Fitbit Inspire HR vs Fitbit Alta HR

With majority of fitness trackers today coming with a long list of features, it can get confusing when it comes to deciding on whether or not to upgrade. The Fitbit Alta HR which was released back in 2017, has recently (this year to be exact) been replaced with the Fitbit Inspire HR. If you currently own the Fitbit Alta HR and don’t seem to have any problems with it, there may be no reason for you to upgrade. In saying this, the Fitbit Inspire HR does come with a few new changes that may just have you wanting to upgrade. We will run through the differences between the two devices in a more simplified way, to make the decision a little easier for you.

Design

Both trackers are quite slim and are really comfortable to wear. Fitbit specifically designed these trackers to be unnoticeable to the wearer. The Inspire HR measures in at 37mm x 16mm x 11mm in comparison to the Alta HR which is about 35mm x 15mm x 8mm. The Fitbit Alta HR currently still holds the record for the worlds slimmest fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor. Weighing in at just 20 grams (with a silicone band fitted) the Fitbit Inspire HR is around 6 grams lighter than the Alta HR. Some find lighter devices to be quite annoying, as some like the feeling of knowing their device is on their wrist. One noticeable design difference would be the material in which the two devices are made from. The Inspire HR also goes for a plastic body over stainless steel, which may be why it is lighter. Both trackers have an OLED touchscreen display. The Alta HR display only comes in a black and white display. The Inspire HR on the other hand, gives you the option to choose between a black and white display or a Lilac display at time of purchase. Beware, you will not be able to change the display colour once you have purchased your device. The last design difference between the two devices is the navigational button available on the Fitbit Inspire HR. This is a handy little upgrade as it allows you to manually start and stop your workout. Currently on the Alta HR you have to rely on the automatic workout tracking.
If you’re not concerned about looks or design, your current Fitbit Alta HR will still do the trick. 

Interchangeable Bands

Speaking about design, one great thing about all Fitbit devices are the interchangeable bands. This gives you to option to change over the type of band on your tracker, to suit your needs or style. Fitbit has thankfully continued this design feature with the Fitbit Inspire HR. However, there is a slight difference between the Inspire HR and Alta HR in how the bands are attached to the tracker. The Alta HR bands have latches on each end. To remove and replace the band, you simply push the latch in, allowing you to slide the band on and off the tracker. The Inspire HR bands are attached to the tracker using quick release pins.  These aren’t the most user-friendly things and you may break a nail or two trying to change the band over!

Features

This is probably the most important thing when it comes to comparing two trackers. When you’re looking at upgrading your device, you want to ensure the new device has all your favourite features that your current device has, plus more. Unfortunately, in this department, there isn’t a lot of difference between the Inspire HR and the Alta HR. You have the additional Swim Tracking feature on the Fitbit Inspire HR.

Some great things both the Alta HR and Inspire HR can do include:

• Track your heart rate 24/7

• Choose from numerous goal-based exercise modes to properly track workouts (eg bike, run, yoga etc)

• Counts steps, calories and distance for you

• Reminders to move

Water Resistance

Given the Inspire HR has the Swim Tracking feature, Fitbit has made this device water-resistant up to 50m. In comparison to the Alta HR (which is only resistant to rain and sweat), the Inspire HR is a fantastic upgrade for anyone who loves to swim laps!

Battery Life

The Fitbit Inspire HR will only give you a battery life of about 5 days (depending on usage), whereas the Fitbit Alta HR can offer up to a whopping 7 days.

Price

When first released the Fitbit Alta HR came in at $249.95AUD. The Fitbit Inspire HR comes in at around $178.95AUD. This is quite a large price drop between to two, considering there isn’t a lot of difference in regard to features.

When the Alta HR was first released it was a massive hit. There are so many great features packed into such a tiny device. Size may be the reason as to why there aren’t many added features with the new Fitbit Inspire HR. If your current Alta HR is still in working order and you’re not an enthusiastic swimmer who needs to track their laps, then hold onto your current device for a while longer.