The $100 Fitbit Inspire 3 (£85, AU$180) is a great entry-level fitness tracker, ideal for those new to Fitbit and a great update for anyone upgrading from an older Fitbit. It has a color AMOLED display, a new menu system and equally long battery life. Compatible with Android and iOS, the Inspire 3 can receive notifications or incoming call alerts from your phone, and it tracks sleep the same way the most expensive Fitbit trackers and smartwatches do. So if you want the best battery life out of any Fitbit — 10 days — without the bells and whistles of our current favorite $150 Charge 5, it’s easy to recommend the Inspire 3.
like
- Slim, unobtrusive design
- 10-day battery life
)Similar health features to more expensive Fitbits
Bright color screen
University teachers’ like
Screen May be too small for some people to read easily
Without quick release with button
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Most useful features require a Fitbit Premium subscription
Inspire 3 comes with a six-month Try Fitbit Premium for free, a $10-a-month subscription that unlocks more sleep and recovery data. Previous Inspire 2 models came with a one-year trial period. While not required to use the Inspire 3, the Premium is fast becoming an essential part of the Fitbit experience now owned by Google, and is definitely something to consider when looking at the total cost over the life of the device.
Also, some of the less expensive fitness trackers have been chasing Fitbit over the past few years, so the competition is stronger than ever many. In particular, the $60 Mi Band 7 has a larger screen than the Inspire 3 and offers similar health features, even if it lags in sensor accuracy. Garmin’s Vivosmart 5 also has more fitness-tracking options, but it’s more expensive, at $150, and only has a monochrome screen.
The new color display is different
Earlier Inspire models had to use a monochrome display, but the Inspire 3 gets a boost with a color AMOLED screen. If you’re coming from an older model, this is really the biggest reason to upgrade because it makes a difference to the user experience without sacrificing the battery. The case measures 1.55 inches, but the screen itself doesn’t take up all the available space on the device. Depending on the light, you can see the edges and bezels of the display.
You might be wondering how the Inspire 3 compares to the $130 Fitbit Luxe released in 2021. If you’re choosing between the two, aside from the price, the Fitbit Luxe is slimmer and has a larger screen, but the difference is barely noticeable unless you examine them side by side. So unless you really value the sleeker look of the Luxe and want a more jewelry-like finish with straps and accessories, the Inspire 3 is a much better value overall.
The display can stay on all the time, so the clock face is always visible, although this does affect overall battery life, reducing it from 10 days to 3 days. The clock faces are all big enough for me to see, but I think if you need reading glasses, viewing your workout metrics on the screen can be a bit of a challenge because the text is so small.
Navigation on the Inspire 3 is slightly different from earlier models. There are now two tactile buttons on the sides that you can pinch to open the screen or return to the clock face from any menu. Swipe left or right to access workout tracking, breathing exercises, timers, and alarms or notifications from your phone. Swipe up and down to access settings and your daily health overview, respectively.
The new $20 clip attachment lets you wear the Inspire 3 on other parts of your body to track workouts when you can, away from your wrist, like boxing. But the Inspire 3 doesn’t have the same quick-release buttons as the Charge 5, which makes changing straps easier; instead, they’re switches that are very difficult to adjust. The Inspire 3 is water resistant to 50 meters (164 feet).
Inspire 3 without strap, in clip-on attachment.
Lexy Savvides/CNET Fitbit Continuous Sleep and Health Tracking Lower Price
For those new to Fitbit, the Inspire 3 can track steps, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels day and night throughout the session. Exercise and sleep can also be tracked automatically or manually. Inspire 3 uses a metric called Active Zone Minutes to help you reach recommended activity levels, takes into account how much time you spend in certain zones to control your heart rate, and personalises it based on your age and fitness level. I really like the way it passively tracks all of this in the background, even if I forget to start a particular workout. Going up and down the stairs a few times a day can help you achieve your activity zone minute goals.
Start working out on Inspire 3
Lexy Savvides/CNET
The Inspire 3 is connected to GPS, not the GPS built into the device. That means you’ll need to carry your phone with you to track outdoor route information and distances such as walking and running. You can track over 20 different workout types and store six workout profiles on the device itself. To swap your favorites, you’ll need to load the Fitbit app and resync to the band.
The fitness tracking experience is simple, although you can view heart rate, elapsed time, pace, calorie burn, steps and your active zone minute goals by swiping each screen during your workout . When it’s done, it’ll show a quick summary of your metrics, and when you sync with the Fitbit app, you’ll get the full rundown on your phone, including route info and maps (if it’s an outdoor workout).
This tracker also has high and low heart rate alerts, as well as irregular heart rhythm detection during sleep, if it records the atria Flutter signs, it can notify you.
Fitbit’s sleep tracking is so comprehensive that even on this small device, you can still gain insight into your sleep stages. It’s all easy to understand in the Fitbit app when you sync every morning, and if you have Premium, you’ll see trends over time and metrics like skin temperature overnight. After wearing the device for 14 days, you’ll get an in-depth sleep profile, and every month you’ll get an updated sleep animal describing your sleep patterns. I’m a turtle if you play at home.
