Timeless Fitness Tech: Best Old Fitbit Models for Collectors!

By Saurabh On Nov 20, 2023

Using a tracker, such as a Fitbit gadget, to monitor one’s habits can be quite beneficial. It enables users to keep track of everything related to fitness, including the number of steps taken, the time needed to run a mile and the number of leg lifts performed throughout a workout.

Advanced statistics on respiration, heart rate, and oxygenation are also included. But since its founding, Fitbit has undergone a number of significant modifications and grown to become a well-known brand for fitness trackers and watch accessories.

Fitbit, a company founded in 2007 by James Park and Eric Friedman, was the first to revolutionize the personal fitness tracking industry with its gadgets and is still making significant advancements in the field.

Tracking fitness objectives is made simple with the current Fitbit, which is worn on the wrist like a smartwatch. Health statistics are essential for assisting people in maintaining their daily health, whether they are counting their steps or simply knowing more about sleep cycles.

Even though Fitbits may not appear exactly like they did when they initially came out, the gradual improvements have shown to be a winning formula. Here is a look at the Fitbit story’s history and some significant developments.

Fitbit Classic (2007): The original fitness tracker and clip-on.

In 2007, Fitbit released its first version. It was a tiny wearable that fit around the wrist or could be fastened to clothes. The Fitbit Classic monitored the user’s distance traveled, steps taken, and calories burnt. For data syncing, it established a wireless connection with a PC or smartphone (before the release of the Fitbit app).

This first tracker, which included an inbuilt motion sensor, was a big factor in encouraging individuals to view step counts as a means of tracking their daily activity.

Fitbit Tracker (2008): Adding Goal Tracking and A Fitbit Website to Make It Even Better.

Comparably wireless, the Fitbit Tracker measured steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned in relation to user-set goals. Users could track their fitness progress and see how they were doing compared to their expectations by syncing their data with the Fitbit website.

Fitbit Ultra (2011): Fitbit Advances to The Real Stairs, Taking Things a Step Further.

The Fitbit Ultra introduced altimeter functionality to track stairs climbed, improving upon the original clip-on design. Oh my! It was a more complete health device because it also had a digital clock and sleep-tracking features.

Fitbit One (2012): Smaller, Sleeker, and Bluetooth Ready.

The Fitbit Ultra was improved upon in the Fitbit One. It was more comfortable to wear while working out because it has all the functionality of the Ultra but in a smaller, sleeker design. Additionally, Bluetooth connectivity was built into the Fitbit One to enable wireless synchronization with mobile devices.

Fitbit Zip (2012): All Zipped up and Ready to Go (with Early Emoji Faces).

About the size of a US quarter, the Fitbit Zip fastened on and tracked steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned. Additionally, it could “react” to whether or not users were reaching their objectives and synchronize its data wirelessly with compatible mobile devices.

The device would display a scowl on its face if the user was inactive for extended periods of time. The user would see a cheerful face if they moved a lot. How charming.

Fitbit Flex (2013): Say Hello to All Day Tracking.

Fitbit released the Fitbit Flex in 2013. This gadget could measure steps, distance traveled, calories expended, and active minutes while tracking movement around the clock. It was a simple, waterproof gadget that showed progress toward daily objectives with LED lights.

Fitbit Force (2013): With Even More Tracking Power, the Force Becomes Even More Formidable.

While the Fitbit Flex and the Force were identical, the Fitbit Force included an OLED display to show information in greater depth. It is coupled with smartphones to display the time and caller ID in addition to collecting statistics in real-time, such as steps walked, distance traveled, calories burned, stairs climbed, and daily minutes active.

The Force could silently wake a person with a vibrating alarm at night and track their sleep.

Fitbit Charge (2014): Users Were Able to Keep the Charge 1 Charging as They Slept.

In 2014, Fitbit introduced the Fitbit Charge following the retirement of the Fitbit Force. A few of the Charge’s predecessor’s wearability and comfort concerns were resolved. Additionally, it had other functions to assist users in better understanding their bodies, like automatic sleep tracking.

Fitbit Surge (2014/15): Introducing the Fitbit Watch: A First Full Fledged Smartwatch.

Fitbit first entered the smartwatch market with the Fitbit Surge. It was a fitness watch with built-in GPS tracking, music management, smartphone notifications, and heart rate monitoring. Fitness enthusiasts and athletes looking to combine the ease of a smartwatch with more sophisticated fitness information were the target market for the Surge. Additionally, it may use a linked smartphone to give warnings for incoming calls and texts.

Fitbit Blaze (2016): Next-Level Tracking with Some Smartphone Capabilities Built In.

An additional step toward a fully functional smartwatch was the Fitbit Blaze. It included configurable clock faces, a bright touchscreen, fitness monitoring capabilities, and the ability to receive notifications from a linked smartphone.

