10 Dec Fitbit Inspire 2 vs Inspire 3: Which Fitness Tracker Should You Choose?
Hey there fitness fans! Today I’m going to do a deep dive comparison between two of Fitbit’s most popular fitness trackers – the Inspire 2 and the new Inspire 3. Both of these devices pack a lot of features into a slim, sleek design, but there are some key differences between the two models. The Inspire 3 just launched in 2022, so it has some updated specs and new features compared to the Inspire 2 which launched in 2020.
By the end of this showdown, you’ll know exactly which Inspire is best for your needs and budget. Let’s get to it!
Design and Display
When it comes to basic design, the Inspire 2 and Inspire 3 look very similar – both have slim, swim-proof bodies and comfortable removable bands.
However, the Inspire 3 is ever so slightly thinner at 9.6mm compared to the Inspire 2’s 10.4mm depth. We’re talking a difference of less than 1mm here, so unless you whip out a caliper you probably won’t notice.
Both trackers use black & white OLED touchscreen displays, but the Inspire 3’s screen is a bit larger at 1.63” diagonal vs 1.46” on the Inspire 2. That extra real estate makes the Inspire 3 display feel more spacious for glancing at stats and notifications.
The screens have similar resolutions at 167 ppi, so text and images will look sharp on both. I don’t foresee the slightly smaller screen on the Inspire 2 being an issue for most folks.
One display upgrade I appreciate on the Inspire 3 is the addition of an always-on clock face, meaning you can quickly glance to check the time without having to lift your wrist. The Inspire 2 lacks this feature so you need to actively wake up the display.
All in all, the two trackers are evenly matched when it comes to design and displays. The Inspire 3 takes a slight edge with its slimmer body and always-on display.
Winner: Inspire 3
Battery Life
One spec that hasn’t changed between models is the battery life – both the Inspire 2 and Inspire 3 are rated to last up to 10 days on a single charge. Of course, that’s dependent on usage and which features you have enabled.
In my experience, the Inspire 2 can reliably last a full week before needing a recharge, even with all-day activity tracking and sleep monitoring enabled. I can stretch it to 10 days by turning off notifications.
Early reviews suggest the Inspire 3 has similar battery performance. Ten days is quite impressive for a fitness tracker with an OLED display!
This lengthy battery life means you can wear either band 24/7 without constantly worrying about charging. I only need to plug in my Inspire 2 or 3 about once a week or so.
With no differences in expected battery runtime, this round is a draw.
Winner: Tie
Health, Fitness and Sleep Tracking
Now we get to the good stuff – the tracking skills and sensors packed into these two fitness bands!
Both the Inspire 2 and Inspire 3 can continuously track your daily steps, distance, active minutes and calories burned. The trackers also monitor your heart rate 24/7 and your sleep stages (light, deep and REM sleep) at night.
When it comes to exercise, you can start monitored workout sessions for a wide variety of activities like walking, running, biking, swimming and more. Both bands are water resistant up to 50 meters, so they can handle laps in the pool.
One health tracking metric missing on the Inspire 2 is SpO2 levels (blood oxygen saturation). The Inspire 3 has a SpO2 sensor built-in, allowing you to track your nightly oxygen variations. This can potentially identify breathing disturbances during sleep.
So when it comes to the core health, fitness and sleep tracking capabilities, the Inspire 2 and 3 are very evenly matched. The Inspire 3 pulls ahead only with the addition of SpO2 monitoring.
Winner: Inspire 3
Smartwatch Features
In addition to health and fitness tracking, both the Inspire 2 and Inspire 3 function as basic smartwatches thanks to their connection to your smartphone.
You can receive call, text and smartphone app notifications on the wrist to stay in the loop without pulling out your phone. Both bands also support smartphone music controls for skipping tracks and adjusting volume.
One smartwatch feature exclusive to the Inspire 3 is integration with Google Fast Pair and Find My Device for quicker setup with Android phones. This streamlines the pairing process when you first connect your Inspire 3.
Another handy upgrade with the Inspire 3 is support for smartphone voice assistants. You can now tap and hold the side button to issue voice commands to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa through your paired phone.
With the addition of quick setup, voice assistant access and Find My Device, the Inspire 3 takes the lead for smartwatch capabilities.
Winner: Inspire 3
Activity Goals and Motivation
A major highlight of Fitbit’s fitness trackers is their excellent activity tracking software and motivation features. This really sets them apart from competitors.
The Fitbit app lets you view your health metrics in detail and log food to track calories and nutrients. Both the Inspire 2 and 3 integrate fully with the app.
You can also compete against friends and family on the Leaderboard to see who can rack up the most daily steps. Fitbit’s activity point system called “Active Zone Minutes” measures the time you spend in elevated heart rate zones to push you to increase intensity.
