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Fitbit’s Encourage 3 is the model’s most elementary and simple health tracker. Whereas it is extra superior than a pedometer, the expertise is not far off. It is devoid of the smartwatch options present in Fitbit’s Sense 2 and Versa 4 and would not have built-in GPS just like the Cost 5.

However the no-frills expertise is what Fitbit intends for the Encourage 3, and it is meant for somebody who considers themselves a newbie or who desires one thing budget-friendly. General, it is an uncomplicated health tracker that also gives loads of well being and health insights like sleep, stress, and menstrual cycle monitoring.  

To get a real sense of whether or not the Encourage 3 is definitely worth the funding, I wore the tracker as my on a regular basis wearable over the course of a month. I discovered the expertise to be usually superb and regardless of a number of nitpicks, really feel as if it isn’t solely among the best Fitbits, but additionally among the best Android smartwatches, as nicely.

A fundamental but acquainted design

The Fitbit Encourage 3 is an unassuming machine. It has a black silicone band that feels snug and safe in opposition to your pores and skin however is not so thick or tight that it is noticeable in the course of a exercise. I discovered it to be simple to strap on in comparison with different, bigger wearables, and I largely forgot I used to be sporting it. It additionally comes with an extra bigger band for these with greater wrists and is appropriate with the most effective Encourage 3 bands if you wish to swap it out. 

The monitoring machine itself may be very small (1.5 inches by .73 inches) and has a tiny coloration show. You must press each side or double-tap the display screen to deliver up the watch’s face, which I discovered to be somewhat irritating after I needed to simply shortly view the time or my tracked exercise stats. 

There’s additionally a little bit of a studying curve required to make use of the vertical and horizontal swiping that navigates the menus. I discovered the method clunky initially, particularly after I needed to easily look at my coronary heart price or exercise time. As an alternative of shortly swiping to these screens, I needed to memorize the precise gestures. That is finally superb however will really feel somewhat totally different to new customers.

Additionally, the watch would not present fast entry to every of the 21 train choices native to Fitbit’s ecosystem. You possibly can solely show six on your property display screen at a time and you may have to manually change the exercise menu to see others through the Fitbit App. The entire time to do that takes roughly 5 minutes. 

Whereas the essential black coloration does mesh with most apparel, and the sleekness is a step up from bulkier wearables, its lack of formal choices for bands means I might doubtless not put on it exterior of understanding. You can change the strap for among the best Encourage 3 bands however the selection does lack. Nonetheless, the general consolation and measurement of the machine make it a fantastic possibility for these searching for a sporty, all-day wearable.

Its superior well being and wellness monitoring is a excessive level

Well being and wellness monitoring is the place the Encourage 3 shines. Monitoring is obtainable for not solely fundamentals like step counts and exercises but additionally extra superior metrics like respiration price, coronary heart price variability, pores and skin temperature, oxygen saturation, and resting coronary heart price. Most of this monitoring requires sporting the machine whereas sleeping, so the actual fact it has a cushty band is a bonus. 

Concerning sleep monitoring, I discovered the Encourage 3 to do an satisfactory job of recognizing after I went to mattress and the way lengthy I slept. I did discover that it tended to register some sleep periods as being a bit shorter than they really have been however general, it did not carry out any higher or worse in comparison with the sleep app I exploit on my cellphone referred to as Sleep Cycle and Rise.

I used to be additionally intrigued by Fitbit’s new Day by day Readiness Rating characteristic. The rating is meant to be a sign of how nicely you possibly can anticipate your physique to carry out based mostly on the information it gathers about how a lot exercise you have accomplished, the standard of your sleep, and so forth.

The amassed information, and the rating it churns out, is meant that will help you make higher decisions in the way you care for your self on a day-to-day foundation significantly when deciding what sort of train you may have interaction in.

For instance, the Day by day Readiness Rating would signify how ready my physique was for bodily exercise every day. Any rating beneath 30 indicated that I ought to prioritize relaxation as a substitute of understanding, whereas a rating above 64 meant I may push myself to extra intense ranges of train. Having that type of every day perception goes past simply eager to hit a step depend and it empowered me to really feel higher about my general exercise routine. 

It is essential to notice that a whole lot of the pattern information (like sleep monitoring) is simply accessible you probably have a premium Fitbit subscription. You do get six months included once you buy the machine, so you will get an thought of how useful the information might be earlier than deciding to pay for it.

It is a first rate exercise tracker which will depart hardcore athletes wanting extra

The Encourage 3 does an honest job of monitoring actions however I did suppose it was somewhat irritating to solely have entry to 6 trackable actions on the house display screen, which I may see being a significant downside for multisport customers. It is a cumbersome expertise needing to enter the app to regulate these viewable actions on a regular basis. 

However I did come throughout a extra critical dealbreaker: its lack of built-in GPS. Having GPS entry is a should for critical athletes who need extra than simply roundabout estimations of distance, steps, and calorie information. Not solely is it a superb factor to have for when you don’t need your cellphone with you however it’s additionally the surest strategy to get correct monitoring data relating to tempo and complete exercise time.

GPS has additionally turn out to be an ordinary on so most of the finest health trackers that it appears unusual when a wearable would not have it. The Encourage 3 does enable for GPS use when synced with a cellphone, however I do not all the time prefer to tote my smartphone alongside throughout a exercise, particularly whereas working. After I did, nevertheless, I discovered that the GPS synced virtually instantaneously.

Regardless of its lack of built-in GPS, it nonetheless serves as a fantastic entry-level possibility among the many finest Fitbits, and is a strong funds alternative as among the best Android smartwatches.

Battery life is its clear finest characteristic and lasts as much as 10 straight days

So far as standout options go, the Encourage 3’s battery life deserves critical recognition. Fitbit touts it as having a 10-day battery life and after testing this declare myself, it is spot on.

I wore the machine practically 24/7, sporting it to mattress whereas I slept, in addition to all through the work day, and had no drawback getting not less than 10 days on a single cost. And when the battery lastly did attain 0%, it charged again as much as 100% in simply over an hour. Fitbit’s all the time accomplished nicely within the battery life division, and the Encourage 3 isn’t any totally different.

Must you purchase it?

General, the Fitbit Encourage 3 is an satisfactory health tracker that gives fundamental insights into your well being and exercise ranges. The smooth design and long-lasting battery make it excellent for all-day (and all-night) put on, and it is nice at giving a birds-eye view of your general well being.

However whether or not or not it is a clever funding relies upon largely in your private targets and wishes. Its lack of built-in GPS places it behind related choices from Fitbit just like the Cost 5, and if you would like a tool that gives deeper health and wellness insights, the extra intuitive Sense 2 is a greater possibility. Although, it does price extra.

Nonetheless, when you’re searching for a wearable that precisely tracks your exercises, logs your fundamental every day metrics like steps taken and energy burned, and has a long-lasting battery, that is the most effective health tracker for you.

Fitbit’s Encourage 3 is a reliable health monitoring machine that may serve customers nicely, significantly first-time wearers or these starting a exercise routine, as long as their wants are fundamental. However something past easy metrics requires an improve.