The Fitbit Inspire 3 is more Fitbit for less money.
Google caused a stir back in May by releasing the Fitbit Air, the first Fitbit for years with no screen. It both recalled the early Fitbits of the 2010s as well as took the fight to Whoop with a no-frills design – but there is another Fitbit that does more and currently costs less.
The Fitbit Air retails for £84.99 at Argos, the exact same usual price as the Fitbit Inspire 3, which launched in 2022. But the Inspire 3 actually has all the same sensors as the Air, as well as a small colour display – and it’s on sale at Amazon for £68.
The idea of the Air is to wear a plain strap all day that passively collects your health data, such as steps, distance, calories burned and (if you wear it at night) sleep.
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But those who want a simple tracker that can also act as a watch should go for the Inspire 3, whose screen can show the time as well as key fitness stats. It can also be used to start an exercise from the wrist such as a walk, run or cycle – something the Fitbit Air cannot do.
The Inspire 3 even has better battery life than the Air despite having a colour screen and being released four years ago. In my tests, the Inspire 3 successfully reached Google’s promise of 10 days on a full charge, which is great for those who don’t want a fitness tracker they have to charge daily.
Fitbit Inspire 3
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is on sale for less than the Fitbit Air.
Like the Air, the Inspire 3 does not have built-in GPS, but for runners, it can connect to your iPhone or Android phone when running to track your route. This is a big downside as it means users have to bring their mobile out with them for it to track, a heavy gadget for runners.
With the screen, wearers can glance down and check the time, distance or pace, though there isn’t much room on the tiny screen to display much. Fitness fans after a Fitbit with a larger display might prefer the Fitbit Sense 2, which is the top-of-the-line model.
It has a much bigger screen and is currently on sale for £122.05, dramatically less than its £219.99 retail price. The low £68 price for the Inspire 3 is only for the Black tracker with the Lilac Bliss colour band.
For some reason, the all-black version is £84 at the time of writing, while the orange strap model is £82.32 Buyers could also opt for the Fitbit Charge 6, a slim tracker that adds built-in GPS, which is currently on sale for £79.99.
I reviewed the Fitbit Air when it came out to see what all the hype was about. At £84.99, it’s a good deal, but I still believe the Inspire 3 is a better buy because it offers everything the Air does, plus a screen.
Best of all, either tracker can be used without a subscription, although the optional Google Health Premium service (£7.99 per month) unlocks some features, including an AI Coach to help improve fitness, sleep and more. It’s not clear how long the £68 special price for the Fitbit Inspire 3 will last, as Amazon’s prices tend to change regularly.