The fitness tracker I tell most people about is on sale for $60 off

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Smartwatches need to be charged at least every other day, and millions don’t want another device full of third-party apps and constant distractions on their wrist. The Fitbit Charge 6 offers a powerful wearable in a sleek form factor with battery life that only needs to be topped up once a week.

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Now that Google owns Fitbit, I see more Google integration on Fitbit devices. The Charge 6 includes support for Google Music playback controls, Google Maps prompts on the tracker, and support for Google Wallet payments. These features come in addition to the useful Fitbit features, including detailed sleep tracking, EDA scans, Daily Readiness score, ECG measurements, step tracking, and an integrated GPS receiver for detailed outdoor tracking.

I urge you to buy this fitness tracker now, because at Best Buy, the Fitbit Charge 6 retails for $100, its lowest price yet.

Looking at the hardware, Fitbit offers a beautiful 26 x 21.8mm AMOLED color display. It’s made with Corning Gorilla Glass, which looks fantastic and responds flawlessly to swipes and taps. The aluminum casing surrounds the screen and extends to the heart rate sensor on the back, with nice curves and an attractive appearance. The tracker is water resistant up to 50 meters, so you can wear it 24/7 without any worries.

The heart rate sensor on the back has been greatly improved. Fitbit claims it is 60% more accurate during vigorous activities than older Fitbit devices. The sensor also supports ECG and EDA measurements to help detect heart rate irregularities and monitor stress.

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The Fitbit Charge 6 also supports sharing your heart rate readings with select supported fitness equipment, including treadmills, rowing machines, and bikes. Check this out Fitbit support site to see if this functionality supports your equipment. Although the Fitbit Charge 6 isn’t on the official list, I tested it with my Hydrow rowing machine, which connected in seconds. With improved accuracy during activities and a lot of movement, this is a great option if you don’t have an HR chest strap.

There’s a haptic button on the left side of the Charge 6. On this model, there’s a designated target area to help you improve accuracy when hitting it, and it’s better than the buttonless design we saw on the Charge 5. I’m still more of a fan of a physical button, but I understand that it’s preferable to use a haptic button due to construction and water resistance.

The Fitbit Charge 6 has an infinity silicone band, but there are plenty of other options including sport bands, Horween leather bands, woven bands, Velcro bands and vegan leather bands, ranging from $30 to $50. Bands from the Charge 5 will continue to work on the Charge 6, so if you’re looking to upgrade after a few years, the Charge 6 is worth considering.

The software on the watch is easy to navigate, with swipes and taps providing access to important data and tools. Google Maps works in conjunction with the app on your connected phone, so turns and other important information are displayed on the Charge 6 while your phone remains in your backpack. YouTube Music play controls are supported for YouTube Premium subscribers, so you can put your phone away while exercising and still keep control of your music.

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Google Wallet supports payments directly from your wrist, but entering the PIN by scrolling up and down one digit at a time is a bit tricky. Some work is needed to make this easier, otherwise I will never use Google Wallet on the device.

Unlike a smartwatch and some previous Fitbit devices, the Charge 6 doesn’t have any third-party apps available. However, there are key Google, Fitbit and Basic Clock tools present on the watch and in the Fitbit app, allowing you to manage whether or not the apps appear on the Charge 6 as you navigate the tracker. You can also customize almost 30 watch faces.

The Charge 6 has an integrated GPS receiver, so you can run, walk and exercise outside without your phone. I tried this out for running and walking with an Apple Watch Ultra 2 on my other wrist and was very pleased with the accuracy of the GPS on the Charge 6. The Charge 6 supports GPS and GLONASS, while other watches typically support at least five global navigation satellite systems. As a result, it may not be as accurate as dedicated GPS sports watches in challenging environments.

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Google is offering six months of free Fitbit Premium service with a Charge 6 purchase. Fitbit Premium is required for the Daily Readiness Score and other advanced features in the Fitbit application.

Compared to the Charge 5, I’m very happy to see the return of the climbed metric, improved heart rate sensor performance, haptic side button and Google goodies (Wallet, Maps and YouTube Music). The Charge 6 is also $20 less than the launch price of the Charge 5. The Fitbit Charge 6 is much better for sleeping than my larger smartwatches. Using the Charge 6 makes me think about whether I need to have a full-size watch on my wrist at all times.

Buying advice from ZDNET

While smartwatches are popular and often heavily promoted, having another device on your body that needs your attention may not be the best thing for you and your mental health.

Google offers the Fitbit Charge 6 as a device that comfortably captures important health and wellness data while minimizing the distraction of third-party apps and constant notifications. Sleeping with it on your wrist is very comfortable and the data recorded can be used to improve your health and lifestyle.