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Historical update: This guide compares the Fitbit models available during 2018. The Fitbit Charge 3 was the best all-round choice, the Versa was the best smartwatch-style option for most people, and the Ionic was the right pick for phone-free GPS workouts. Most models discussed here are now discontinued, so do not treat these as automatic 2026 buying recommendations.
The most important distinction is GPS: the Charge 3 and Versa used connected GPS from a nearby phone, while the Ionic had built-in GPS. For swimming, the Flex 2 was the safer historical choice; the Alta HR and Charge 2 were not swim trackers.
Quick verdict
| Model | Best for | GPS | Heart-rate tracking | Swimming | Main drawback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitbit Charge 3 | Best overall | Connected | Yes | Suitable for water use and swim tracking according to its specifications; check the original guidance | No built-in GPS |
| Fitbit Versa | Best smartwatch value | Connected | Yes | Water-resistant watch with swim-related features | Requires a phone for route GPS |
| Fitbit Ionic | Runners and serious fitness users | Built-in | Yes | Water-resistant watch with swim-related features | Large, expensive and less discreet |
| Fitbit Alta HR | Discreet everyday tracking | None | Yes | Not a swimming tracker | Small display and limited workout controls |
| Fitbit Flex 2 | Simple swimming band | None | No continuous optical heart-rate sensor | Best historical budget choice | No screen |
| Fitbit Ace | Children | None | Not an adult fitness feature set | Not the reason to buy it | Child-focused and limited |
| Fitbit Zip | Basic step counting | None | No | No | Very limited compared with newer models |
Exact 2018 prices varied by country, retailer, sale and special edition. Historical launch MSRP and late-2018 street price should not be confused with unverified 2026 resale prices.
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The Fitbit Charge 3 was the most balanced Fitbit available in 2018. It combined the familiar fitness-band format with heart-rate tracking, sleep monitoring, smartphone notifications, guided breathing, a larger touchscreen and a more modern design than the Charge 2.
#1 Best Overall
- 【All-day Activity Tracker】: ENGERWALL IP68 Waterproof fitness tracker can record and track your daily steps, calories burned, exercise distance and time. It can also monitor your Body Temp, Heart Rate, Blood Oxygen and Blood Pressure. IP68 waterproof ensures that you don't need to take it off for daily hand washing and swimming, but don't soak it in water for a long time or wear it for hot baths, saunas.
- 【Slim and simple band design】The design concept of this tracker’s band is slim and unique, offering a comfortable and lightweight wearing experience. Suitable for men, women and the elderly.
- 【Heart Rate Monitor and Sleep Tracker】: Smart tracker can detect heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen, and body temperature in daily life. Monitor your sleep and analyze your sleep quality through Fall Sleep, Deep Sleep, Light Sleep, REM Sleep. You can view daily, weekly, and monthly data in the APP "Runmefit" to help you better understand your health status and lead a healthy lifestyle. [IMPORTANT] The blood pressure measurement feature must be downloaded and enabled within the app.
- 【Call and message notifications】: You can receive text messages and SNS notifications (including Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Instagram) directly on your wrist. When your phone's Bluetooth is turned on, if you receive a message, the watch will vibrate to remind you and you can view the specific message. This function is very practical whether in work or life.
- 【Working Time】: Smart Fitness Watch is the best partner at work, you can set it on the mobile APP ‘Runmefit’: up to 5 sets of alarms, you don’t have to worry about being late for appointments or forgetting important things. You can set drinking Water Reminders and Sedentary Reminders to establish a healthy way of working.
It was smaller and less watch-like than the Ionic or Versa, making it easier to wear overnight and with formal clothing. It was also more capable than the Alta HR without becoming a specialist running watch.
The major limitation is easy to miss: the Charge 3 did not have built-in GPS. Its connected GPS feature used the GPS connection from a compatible nearby phone. That makes it suitable for runners who already carry a phone, but not for someone who wants to record a route phone-free.
The Charge 3 included an accelerometer, altimeter, optical heart-rate sensor, vibration motor and Bluetooth connectivity. Fitbit Pay was limited to compatible special editions, supported banks and supported regions; it was not a universal feature. See the Charge 3 manual for the device’s hardware and operating details.