Additionally, wearers may use it to measure their exercise automatically, keep an eye on their heart rates, and use a linked GPS to find their location. It could show notifications, such as incoming calls, texts, and calendar events when coupled with a smartphone.

Fitbit Flex 2 (2016): Water, Water Everywhere—but Not Inside the Watch.

The Fitbit Flex 2, the waterproof variant of the Flex, was perfect for tracking swimming. The LED lights performed in a manner akin to that of the original Flex; the quantity of lit dots represented the user’s progress toward a goal. also vibrated when the wearer got a call or text, and also included “reminder to move” messages when wearers remained inactive for an extended period of time.

Fitbit Alta (2016): Fashion-Forward Design Meets All Day Fitness Tracking.

2016 saw the release of the Fitbit Alta, which catered more to fashion-conscious consumers. The bracelet included a clock, smartphone notifications, and a tapable OLED screen.

Fitness-conscious fashionistas loved it for its lightweight construction, changeable bands, and all-day activity tracking features, which tracked steps, distance, and calories burned.

Fitbit Charge 2 (2016): Pumping up The Personalization on The Charge Model.

This model, which replaced the Fitbit Charge, was an improved version of the Fitbit Charge HR, with a larger OLED display, guided breathing sessions, connected GPS (through a smartphone), and bands that could be switched out to customize the look of the fitness tracker. Additionally, it had a new multi-sport mode that let Fitbit users initiate workouts.

Fitbit Alta Hr (2017): Sleep Stages Become Trackable with The Alta.

The Fitbit Alta could count steps, distance walked (without GPS), calories burnt, and sleep, just like the earlier models. Notifications and incoming phone calls from linked devices were displayed. The underside was updated with optical heart rate sensors that recorded the wearer’s heart rate continuously throughout the day.

In addition, a new Sleep Stages function was added, which promises to display the stages of sleep as opposed to just the amount of time spent asleep as in earlier iterations.

Fitbit Ionic (2017): Fitbit’s First Full Blown Smartwatch Arrives.

The first completely functional Fitbit wristwatch was the Fitbit Ionic. With its integrated GPS, this device can connect to satellites worldwide and record exercises with greater accuracy. For a better connection, the antenna was incorporated right into the watch casing.

In addition, it had a heart-rate monitor, NFC for contactless transactions, and watch face and app download capabilities. In addition, the Ionic had SmartTrack, which automatically detected user activity and recorded it in the Fitbit app.

The Fitbit family was given a new lease on life by its color touchscreen, and its capacity to download and store music made it possible for customers to be entertained while working out.

Fitbit Flyer (2017): Listen up While Working Out.

Fitbit’s first wireless headphones were called Fitbit Flyers. They were made especially for working out, combining top-notch music with a safe, cozy, and sweat-resistant design that also featured noise isolation.

With movable ear tips, wings, and fins available in various sizes, Flyer’s water-resistant construction employs hydrophobic nano-coating to ensure that it remains splash-, rain-, and sweat-proof. With a full charge, they promised up to 6 hours of playback, and with a rapid charge, 15 minutes.

Fitbit Versa (2018): A Next-Gen Smartwatch Made for Even More Tracking.

The Fitbit Versa smartwatch was created as a more fashionable and cost-effective substitute for the Fitbit Ionic. It has comparable functionality, such as smart notifications, fitness and sleep tracking, and support for third-party apps.

The majority of the Ionic’s features and interface were still present, but it could do more, like helping women keep track of their menstrual cycles.

Fitbit Charge 3 (2018): Taking the Charge up A Notch with Elevated Features.

The Fitbit Charge 3, which debuted in 2018, built on the popularity of its predecessors with enhanced touchscreen functionality, swim tracking, and smartphone quick answers for Android users. The Fitbit Charge 3 was then released in a limited edition in November 2018 with “Fitbit Pay” as a special feature that lets users pay for items with a simple tap of their wrist.

Fitbit Ace (2018/2019/2020): For Kids to Track All the Fun.

The Fitbit Ace was released in 2018 for individuals who wanted to include their children in the enjoyment of fitness. It unveiled the Alta for kids eight years old and up.

The Fitbit Ace 2, designed for children six years old and up, was introduced in 2019, and the Fitbit Ace 3, a scaled-down version of the Ace 2, was introduced in 2021. Kids could use their Ace 2 or Ace 3 with any Inspire, HR, or 2 bands and accessories once they outgrew the design.

The Fitbit Inspire and Inspire HR (2019): A Budget-Friendly Option for Tracking.

The Fitbit Inspire and Inspire HR were part of the 2019 Fitbit Inspire Series, which replaced the Fitbit Alta and Alta HR by offering the same vital fitness monitoring capabilities in a more affordable package.

