All the features I want to see

Fitbit’s small fitness tracker is a bright spot in the company’s chaotic past two years. While Google’s Pixel Watch line appears to be beating out Fitbit’s in-house smartwatches, the brand’s Charge and Inspire lines remain Fitbit’s hits. The affordable Inspire 3, in particular, is one of the most affordable trackers I’ve tested in recent years, with an attractive display, solid heart rate monitoring, and incredible battery life.

At the end of my Fitbit Inspire 3 review, I gave the device a coveted 4.5-star rating and Editors’ Choice award. More than a year later, I’m still impressed with this device, but I’ve already made a wish list of what I’d like to see when the Fitbit Inspire 4 becomes available.

Despite market trends and inflation, the Fitbit Inspire 3 remains priced the same as its predecessor. Given its comprehensive toolkit and the fact that it gives shoppers an entry point into an affordable and reliable platform, I think this device is well worth the purchase. There are cheaper wearables and more capable fitness trackers out there, but the Inspire 3 strikes a fair balance between price and features (not that I didn’t wish for more!). My first wish for the next generation of products is that Fitbit retains Inspire’s status as a budget line.

For more advanced tools, shoppers can switch from the Inspire to the Charge 6. As for this lineup, I’d rather see minor tweaks and improvements than a major overhaul of the Inspire 4’s price tag.

As a consumer, my experience has witnessed the obsolescence of payment methods. First pennies, then most coins (including my meticulous collection), and finally cash in general. I rarely pay for things in plastic, when I can I pay via my phone or wearable. To that end, I’d like to see Fitbit offer digital payment support in its entry-level lineup. From pit stops on long walks to post-workout shopping, a wallet on your wrist is super convenient.

I realized that digital payment support wasn’t a big deal when the device was using connected GPS. For example, when using the Inspire 3, I usually carry my phone with me while running and biking to track my route. But considering that built-in GPS is also on my wish list (spoiler alert), it would be remiss not to get my hopes up.

On a related note, the Inspire range not only saves money but also comes with smart features. The latest mode offers basic notifications and a useful Find My Phone feature. that’s all. In addition to the payment support discussed above, I’d also like to see music controls added. That’s not unreasonable at this price point, as similar tools can be found on even cheaper trackers from Xiaomi. The music controls make it easier for me to manage my playlists and content during my workout, rather than pulling out my phone in the middle of an ab workout because shuffle starts playing the Jurassic Park theme again.

I’d also be happy to accept any of the Google app integrations recently added to the Fitbit Charge 6, but that might be asking too much. Google’s influence is bound to continue to seep into the Fitbit stable, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed just in case.

Fitbit Inspire 3 greatly improves the Inspire product line. The device is sleek, colorful, and generally more “inspiring” than its predecessor. It also launches with a range of bands that are tastefully styled and highly engaging. Coupled with the variety of customizable watch faces, I found this tracker to be really comfortable to wear.

However, the Inspire 3 Tracking Pill is only available in black, which detracts from the device’s aesthetic potential. I hope Fitbit offers more colors when it launches the Inspire 4 so users have more flexibility. The two to three available tracker finishes would look great paired with Fitbit’s metallic and iridescent band options.

That last item is a stretch, as onboard GPS is one of the key features of the Fitbit Charge and Inspire series. However, the Charge 6’s GPS tracking was so finicky during my review that I almost felt like neither product offered it. Networked GPS is generally good, and certainly better than nothing. It just requires me to carry my phone while running. This poses a problem when 90% of my running shorts don’t have pockets and I like to keep my hands free for any pooch I encounter.

At this point, it’s hard to say whether Fitbit will abandon the Inspire 4, but I suspect they will. While Fitbit’s smartwatch lineup has been essentially canceled with the arrival of the Google Pixel Watch series, we haven’t seen any sign that the company will take action against Fitbit’s tracker loyalists as well. We haven’t heard about the Pixel Band or other rumors. At the same time, Fitbit launched the new Charge 6 with a lot of upgrades. This suggests the company plans to maintain its presence in the tracker market, even if the future of the smartwatch-style Versa and Sense lines feels more uncertain. I hope the Inspire line follows the same storyline as the Charge and remains a consistent priority for Fitbit.

• Fitbit inspired— March 2019
• Fitbit Inspire HR — March 2019
• Fitbit Inspire 2— September 2020
• Fitbit Inspire 3 — September 2022

If the Inspire 4 is coming soon, there are a few possible time frames worth keeping an eye on. The most obvious is September 2024. This will reflect the past two generations, with the Inspire and Charge ranges set to weigh in on launch years. The second possibility is that we see a post-holiday launch in the first quarter of this year. Considering we haven’t heard any rumors about a possible new device, this time frame is unlikely.

So far, I haven’t heard any Inspire 4 rumors that are solid enough (or even mentioned), so it’s hard to ask readers to wait for news that’s nothing more than a best guess. If you’re feeling inspired (no pun intended) to buy a new smart device and pursue new fitness goals, I recommend not waiting. Get started with the affordable Fitbit Inspire 3 ($99.95 at Amazon) or the new Fitbit Charge 6 ($159.95 at Amazon) in the spring.