iFit Vue vs Fitbit Charge 2

iFit Vue vs Fitbit Charge 2: Which Should You Choose?

Fitness trackers are big right now because more and more people are joining the fitness craze and are making a conscious effort to take better care of their health. These fitness bands help them know for sure if they are getting enough exercise and enough sleep. These devices also motivate them to be more active.

Two fitness trackers available are the iFit Vue and the Fitbit Charge 2. While the latter is from Fitbit, a leader when it comes to fitness trackers, iFit Vue is proof that there are worthy competitors out there.

However, how does one compare with the other?

Bottom Line Up Front: If you need heart rate monitoring, iPhone alerts, and guided breathing sessions, go with the Fitbit Charge 2.

First Up: iFit Vue

ifit vue fitness tracker

iFit is a relatively new player in the fitness tracker space, having been founded only in 2013. One of its flagship fitness trackers is the iFit Vue.

Features of the iFit Vue

OLED touch screen

An OLED screen allows for a thinner profile and delivers better-quality displays. With better contrasts and wider viewing angles, the screen makes it easy for you to see the stats or information displayed, even under direct sunlight.

Snug fit

The tracker pod is inserted into the band and you can fasten it onto your wrist by pressing the locking pegs into the correct adjustment holes. iFit recommends that you wear the band a little loose to get accurate readings. You can also put the tracker pod inside your pocket if you do not want to wear the band.

Calorie log

The tracker pod allows you to input calories in increments of 50. You can also check the number of calories that you have entered so far.

Activities tracker

iFit Vue automatically detects what type of activity you are engaged in. For instance, it knows when you are walking, briskly running, or sleeping.

With this feature, the iFit Vue can accurately track your movements. You can also add a workout manually, where in the tracker pod will log your average speed per minute. The information gathered during workout mode will be shown in the workout section of the iFit app.

Inactivity reminder

When you have been idle or inactive for a long time, the iFit Vue will vibrate to remind you to move. You can set it to monitor inactivity between 1 to 59 minutes. You can also deactivate this feature.

Long battery life

The iFit Vue can last anywhere from five to seven days on a single charge. However, you really do not have to wonder if there is still enough charge left because you can check the battery level on the iFit Vue tracker itself. The pod will also vibrate when the charge goes down to 20% and then to 10%, the display will show a low battery warning.

Heart rate monitor connectivity

While the iFit Vue does not track your heart rate on its own, you can connect it to a third-party heart rate monitor via Bluetooth to see heart rate information on the tracker pod display.

What is in the box:

  • iFit Vue Tracker Pod
  • iFit Vue band
  • Charger

What could be better

The use of a one-button display optimizes the small space of the tracker pod. It also keeps the design visually simple.

However, there can be some difficulty when it comes to cycling through the various screens. For instance, to see the battery level, you need to repeatedly press on the tracker screen until the date and time display appears, and from there, you have to double-tap the button quickly to see the battery level display.

Overall, there are several gestures you could use with the display: touch, double touch, and touch for 3, 5, or 10 seconds. In short, learning how to navigate through your iFit Vue would take time.

Fortunately, the iFit Coach app has an easy-to-master interface that lets you see activity, exercise, and calorie intake information all on one screen. It can also show you your own set goals for each metric, as well as give you a comprehensive and holistic fitness plan that is customized for you.

You get new workouts daily, including video workouts to make them easier for you to learn or follow. You also get nutritious and delicious recipes, as well as additional insights into your activities and sleep. You will, however, need to pay $9 a month for all these extras.

Charging the iFit Vue might be a bit of a hassle. You have to take out the tracker pod and then insert it into the charger, making sure that the contacts on the pod align with those found on the charger.

Then you would need to plug it into your computer and wait four to eight hours to fully charge your tracking pod. However, if you are in a hurry, you can plug it into a direct wall adapter or a USB car charger, both of which are not included in the box.

The iFit Vue needs a heart rate monitor in order to show your heart rate information.

Final Recommendations on the iFit Vue

ifit vue watch

When it comes to keeping track of your activity and your sleep, as well as logging your calories, the iFit Vue does a good job. However, viewing your information on the tracker pod itself can be complicated. It does have a mobile app you can download for free and that can show you the information you want to view, but you need to pay a monthly fee to unlock its full features.

The iFit Vue is made out of durable materials and it has a design that is similar to most fitness bands out there. It is guaranteed to last for a long time unless you lose the tracking pod, which is very likely when you opt to put the pod in your pocket instead of wearing it on your wrist.

It would have been better if iFit included some sort of latch or if there were other ways to wear it, like as a pendant, in the event that you cannot wear it on your wrist.

iFit Vue is available for $129.99 and you would need to pay an additional $9 per month to get the full benefits of using the mobile app. The iFit Vue is available in seven two-tone color combinations: asphalt, plum, knockout, Biscay, tangy, lime, and sangria.

