Google has unveiled its latest Fitbit model, widely used to track heart health and sleep quality. Now the tech giant is adding the capability to analyze a user's mental health.
Five things to know:
- The $180 Fitbit — known as Fitbit Charge 5 — comes with a six-month premium subscription, giving users deeper insights and actionable guidance for health and fitness, according to an Aug. 25 news release.
- The model includes an electrodermal activity sensor, which measures the user's body responses to stress through small changes in the sweat glands of their fingers. Google first launched EDA sensors last fall with Fitbit Sense and found that 70 percent of users reduced their heart rate during a two-minute EDA scan session.
- Fitbit Charge 5 gives users a stress management score in the Fitbit app so that users can "see each morning if [they're] mentally ready to take on more challenges, or if [they] need to recharge," according to the news release.
- Charge 5 will also continuously track users' heart rates and notify users when their heart rates are above or below normal ranges.
- The Fitbit app will have a health metrics dashboard that displays health information such as breathing rate and skin temperature. Users will also receive sleep tracking notifications.