Complete Review of the Fitbit smart health connected watch smart health innovation

Fitbit enters the market for smart health connected watches with the Fitbit Surge. More complete, it is above all more sporty than these predecessors. After our Review on the Charge HR that we had praised, what is the smart health watch made by Fitbit worth?

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Mark : Fitbit

Category : smart health connected watch

Release date : available

Fitbit Surge Unboxing

On the packaging side, we must recognize thatyou can feel the difference in price compared to the brand's bracelets. We have the right to a beautiful packaging that opens revealing the watch. Also inside, the famous dongle that plugs into the computer and the USB cable to charge the watch. An effort has therefore been made on the form and it is not worse.

Fitbit Surge Design & Ergonomics

Aesthetically speaking, the Surge could not convince us. So yes it is a watch, in essence more imposing than a bracelet. And we would gladly forgive him if there was not as much useless space around the screen. And it's not over ! They had to replace the same material for the bracelet already present on the Charge HR, uncomfortable to wear in addition to being messy. An effect accentuated by the much larger size of it. No for once … disappointment of the most total.

Even on the wrist, the Fitbit Surge proves quite uncomfortable to wear and ultimately quite poor visually. An effect which is accentuated by the color black, the only color available in France!

On the screen side, this too is not famous. Already because it is entirely in black and white, but also because the resolution is too low. What disappointments. Fortunately, this is the only big black dot on this watch.

Fitbit Surge app

At the application level now, this is the same as for the Charge HR with additional functionality. Whether on your mobile or the web application, everything is really easy to use. The information is well detailed, the application is fluid. In short, difficult to find real faults with it, which is also compatible with iOS and Android AND Windows Phone, directly via Bluetooth. Now let's take a look at its content and how to get started with the smart health connected watch.

Using the Fitbit Surge

Daily activity

It has been the hallmark of the company since its inception: activity monitoring. A feature made pleasant by the screen of the Surge. At least we clearly see each step. We find the traditional goal of 10,000 steps per day, still as difficult to reach for those who work in an office. Whether in terms of kilometers, calories or even floors per day, it is possible to modify the objectives. The distance on foot always grows a bit quickly compared to what seems to be reality. A problem solved for everything that is racing since a GPS has now been integrated, but we will see that a little later.

Note the return of call and text notifications, with the difference that it is now possible to read SMS directly on the watch, and it's a great idea!

Food tracking

Once again, food monitoring is part. At your first connection, you will be able to record your height and weight and thus set a goal for losing weight. The application will guide you provided you enter the food. A ratio is provided depending on the difficulty of the diet you are undertaking (fsharp, medium, difficult, extreme). So you know easily how many calories you are still allowed to eat during the day to meet your goals. The main advantage is that your daily physical efforts are taken into account. You will understand, a bar of chocolate, it deserves!

Sleep

The Fitbit Surge also integrates a sleep sensor that turns out to be quite conclusive and offers detailed graphs of your night. You will know how long you have slept, how many times you have woken up. If the sensor is precise enough, note that sleeping with a watch of this caliber is not necessarily very pleasant. Small oversight, the possibility of having information on sleep when getting up in the morning, something quite easy to implement with a screen of this size.

A watch for athletes

But in addition to the transition to a smart health connected watch, the main difference of the Surge with its predecessors is that it is intended mainly for athletes. And on that side, the brand didn't make fun of us. Running, treadmill, laps, hiking, dumbbells, elliptical trainer, spinning, gym and even yoga are recorded with the possibility of finding all the statistics directly on your smartphone, but also on the watch at the end of the activity . In short, hard not to find happiness. Obviously, complicated to put all the sports that exist, but we might have wanted even more maybe (tennis …?). Well, we are a little choosy, but still, the Surge is really full on this side. It is for this reason that it will be recommended more to the athlete than to the average user, who will see a bracelet better suited to its use. We railed higher against the design of the watch, but to do sports, you don't need a Rolex either. After, to wear everyday, it's more complicated …

Autonomy

Just as advertised, Fitbit Surge lasts 5 days almost 24 hours a day. A very satisfactory result. Less satisfactory: always a proprietary charger. We expected a little, but hey. Finally, always the presence of sending emails when the watch is discharged, an alert that is very useful.

Fitbit Surge compatibility

All devices in Bluetooth 4.0 whether iOS, Android or Windows Phone.

Against competition

For the same price, there are several alternatives, but it will depend on how well you fit the Fitbit Surge. For athletes it represents a good investment; for those who want a more sedentary use, Moto 360 represents a good compromise. Compared to other sports watches, the Surge is probably one of the best products on the market for this price range.

Conclusion