Fitbit Charge 2

fitbit charge

Fitbit Charge 2 is another wristband-type fitness tracker like the iFit Vue. It is made of an elastomer material and stainless steel. It features a touch screen OLED display that allows you to see more information on a single screen.

For instance, you can see the time, your heart rate, and the number of steps you have made in one screen by default. What makes it better than the iFit Vue’s one-button screen is the presence of side buttons that allow you to cycle through different screens to see the information you want to see.

Like the iFit Vue, the Charge 2 can keep track of your activities and your sleep. Yet unlike the iFit Vue, it can track your heart rate without the need to use third-party heart rate monitors. You also get reminders to move when you have been inactive for some time. You can use the Fitbit Charge 2 as a clock, a stopwatch, and a pedometer, too.

Moreover, you can get an estimate of the number of calories that you have burned with your exercises, as well as of the distance you have traveled.

The FitBit Charge 2 can automatically detect what kind of workout you are doing. This way, it can present statistics according to specific exercises. It also tells you about your heart rate and how many minutes your heart rate was in a certain zone while you were working out.

With the mobile app, you can log the food that you ate so that it would be easier for you to input your calorie intake. Plus, you can monitor your hydration. On top of these, the Fitbit Charge 2 has guided breathing sessions that help you relax more.

Fitbit Charge 2 also has a number of smart features. For instance, it will connect to your smartphone, check your calendar, and give you alerts when any scheduled event, like a meeting or a date, comes up. It will also notify you when you receive a call or an SMS message.

What is in the box:

  • Fitbit Charge 2 tracker
  • Charge 2 classic wristband
  • Charging cable

iFit Vue vs Fitbit Charge 2: Which one is better?

iFit Vue vs Fitbit Charge 2

When it comes to the activity tracking features that both iFit Vue and Fitbit Charge 2 offer, these two devices are pretty much neck-and-neck.

Both allow you to track your activities, log your calorie intake, and monitor the length and quality of your sleep. However, Fitbit Charge 2 also monitors your heart rate, giving you a more holistic picture of your exercise, health, and fitness. You can do that with iFit Vue, but you would need to buy a compatible Bluetooth heart rate monitor.

  iFit Vue Fitbit Charge 2
Price For the latest prices and discounts, check here! For the latest prices and discounts, check here!
Colors available 7 6
Log your calories YES YES
Monitor sleep YES YES
Sleep quality YES YES
Clock YES YES
Monitors distance & steps taken YES YES
Detects what kin YES YES
Automatically detects what your workout is YES YES
Monitors your heart rate NO* YES
Reminds you to start moving YES YES
Calendar Alerts NO YES
Call & Text Notifications Android only YES
Guided Breathing Sessions         NO YES

* If you have Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitors, you can pair it with the iFit Vue to get heart rate readings on the tracker.

Both the iFit Vue and Fitbit Charge 2 can tell you when somebody is calling or when you receive a text message. But you don’t get scheduled reminders on iFit Vue.

What sets these two fitness trackers apart is the mobile app. Fitbit Charge 2 uses the same mobile apps as all the other Fitbit trackers and you can expect to easily view the information you need as well as get more insights and tips, such as how to improve your fitness or how to get more sleep.

iFit Vue’s mobile app is more of a marketing and upselling app than a companion app. You can see your tracked data on the app, but the really useful features are behind a $9 subscription fee.

In short, Fitbit offers you a better mobile app that really extends the functionality and features of its trackers, while Vue wants you to rely more on the tracking pod’s display and views the mobile app as a way to sell more services.

There is also the ease of use. iFit tried to make its Vue tracker quite independent. The aim is for you not to rely too much on your smartphone when checking on your exercise information.

Unfortunately, with the tracking pod’s single-button design, navigating your way through the various menus can be confusing. At the very least, it would take you several taps, double taps, and long presses to find the information you need.  Fitbit, on the other hand, made everything simpler.

With the side button, you can cycle through the different menus and find the information you are looking for. Even charging the Vue is a little bit more complicated because you have to take the tracking pod out of the band, insert it into the USB charger, then connect it to a USB port on your computer.

With the Fitbit Charge 2, you only have to plug the charger into your computer’s USB port and then clip the charging end onto your Fitbit. It takes only one to two hours to fully charge the Fitbit Charge, while the Vue takes up to 8 hours.

iFit Vue is cheaper and comes with seven color options, while Fitbit Charge 2 is more expensive. More specifically, expect to spend at least $20 more for a Fitbit Charge 2. Fitbit Charge 2 also has fewer color options, with six color styles to choose from.

Final Word

Ultimately, if you are looking for a cheaper fitness tracker that allows you to monitor your sleep, activities, and calories without your smartphone, then get the iFit Vue.

However, the Fitbit Charge 2 can do more and can give you deeper insights on how to be healthier, how to sleep better, and even how your heart is doing. It also has more smart features as well as a better mobile app with features that you can get for free.

Lastly, it comes from a company that has consistently dominated the fitness tracking space. In short, if money isn’t the primary concern, go with the Charge 2 here as it’s the more robust device.