Fitbit Surge release date, price and design
Fitbit Surge is the fitness tracker that has so many new features, the start-up company behind it is calling it a “superwatch” next to the normal Fitbit Charge and Fitbit Charge HR.
There’s good reason for that. The prototype we tested has built-in GPS, a heart rate monitor and real-time workout data, all fan-requested capabilities that raise the price.
It’s certainly a step up from the Fitbit Force that was recalled for causing skin allergies and never saw its promised smartwatch functionality. We exclusively demoed those features last year before the firm fell back to its less capable, but popular Fitbit Flex wristband.
Fitbit Surge attempts to reclaim lost territory and squares off against an increasing number of fitness trackers including the Samsung Gear Fit, Basis Peak and Jawbone Up24.
Fitbit Surge release date
Fitbit Surge isn’t rushing into stores this holiday season. The official launch date isn’t locked down, as the company is promising a vague “early 2015” release date in the US.
Note, there has always been a delay between the US and UK release dates too, so much so that the Fitbit Force never made it outside of North America. We’ll update this hands-on review when we know more.
In its stead, the new Fitbit Charge is now available to order in the US. It’s not as capable as the feature-packed Fitbit Surge, but it has all the basics plus automatic sleep tracking.
The middle child, the Fitbit Charge HR, is expected to join the Fitbit Surge early next year.
Fitbit Surge price
Fitbit Surge looks and feels like a smartwatch with advanced activity tracking at its core. It has more stats than the average “smart” wristband.
Don’t expect to “go farther” without paying more. Fitbit Surge will cost $250 (£200, likely north of AU$290). By far, it’s the most expensive Fitbit yet.
Is it worth the price and wait? Let’s find out what features you’re going to get by saving up.
Fitbit Surge design
Designed for workout performance, the Fitbit Surge fastens a noticeably larger LCD display to your wrist and it’s able to fit multiple stats. Gone is the single-line OLED.
That means this backlight interface allows you to keep tabs on your miles, active minutes and heart rate all at once. No need to cycle through one-by-one by pressing a button.
Fitbit Surge upgrades to a touchscreen and puts three physical buttons at your fingertips. It’s just more control to set everything from workout timers to GPS routes.
Tucked underneath the watch band is an optical heart-rate monitor and at ends of the straps is a strong wristwatch clasp that is easier to fasten than Fitbit’s usual two-pronged approach.
I nearly lost my Fitbit Force in a parking garage before driving 30 minutes away and 30 minutes back to fetch it thanks to that ill-conceived design. A normal clasp is a two Fitbit-sized steps in the right direction.
Fitbit Surge compatibility
Chances are, if you own a modern day smartphone, Fitbit Surge works with it. That’s because the necessary app is iOS 8, Android and Windows Phone compatible.
Fitbit is the first mainstream wearable manufacturer to invite Microsoft’s loyal customers into the fitness stats-syncing fold, and it’s actually going a step further on Windows Phone 8.1.
A Cortona beta has launched to allow users to log food and activities with the sound of their voice. Saying “Fitbit, I ate lasagna for dinner” searches the database of 350,000 foods.
Fitbit metrics
Fitbit Surge has a total of eight sensors crammed into its large frame so that it can track your movements beyond the usual steps, distance traveled and calories burned.
An altimeter, not available in all Fitbits, is here to monitor how many floors you climb in a day, and GPS, new to the Fitbit family, can map out your run.
There’s something satisfying about reviewing your entire run laid out on a familiar overhead map and trying to best it the next time. Fitbit Surge’s built-in GPS promises to do just that.
That’s just the start. Explore key new features like the heart rate monitor, automatic sleep tracking and smartwatch functionality on the next page.
Heart rate, sleep tracking and smartwatch features
Fitbit Surge heart rate monitor
Coupled with the runner-friendly GPS feature, the new heart-rate monitor constantly tracks your heartbeat for what Fitbit calls a “PurePulse.”
Really, it’s an optical heart rate monitor that sits on the underside of the watch and reflects a pair of green LEDs off of your skin to calculate changes in blood volume.
It’s the same HRM technology we’ve seen before, but typically from the best smartwatches and the Basis fitness tracker. Accuracy is hit or miss in these devices, so we’ll have to test the final version early next year.
What we already like, however, is the ability to see our heart rate on the main dash along with our active minutes and distance traveled. The large LED makes room for all three stats. That’s different.
Sleep tracking
Sleep tracking, when it works, is a bonus feature that’s just as important as any wide-awake health metric. The problem is that it doesn’t always work.
Jawbone Up24 is the perfect example. It logs fairly accurate wake/light sleep/deep sleep stats for us, but too often we forget to set it to the sleep mode. Or forget to wake it in the morning.
Fitbit Surge plans to remedy that along with the Fitbit Charge and Fitbit Charge HR with automatic sleep detection. Again, this is something the more clunky, but ever-so-drainy Basis did.
Hopefully Fitbit can bring about more accurate sleep tracking to match the better performance of the Basis and Jawbone too.
Smartwatch features
Fitbit Surge is coming through with those overdue smartwatch capabilities in a big way thanks to its oversized square display. It can show them in full.
This includes Caller ID from incoming calls and SMS alerts that can be read in full. Is a call or text worth pulling your phone out of your pocket or should you keep on running?
The Fitbit Surge solves that problem and also gives you control over your mobile music with a few swipes on the new wristwatch.
Fitbit Surge waterproof?
Like the existing Fitbit line, the Fitbit Surge is labeled as “water-resistant” instead of the more desirable waterproof or IP67 like many other smartwatches.
That means you shouldn’t venture into the ocean or swim a few laps in the pool with it on. Its display is likely sweat-proof and splash-proof.
It’s just enough to keep the Fitbit Surge from turning into a costly bricked $250 gadget during a lengthy, sweat-filled workout or in moderate rain.
Fitbit Surge battery life
Even with a large black-and-white LCD, the Fitbit Surge promises exceptional battery life of up to seven days between charges.
That can varying over the course of a week depending how actively you use the built-in GPS to track your runs or receive text messages using its smartwatch features.
Overall, it’s a healthy battery life outlook for the Surge, though we’ll have to run tests in our final review before we make any final judgments.
Early verdict
Fitbit Surge is meant for power users who are in need of a smarter running accessory instead of a casual wearable like the Fitbit Flex or Fitbit Charge.
But it’s one that’s designed to be worn on a daily basis, unlike a clunky running watch that’s meant for runs and that’s about it. It’s bigger than other Fitbits, but still blends in.
With built-in GPS, a touchscreen interface, a heart-rate monitor and automatic sleep tracking, Fitbit Surge is setting itself up to fill the void between fitness tracker and running watch.
It’s just that there may be less of a need for such a device with the Apple Watch and new Android Wear smartwatches on same path. Its early 2015 release date better pick up the pace.
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