The new Fitbit Luxe is the latest activity tracker from the San Francisco house, whose most striking novelties are a radically changed design compared to even the most recent past and a color display.
We tried it for a few weeks and we can tell you right away that the enthusiasm is certainly justified, for a product that maximizes the tradition of the brand, bringing a breath of fresh air, first of all the excellent design.
Position in the market
Fitbit Luxe, whose name perhaps derives from the legendary venue in Los Angeles made famous by the TV series “Lucifer” (itself clearly inspired by the plots of Neil Gaiman's Sandman series), is positioned in the mid-range (at least as potential) of smart bracelets , nominally a step below the older brother Fitbit Charge 4 but definitely higher than the Fitbit Inspire 2 (which however remains on the list for the moment) and the Fitbit Ace 3, designed for a younger audience.
The point is that the external design and the color display undermine all the other activity trackers in the house, because on balance Fitbit Luxe is today the best of the whole family, second only to the various Versa 3 and Sense, which belong however to another category. Who knows if Fitbit is planning to update the Charge 4 soon, to rebalance the lineup.
Nice box too
The beauty of the Luxe immediately strikes: the sinuous lines and that mix of metal and glass, together with a not too large AMOLED display (probably not to consume excessively) but with soft and really well done graphics and animations, basically yes it's a very effective glance right out of the box.
Box that is also done well, on this the experience of the Sense has made school: once opened the tracker appears in plain sight with a clean design, while in the part below, which opens thanks to a small tab, it finds a place the USB-A charger cable and the larger strap.
The change of the strap, necessary for the generous wrist of the writer, is done in a second even with one hand, and the tracker is ready: a first full battery charge and, in the meantime, the first pairing and an update are suggested. firmware, which the App drives superbly even for those with no experience (an internet connection, even 3G or 4G is enough).
On the wrist
The presence on the wrist is minimalist: Fitbit Luxe is light, the sinuous and smooth shapes do not engage the movements and the standard strap, with classic hook, seems to hold up well.
During the test weeks we didn't go to the beach, but we did some outdoor activities (picnics in the gardens, fight with the children, rides in the park with the animals) and he didn't even leave us in the shower. Both the metal of the Ogiva and the upper glass, among other things, can be cleaned well even with a simple passage of a cotton handkerchief (or the flap of the t-shirt), without however having to disturb special cloths such as those of glasses.
The standard rubber bracelet is soft enough not to bother the pose but also substantially present to be felt “firm” even for those who do very intense activities.
The battery charge is very good, in our tests it certainly reaches the 5 days of autonomy promised by the parent company and, in one case, it even exceeded them reaching the threshold of 6.
The only flaw from this point of view is the charging cable: we don't like Fitbit's habit of customizing it for each device: if you have other Fitbit devices it would be nice to be able to use them together, instead of having a single cable for each individual bracelet.
The possibility of changing the strap on the fly makes it suitable for any occasion, from a morning run to a day in the office, up to a gala evening
With one finger
The new display is, as mentioned, in color: the novelty is undoubtedly beautiful to look at even if from the point of view of usability the colors are superfluous.
Fitbit Luxe still has a very nice and bright AMOLED display, which compared, for example, to the Fitbit Inspire 2 loses the side haptic button, typically used to go back, replacing it with a double tap.
The navigation between the menus has been revised compared to the other acitivity trackers even if we are a bit undecided on defining it best: it works, it is practical and functional, however the instinctive search for the side button sometimes remains.
The display is large enough for everything, even if from time to time something “calls” a larger display, such as during calls, for which you need to scroll to accept or decline a call (the bracelet does not allow you to call, like Fitbit Sense does for example, but only to accept or decline a call).
The animations on the main screen are beautiful even if sometimes too short and if on the one hand it is necessary to emphasize the extreme beauty in the design of the various dials, there remains the (chronic) defect of Fitbit of not wanting to put a dial without a clock, which is redundant for those who also use a traditional watch on the other wrist.
