Should you buy a Fitbit in the Black Friday sales?

Prime Early Access Sale Fitbit Model Deals
(Image credit: Fitbit)

Black Friday has rolled around again with fantastic discounts available on everything from Fitbits to headphones, and from air purifiers to treadmills. If you’ve been holding out for low prices on a particular model of smartwatch, now is a good time to compare costs and find a deal.

Fitbit has also recently announced a new range of models, so prices on older models have started to fall. This, coupled with potential discounts from the Black Friday sales event, means we’re likely to see some record-low prices. In fact, Fitbit’s cheapest band — the Fitbit Inspire 2 — has already fallen to its lowest-ever price, currently retailing for just $49.00 on Amazon.

But it’s not just the best Fitbit that’s on sale right now; there are a range of Black Friday fitness tracker deals available, too. However, if you're set on picking up a Fitbit, here's what you need to know.   

Now $49.00
Lowest-ever price

Fitbit Inspire 2 | Was $99.95 Now $49.00
This budget-entry from Fitbit just got even cheaper. Scoop it up now for its lowest-ever price and you'll still get a year's worth of free access to the Fitbit Premium platform, which lets you keep an even closer eye on your health stats. 

What are the latest Fitbit models?

Fitbit has announced three new models recently: the Sense 2, the Versa 4 and the Inspire 3. 

The Sense 2 is Fitbit's most advanced watch. It comes with ECG and EDA sensors, which allow it to detect atrial fibrillation along with stress levels. It's slimmer and lighter than the previous model, the original Sense but it also has a lot of the same features.

The Versa 4 isn't too dissimilar to the Sense 2, but it lacks the EDA sensor. It has an impressive 40 exercise modes available, which is a larger pool than its older brother the Versa 3, which only offers 20.

The Inspire 3 is a budget entry from Fitbit, which only covers basic health tracking and it doesn't have in-built GPS. It feels fairly similar to its predecessor, the Fitbit Inspire 2, which is currently very cheap. 

Fitbit Inspire 2 being tested by Live Science

(Image credit: Future/ Lloyd Coombes)

Which Fitbit is best?

The Fitbit Sense 2 is currently the model with the most available features; however, as it's just been released, it's still rather pricey. We actually prefer the Fitbit Sense original for now, which offers perks like a unique EDA sensor for stress levels, but comes in at $100 cheaper. 

The Sense line from Fitbit is basically a smartwatch/tracker hybrid. If you'd prefer something with a more slimline aesthetic, we'd opt for the Fitbit Charge 5, which still packs in a great set of health-monitoring sensors but is significantly cheaper than the Sense models. 

Should you buy a Fitbit during the Black Friday sales?

At the moment, the older models of Fitbits have been reduced in price significantly. As these models are being phased out of production (as new models are introduced) stocks might dwindle, so we'd say that now is the right time to buy. They still take advantage of the latest health tracking features, and they're modern enough to sync with new apps, but they're a lot cheaper than usual. 

The newer Fitbit models are at their highest price right now. If you're the sort of person who likes to have the latest version of everything, there's no reason to hold back on buying one of the newer Fitbits; but be warned that prices might tumble in a few months.

Image of Fitbit Luxe during testing

(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes)

Are Fitbits waterproof?

The vast majority of Fitbits are waterproof. Some of the older models, such as the original Fitbit Ace, are only splash resistant, which means you can't swim with them. But virtually every model released in the past few years is waterproof up to a depth of 50 metres, so they're great for a session in the pool.

How do Fitbits track sleep?

Fitbits can track your movements with their in-built accelerometers and gyroscopes. When you haven't moved for a while, Fitbit will automatically assume you're asleep and start it's sleep monitoring process. 

Fitbits can also monitor your heart rate. There's a little LED built into the back of your Fitbit that flashes onto your wrist; the Fitbit analyzes the light that bounces back from your wrist, to calculate how much blood is pumping through your body. Through this method, the Fitbit is able to track your heart rate. And as different heart rates signify different stages of sleep, Fitbit can use this data to look at how well you're resting during the night. 

For more details, see our piece on how fitness trackers monitor your sleep

Black Friday Fitbit Deals 

Now $189

Fitbit Sense | Was $299.95 Now $189
You can currently save 37% on this older Sense model, which is our favorite band from Fitbit. It has a big, bright and beautiful display and packs in all the health-tracking metrics you could need.

Now $99.95

Fitbit Charge 5 | Was $149.95 Now $99.95
Despite only being released last year, the Fitbit Charge 5 has been reduced for the Prime Early Access Sale. Its slimline design means it's the perfect partner for sleep-tracking, while its robust water-proof credentials make it ideal for outdoor adventures. 

| Now $152.84

Fitbit Versa 3 | Was $229.95 | Now $152.84
The Fitbit Versa 3 is a brilliant little smartwatch, that is now $77 cheaper. We rate it for its low-profile design, health-tracking capabilities and clear display. 

| Now $78.95

Fitbit Luxe | Was $129.95 | Now $78.95
This little tracker from Fitbit is now under $90. It's tidy, slim-line design will suit most people, along with its basic health-tracking capabilities. 

Ruth Gaukrodger

Ruth Gaukrodger is the fitness editor at Future Plc. She covers everything from fitness trackers to dumbbells for sites like Live Science, Fit&Well and Tom's Guide. When she's not reviewing equipment in our dedicated testing centre, you'll find her racing round the streets of London in her favorite running shoes or working on her yoga skills from the comfort of her living room.


Originally a print journalist, Ruth worked across national newspapers and popular tech sites before coming to Future. She has worked as a commissioning editor across other Future titles too, including Space.com and Top Ten Reviews. Now focused solely on fitness topics, she hopes to demystify the world of exercise with honest, straightforward content.