Are you relying on your Fitbit to track your calorie burn accurately? If so, you may be curious to know how precise these popular fitness trackers are when measuring calories burned.
So, how accurate are Fitbit devices when measuring calories burned?
The answer lies in the advanced technology embedded within these fitness trackers. Fitbit devices utilize a combination of sensors and algorithms to estimate the calories burned based on factors like heart rate, movement patterns, and personal data.
We’ll explore the performance of Fitbit models such as Inspire, Inspire 2, HR, Versa 2, 3, Lite, Blaze, and Ionic, discussing their strengths and limitations when measuring calories burned. To delve deeper into the accuracy of Fitbit’s calorie tracking, we invite you to read further.
Let’s find that out!
What is Fitbit?
We are increasingly inclined towards improving our health and environment as a human race. A company that focuses on such a mission is Fitbit. They have introduced a series of fitness smartwatches, bands, and other accessories to keep track of your weight, heart rate, steps, and so much more.
It can take records of your daily activity- walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling. When you wear the Fitbit gear, you can watch your fitness progress on the Fitbit app through your mobile phone and even manually log the activity.
The Fitbit Charge line has a touchscreen, mobile notifications, ECG tracker, EDA scan for stress management, automatic exercise detection, information tracking, built-in GPS, and water-proof features. These attributes make this line the most expensive and advanced Fitbit gear.
On the other hand, the Fitbit Inspire line comes with a heart rate detector, sleep tracker, and notifications for calls and texts from your mobile phone. As you can see, the Charge has more features than Inspire.
Next, let’s get to know the Fitbit Ace wristband. This device can track children’s sleep, steps, and other physical activities. Your child can wear it in the shower but not the pool, as it is only splash-proof. Furthermore, when connected to a mobile phone, this band can receive notifications, texts, and calls.
Also, there are Fitbit Versa and Sense. They are equipped with a heart rate tracker, sleep tracker, calories burned, steps taken, stairs climbed, and other activities.
Previously famous but currently discontinued lines are the Fitbit Versa Lite, Blaze, and Ionic. They are as good as the newer models in performance, but the designs are pretty outdated.
The newer lines include better features. Still, Fitbit Ionic came with dust-proof, water-proof, and damage-resistant glass.
How Accurate is Fitbit Charge 2 Calorie Burn?
It has been found that the Fitbit Charge 2 underestimated the calorie burn measurement by 4% while running. Practically, that is nothing.
Fitbit Charge 2
However, the overestimation was around 50% during walking. Therefore, the accuracy of the measurement differs based on the activity.
You can improve the accuracy of the calorie burn by re-adjusting the data you have input for your BMR. Go to the Fitbit app on your mobile phone and re-check the details, like your height, weight, gender, etc.
Did you know that even when you are sleeping, sitting down, and breathing, you are burning calories? That’s why the readings are high during walking, even though you do minimum work.
How Accurate is Fitbit Inspire HR Calorie Burn?
The calorie calculator works similarly in Fitbit Inspire HR, just like Charge 2. There have been issues with the device showing high-calorie burn even though little movement was made.
Fitbit Inspire HR
Just like with Charge 2, the calorie burn tracker on the HR records the ‘silent’ calories burned during sleep, resting, breathing, and doing nothing. It’s just how your body works.
How Accurate is Fitbit Inspire 2 Calories Burned?
Fitbit Inspire 2 provides a reasonably accurate estimate of calories burned during physical activities. The device utilizes a combination of sensors, including an accelerometer, heart rate monitor, and advanced algorithms to calculate calorie expenditure.
Fitbit Inspire 2
While no fitness tracker can provide 100% accuracy, Fitbit Inspire 2 is designed to estimate calories burned based on your activity level, heart rate, and other personal data. Entering the actual data of your weight, height, gender, and date of birth while setting up your Fitbit Inspire 2 is recommended. These data highly affect the accuracy of the device.
Keep in mind that individual variations and factors such as body composition and metabolism can affect the accuracy of any calorie-tracking device.