Excellent at night, also excellent during the day (and by the sea)
As per tradition, despite the small size of the bracelet, the smart features are not lacking and, indeed, they undermine the capabilities of the larger models (apart from the Sense, which is a much higher category).
The first ability, and also the most obvious, is given by the tracking of physical activity during the day, given by the tracking of steps, floors but also the detection of the heartbeat. Not only that, Fitbit Luxe is also able to track the Cardio zone and suggest it to the user: in practice, when we take a walk, a run or a sport activity, the detector (which knows every detail of our body thanks to the data we enter at the beginning) warns us when we reach and maintain an activity rhythm suitable for consuming the right amount of fat and making the activity itself more fruitful.
Although for years Fitbit has focused on daily physical activity and not the most advanced sports one, in the bracelet there are more than 20 physical activities, which can be coordinated in the case with the shared GPS of the smartphone (unlike the Charge 4 which, instead, has it integrated).
There is a small App that allows you to check the state of daily stress, thanks to a score, and to regularize it thanks to a breathing phase. This survey does not occur during the day (unlike the Cardio phase which instead warns you on the spot) but it is freely available from the App, in order to evaluate which days were more stressful than others.
Finally, what is probably the best activity of every Fitbit device, sleep tracking: on the one hand thanks to a battery that lasts several days (so that it follows you quietly even during the nights) on the other because of an incredible series of (anonymous) data that come from a community of Fitbit users, thanks to which it is possible to make statistics and suggest a score. The bracelet shows you your activity during the night in various phases, gives you a score to understand if you are on the right path and also offers you advice on how to improve your sleep (based on the statistics)
The bracelet is water resistant, so that you can also use it in the pool or the sea (there are specific workouts) and, for the pink quota, also the monitoring of the menstrual cycle, with ad hoc alerts, in order to predict the symptoms and any complications.
Some straps are particularly sought after: the Fitbit site is lavish with choices, but there is also a thriving unofficial market to explore
Very smart
There are also some smart functions for those who use it as a watch: in addition to the dial, which can be viewed with a tap in the center or with the movement of the wrist, Fitbit Luxe is also able to synchronize with smartphone alerts (alerts that must be activated at hand the first time, otherwise they are ignored) and to display the caller.
It is possible to insert an alarm at a certain time, or insert the intelligent alarm, so that the bracelet intervenes with the vibration a little earlier, analyzing the state of sleep, in order to wake up progressively.
Too bad that there is no clock face, which perhaps gives priority to data such as heartbeat or steps (which it does during an activity), and that there is no editor to customize them manually.
Considerations
In the weeks we've worn the Fitbit Luxe it has been a delightful discovery, and even if this writer is used to the pleasures of having a Fitbit on the wrist, trying this Luxe was a new sensation.
The design now not at all inspired by fitness but much closer to a design bracelet, the brilliant display but above all the design of the dials made us content to wear it but also intrigued several friends and acquaintances, who wanted to see and try it.
Those who want to customize it will have a choice between official and unofficial accessories. The price is high, a third more than the Inspire 2 is a little bit, but the intrinsic quality of the hardware, together with the beauty and maturity of the App that commands everything, indicates a solution that in the market, considering the whole, has no equal. (especially for the metrics of the results, compared with the data of other users).
Perfect to accompany a classic watch but also beautiful on its own, Fitbit Luxe is a perfect gift for those who want to experience the summer lightly, with a touch of class that should not be underestimated.
Pro:
• Really smart and classy design • Very nice and bright display • Great battery life
Cons:
• A little high price • A dial is missing without the time • A standard is needed for the charger
Price:
• 149.99 Euros • 199.99 Euros (Special Edition) • 8.99 Euros per month for Premium services (optional)
Fitbit Luxe can be purchased directly from the parent company's website in the gold, black or silver version, or even more simply from Amazon.it both in the basic version and in the Special Edition (in this one there is a more sought-after bracelet and a reserve rubber one ). There are, also on Amazon, several alternative straps to change on the fly for every occasion.