Both trackers help motivate you to move more and exercise through goal-setting and on-screen celebrations when you hit your targets. They offer friendly reminders to get up and walk if you’ve been inactive too long.
Since the software features are identical, the Inspire 2 and Inspire 3 are evenly matched for motivation tools and activity goal setting. No clear winner here!
Winner: Tie
Premium Subscription Perks
One other area where the two trackers deliver an identical experience is access to Fitbit Premium, a paid subscription service.
With Fitbit Premium, you unlock guided workout programs, advanced sleep analytics, mindfulness tools, customized insights and health coaching resources.
A Premium subscription isn’t required to use an Inspire tracker, but it does add more actionable guidance to improve your activity, sleep and stress management.
The Inspire 2 and Inspire 3 both give you a free 6-month trial of Premium to try it out. Since the subscription features are the same between both bands, this category is a stalemate.
Winner: Tie
Customization and Apps
Let’s chat about customization options and apps! The Inspire 2 and Inspire 3 offer similar abilities to personalize your tracker.
In the Fitbit app, you can choose from a variety of different colored watch faces to match your style. Both bands have easy band release buttons for swapping the straps out.
Fitbit offers lots of cool accessory bands in different colors and materials like stainless steel if you want to customize the look. Third-party bands are also available on Amazon.
One customization advantage of the Inspire 3 is support for colored touchscreen displays. Along with the regular black & white model, you can now get the Inspire 3 with a stylish Midnight Blue or Morning Glow colored screen.
Unfortunately, neither band supports third-party apps like you’ll find on smartwatches. But overall, you have decent customization flexibility with watch faces and bands.
Winner: Inspire 3 (for colored display options)
Price and Value
Lastly, let’s discuss the mighty dollar – how much do these fitness bands cost?
The Fitbit Inspire 3 launched at $99.95, undercutting the Inspire 2 which goes for $119.95 (retail price, but often discounted).
So at face value, the newer Inspire 3 gives you more features and updates for about 15% less money compared to the Inspire 2. That’s seriously good value for your money.
However, if you find the Inspire 2 on sale for under $100, then the pricing advantage shifts as both models become more evenly priced.
Overall, the Inspire 3 generally costs a bit less than the Inspire 2, giving it the edge on price and overall value.
Winner: Inspire 3
Inspire 2 vs Inspire 3: Final Judgment
We’ve covered a lot of ground looking at these two fitness bands! Here’s the final scorecard:
- Design & Display – Inspire 3
- Battery Life – Tie
- Health Tracking – Inspire 3
- Smart Features – Inspire 3
- Motivation & Goals – Tie
- Premium Subscription – Tie
- Customization – Inspire 3
- Price & Value – Inspire 3
With upgrades like a thinner body, larger always-on display, Sp02 sensor and voice assistant support, the newer Inspire 3 pulls ahead as the better all-around fitness tracker.
However, if you can find the Inspire 2 at a significantly lower price, it still delivers fantastic health, activity and sleep tracking in a compact design.
At the end of the day, the Inspire 3 is the best value with more features for less money in most cases. But you can’t go wrong with either Inspire tracker if you’re looking for an affordable Fitbit.
Hope this detailed comparison helped highlight the differences between two awesome fitness bands. Let me know if you have any other questions!
FAQs
Does the Inspire 3 have GPS?
No, neither the Inspire 2 or Inspire 3 have built-in GPS tracking. They can connect to your phone’s GPS to map your walks and runs.
Do the Inspire 2 and 3 track heart rate?
Yes, both models use Fitbit’s PurePulse 24/7 heart rate tracking technology.
Can you reply to texts on the Inspire 2 or 3?
You cannot reply to texts directly on the device – it will show notifications but you’ll need your phone to respond.
Do the Inspire 2 or 3 have music storage for playlists?
Unfortunately neither model has onboard storage for music. You can control music playback on your phone.
How accurate is the sleep tracking on the Inspire 2 and 3?
The sleep tracking provides a useful overall picture of your sleep stages and quality, but may not be as precise as medical sleep monitoring devices.
To wrap up
The Inspire 3 emerges as the best Fitbit Inspire model for most users with its slimmer design, larger display, expanded health sensors like SpO2, and smart features like quick setup and voice assistant access.
The Inspire 2 still delivers excellent activity, sleep and heart rate tracking if found at a lower price point. But the Inspire 3 packs more value into its sub-$100 price tag.
How to fix a Fitbit Charge 5 charger that is not working? Start by ensuring a proper connection, cleaning the charger contacts, and troubleshooting potential issues. So if you want the latest and greatest Fitbit Inspire, go with the 3. But the Inspire 2 remains a solid budget-friendly option, especially on sale. Whichever you choose, you really can’t go wrong with Fitbit’s awesome fitness bands.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I’m happy to chat more about these two excellent trackers. Wear them in good health!