fitbit Charge line up has always been one of their more popular products, with one of every three Fitbit users using a Charge device. And now, after a number of leaks, Fitbit have finally announced the latest member of the Charge family— the Fitbit Charge 5.

Fitbit Charge 5 specs and features

The first big change you’ll notice with the Fitbit Charge 5 is the screen. While the Fitbit Charge 4 had a monochrome display, Fitbit’s latest tracker has a 1.04-inch, colour AMOLED display that’s protected with Gorillia Glass 3. It’s also their first tracker with an always-on display for extra convenience, and has a brightness up to 450nits, much higher than the 200nits on its predecessor. You might’ve also spotted the rounded edges on the Fitbit Charge 5, instead of the usual sharp edges on past Charge trackers.

That touchscreen will be the only way to interact with it though, as there’s no physical buttons on the Charge 5. The silver edges of the tracker meanwhile are ECG sensors that check for atrial fibrillation. It’s also the first Fitbit Charge wearable to have an ECG scanner onboard. Unfortunately for the time being, Malaysia is not one of the countries where the ECG sensor would work in.

Similarly, sensors that take electrodermal activity readings (EDA) to measure stress levels are also located on the silver edges. Basically, it works by releasing a very low amount of voltage to the skin. By looking at the variation of skin’s electrical conductivity in response to sweat secretion, it can check and tell you your stress levels and emotional state via the EDA app in the Charge 5.

You’ll also find a host of other health-related features commonly found on Fitbit devices. There’s the usual stuff like trackers for heartbeat rate, sleep score, skin temperature, breathing rate, menstrual cycle and oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring too. Fitbit Premium subscribers will also be able to use a new Daily Readiness feature, which checks your body to tell you whether it’s ready for a workout or not. Fitbit Premium also unlocks other extras like access to meditation sessions. Do note that Fitbit Premium will set you back RM39 per month though.

Battery-wise, Fitbit says that users will get up to seven days of battery life, though if you use the always-on display and SpO2 features you’ll likely drain the battery faster. Nevertheless, Fitbit recommends that you charge your tracker every few days anyway to ensure you’ll never run out of battery. The battery itself will take two hours to charge. The Fitbit Charge 5 will come in either Black, Lunar White or Blue.

Pricing and availability

The Fitbit Charge 5 will retail for RM878. It’ll be available from the 4th of October onwards from their official store on Shopee and Lazada as well as other major retailers. If you do get it, you’ll get a complimentary six-month subscription to Fitbit Premium too. For those who want to pre-order the Fitbit Charge 5, you can do so now on the Fitbit website.

For more information on the Fitbit Charge 5, you can head over to its product page.