Is the Fitbit Edge Worth Buying?

Every product was carefully curated by an Esquire editor. We may earn a commission from these links. Here’s how we test products and why you should trust us.Fitbit3 min readIt’s been a pretty big year for Fitbit. In May, the Fitbit Air joined the ever-growing list of no-screen fitness trackers alongside Whoop, and now, not even six months later, I have on my wrist the brand-new Fitbit Edge. It is, as the name suggests, a slimmer fitness tracker. It feels slightly like a step forward, slightly like a step back—a return to form. Let’s say. It’s new, but it’s also a throwback to the slim shape of the (not so) old Fitbit devices like the Charge and Inspire. Importantly, despite being Google’s latest wearable with a screen, it is not trying to be a Pixel Watch. Far from it. Some might complain about what it can’t do, but I’d argue the pared-back nature of the Fitbit Edge is its greatest strength.At its core, this is the state-of-the-art Fitbit bringing a smooth, responsive modern touchscreen experience to a wearable focused on health tracking. It certainly does more than count your steps, monitor heart rate, and detect REM cycles; the Edge has plenty of smartwatch capabilities. Control your music, check the weather, even read and respond (depending on the phone you have) to messages. But the standard inundation of notifications is replaced by a clean interface that clearly does not like being disturbed. This is the casual fitness tracker for those who value a distraction-free workout.First things first. I’ve been wearing mine 24/7 for the past couple of weeks and it’s nothing if not supremely comfortable. Bands are simpler to attach and detach than any other watch I’ve tried, and the new magnet bands are easy to make snug.From the get-go, the band selection has been excellent. My personal favorite is the magnetic silicone band in Mahogany. It’s got a look that comes off as more upscale than the materials described typically do. Paired with the slim bezel and overall slight shape, it’s a handsome wearable that draws a lot of compliments. I won’t repeat what one friend of mine said, but I’m pretty sure it means she liked it.The completely revamped Fitbit interface is intuitive and has everything you need just a swipe or tap away by default. You can tinker with the home screen, but having heart rate and total steps, alongside the time and a quick workout start button, displayed by default feels instructional. Everything is readable and I genuinely feel like my mother-in-law could understand how to use it. Like I said, it’s not a Pixel Watch, but it’s certainly taking usability and design cues from Google’s other line of wearables.As a Fitbit, nearly everything about the Edge is an evolution. The only problem is I’m also comparing it to all the smartwatches out on the market too. I can use literally any other smartwatch in my rotation to tap into my office building with a digital badge, and pay for lunch with Apple Pay or whatever equivalent. With the Edge, no luck on any of these NFC-powered interactions. And because I’m using it with my iPhone, I can read my incoming messages but can’t respond to anything.On paper, these are flaws, but in reality they allow me to interact with my fitness tracker without getting too distracted. The lack of customizability compared to an Apple or Pixel Watch simply equals less time sitting around and setting up your watch, and hopefully more time going outside and living your life. Which isn’t to say I wasn’t bugged by some of the limitations. The viewable data is not quite as in-depth as some others and looking at your phone to check your reps sorta ruins the whole distraction-free thing.In that way, it’s more like a fitness band than a smartwatch. It can track a lot of data on its own, but ultimately the only way to see all of that is to eventually open your phone. For me, that trade-off is worth it to not be getting constant buzzes on my wrist every time I go for a run.When it comes to fitness tracking, the hardcore still have Garmin. For something more casual, the Fitbit Edge has a great look, and as an Apple Watch user, certain aspects of the simplicity are genuinely refreshing.