All of your workout and sleep data is aggregated into a daily readiness score, which is also a feature of Fitbit Premium. This helps indicate whether your body is ready for more activity that day, or if you should relax and focus on something more relaxing, like breathing exercises or yoga. I’m a big fan of the score and love the personalized workout suggestions it provides. There’s also a stress management score, which calculates how your body handles stress based on metrics like heart rate, sleep and activity levels. A higher score means your coping skills are better, but I don’t think it’s as useful as the daily prep score overall.
Basic smart function only
The Inspire 3 is fairly simple when it comes to smart features. You can see notifications from your phone and have the option to filter them by app type from within the Fitbit app. The tracker has a timer and alarm app built in, as well as a find my phone feature that pings it as long as it’s within Bluetooth range. It’s also compatible with Google Fast Pair, so it can quickly connect to an Android phone.
That’s all. There’s no Fitbit Pay for contactless payments on the wrist, music playback controls, or onboard music storage. Really, you get this tracker for its passive health and fitness monitoring — not as a smartwatch replacement.
Best battery life of any Fitbit
The 10-day battery life of the Fitbit Inspire 3 is really impressive and includes sleep tracking, some basic workout tracking, and in my testing The device is basically worn 24/7 during the period. That battery life matches the Inspire 2, even though the new tracker’s color display is more vibrant.
Although battery life may vary depending on your usage – if you use always-on display mode to reduce battery life to three days – I still really don’t have to comment like I do I’m impressed that the tracker is charged as often as any other Fitbit model I’ve ever tried.
Inspire 3 is a set-and-forget tracker
Fitbit nailed the formula 3 for a basic fitness tracker with the Inspire, especially if you want something passively tracked in the background, just charging occasionally. But its most useful features require Fitbit Premium, which requires an additional monthly fee after the free trial ends.
The Inspire 3 should satisfy his need for someone to look at Fitbit’s slightly more expensive $130 Luxe tracker and even outdo it with better battery life. But if you want Fitbit Pay and even more fitness tracking without spending extra on a Fitbit Versa smartwatch, the $150 Fitbit Charge 5 is the best overall option.
University teachers’ like
- Screen May be too small for some people to read easily
Without quick release with button
-
Most useful features require a Fitbit Premium subscription
Inspire 3 comes with a six-month Try Fitbit Premium for free, a $10-a-month subscription that unlocks more sleep and recovery data. Previous Inspire 2 models came with a one-year trial period. While not required to use the Inspire 3, the Premium is fast becoming an essential part of the Fitbit experience now owned by Google, and is definitely something to consider when looking at the total cost over the life of the device.
Also, some of the less expensive fitness trackers have been chasing Fitbit over the past few years, so the competition is stronger than ever many. In particular, the $60 Mi Band 7 has a larger screen than the Inspire 3 and offers similar health features, even if it lags in sensor accuracy. Garmin’s Vivosmart 5 also has more fitness-tracking options, but it’s more expensive, at $150, and only has a monochrome screen.
The new color display is different
Earlier Inspire models had to use a monochrome display, but the Inspire 3 gets a boost with a color AMOLED screen. If you’re coming from an older model, this is really the biggest reason to upgrade because it makes a difference to the user experience without sacrificing the battery. The case measures 1.55 inches, but the screen itself doesn’t take up all the available space on the device. Depending on the light, you can see the edges and bezels of the display.
You might be wondering how the Inspire 3 compares to the $130 Fitbit Luxe released in 2021. If you’re choosing between the two, aside from the price, the Fitbit Luxe is slimmer and has a larger screen, but the difference is barely noticeable unless you examine them side by side. So unless you really value the sleeker look of the Luxe and want a more jewelry-like finish with straps and accessories, the Inspire 3 is a much better value overall.
The display can stay on all the time, so the clock face is always visible, although this does affect overall battery life, reducing it from 10 days to 3 days. The clock faces are all big enough for me to see, but I think if you need reading glasses, viewing your workout metrics on the screen can be a bit of a challenge because the text is so small.
Navigation on the Inspire 3 is slightly different from earlier models. There are now two tactile buttons on the sides that you can pinch to open the screen or return to the clock face from any menu. Swipe left or right to access workout tracking, breathing exercises, timers, and alarms or notifications from your phone. Swipe up and down to access settings and your daily health overview, respectively.
The new $20 clip attachment lets you wear the Inspire 3 on other parts of your body to track workouts when you can, away from your wrist, like boxing. But the Inspire 3 doesn’t have the same quick-release buttons as the Charge 5, which makes changing straps easier; instead, they’re switches that are very difficult to adjust. The Inspire 3 is water resistant to 50 meters (164 feet).
Inspire 3 without strap, in clip-on attachment.
