Fitbit Inspire HR Review – How Does it Measure Up to Other Fitbits?
The newest affordable fitness tracker, the Fitbit Inspire HR, was released earlier this year. In this Fitbit Inspire Review, I'll tell you how it stacks up to other Fitbit models. If my review helps you make your purchase decision, I'd love it if you would purchase yours through one of my referral affiliate links used throughout my review.
I have been a Fitbit fanatic for years, always excited to try out the latest model. I share them with family members so we can all find our favorites.
One of my top priorities when shopping for fitness trackers is to find the best waterproof fitbits. I was so excited to hear that Fitbit was adding another waterproof tracker to the lineup.
For purposes of this review, to give you an idea of the type of life I lead, and the kind of things I've used the Fitbit Inspire HR for…I'm a work at home mom to 2 school aged kids. I walk the kids to school and walk our dog every weekday, so I tend to exceed my step goal most weekdays. Weekends are more relaxed and I have to really work to make sure I hit my goal. I'm not a big athlete at this point in my life, but I do like to workout 2-3 times a week….when I am not in physical therapy. 🙁
I have put the Fitbit Inspire HR through the paces for a little over a month now. It's been through hectic morning routines, minivan dashes, a family vacation with TONS of walking, as well as several workouts.
I'd say the closest comparison to this tracker for me has been the Fitbit Alta HR. If you have previously used a Fitbit Flex, Alta, Zip or One, this is going to fall in the same space, with some notable upgrades mentioned below.
If you've used a smartwatch like an Apple Watch, Fitbit Ionic or even Fitbit Versa, this is going to be much more bare bones- for better or for worse.
Let's walk through the pros and cons of the Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Inspire HR to see if it's right for you!
My Honest Fitbit Inspire Review
Below are what I see as the pros and cons of the Fitbit Inspire HR and Fitbit Inspire, which were released March 2019.
Here are the good things about the Fitbit Inspire HR:
- Both Fitbit Inspires are affordable (Inspire is probably going to replace the Fitbit Flex 2 and Fitbit Alta in the overall product lineup and it's at the low end of pricing for fitbits.) I have found that the best place to buy a Fitbit Inspire is Amazon. Fitbit sets the Amazon price at the same as the sale prices on their website. If you already have your payment and shipping details entered in Amazon and if you are an Amazon Prime User, then it's a no-brainer! Check Amazon's Price for Fitbit Inspire HR.
- Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Inspire HR are both waterproof. (No- Every Fitbit is NOT waterproof) At this stage they seem to be shifting to waterproof models, but a lot of people assume they have always been waterproof because of the silicone band. You def need to check the specs of any tracker you buy to confirm if it is waterproof.
- You can change out the band on Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Inspire HR by sliding a small pin out where one band meets the tracker body. There are already TONS of additional Fitbit Inspire and Inspire HR fashion bands for men and women if you want to dress it up or have other color options. I bought a double wrap leather band for my Fitbit Inspire HR as shown in the photo below:
More Pros of the Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Inspire HR
- Much like the Fitbit Flex 2, Inspire offers swim tracking. I have not been in the pool with it yet but it is standard on both the Inspire and Inspire HR.
- It's slim and not very bulky. After using the Fitbit Ionic, Fitbit Charge 3 and Fitbit Versa, this tracker is very light and small. If you're looking for a smaller and more affordable tracker, this one is a good choice.
- You can choose to wear Fitbit Inspire as a wrist watch or buy a clip style holder. This isn't really the case with the more upscale fitbits.
- Fitbit Inspire and Inspire HR have a watch face so they do tell time, which is a plus compared to the bracelet style Fitbit Flex 2.
- You can set Fitbit Inspire up to show your call, text and calendar alerts.
- Fitbit Inspire HR can link to your smartphone to show real time pace and distance using your phone's GPS. How awesome that they are adding some of the more premium features of their more expensive smartwatch models to their more affordable trackers!
- You can choose to buy a Fitbit Inspire with or without heartrate tracking. Here you can see a comparison of the features of the Fitbit Inspire vs. Fitbit Inspire HR:
Here are the less good things about Fitbit Inspire HR
- Fitbit Inspire and Inspire HR do not track floors climbed, in case going up stairs is a stat you like to track.
- Neither Fitbit Inspire model stores music. Gots to check out the fancier models for that feature!
- The screen is pretty small. If you are coming from an Apple Watch, Ionic or Versa, the small screen may be a turnoff. It was one of the things I disliked about the Alta, the way the text was scrunched. If you have never had one of the larger smartwatch style trackers, this may not bother you in the least. Especially for this price. Or if you are coming from a Fitbit Flex, Fitbit Flex 2 or one of the clip style trackers, having an actual watch face may be a welcome change, even if it isn't huge. If you have a hard time reading the words on a smartphone then some of the text might be challenging for you to read, depending on the face you choose.
- You can change the watch face display (To do so, from your Fitbit App, tap the Account icon at the top right, then select your Fitbit Inspire, then tap Watch faces and select the one you want) BUT there are only 10 watch face options as of now. With Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa there are soooo many layouts and options for the watch face. I found the lack of options annoying, because none of the options available had the combination of stats that I really wanted. Perhaps they will add more options in the near future, and if you are not quite as picky as I am then it probably won't be an issue. 😉
Are Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Inspire HR Worth the Money?
Overall despite the “less good things,” it's pretty solid for an entry level fitness tracker. Adding in the heart rate tracking and waterproof features really give you a lot of bang for your buck! Fitbit Flex 2 used to be my top recommendation for Best Budget Buy, but it looks like the torch is being passed on to Fitbit Inspire!
Final Verdict: Fitbit Inspire or Inspire HR would be perfect for anyone who wants a basic waterproof fitness tracker with a good balance of upscale features and simple design, all for a relatively low cost compared to all the other brand name trackers on the market.
- Check Amazon Prices on Fitbit Flex 2
- Check Amazon Prices on Fitbit Inspire HR
- With almost identical features but a slightly bigger screen, Check Amazon Prices of Fitbit Charge 3
If you are more flexible on price, then my top pick for a an everyday lifestyle fitness tracker is still Fitbit Versa, while my pick for the best fitbit for an athlete is a Fitbit Ionic.
To see why I picked them, check out my article comparing the Fitbit Ionic Vs. Fitbit Versa Vs. Fitbit Charge 3.
Have you tried it out? Let's hear your Fitbit Inspire Review in the comments below!
