Fitbit unveiled at CES what it called “its smartest, most stylish, most motivating fitness tracker yet,” the Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch.
Primarily a sophisticated fitness tracker, the Blaze also incorporates smart watch features such as phone control, call, text and calendar alerts, music library controls, a full-color touchscreen — a Fitbit first — and interchanging watch faces.
The Blaze adds enhanced fitness features including FitStar by Fitbit on-screen workouts, Connected GPS, PurePulse heart rate tracking, and SmartTrack automatic exercise recognition.
A multi-sport mode can be set to record specific activities like biking, cardio, running, weights, yoga and more while providing relevant, real-time performance stats. SmartTrack automatic exercise recognition automatically recognizes and records continuous movement activities like biking, hiking and running, with general categories for aerobic workouts (such as Zumba, cardio-kickboxing and other dance classes) and sports (such as tennis, basketball and soccer).
The Blaze’s design is modular so the tracker can be attached to a wide variety of Fitbit bands, including high-performance elastomer bands available in black, blue and plum (retailing for $29.95); Luxe genuine leather bands paired with stainless steel display frames available in black, mist grey and camel ($99.95); and a Luxe stainless steel link band paired with a stainless steel display frame available in silver ($129.95).
The Blaze will be available in March, with preorders being taken now, for $199.95, at fitbit.com and starting tomorrow at select retailers.
Consumers who want to experience Fitbit Blaze in person will be able to do so in advance of in-store retail availability at select Best Buy locations in the United States and Canada, beginning February 20, where Best Buy Blue Shirts will be available to assist shoppers with trying on the device with its accessories and to complete a preorder.
