Fitbit just launched a new activity tracker called Alta HR. Read our Alta HR review to find out if it’s the right Fitbit for you.
What is the FitBit Alta HR?
The Fitbit Alta HR is a new FitBit device announced in March 2017. The device is similar to the original Fitbit Alta, but adds heart rate monitoring and more detailed sleep tracking.
The original Alta was released in 2016. This year, Fitbit decided to make a new and improved Alta HR, keeping up with its tradition of releasing a new fitness tracker every spring.
Fitbit plans to launch the Alta HR in April 2017.
FitBit Alta HR Features
Fitbit claims to have worked with Texas Instruments to shrink the heart rate sensor used in the Alta HR. People liked other heart rate monitoring Fitbit devices – like the Charge and Surge – but many people found them uncomfortably large. With the Alta HR, the company has managed to shrink its heart rate monitor to a size that’s 25% smaller than the Charge 2.
What makes the FitBit Alta HR different from the original Alta – aside from the obvious “HR” thing? Let’s take a closer look at the features on the Alta HR:
- Built-in heart rate sensors, making the Alta HR the fourth Fitbit product to include heart rate sensors (after the Blaze, Charge, and Surge)
- Heart rate sensor is 25% smaller than the one in the Charge 2
- Alta will last 7 days per battery charge
- Detailed sleep tracking data in the form of Sleep Stages and Sleep Insights; instead of just telling you how long you slept, the devices will track motion data and heart rate variability to show light sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep, and other stages in order to provide deeper insight into your daily activity and energy levels
- Priced at $150, which is $20 more than last year’s Alta
- Release date of April 2017
- Available in four colors, including Black, Blue Gray, Fuchsia, and Coral, as well as two materials (stainless steel or 22K rose gold plated)
- Comes in two sizes, including small and large
- Smartphone notifications that let you see call, text, and calendar alerts on the Alta HR display when your phone is nearby
- Reminders to move, encouraging you to reach an hourly goal of 250 steps
- All day activity tracking, including steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, hourly active, and stationary time
- Interchangeable accessories, letting you switch the style with metal, leather, and more
- Silent alarms that let you wake up peacefully
- Tap display that lets you tap through your stats, time, and notifications on an OLED display, while also customizing your clock face
- Wireless syncing, letting you sync stats to computers and most iOS/Android/Windows devices
FitBit Alta HR Tech Specs
Your Alta HR purchase comes with the Alta HR tracker, the Alta HR classic band, and a charging cable. Here’s the tech specs for the tracker:
- Sensors: 3-axis accelerometer, vibration motor
- Display: OLED tap display
- Battery: Lithium-polymer battery (1-2 hour charge time; 7 day battery life)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 4.0
- Memory and Storage: Stores 7 days of detailed motion data minute by minute, as well as daily totals for the past 30 days
- Durability: Rain, sweat, and splash proof, but not shower or swim proof
- Material: Flexible, durable elastomer material, surgical-grade stainless steel (tracker), aluminum (buckle)
- Operating Temperature: 14 to 113 degrees F
- Maximum Operating Altitude: 30,000 feet
FitBit Alta HR Pricing
The Fitbit Alta HR is priced at $179.95 USD.
You get free shipping on orders over $50. All purchases come with a 45 day money back guarantee as well as a 1 year limited warranty. You can add a 2 year protection plan with accidental damage coverage for $39.99 per device.
Alta HR Accessories
You can accessorize your Alta HR using the following pieces:
- Metal Bracelet: $99.95
- Leather Band: $59.95
- Classic Band: $29.95
The Fitbit website also lists devices like the Aria wireless scale as accessories. As you expect, the Alta HR works well with all other Fitbit devices.
Should You Buy the FitBit Alta HR?
The Fitbit Alta HR is a fitness tracking system that’s similar to 2016’s original Alta – but adds heart rate monitoring as well as additional sleep tracking data. Instead of just tracking the duration of your sleep, the Alta HR will track the stages of your sleep and the overall quality. The Alta HR is scheduled for release in April 2017, and Fitbit execs just announced the device at the start of March.
So far, the Alta HR looks like another strong fitness tracker from Fitbit. However, there’s more competition in the fitness tracker market than ever before, and some users may be pushed away by the $180 price tag on the Alta HR – especially with cheaper options from Xiaomi, Garmin, and Jawbone all available with heart rate sensors, and some with waterproofing (the Alta HR is only water resistant – not waterproof).
If you like the Fitbit platform and own other Fitbit devices, then the Alta HR is easy to appreciate: it comes with more sleep tracking than ever before as well as built-in heart rate monitoring. It’s up to you to decide if it’s worth the $180 price tag.
