TEST FITBIT ALTA HR4
19hrs 21hrs 25hrs 30hrs 32hrs
Q Total clips of the heart
The app gives you a clear
summary of the time
you’ve spent in each
heart-rate zone, plus
a graph of your average
heart rate, ready to scroll
through while eating a
well-deserved doughnut.Q Train spotting
With ‘SmartTrack’ the
Alta HR can recognise and
log when you’re walking,
running, cycling, looking
like an idiot on an elliptical
trainer or generally playing
sport. In our experience,
this worked incredibly well.Q App it to map it
Despite the Fitbit Alta HR
lacking Connected GPS,
it is actually possible to
use your phone’s GPS
and add that mapping
data to your logged runs,
by using the Fitbit app’s
MobileRun feature.Q Living the dream?
The app’s Sleep Stages
and Sleep Insights features
have great potential but
don’t offer much analysis
for now. They use heart-
rate variability to track the
stage of sleep you’re in.
Our results were vague.The Fitbit app has some smartypants features for
your wrist. Here are some of the most useful ones...Display OLED tap display
Sensors 3-axis accelerometer,
heart-rate monitor
Connectivity Bluetooth
Battery life Up to 7 daysSTUFF SAYS ++++,
A fine all-rounder with excellent
autopilot trackin
, but the Alta HR
falls just short of
reatnessI’m missing fitness tracker features
such as GPS and an altimeter.Overall, the Alta HR is a great
all-rounder for the casual jogger.The Sleep Insights feature has given
me a detailed report on my slumber......but it only gives me generic
comments. This feels like a beta.All wristed app
Tech specs
4 Band (still) on the run
One thing that the Alta HR shares
with a sports watch, as opposed
to a smartwatch, is great battery
life – it lasted us at least a week
between charges. Considering
how small and capable it is, we
think Fitbit deserves a little round
of applause for this.5 Damp squib?
One possible deal-breaker is the
Alta HR’s lack of waterproofing.
It’s also lacking an altimeter (to
count stairs climbed), Connected
GPS (to piggyback your phone
for better accuracy), and Fitbit’s
Guided Breathing feature (to
promote moments of calm).Well into day two and the battery is
still going with plenty in the tank.The Alta HR is, for non-hardcore
exercisers, one of the best and
most motivational health trackers
around. Sadly, it notches up a few
too many minuses to get full marks.
But unless you’re a swimmer or multi-sport
fiend who likes to get lots of live data from
your watch during exercise, it’s the best band
Fitbit’s made so far. @markydwilson