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Choose it if: you want the best compromise between health tracking, notifications, comfort and workout features.
Do not choose it if: you need phone-free GPS running or a full smartwatch ecosystem.
Charge 3 versus Versa
| Priority | Better choice |
|---|---|
| Slim fitness-band design | Charge 3 |
| Larger watch-like display | Versa |
| Built-in GPS | Neither |
| Running with a phone | Either, using connected GPS |
| Apps and smartwatch interface | Versa |
| Discreet overnight wear | Charge 3 |
| Watch-style interaction and music controls | Versa |
The Versa was the better choice for someone who wanted a watch face, apps, notifications and a more conventional smartwatch experience without paying Ionic-level pricing. Its larger screen was easier to read than the Charge 3’s, and its longer advertised battery life suited users who disliked frequent charging.
However, the Versa still relied on a phone for route tracking. It was a lifestyle smartwatch rather than the best tool for serious outdoor training. Its apps and notifications were also more limited than those of Apple Watch or contemporary Wear OS watches.
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Rank #2
- Fitbit Charge 6 tracks key metrics from calories and Active Zone Minutes to Daily Readiness and sleep; move more with 40+ exercise modes, built-in GPS, all-day activity tracking, 24/7 heart rate, automatic exercising tracking, and more[1]
- See your heart rate in real time: Just link your Charge 6 to compatible exercise machines, like treadmills, ellipticals, and more[2]; and stay connected with YouTube Music controls[3]
- Tune into your body: Track your response to stress with a stress management score; learn about the quality of your sleep with a personalized nightly Sleep Score; and wake up more naturally with the Smart Wake alarm
- Run your routine with Google essentials: Find your way seamlessly during runs or rides with turn-by-turn directions from Google Maps on Fitbit Charge 6; and when you need a snack break on the go, just tap to pay with Google Wallet[1,4]
- Unlock more with Google Health Premium: With a premium membership, get personalized coaching that’s built with Gemini and adapts to your life[7]; get a 3-month trial at no cost to you[5] (Google Health Premium subscription sold separately)
Best for serious runners: Fitbit Ionic
The Fitbit Ionic was the specialist choice. Its built-in GPS allowed runners and cyclists to record outdoor routes without carrying a phone, which immediately separated it from the Charge 3 and Versa.
It also offered a larger smartwatch interface and exercise-focused features. The trade-offs were its larger case, more conspicuous design, higher historical price and generally less comfortable profile for people who wanted a discreet sleep tracker or formal everyday watch.
Choose the Ionic for phone-free GPS workouts, not simply because it was the most expensive Fitbit. For ordinary step counting, sleep tracking and notifications, the Charge 3 or Versa was usually easier to justify.
Even for serious training, Fitbit’s 2018 ecosystem was less comprehensive than dedicated Garmin or Polar products. It should not be presented as a full replacement for a specialist training watch.
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The Versa was the approachable lifestyle smartwatch; the Ionic was the exercise-first model. The Ionic had built-in GPS, while the Versa needed a phone for route tracking. The Versa was smaller, lighter-looking and more affordable for many shoppers. The Ionic was the better choice for outdoor workouts without a phone.
Neither was equivalent to a full Apple Watch or Wear OS experience. App availability, notifications and phone integration were more limited, and notification or reply functions could vary between iPhone and Android.
Is the Fitbit Alta HR still worth considering?
In the 2018 market, the Alta HR remained appealing to people who disliked bulky watches. It was slim, discreet and comfortable for sleep tracking while still offering heart-rate monitoring, steps and everyday activity data.
Rank #3
- Google Fitbit Air is the unbelievably comfortable, exceptionally smart way to transform your health[1]; and Google Health brings together effortless tracking and adaptive coaching to help make the most of your everyday[2]
- Unlock more with Google Health Premium: With a premium membership, get personalized coaching that’s built with Gemini and adapts to your life[2]; get a 3-month trial at no cost to you[5] (Google Health Premium subscription sold separately)
- Comfortable fit - One Size Tracker (130-210 mm): The lightweight, micro-adjustable fit sits comfortably and quietly, so you can wear Google Fitbit Air through work, play, and sleep; advanced sensors and new algorithms power more accurate, precise health tracking, 24/7[1]
- Designed for every occasion: With no screen to distract you or disrupt your style, your tracker moves seamlessly from bracelet to workout band to sleep band, and you can change looks in seconds – just press the pebble in, click, and go
- Long battery life: Google Fitbit Air’s battery lasts up to a week, and fast charging gets you one day of battery life in just five minutes[6,7]
Its compromises were substantial: no built-in GPS, fewer dedicated workout controls, a small display and limited usefulness for reading notifications. It was also not a swimming tracker. A contemporary comparison found that the Alta HR and Charge 2 shared many lifestyle-tracking strengths, while the Charge 2 offered more workout-oriented functions and connected GPS; that same form-versus-function distinction helps explain why the newer Charge 3 was the stronger all-round choice. See Wareable’s Alta HR and Charge 2 comparison.
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Do not choose it if: you want swimming, route tracking or a useful smartwatch display.
Best Fitbit for swimming: Flex 2
The Flex 2 was the clearest historical choice for shoppers who specifically wanted a simple swimming band. Its lack of a screen was both its strength and its weakness: there was less to distract you in the pool, but no on-device display for checking progress or notifications.
Do not generalize from one model to the entire Fitbit range. Contemporary guidance treated the Alta HR and Charge 2 as sweat-, splash- and rain-resistant rather than swim-ready. “Water-resistant” also does not automatically mean suitable for diving, hot tubs, salt water or every water activity. The contemporary water-resistance comparison is useful context.
The Ionic and Versa were more suitable if you wanted a watch-style device with a display and swim-related functions, but check the exact model’s original specifications rather than relying on the word “waterproof.”
Best Fitbit for running
- Phone-free GPS running: Ionic.
- Running with a phone: Charge 3, or the older Charge 2, using connected GPS.
- Casual jogging and general wellness: Alta HR or Versa, depending on whether you prefer a band or watch.
- Structured serious training: consider whether Fitbit’s 2018 workout analysis was sufficient compared with Garmin or Polar.
Connected GPS means the tracker borrows location data from a phone. It is not a lesser name for built-in GPS, and it cannot provide phone-free route recording.
Rank #4
- 【All-day Health Monitor】The fitness tracker watch will automatically track your real-time heart rate, blood pressure and blood oxygen throughout the day to help you better understand your health. Equipped with a high-performance chipset, the fitness tracker automatically analyzes your overall sleep quality (deep/light/wake time) at night and gives you a nightly sleep score in the app to help you adjust your lifestyle and make you healthier.
- 【Smart Notification Remider】 With Bluetooth connection to your phone, it can support incoming calls/text alerts/APP message notifications (WhatsApp/Facebook/Instagram etc.), you will never miss your important messages. With the fitness watch, you can also perform sedentary reminder, water reminder, alarm clock, stopwatch, remote control photo, find devices, etc. to make your life healthier and smarter.
- 【25 Sports Modes】 Fitness tracker supports 25 professional sports modes, you can choose any number of sports modes as your exclusive sports modes in the app, such as walking, running, dancing, yoga, etc. and track your steps, heart rate, distance and calories to help you stay motivated, accomplish your sports goals, record your sports data, and make your sports more scientific.
- 【Long Battery Life】The fitness watch uses magnetic fast charging to provide a better battery life experience. It takes 1-2 hours to fully charge and can be used for up to 7 days of regular use and 15 days of standby. Compatible mobile phone system: android5.0 (inclusive) and IOS9.0 (inclusive) or above.
- 【1.1" AMOLED Touch Color Screen】AMOLED HD touch color screen is designed with clear and bright display, providing you with high quality touch and visual experience. This smartwatch includes a large number of original dials and supports custom dials.
Best Fitbit for sleep tracking
The Alta HR was the most discreet option for sleep, while the Charge 3 offered the best overall balance of sleep, heart-rate, activity and notification features. Versa and Ionic could also be worn overnight, but their larger watch-like designs were less appealing to people who find wrist devices intrusive.
