Fitbit Flex 2: Sleep Tracking And More

The Fitbit Flex 2 is an upgrade to the original Fitbit Flex, with a 30% smaller tracker, a slimmer and water-resistant band, and the ability to automatically track specific types of exercise. While the device lacks a screen, it can be synced with a smartphone to access a wealth of health and activity data. In addition to tracking steps, distance, calories, and minutes exercised, the Fitbit Flex 2 can also monitor sleep, providing a Time Asleep duration that deducts the time spent restless or awake, giving a better indication of sleep quality.

Fitbit Flex 2's sleep tracking capabilities

The Fitbit Flex 2 is a slim and discreet fitness tracker that can monitor your sleep. It automatically tracks your sleep and provides a "Time Asleep" duration, which calculates the time you spent actually asleep by deducting the time you spent restless or awake. This gives you a better indication of your sleep quality.

The Flex 2 can be worn on the wrist or clipped into a pendant, but Fitbit notes that wearing it as a pendant may result in inaccurate activity and sleep tracking. The device is water-resistant, so you can wear it to track your sleep even if you tend to sweat a lot or if you want to shower without taking it off.

The Flex 2's sleep tracking capabilities are comparable to those of other wearable devices. It provides weekly, monthly, and annual data readouts, allowing you to monitor your sleep patterns over time. The data is accessible through the Fitbit app or the online Fitbit Dashboard.

In addition to sleep tracking, the Flex 2 can also track steps, distance travelled, calories burned, active minutes, weight, diet, fertility, menstruation, water intake, and various types of exercises. It offers a range of customizable accessories, allowing you to personalize its appearance.

Fitbit Flex 2's limitations when worn as a pendant

The Fitbit Flex 2 is a slim, swim-proof fitness wristband that can be worn in a variety of ways thanks to its customisable accessories. One of the options is to wear it as a pendant, which gives it the appearance of a piece of jewellery. However, wearing the Fitbit Flex 2 as a pendant does come with some limitations.

Firstly, you will lose the sleep-tracking functionality. The Fitbit Flex 2 is designed to track sleep by being worn on the wrist, so when it is worn as a pendant, it cannot accurately monitor your sleep patterns. This is a significant drawback for those who are looking for a fitness tracker that can provide a comprehensive overview of their daily activities, including sleep.

Secondly, the SmartTrack functionality, which automatically recognises and records specific types of exercises such as walking, running, cycling, and swimming, may not work accurately when the device is worn as a pendant. The SmartTrack feature relies on specific movement patterns that are more likely to be detected when the device is worn on the wrist.

Additionally, the screenless design of the Fitbit Flex 2, which relies on illuminated dots to convey information, may be less convenient when worn as a pendant. The dots may be more challenging to see and interpret when the device is hanging at chest level rather than on the wrist, where it is more naturally within the line of sight.

Furthermore, some users have reported issues with the clasp security of the pendant accessory. There are reports of the clasp opening unintentionally, leading to the Fitbit falling out and potentially getting lost. This could be a significant concern, especially when engaging in activities that involve a lot of movement or when wearing the pendant in unsecured environments.

While the Fitbit Flex 2 pendant accessory offers a stylish and discreet way to wear the device, these limitations should be carefully considered before opting for this method of wear.

Fitbit Flex 2's automatic exercise recognition

The Fitbit Flex 2 is a solid upgrade from the original Flex wristband, with some notable differences. One of the most significant improvements is its ability to automatically recognise and track specific types of exercises.

The Flex 2 includes automatic exercise recognition through Fitbit's SmartTrack™ technology. This feature allows the device to automatically detect and record various exercises such as long-duration walks, running, and cycling. It also includes swim tracking, although this feature is disabled by default to conserve battery life and needs to be manually enabled through the app. Once activated, the swim tracking feature can accurately count laps by setting the pool length.

