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To test the Charge 4’s tracking accuracy, I did a few things. However, a great new feature about the new Charge 4 is that you don’t need your phone at all! The tracker comes with its own GPS so you can keep your phone at home when doing your workouts (this feature is available on the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch, but is new for the Fitbit Charge).
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Once you’ve used a Fitbit tracker for a while it will use GPS data to calibrate your stride length in walking and running for a more accurate measurement. Over the years, one thing I’ve found that the Fitbit excels at is accurate tracking. Built-in GPS, tap-to-pay features, and heart rate zones are just some of the new add-ons I enjoyed that reminded me of the functionality of my smartwatch. I currently use the Fitbit Versa 2, which is a smartwatch, but I was pleasantly surprised to test the Charge 4 and find that it has all the features of a normal fitness tracker, including heart rate tracking, step tracking, and sleep tracking-but with a few new features that make it an excellent choice for a smartwatch loyalist like me.
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I have had many Fitbits over the years, including the Blaze, Flex, and Charge models, but ever since the Fitbit smartwatch came on the market, I've stopped using a traditional fitness tracker. Over the past eight years working at SELF magazine I’ve had so many chances to test all different types of wearable trackers for our Fitness Awards, but Fitbit has been able to keep me a dedicated user with its easy-to-use phone app and accurate tracking technology. Tracking my steps and workouts has been second nature to me for over 10 years now, when I first started using activity trackers to help me chart my fitness progress and health.
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