Fitbit is usually all about accessible fitness gear, a theme that even runs through its Versa lineup of devices. But the newly-announced Luxe is a slightly different approach — the band is still recognisably a Fitbit but it’s a little more fashionable than we’re used to from the company’s wearables.
The Fitbit Luxe is the first new device to issue forth from the company since it was acquired by Google. The company is after a more everyday look with its new bracelet design, a focus confirmed by the partnership with jewellery brand gorjana, the focus of the also-announced Fitbit Luxe Special Edition.
Luxe-ury item
The wearable looks vaguely like a Charge 4 and a Versa spent a little too much time in a room together, resulting in a long, elegant colour OLED display surrounded by a stainless steel casing (which is available in several hues, including silver, black and gold). Imagine you stretched an Apple Watch — it’s a little like that.
On the inside, it’s all fitness tracker, however. In fact, it’s probably a fitness tracker you’ve seen before — the Luxe included all of the functionality you’d get from a Charge 4, including heart rate and sleep tracking (along with Fitbit’s wonderful Health Metrics analysis in the app). It’ll track heart-rate variability and skin temperature, with SpO2 tracking coming later as a software update, and it’ll run for up to five days on a charge.
Want a Fitbit Luxe in your life? They’ll be available from a range of local outlets around midyear, including Takealot, Makro, Incredible Connection, DisChem and Cape Union Mart, for R3,400 a pop. This includes six months of access to Fitbit Premium (which will cost you $10 a month thereafter). The gorjana Fitbit Luxe Special Edition is coming to SA at about the same time, for R4,400 with slightly more limited availability.