Fitbit Charge 3 is one of the best-selling fitness smartband in the US in 2018, but now there seems to be a challenger from Withings. It’s the Pulse HR which has some glaring similarities with Charge 3. The big question is, can the new Pulse HR unseat Charge 3 as a popular on-demand fitness tracker.
In this article, it’s Withings Pulse HR vs Fitbit Charge 3, two fantastic choices for comprehensive activity tracking. This quick comparison of their specs and features will help us unravel which of these two is a better choice.
Withings Pulse HR vs Fitbit Charge 3 Full Specifications
| Withings Pulse HR | Fitbit Charge 3 | |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
ABOUT DEVICE | ||
| Device name | Withings Pulse HR | Fitbit Charge 3 |
| Device type | Fitness smartband | Sporty/Fitness smartwatch |
| Predessesor | _ | Fitbit Charge 2 |
| Successor | _ | Fitbit Charge 4 |
| Released date | November, 2018 | August, 2018 |
| Ideal for | Unisex | Unisex |
DISPLAY | ||
| Display type | OLED (monochrome) | OLED (monochrome) |
| Display size | 1.7 inch | 1.57 inch |
| Display resolution | _ | __ |
| Pixel density | _ | -- |
| Input type | Single button (Not touchscreen) | Touchscreen |
| Always-on | Yes | No |
| Customizable watch face | No | Yes |
BODY | ||
| Shape | Circular | Rectangular/curved |
| Dimension | 44.4 x 18.16 x 10.5 mm | 38 x 18.3 x 11.8 mm |
| Weight | 45 grams | 30 grams |
| Casing material | Stainless steel/Polycarbonate | Plastic Resin |
| Strap/band material | Silicone | Polyester (Special edition) Silicone |
| Bezel Material | Bezeless | Resin |
| Strap size | 20mm | 140 - 180 mm (small) 180 - 220 mm (large) |
| Interchangeable band | Yes, 20mm | Yes |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | Hardened Glass |
| Water resistant/Protection | Yes, 5ATM | Yes, 5ATM |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended |
| Color(s) | Black | Graphite black Rose-gold/berry Rose-gold/ blue grey (Special Edition) Lavender White |
MEMORY | ||
| RAM | _ | -- |
| Internal storage | _ | __ |
| Memory card slot | No | __ |
CONNECTIVITY | ||
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth v4.0 LE | Bluetooth v4.0 LE |
| Bluetooth calling | No | No |
| Wi-Fi | No | No |
| NFC | No | Yes (special edition) |
| Payment system | None | Fitbit Pay (special edition) |
| GPS | No (connected GPS) | No, (connected GPS) |
CELLULAR TECHNOLOGY | ||
| Technology | No | No |
| SIM | No | No |
| Band | No | No |
NOTIFICATIONS | ||
| Email alert | Yes | Yes |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calls alert | Yes | Yes |
| Event reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Weather | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party apps | Yes | Yes |
| Text response | No | Yes (android only) |
FITNESS TRACKING | ||
| Sleep apnea | No | No |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | No | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | No | Yes |
| VO2 Max. | No | Yes |
| Blood oxygen | No | Yes |
| Blood pressure | No | No |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | No | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Under-water heart rate tracking | No | No |
| Preloaded maps | No | No |
| On-screen workout modes | No | No |
| Triathlon mode | No | __ |
| ECG Tracking | No | No |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes, 30 | Yes, 15+ |
| Safety tracking | No | No |
MEDIA | ||
| Audio | No | No |
| Music streaming | No | No |
| Bluetooth music | No | No |
| Radio | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | No | No |
| Microphone | No | No |
| Camera | No | No |
SENSORS | ||
PLATFORM | ||
| Operating system (OS) | _ | Fitbit OS |
| Chipset | _ | -- |
| CPU | Unknown | -- |
| GPU | -- | -- |
BATTERY | ||
| Type of battery | Non-removable battery | Non-removable lithium polymer |
| Battery capacity | _ | _ |
| Battery life | Standby: 20 Days+ | Mixed usage: up to 7 days |
| Charging type | Mixed usage: 5 Days+ | USB based charging dock |
| Charging time | No | About 1-2 hours |
| Battery saver mode | No | No |
| Solar power | No | No |
| Rapid charging | No | No |
CLOCK FEATURES | ||
| Time/Date | Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
OTHER FUNCTIONS | ||
| Control camera | No | No |
| Music control | No | No |
| Find phone | No | No |
MISC | ||
| Compatibility | Android 6.0+, iOS 10.0+ | Android, IOS Check supported devices |
| Companion app | Health Mate App | Fitbit App |
| Voice command | No | No |
BOX CONTENTS | ||
| Withings Pulse HR | Fitbit Charge 3 | |
| Straps | Strap (small and large) | |
| Charger | Magnetic charging dock | |
| Quick start guide | Quick start guide | |
| NOTE: We can't guarantee that all the information on this table are 100% correct. Read full disclaimer. Please, report an error. | ||
| Official Site | ||
Withings Pulse HR vs Fitbit Charge 3 Features Compared
- Display and Design
- Battery Life
- Fitness Tracking Features
If you were going to buy a fitness smartband, you probably would go for something sleek and flexible that’s easy to wear and at the same time looks elegant and stylish. In this regard both the Pulse HR and Charge 3 have fantastic designs, however, the Charge 3 for me, looks more advanced. You could actually wear it beyond sporting activities for other events and it will look great.
