Fitbit Inspire 3 review

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There’s a saying that good things come in small packages, and that certainly holds true for the Fitbit Inspire 3 — an affordable fitness tracker featuring a vibrant color AMOLED screen and impressive battery life.

In a market dominated by large smartwatch screens and rising living costs, this budget-friendly tracker is ideal for those taking their first steps into fitness without needing a flashy gadget or spending a fortune.

Whether the Inspire 3 is the best Fitbit for you depends on your specific needs from a wrist-worn tracker. It covers the basics effectively despite its small size and can last over a week on a single charge.

While it may not have as many features as some of the top fitness trackers, the Inspire 3 excels at essentials like sleep tracking, workout logging, and offering sleep insights. If you’re seeking a budget-conscious choice, the Inspire 3 could be just what you need.

FITBIT INSPIRE 3 REVIEW: PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The Fitbit Inspire 3 debuted in September 2022, priced at $99.95. While many Fitbit devices saw price reductions in late 2023, the Inspire 3 still retails at its original launch price, though it’s often available for around $75 during sales at various retailers.

The tracker itself is only available in black, but you can personalize its look with interchangeable bands in black, lilac, or morning glow. Buyers also have the option of choosing between a Small or Large wristband when purchasing the Inspire 3.

For added convenience, there’s an exercise clip available, allowing you to attach the tracker to your clothes or sports bra. Feature-wise, it covers all the Fitbit basics, such as step counting, sleep tracking, workout recording, and a heart rate monitor.

As the most streamlined tracker in Fitbit’s lineup, it offers similar features to the fashion-forward Fitbit Luxe. However, if you can do without the advanced health monitoring sensors of the Charge 6, the Inspire 3 presents an affordable alternative.

FITBIT INSPIRE 3 REVIEW: DESIGN

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The Fitbit Inspire 3 closely resembles its predecessor, the Inspire 2, in both size and design, featuring the same compact build and rounded edges. It sits neatly on the wrist, especially when compared to larger devices like the Apple Watch Series 9.

Weighing next to nothing, the Inspire 3 is comfortable to wear for hours on end, which is convenient given its impressive 10-day battery life. However, the most significant upgrade from the Inspire 2 is the vibrant, clear, color AMOLED display.

I particularly appreciated how the screen’s colorway matched the lilac wristband, and found it both bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight. Much like the Charge 6, the enhanced brightness of the screen gives the Inspire 3 a more premium feel, which is impressive considering its sub-$100 price point.

Similar to the Inspire 2, the Inspire 3 features two haptic buttons on its sides, which help keep the tracker lightweight and navigation simple. Naturally, the screen is quite small, especially when compared to devices like the new Apple Watch Ultra or Galaxy Watch 5.

That said, this tracker isn’t really designed for extensive text reading or messaging. I found that text notifications would scroll endlessly on the small screen, so I eventually turned off smart notifications altogether.

FITBIT INSPIRE 3 REVIEW: FITNESS TRACKING

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The Fitbit Inspire 3 offers an impressive array of features for under $100, including heart rate monitoring, step counting, calorie tracking, Active Zone Minutes, stress levels, SpO2, and sleep tracking. You can customize the device with six workout shortcuts from over 41 exercise options, such as running, walking, kickboxing, Pilates, tennis, and golf.

During workouts, the Inspire 3 allows you to scroll through data on the display for live feedback, though this can be tricky due to the small screen size. Personally, I found it easier to start the activity and then clip the tracker to my sports bra, reviewing the data later in the app.

While the Inspire 3 is great for casual workouts, it’s not the best choice for intense training, like marathon preparation. The touchscreen struggles to respond to sweaty hands, and without built-in GPS, it’s not designed for high-level endurance training.