Lexy Savvides/CNET Fitbit Continuous Sleep and Health Tracking Lower Price
For those new to Fitbit, the Inspire 3 can track steps, heart rate, and blood oxygen levels day and night throughout the session. Exercise and sleep can also be tracked automatically or manually. Inspire 3 uses a metric called Active Zone Minutes to help you reach recommended activity levels, takes into account how much time you spend in certain zones to control your heart rate, and personalises it based on your age and fitness level. I really like the way it passively tracks all of this in the background, even if I forget to start a particular workout. Going up and down the stairs a few times a day can help you achieve your activity zone minute goals.
Start working out on Inspire 3
Lexy Savvides/CNET
The Inspire 3 is connected to GPS, not the GPS built into the device. That means you’ll need to carry your phone with you to track outdoor route information and distances such as walking and running. You can track over 20 different workout types and store six workout profiles on the device itself. To swap your favorites, you’ll need to load the Fitbit app and resync to the band.
The fitness tracking experience is simple, although you can view heart rate, elapsed time, pace, calorie burn, steps and your active zone minute goals by swiping each screen during your workout . When it’s done, it’ll show a quick summary of your metrics, and when you sync with the Fitbit app, you’ll get the full rundown on your phone, including route info and maps (if it’s an outdoor workout).
This tracker also has high and low heart rate alerts, as well as irregular heart rhythm detection during sleep, if it records the atria Flutter signs, it can notify you.
Fitbit’s sleep tracking is so comprehensive that even on this small device, you can still gain insight into your sleep stages. It’s all easy to understand in the Fitbit app when you sync every morning, and if you have Premium, you’ll see trends over time and metrics like skin temperature overnight. After wearing the device for 14 days, you’ll get an in-depth sleep profile, and every month you’ll get an updated sleep animal describing your sleep patterns. I’m a turtle if you play at home.
All of your workout and sleep data is aggregated into a daily readiness score, which is also a feature of Fitbit Premium. This helps indicate whether your body is ready for more activity that day, or if you should relax and focus on something more relaxing, like breathing exercises or yoga. I’m a big fan of the score and love the personalized workout suggestions it provides. There’s also a stress management score, which calculates how your body handles stress based on metrics like heart rate, sleep and activity levels. A higher score means your coping skills are better, but I don’t think it’s as useful as the daily prep score overall.
Basic smart function only
The Inspire 3 is fairly simple when it comes to smart features. You can see notifications from your phone and have the option to filter them by app type from within the Fitbit app. The tracker has a timer and alarm app built in, as well as a find my phone feature that pings it as long as it’s within Bluetooth range. It’s also compatible with Google Fast Pair, so it can quickly connect to an Android phone.
That’s all. There’s no Fitbit Pay for contactless payments on the wrist, music playback controls, or onboard music storage. Really, you get this tracker for its passive health and fitness monitoring — not as a smartwatch replacement.
Best battery life of any Fitbit
The 10-day battery life of the Fitbit Inspire 3 is really impressive and includes sleep tracking, some basic workout tracking, and in my testing The device is basically worn 24/7 during the period. That battery life matches the Inspire 2, even though the new tracker’s color display is more vibrant.
Although battery life may vary depending on your usage – if you use always-on display mode to reduce battery life to three days – I still really don’t have to comment like I do I’m impressed that the tracker is charged as often as any other Fitbit model I’ve ever tried.
Inspire 3 is a set-and-forget tracker
The Inspire 3 is fairly simple when it comes to smart features. You can see notifications from your phone and have the option to filter them by app type from within the Fitbit app. The tracker has a timer and alarm app built in, as well as a find my phone feature that pings it as long as it’s within Bluetooth range. It’s also compatible with Google Fast Pair, so it can quickly connect to an Android phone.
That’s all. There’s no Fitbit Pay for contactless payments on the wrist, music playback controls, or onboard music storage. Really, you get this tracker for its passive health and fitness monitoring — not as a smartwatch replacement.
Best battery life of any Fitbit
The 10-day battery life of the Fitbit Inspire 3 is really impressive and includes sleep tracking, some basic workout tracking, and in my testing The device is basically worn 24/7 during the period. That battery life matches the Inspire 2, even though the new tracker’s color display is more vibrant.
Although battery life may vary depending on your usage – if you use always-on display mode to reduce battery life to three days – I still really don’t have to comment like I do I’m impressed that the tracker is charged as often as any other Fitbit model I’ve ever tried.
Inspire 3 is a set-and-forget tracker
Fitbit nailed the formula 3 for a basic fitness tracker with the Inspire, especially if you want something passively tracked in the background, just charging occasionally. But its most useful features require Fitbit Premium, which requires an additional monthly fee after the free trial ends.
The Inspire 3 should satisfy his need for someone to look at Fitbit’s slightly more expensive $130 Luxe tracker and even outdo it with better battery life. But if you want Fitbit Pay and even more fitness tracking without spending extra on a Fitbit Versa smartwatch, the $150 Fitbit Charge 5 is the best overall option.