Looking at the display, it’s the same monochromic OLED on both devices which is easy to view outdoors, however, while Charge 3 has touchscreen support the Pulse HR doesn’t.
The Pulse HR is bigger and slimmer than the Charge 3. It also features more durable body materials than Charge 3 and in addition, it has a bigger screen size, however, Charge 3 weighs less than the Pulse HR which is a familiar characteristic of fitness trackers, but overall these two are nowhere near bulky or being too heavy.
Overall, Charge 3 killed it with a more stylish and advanced design, it looks more premium than the Pulse HR. Perhaps this is one main reason it has become the most sought-after smartband.
With any of these smartbands, you will get over 4 days of battery life from a single charge. This is great for a smartband especially if you were to partake in an extreme workout session or travel out. However, the Pulse HR has a far longer battery life than the Charge 3. It will last over 15 days on regular usage from a single charge. It’s the sort of battery life you get with the likes of Amazfit Bip. This is massive and if you wanted something that lets you go longer from a single charge then you should get yourself the Pulse HR.
On the other hand, the Charge 3 which is succeeded by the Charge 4 also has a decent battery life. Users have claimed they got an average of 5 – 7 days on minimal usage.
Fitness tracking is the main bone of contention between these two, although you shouldn’t have any doubt over the activity tracking capabilities of any of these because you will be getting a complete fitness tracking experience with any of the two smartbands. Still, there are minor differences.
Both devices offer complete sleep cycle tracking, heart rate, steps, and calorie tracking. However, with Pulse HR you get 30 sport modes to choose from while Charge 3 gives you 15 sport modes. But in terms of more fitness tracking features and accuracy, go for Fitbit Charge 3.
It’s worth noting that the Fitbit app for viewing tracked fitness metrics is far more advanced than the Health Mate app for Pulse HR. It has more features that make it more interactive and stems from a competition that encourages you to achieve more goals. However, one thing I like about the Health Mate app is its simplicity and the way you can view all tracked metrics at a glance. It’s a nice companion app, but the Fitbit app is better.
Which Should You Buy?
Surprisingly these two cost the same price, $130. But if you were to buy the Pulse HR it would be a great choice because you get to have more sporting activities to choose from plus it’s stronger and has far longer battery life.
However, Fitbit Charge 3 is no doubt a better choice, even though you get fewer sports modes to choose from. Its more flexible and looks more stylish than the Pulse HR and in addition, it has NFC which supports Fitbit Pay – a non-contactless payment system that lets you make payments on the go. Plus the Fitbit Charge 3 has high fitness tracking accuracy. So you will be getting more from Charge 3.
Here is a summary;
| FITBIT CHARGE 3 | Best value for money, more stylish and more features. |
| WITHINGS PULSE HR | Fantastic choice, longer battery life and more sports modes to choose from. |
Hi! I’m Jude, the chief editor at Smartwatchseries.com
I’m a graduate of biochemistry, a 3D artist and a passionate fitness enthusiast. On here, I and other smartwatch fans work hard to help you find the right smartwatch for you with our guides, reviews, and comparisons.
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