Just as I finished up writing my review for the Fitbit Alta, I saw that there was an announcement introducing the Alta HR posted on the Fitbit fanpage. What great news for Fitbit fans!  Fitbit branded the Alta HR as “the slimmest fitness tracker with heart rate monitor”. Sound like a move inthe right direction, doesn’t it?

The Alta HR is somewhere between the original Alta tracker and the Fitbit Charge 2 in terms of features and price. Will it rock the boat or your world? Should you choose the Alta HR or go with the Charge 2 which is equal in price? Check out my review below!

Fitbit Alta HR Release Date

Fitbit first announced the new Alta HR on 6th March, 2017. It was released 1 year after the launch of its predecessor Fitbit Alta (March 2016).
The device was in stock on 26th March on Amazon and Fitbit.com.

Fitbit Alta HR Price

It’s was originally priced at $149.95 – same price as Fitbit Charge 2 and Fitbit Charge HR and $20 more expensive than the old version Fitbit Alta. (Currently, in 2019 it runs under $100.) Why was the Alta is priced equally with the Charge 2 and Charge HR while it offers fewer features? Well, it may have cost more to make this even smaller and more compact heart rate monitor for the Alta, hence the price.

Fitbit Alta HR Design Review

As you may know, Fitbit put fashion first with the Alta, making it the slimmest stylish activity tracker. People love the design of the Alta, that’s why Fitbit didn’t change much in the design of Fitbit Alta HR.

Though integrated the heart rate monitor sensor, Fitbit managed to keep the tracker 15mm in width, making it slimmer 25% than the Fitbit Charge 2. The Flex 2 is even slimmer, at 11mm, but it doesn’t have a screen, making it  inconvenient to view information.

The Fitbit Alta HR band is interchangeable, allowing you to snap into other colors, metal or leather bands as you wish. The good news for those want to upgrade from Alta to Alta HR is that the Alta bands fit the new Alta HR so your strap collection is still of use.

Check out this design review of Fitbit Alta.
The difference between the old Alta and the new one is that the Alta HR uses an original buckle strap. Fitbit has included a clasp for the elastomer strap this time, making it feel more secure and better for more accurate heart rate monitoring.

Fitbit Alta HR Features Review – Pros and Cons

Fitbit Alta HR Features Review – Pros

Heart rate monitor
This is the key feature of the Alta HR. The tracker continually records your heart rate 24/7, letting you know your resting heart rate and showing real-time heart rate during your workout session.

Sleep tracking
Fitbit Alta HR was launched with a new feature that had never been seen in other Fitbit devices. That is “Sleep Stages” which uses the optical heart-rate sensor to show you the amount of time you’ve spent in REM, light sleep or heavy sleep, how often you wake up mid-snooze, so you can monitor how good your night’s sleep has really been. What I find very interesting is that it gives you the sleep trends of other people your same age and gender to offer personalized guidance on how to improve your slumber.

This feature will also be coming to the Charge 2 and Blaze later this spring.

Floors climbed tracking
The great news is Fitbit has added floor climbed tracking to the Alta HR, which was sadly missed in the Alta.
Battery life
Thumb up to the 7-day battery life. Given that it is integrated with a heart rate monitor, the Alta HR lasts even longer than the Alta and Charge 2 (which have the battery life of 5 days).

Fitbit Alta HR Features Review – Cons

Not Waterproof
It seems that Fitbit keeps ignoring this much needed function. So for those wish to use a Fitbit tracker for swimming, your choice comes down to the Flex 2.
No Guided Breathing Sessions
Like other fitness tracker devices of Fitbit, the Alta HR has Smart Track which automatically detects various activities like running and biking. However, it was not integrated the guided breathing sessions which help reduce stress like the Charge 2.
Does Not Have a Timer
For some people who are familiar with the timer offered in the Charge HR, they may feel disappointed to know that there’s no such feature in the Alta HR.  This means you cannot control how long you need to stretch or maintain a run or work out.

Fitbit Alta HR Review Conclusion

I have to agree that the Fitbit Alta HR is actually is the best and slimmest fitness tracker with heart rate monitor available. It’s slender, it’s fashionable and it can assist your work out perfectly by providing the heart rate monitor functions serious athletes depend on. If you already have a Fitbit Alta, don’t hesitate to upgrade.  Remember that the bands are interchangeable too!
If you want a Fitbit that has more functions, then Fitbit Charge 2 is still the number one choice. You can view Fitbit Charge 2 Pros and Cons here
If you are considering between Fitbit Alta HR and the new Garmin vivosmart 3, you can check this post for more information.
Updated price on Amazon is provided for your reference: