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The Fitbit Edge is worth it for most people who want a fitness-focused tracker: 3 critics average 8.7 out of 10, praising the battery life, bright display and GPS but faulting the lack of NFC and thin smart features. This page is a consensus of published reviews, not hands-on testing.
Is the Edge worth it?
The verdict across outlets is positive, with a typical US price of $180. Tom's Guide gave it 9 out of 10 equivalent (4.5/5), Engadget gave 9 out of 10, and 9to5Google gave 4 out of 5, or 8 out of 10.
What critics loved
Display and design. Tom's Guide liked the comfortable, customizable design and a larger, brighter display than its predecessor, listing a 1.34-inch AMOLED panel with 1,000 nits peak brightness. Engadget called the touchscreen bright and easy to read, said the narrow shape stays out of the way during workouts, and noted the attractive, swappable straps. It also praised the physical side button.
Battery. Tom's Guide cites up to seven days per charge, with a roughly 90 minute full charge. 9to5Google calls the battery excellent, at nearly two weeks with the always-on display disabled.
Fitness tracking. Tom's Guide pointed to onboard GPS, a barometric altimeter, detailed sleep reports and a Readiness Score. Engadget found improved automatic activity detection. 9to5Google said the software is much better than older Fitbit trackers and found the Google Health coach useful for fitness.
Where it falls short
Missing NFC. Both Tom's Guide and Engadget note there is no NFC, so no contactless payments, which the predecessor offered according to Tom's Guide.
Limited smarts. Tom's Guide cites no smart features. 9to5Google says it falls short on notifications and functionality outside fitness, leaving it feeling both too much and too little. Engadget found the app selection very small.
Software rough edges. Engadget said Google Maps integration was unreliable and the touchscreen sometimes lags when waking. 9to5Google called the clock face selector clunky. Tom's Guide found auto workout tracking not always reliable, a point on which Engadget was more positive.