The automatic exercise recognition in the Flex 2 provides a seamless experience, allowing users to focus on their workouts without worrying about manually starting and stopping the tracking. This feature, combined with its slim and water-resistant design, makes the Flex 2 a discreet and comfortable companion for various activities and exercises.

While the Flex 2 offers automatic exercise recognition, it is important to note that it does not have a built-in screen like some other fitness trackers. Instead, it relies on illuminated dots to display alerts and daily progress. Despite this, the Flex 2 provides essential functions for basic fitness tracking, including step counting, calorie tracking, and tallying active minutes throughout the day.

In conclusion, the Fitbit Flex 2's automatic exercise recognition is a valuable feature for users seeking a seamless and effortless way to track their workouts and exercises. Its ability to automatically detect and record specific types of activities makes it a convenient tool for those looking for a simple and discreet fitness tracking solution.

Fitbit Flex 2's data management and smartphone app

The Fitbit Flex 2 is a slim, lightweight fitness tracker that can be worn on the wrist or ankle. It automatically tracks steps, calories burned, active minutes, and specific types of exercise, such as swimming. It also tracks sleep, providing a "Time Asleep" duration that deducts the time spent restless or awake to give a better indication of sleep quality. The Flex 2 can be customised with different bands and accessories, including bangles, pendants, and designer collections.

The Flex 2 connects to the Fitbit smartphone app via Bluetooth LE wireless technology, allowing it to sync automatically with computers and over 200 mobile devices. The app provides a comprehensive view of a user's health and fitness journey, tracking stats across health, fitness, and sleep. It includes tools to help users sleep better, stress less, and eat healthier, with features such as sleep duration tracking, bedtime reminders, mindfulness audio sessions, and meal logging. The app also enables users to set and receive notifications for fitness goals and challenges, and to connect with friends and colleagues.

While the Flex 2 itself does not have a screen, the app provides a user-friendly interface for managing and analysing data. Users can monitor their daily steps, miles, calories, and minutes exercised, as well as track their sleep, exercise, and hourly movement. The app sends daily and weekly progress updates and notifications to encourage users to meet their goals. It also allows users to configure certain settings, such as turning on swim tracking and setting the pool length for lap counting accuracy.

The Flex 2's data management capabilities are somewhat limited by the lack of a screen on the device itself. Without a smartphone, users only receive buzz notifications when they reach their daily fitness goals and can set up quiet alarms to remind them to move hourly. Additionally, the phone app has been criticised for making it difficult to track long-term data, although this can be addressed by using the online Fitbit.com Dashboard, which provides easier access to long-term data analysis.

Fitbit Flex 2's battery life

The Fitbit Flex 2 is a solid upgrade over the original model, with a fully waterproof design, colour LEDs, automatic activity tracking, and a variety of ways to wear it. It is also 30% smaller than the original, making it one of the slimmest fitness trackers available.

While the Fitbit Flex 2 offers a range of features, its battery life is not one of its strong suits. Fitbit claims that the device will last up to five days between charges, but some users have reported shorter battery life, especially when receiving frequent notifications. With notifications switched on, the battery is likely to last around four to five days. However, if notifications are turned off altogether, the Flex 2 may last over a week without needing to be recharged.

The charging process for the Fitbit Flex 2 is a bit inconvenient, as it requires removing the Flex 2 module and plugging it into a small dock that attaches to your phone's charger plug. The charging time is also relatively long, taking a few hours to fully charge the device.

Compared to other fitness trackers in the market, the Fitbit Flex 2's battery life may not be as impressive. For example, the Misfit Ray, a competitor to the Flex 2, offers longer battery life with its coin cell batteries that can last up to six months. Additionally, the Garmin Vivofit 4 offers a rechargeable battery that can last up to a year, although it lacks a vibrate function for notifications or alarms.

Overall, while the Fitbit Flex 2 offers a range of features and a slim design, its battery life may be a consideration for potential buyers, especially if they are looking for a device with longer endurance.

Frequently asked questions