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I used the Fitbit Inspire 3 for a 30-minute Peloton ride alongside my Apple Watch 7 and found the heart rate data remarkably consistent between the two. Both devices recorded an average heart rate of 142 beats per minute, with the Apple Watch reading my maximum heart rate at 168 bpm, and the Fitbit at 163 bpm. I wish I had also worn a chest strap for a more detailed comparison, but the similarity in readings is impressive, especially considering the Inspire 3 costs a fraction of the price of the Apple Watch.

The Inspire 3 also includes useful features like move reminders to help prevent long periods of sitting, and weekly exercise goals that encourage you to stay active five days a week. Additionally, it automatically recognizes common exercises like walking, running, cycling, spinning, elliptical, and rowing, all of which count towards your weekly goal.

FITBIT INSPIRE 3 REVIEW: FEATURES

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Although they are called fitness trackers, Fitbit’s devices also include sleep tracking, which I tested over the course of a week. I found that the Fitbit Inspire 3 accurately tracked when I fell asleep (not counting the 30 minutes I spent scrolling through Instagram) and when I woke up during the night.

One downside, however, is that Fitbit locks some of the most detailed sleep insights behind a paywall. While free Fitbit members can track their total time asleep, Fitbit Premium offers subscribers a more in-depth analysis, including a nightly sleep score, for $9.99 per month.

This overall sleep score is based on factors like your heart rate, the time you spend awake or restless, and your sleep stages throughout the night. Premium members also gain access to guided programs designed to help improve sleep quality and establish a better bedtime routine.

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Although they are called fitness trackers, Fitbit’s devices also include sleep tracking, which I tested over the course of a week. I found that the Fitbit Inspire 3 accurately tracked when I fell asleep (not counting the 30 minutes I spent scrolling through Instagram) and when I woke up during the night.

However, if you’re after an affordable tracker, you might not want to spend an extra $10 each month to view your data. I feel that once you buy a device, you should be able to view all the stats, like you can with the best Garmin watches and Apple Watches.

One downside, however, is that Fitbit locks some of the most detailed sleep insights behind a paywall. While free Fitbit members can track their total time asleep, Fitbit Premium offers subscribers a more in-depth analysis, including a nightly sleep score, for $9.99 per month. This overall sleep score is based on factors like your heart rate, the time you spend awake or restless, and your sleep stages throughout the night. Premium members also gain access to guided programs designed to help improve sleep quality and establish a better bedtime routine.

Like several of Fitbit’s latest devices, the Inspire 3 can also help track your menstrual cycle. I find it useful to see at a glance while exercising, as there will be certain times when my running performance will change. I found it worked well, and I appreciated the clear reminders on the tracker’s display.

FITBIT INSPIRE 3 REVIEW: BATTERY LIFE

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Fitbit claims you should get 10 days of battery life from the Inspire 3 between charges. I was curious if this would hold up with the color display, and it did pretty well. With the always-on setting enabled, doing at least one workout a day for a week, I ended up with the tracker at 10% by the end.

That’s pretty impressive, especially considering that I had to charge my Apple Watch 7 every night during that time. Admittedly, this might not be a completely fair comparison — the Inspire 3 doesn’t have built-in GPS, so tracking activities don’t drain the battery as much as on the Apple Watch 7.

Turning off the always-on display might have extended the battery life even further, but it’s still impressive as it is. The Inspire 3 also charged back up from 10% to fully charged in just under two hours.

SHOULD YOU BUY THE FITBIT INSPIRE 3?

The Fitbit Inspire 3 is an excellent, affordable fitness tracker for anyone taking their first steps into fitness or looking to gain a better understanding of their overall health using features like sleep and heart rate monitoring.

Compared to its predecessor, the Inspire 2, the new color display elevates the Inspire 3 from a good tracker to a great one, especially for the price. It’s hard to find a more comprehensive and accessible tracker for under $100.

If you’re looking for a tracker with more advanced features, like GPS, an ECG monitor, and advanced stress-tracking tools, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a solid alternative, though it comes at a higher price. But if you’re satisfied with the essentials, the Inspire 3 is an excellent choice.

Source: Tom’s Guide