Comfort, band material and charging habits matter as much as the feature list. Sleep stages, calorie estimates and heart-rate readings from consumer wearables are estimates, not medical diagnoses.
Best Fitbit for children: Fitbit Ace
The Fitbit Ace was designed for children and family participation, not as a smaller Charge 3. Its purpose was to let children join activity goals through a family-account experience while providing an age-appropriate feature set.
Choose Ace based on the child’s age, wrist size, family-account requirements and the original device’s compatibility. An adult Fitbit may physically fit a child but still be the wrong product. Ace should not be recommended to an adult who needs GPS, advanced training data or a broad smartwatch experience. See Fitbit’s family-account discussion about Ace for period-specific context.
Older alternatives available in 2018
Fitbit Charge 2
The Charge 2 remained a reasonable older option for heart-rate tracking, workouts and connected GPS, but the Charge 3 had the newer design and broader feature balance. It was not a swimming recommendation.
Fitbit Zip
The Zip was the no-frills choice for steps. Its appeal was simplicity and, where still available, low cost. It lacked heart-rate tracking, sleep-focused features, GPS, a modern smartwatch display and swimming functionality.
Products such as the Fitbit Inspire, Versa 2, Charge 4, Sense and later Google Pixel Watch models should not be inserted into a comparison specifically about the 2018 lineup.
Best Value
- Inspire 3 is the tracker that helps you find your energy, do what you love and feel your best – all you have to do is wear it;
- Compatible with Apple iOS 16.4 or higher and Android OS 11.0 or higher
- Move more: Stay motivated with a Daily Readiness Score, Active Zone Minutes, all-day activity tracking and 24/7 heart rate, 40+ exercise modes, automatic exercise tracking, and reminders to move
- Stress less: Keep an eye on your well-being with a daily Stress Management Score, mindfulness sessions, relax breathing sessions, irregular heart rhythm notifications, SpO2, menstrual health tracking, resting heart rate, and more[1,2]
- Sleep better: Automatic sleep tracking, a daily detailed Sleep Score, smart wake vibrating alarm, and sleep mode help you improve your sleep quality[3]
Choose by user type
- Best beginner Fitbit: Charge 3.
- Best all-round band: Charge 3.
- Best smartwatch-style Fitbit: Versa.
- Best phone-free workout Fitbit: Ionic.
- Best for serious runners: Ionic, with the caveat that specialist running watches offered deeper training tools.
- Best for swimming on a budget: Flex 2.
- Best for sleep and small wrists: Alta HR.
- Best for children: Ace.
- Best basic step counter: Zip, if still available in the relevant 2018 market.
Buying advice for a 2018 Fitbit
Separate MSRP from sale price
A launch MSRP, a late-2018 street price and a special-edition price are different figures. They should be labeled separately and geographically. Current marketplace listings are not evidence of historical MSRP.
Check GPS terminology
Look specifically for “built-in GPS.” If the listing says “connected GPS,” the phone must provide the location connection and normally needs to remain nearby.
Check water language
Do not turn “water-resistant” into “waterproof.” Verify the exact model’s original guidance and the activity you intend to perform.
Consider phone compatibility
Compatibility requirements and app support can change. Notification and reply capabilities also varied between iPhone and Android. An older phone that worked in 2018 may not provide the same experience later.
Remember the ecosystem limits
Core syncing and dashboards were distinct from optional Fitbit Coach or other premium services available at the time. Do not automatically apply later Fitbit Premium rules to a 2018 purchase, and do not assume that a feature available in the original app remains available today.
Buying one used in 2026
These devices are now historical products. Before buying a Charge 3, Versa, Ionic, Alta HR, Flex 2, Ace or Zip, check battery health, charger availability, replacement-band availability, screen condition, account compatibility, app support, warranty and return terms. A low sticker price can be poor value if the battery is degraded or syncing no longer works reliably.
Fitbit’s current ecosystem has changed since 2018. Use the official Fitbit site to check current support and replacement products, but do not assume that an old model appearing in a search result is still officially sold or supported. A current alternative may be more sensible than paying reseller pricing for obsolete hardware.
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Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