How Accurate is Fitbit Versa 2 and 3 Calorie Burn?
Usually, Fitbit Versa 2 and Versa 3 display highly accurate numbers regarding calorie burn. Versa is more upgraded than Inspire regarding several app uses, including Spotify, Alexa, and Google Assistant.
Fitbit Versa 2
Fitbit Versa 3
Their tracking abilities regarding calorie burn, heart rate, sleep, and other physical movements are almost identical. Hence, the device may display an extra 27% calorie burn.
This error is mainly due to the gadget resetting at midnight. So, when you wake up, the device shows an estimate of the possible calorie burn for the day. Additionally, remember that you burn calories even when you sleep.
If you want to buy as a whole pack, click the followings;
- Track Your Fitness Journey with Fitbit Versa 2. The bundle included; Small & Large Watch Bands, Charger Dock Smart Watch Charging Stand and 3.3-foot Charge Cable, PremGear Wall Adapter, 2 PremGear Screen Protectors & PremGear Quality Cleaning Cloth.
- Experience the ultimate fitness companion: Fitbit Versa 3 – built-in GPS, Alexa, heart rate monitoring, and a bundle of essential accessories. The bundle included Small & Large Watch Bands, Charger Dock Smart Watch Charging Stand, PremGear Wall Adapter, 2 PremGear Screen Protectors & PremGear Quality Cleaning Cloth.
How Accurate is Fitbit Versa Lite, Blaze, and Ionic Calorie Burn?
It appears that most Fitbit gadgets tend to show a higher number when it comes to calorie burn, even Lite, Blaze, and Ionic. The first reason is the amount of calories you are burning while you are on rest. The other is because of this simple formula.
Total Daily Energy Expenditure= Fitbit caloric value - BMR)*0.75 + BMR
Fitbit devices use this formula to calculate your total daily energy expenditure or your total calorie burn.
How Fitbit Calculates Calories Burned?
The brand uses an accelerometer to calculate the steps, exercises, jumps, and other movements you make throughout the day. The movements are translated into a digital estimation after the device configures an algorithm to search for any sign of motion.
Then the device compares your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) with all the daily activities to estimate the calories you have burned. Additionally, the 3-axis accelerometer can determine your steps’ frequency, intensity, patterns, and duration.
To calculate the distance traveled, the gadget measures the individual’s stride length according to height and gender. With the Fitbit Charge, the GPS feature helps track the step count automatically.
The device can also calculate the number of floors climbed with an altimeter sensor and barometric pressure. One floor is recorded as 10 feet or 3 meters. So, all of these are put together to find an accurate measurement of your calories burned.
Which Fitbit Model is Better?
Every model is different from the others, with a few common attributes. Look at the table below to compare the most popular Fitbit series.
| Feature | Inspire 2 | Charge 4 | Versa 2 | Versa 3 | Sense |
| Appearance |   |   |   |   |   |
| Water resistance | 50 m | 50 m | 50 m | 50 m | 50 m |
| Heart rate tracker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Distance and steps tracker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Stress tracker | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Skin temperature sensor | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| App, text, and call notifications | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Built-in GPS | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Fitbit Pay | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Active zone minutes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life | 10 days | 7 days | 6 days | 6 days | 6 days |
| Spotify | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Alexa built-in | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Google assistant | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| 100+ apps | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
To Sum Up
There you go. Now you know why the Fitbit device overestimates calorie count even though you haven’t done heavy workouts. Regardless of novel features in recent years, most Fitbit gadgets are of premium quality with satisfactory performance.
At the end of the day, you decide to choose your favorite Fitbit. But if you want my opinion, Fitbit Sense is my number one recommendation because of its stress tracker, multiple app usability, and skin temperature sensor.
But as you know, higher performance requires higher battery usage. That’s why Sense has a lower battery life than Inspire and Change.
Anyway, I’m glad I could explain the calorie burn accuracy issue to all of you. Enjoy counting steps!
