Fitbit Charge 6
Tracker
- Up to 7 days of battery
- Built-in GPS and GLONASS
- Android and iPhone listed
Compared
Fitbit Charge 6 vs Pixel Watch 5
A slim tracker with a week of battery, or a full smartwatch?
By the Google Devices Guide editorial team. Compiled from manufacturer listings, not hands-on testing.
Pixel Watch 5
Smartwatch
- 1.33 or 1.49 inch round display
- Wear OS 7
- Optional LTE
What is different
| Fitbit Charge 6 | Pixel Watch 5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.04 inch AMOLED, up to 450 nits | 1.33 or 1.49 inch LTPO AMOLED, up to 3,000 nits |
| Battery, as rated | Up to 7 days, 5 h with GPS | 30 h (41 mm) or 40 h (45 mm) with always-on display |
| Charging | About 2 h to full | 41 mm: about 15 min to 50% |
| GPS | Built-in GNSS plus connected GPS | Built-in dual-band GNSS |
| Cellular | No | Optional LTE |
| Operating system | Fitbit OS | Wear OS 7 |
| Weight | 30 g | 31 g (41 mm) or 36.7 g (45 mm) |
| Phone support | Android 11+ and iOS 16.4+ | Android 11+ (iPhone not listed) |
Both list 5 ATM and IP68 water resistance, NFC payments, ECG, SpO2 and skin temperature. Figures are from Gadgets & Wearables and the Amazon listings.
How the differences play out
Battery is the main trade-off
The Charge 6 is rated for up to 7 days, but only about 5 hours with GPS running. The Pixel Watch 5 is rated in hours, 30 for the 41 mm and 40 for the 45 mm with the always-on display, and it charges much faster: about 15 minutes to 50% on the 41 mm. If you hate daily charging, the Charge 6 is the clearer fit on paper.
Display and features
The Charge 6 has a small 1.04 inch screen at up to 450 nits. The Pixel Watch 5 has a 1.33 or 1.49 inch round display at up to 3,000 nits, runs Wear OS 7 and offers an optional LTE model. That makes it the more capable smartwatch, with more apps and phone-free use.
Health tracking
The sources list ECG, SpO2, skin temperature and built-in GPS on both. Do not read that as equal accuracy. We have not tested either, and wellness features are not medical advice.
Who each suits
Pick the Charge 6 for a slim, long-lasting tracker, especially with an iPhone. Pick the Pixel Watch 5 for a full smartwatch with an Android phone. See the individual reviews for more detail.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Fitbit Charge 6
- You want a slim tracker that lasts about a week
- You want a lighter, simpler device
- You use an iPhone
Choose the Pixel Watch 5
- You want a full smartwatch with apps
- You want a bigger, brighter display and optional LTE
- You use an Android phone
Battery figures for the 41 mm Pixel Watch 5 differ between sources (the Amazon listing says up to 40 hours), so check Google's page. We have not tested either device.
Common questions
Is the Fitbit Charge 6 or the Pixel Watch 5 better?
It depends on what you want. The Charge 6 lists up to 7 days of battery in a slim tracker. The Pixel Watch 5 is a smartwatch with a larger, brighter display, Wear OS and optional LTE, but its battery is rated in hours.
Which has the better battery?
The Charge 6, by a wide margin on paper: up to 7 days, against 30 to 40 hours for the Pixel Watch 5. Both figures are manufacturer or spec-sheet ratings, and GPS use shortens the Charge 6 to about 5 hours.
Do both have ECG?
Gadgets & Wearables lists ECG, SpO2 and skin temperature on both. Google's own spec page for the Charge 6 did not list ECG when we read it, so confirm on Google's page.
Does the Pixel Watch 5 work with iPhone?
The Gadgets & Wearables table gives Android 11 and later and does not list iPhone, and the Amazon listing says Android only. The Charge 6 is listed with iOS 16.4 and later.
Buy Fitbit Charge 6 on AmazonBuy Pixel Watch 5 on Amazon