Is the New Fitbit Alta Stylish Enough?
If you're waiting for a stylish fitness tracker to lure you into the wearable device game, Fitbit’s latest offering might have you covered. The Fitbit Alta is a couture accessory through and through. It was even unveiled during New York Fashion Week.
This fitness tracker's slim stainless-steel form looks more like jewelry than technology, and its detachable bracelet bands allow for style changes on the fly.
The product arrives only a month after the debut of the Fitbit Blaze smart fitness watch, which coincided with news of the company’s involvement in a class-action lawsuit concerning the accuracy of the heart rate monitors in two of its devices.
The Fitbit Alta lacks a heart rate monitor or GPS, features found in more expensive trackers. Its touch screen scrolls your fitness stats in addition to smartphone notifications for calls, texts, and calendar alerts. (It supports Android, iOS, and Windows Phone). The device tracks sleep, recognizes and automatically monitors workouts, and reminds you to get out of your chair and move around. The Fitbit Alta can last up to five days on a single charge, the company says. We’ll test that claim when we get the product into our labs.
Fitbit obviously recognizes the need for fashionable fitness trackers—Tory Birch-branded Alta bands are coming soon—so this addition to its line isn’t surprising. At $129.95, the Fitbit Alta matches the price as well as the features of the less svelte Fitbit Charge, which implies the older tracker’s days are numbered. Classic fitness bands for the Alta are available for $29.95; leather bands for $59.95; and a (really cool) stainless steel band for $99.95.
Had it been released two years ago, the Alta—a capable fitness tracker that doesn’t scream “calorie counting!”—would have probably turned some heads. But now, many models are sleek enough to wear day and night, and the competition is racing to be more fashion forward. Fossil has its Q series of smartwatches and fitness trackers; Misfit has its upcoming Ray fitness tracker made from black or rose gold aluminum. For the most part, they all perform the same body tracking functions, but we’ll see how the Alta stands up to the competition.
Available for pre-order from Fitbit, the device will ship in the U.S. in March and worldwide in April.
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