Fitbit Alta HR VS. Charge 2: Everything You Need to Know Before Buying

When you finally decide to buy a fitness tracker, it’s hard to know which device deserves your hard-earned money.

Everyone has different needs from a fitness tracker (or maybe we should just call them health trackers with all the added features these days).

Not to mention, they’re a hefty investment – both in terms of money, time, and energy.

It makes sense that every person should do their research before choosing which model to purchase. That’s why we put together this Fitbit Alta HR Vs. Charge 2 to help you make an educated decision.

Now, let’s get to it!

Fitbit’s Alta HR essentially rendered the Alta obsolete because it has all the same features but with the added benefit of tracking heart rate. (Get it: Alta HR?)

Here’s what you get when you take the plunge and decide to sport the Alta HR:

Do you have your heart set on the Alta HR already? Not so fast, let’s take a look at the Charge 2 and then see how they compare. After all, this is Fitbit’s bestselling tracker.

Alta HR VS. Charge 2: Keeping Your Information Safe

It’s smart to be cautious of any device that tracks, stores, and syncs such personal information. Some people might enjoy sharing this information with their friends on social media, but others might want to keep an eye on how their information is stored.

Would you want entities like your employer or insurance company having access to your intimate health statistics? Would you want a Tinder stalker hacking your app and gaining access to your favorite jogging routes?

Here’s the good news: fitness trackers are more secure today than ever before. And the Alta HR or Charge 2? They’re some of the most secure of all trackers on the market (avoid choosing a Lenovo if security is a concern for you).

Like any online device, your fitness tracker poses some vulnerability to privacy.

Although the device might utilize encryption during transfer to devices, that doesn’t mean your wireless connection, apps, or devices themselves are secure. As always, use different passwords for all of your apps and platforms and don’t forget to turn on two-factor verification.

In general, Fitbit’s devices are fairly secure so you shouldn’t have anything new to worry about beyond someone carrying out a targeted hack on your wireless connection.

Fitbit Alta HR Vs. Charge 2 Comparison: Everything You Need To Know Before Buying

Now that you’ve made it this far, you’re probably thinking one of two things:

Or

The truth is, newbies might benefit from the detailed features in the Charge 2 because they might not have a solid understanding of their own physical activity and health.

Meanwhile, someone who already works out every day and tracks their own health fairly well might feel overburdened by the added features they’ll never need to use.

When it comes to Alta HR Vs. Charge 2, both devices can identify different activities like cycling, yoga, running, and hiking while monitoring your progress.

The big difference though is that the Charge 2 offers a multi-sport tracking mode to offer real-time statistics on the display as you’re completing the workout so you can focus on meeting and exceeding your own records.

The Alta HR doesn’t offer this feature. Instead, you can check your progress by logging into the app when you’re finished.

Someone with specific goals might appreciate the real-time tracking on the Charge 2. It could be very useful for anyone trying to lose weight or improve cardiovascular health. Fitness enthusiasts might also enjoy the detailed tracking on the larger Charge 2 screen.

Anyone who doesn’t care too much for detailed tracking is safe selecting the Alta HR.

In some cases, the overload of information with the Charge 2 might feel overwhelming – especially for those prone to compulsive or addictive behaviors.

Both devices provide pretty much the same solid sleep tracking software which you can track on the app each morning – and they’re pretty accurate.

All fitness trackers have an accelerometer which – in the case of the Alta HR Vs. Charge 2 – bounces information around with the heart rate tracker to provide solid information about your REM and deep sleep as well as other sleeping habits.

So if tracking sleep is important to you, both devices have you covered just fine.

When you’re comparing the Alta HR Vs. Charge 2, it’s easier to think of things this way: the Charge 2 has all the same features of the Alta HR – and then some.

With the Charge 2, you also get GPS tracking. This is a big plus if you want to track the routes you cycle, walk, or hike. For others, this might not be a major selling point. The device pulls GPS coordinates from your phone so if you already use a running app to track your routes the Charger 2 can smoothly eliminate the middle man.

The Charge 2 also offers guided breathing exercises based on your resting heart rate. The breathing exercises are completely personalized and popup throughout the day as you need a break. This is a really nice feature if you suffer from high blood pressure or negative effects of stress like ulcers and heart disease.

Guided breathing is also helpful for promoting mindfulness throughout the day. It might be useful for someone trying to lose weight who’s having trouble managing their cravings or impulse behavior associated with overeating or binge eating.

This is the first huge difference that stands out between the two devices: the Charge 2 is 25 percent larger than the Alta HR.

Some wearers might not mind the larger size of the Charge 2 because it doesn’t look much different than an average watch you’d see. Others, especially those with small frames, might appreciate the slimmer Alta HR.

You still get interchangeable wristbands and a durable stainless-steel design with both devices. Plenty of third party retailers offer a variety of stylish and slick bands to fit the devices.

The Charge 2 has a button to turn the screen on and off while the Alta HR relies on touchscreen technology to accomplish this task.

If reading detailed stats immediately following a workout is important to you, you might want to go with the Charge 2 for the larger screen. Plus, it makes it easier to read your text notifications.

Both devices are made of the same materials. The trackers are made from surgical-grade stainless steel while special editions offer a 22k rose gold finish.

The Alta HR lasts a full week on a single charge and takes one or two hours to charge. Meanwhile, the Charger 2 last five days on a single charge and, like the Alta HR, takes just one or two hours to charge.

Remember that your battery life will depend on the amount of tracking you have turned on and your personal settings. To put it bluntly: there’s really no need to factor battery life into your choice – go with the other factors instead.

Try to keep your device out of the water as much as possible.

How do you anticipate you’ll use the fitness tracker?

Many reviewers recommend the Charge 2 for fitness enthusiasts and the Alta HR for wearers casually interested in keeping up with their health. However, your choice shouldn’t be so cut and dry.

If you’re trying to lose weight and are prepared to invest the time and attention to tracking details about your progress and workout, you might find the added features in the Charge 2 useful.

The Alta HR is perfect if you want to monitor your progress but you don’t want the tracker to consume your attention. Although, it still gives you a nudge to get up if you sit for too long. Even people who workout every day might not be interested in tracking real-time details as they go about their day.

When it comes to Alta HR Vs. Charge 2, the choice really depends how you plan to use the tracker and what you want to get out of it.