It was really the most affordable product in the entire Fitbit collection when it was first released.

Additionally, it had the ability to change into a clip-on tracker, which allowed it to be fastened to clothing or worn on the wrist as desired.

Fitbit Versa 2 (2019): The Versa, with Even More Updates Like Music Storage.

A fantastic workout may be unlocked with the help of music. Because of this, certain streaming subscribers were able to access music storage on the Fitbit Versa 2, an upgraded version of the Versa wristwatch.

It also included an AMOLED display, longer-lasting batteries, and built-in support for Amazon Alexa.

Fitbit Aria Air (2019): Finally Time to Connect the Scale to The Fitbit Watch.

Maintaining a healthy weight might facilitate the development of beneficial behaviors. Fitbit unveiled the Aria Air to aid individuals in better understanding their bodies. This intelligent scale tracked and displayed weight, synchronizing the information with the Fitbit app.

Fitbit Versa 3 (2020): Integration with Google Changes the Fitbit Game.

Fitbit had a significant year in 2020 after Google purchased the firm. Fitbit Versa 3 was the first smartwatch model following the acquisition. This model includes Google Assistant integration and GPS functionality.

Fast charging, a higher-resolution display, and Active Zone Minutes are additional upgrades over the previous generation. Call answering on the Versa 3 was also possible for Android users. The device’s thickness has to be somewhat increased in order to accommodate these functions and the speaker.

Fitbit Charge 4 (2020): Say Hello to A Fitbit Watch with Built-in GPS.

With the addition of built-in GPS to the Charge range, the Fitbit Charge 4 made it possible to track outdoor activities with accuracy without a linked smartphone.

It also included extra features like built-in Spotify controls that let users change the music to suit their mood; Active Zone Minutes that tracked how hard an exercise was helping someone get in shape; and Fitbit Pay Support, which assisted with secure payment transactions with just a tap of the tracker—no wallet or phone required.

Fitbit Sense (2020): A Wearable with The Sense to Consider Stress Management.

The Fitbit Sense was released in 2020 as well. With the use of EDA sensors to monitor physical signs of stress, this high-end smartwatch tracked skin temperature, heart rate, and heart rate variability in addition to helping users manage their overall health. An ECG app was also provided to aid in the detection of abnormal cardiac rhythms.

Fitbit Inspire 2 (2020): Inspiring Further with Access to The Premium Fitbit App.

Fitbit sought smartphones that could showcase their new Fitbit Premium app when they released it. An app subscription for a year was given away free of charge with the Fitbit Inspire 2, an improvement over the first Inspire.

Longer battery life and Active Zone Minutes, which allow you to measure your exact work intensity with each action timed, were other features.

Fitbit Sense (2020): Tracking the Heart Function, Taking Health More Seriously.

The Fitbit Sense brought a busy 2020 to a close. To date, this watch was the most sophisticated offering from the brand. The FDA approved its ECG feature, and it could also gauge the wearer’s blood oxygen saturation levels.

Fitbit Luxe (2021): The fitness tracker watch gets a style refresh.

The Fitbit Luxe’s single goal was to bring fashion and fitness tracking together. The elegant and svelte design offered Fitbit users robust fitness tracking capabilities while being appropriate for daily use. Wearers could access features for managing stress and tracking their sleep in addition to the standard fitness tracking information.

Fitbit Charge 5 (2021): Fitbit’s Most Advanced Fitness & Health Tracker Yet.

The Fitbit Charge 5 revolutionized the way users monitored their activity levels and maintained a record of their health and well-being. It could track heart health using an ECG app for the heart and an EDA sensor for stress, assisting wearers in making sure their bodies were capable of handling the workouts they were taking on.

Fitbit Inspire 3 (2022): Taking the Luxe to The Next Level.

Luxe tracker and Fitbit Inspire 3 shared a similar appearance. It provided an upgraded version of the Inspire. It included an oxygen sensor, stress tracking, and an always-on display mode in addition to all the features of the previous model.

Fitbit Versa 4 (2022): A thinner Fitbit watch plus more integrations with Google.

2022 saw the arrival of the Fitbit Versa 4, another wristwatch. This model had games and challenges, automatic workout-tracking, and an updated multi-path optical heart rate monitor. Wearers wouldn’t have to set their own goals because they would have pre-defined ones to aim for.

In addition to the modest reduction in thickness from the Versa 3’s, the addition of Google Wallet and Maps capability was also appreciated.

Fitbit Sense 2 (2022): Fitbit’s Most Advanced Health and Fitness Smartwatch.

When considering Fitbits, the Sense 2 was a more cost-effective choice than other available smartwatches. It had an electrical sensor that measured skin conductance to track exercise automatically and respond to body response.