Will there ever be a Fitbit Sense 3?

Fitbit devices enjoyed a long reign as one of the most popular wearables stables available, including the company’s top watch lineups. The health-focused Fitbit Sense line is the brand’s top tier, with advanced sensors and a range of smartwatch tools. However, the latest model didn’t blow us away during our Fitbit Sense 2 review, and the line has only seen further deterioration since. In the wake of the Pixel Watch line, Fitbit smartwatches have been put out to pasture.

Will there be a Fitbit Sense 3?

In the oppressive shadow of the Pixel Watch lineup, many suspected Fitbit may not continue the Sense or Versa lines. The smartwatches represent Fitbit’s highest-end wearables with the Sense offering advanced features for anyone focusing on health stats. Yet, we hadn’t seen a single rumor or leak related to the devices.

Then, in August 2024, Google confirmed it will no longer be continuing the lineup. The company will focus on the Pixel Watch family rather than release a Sense 3 or Versa 5. Unlike the Sene and Versa lineups, Pixel Watches boast the Google Play Store for a more robust third-party app experience, plus all the best of Google’s toolkit. The line offers a more powerful, well-rounded smartwatch experience while still providing Fitbit integration.

Should you wait for the Fitbit Sense 3?

According to Google, there will be no Sense 3 to wait for anymore. Instead, I suggest looking at the Pixel Watch 3 ($349.99 at Amazon). It offers thorough Fitbit integration in addition to the powerful Wear OS platform.

Beyond the Google/Fitbit ecosystem, there are also several great options. The latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 ($299.99 at Amazon) packs a powerful health and fitness tracking suite.  For iOS users, the Apple Watch Series 9 ($392.67 at Amazon) or Apple Watch SE 2022 ($269.99 at Amazon) are by far the best picks. In short, there is a lot of competition to consider in this price range.

If the Sense line ever returned, here’s what I’d want to see

We may have seen the last of the Sense lineup, but should Google ever ressurect this fan-favorite, here’s everything I’d want to see on a new model.

Familiar design, improved specs

If one arrives, the Fitbit Sense 3 will likely feature a familiar, rounded rectangle watch case with a vibrant touchscreen AMOLED display and interchangeable bands. Both past generations feature an array of useful health sensors for tracking users’ key specs, including Active Zone Minutes, sleep, SpO2, heart rate, and skin temperature. Each provides ECG readings in supported countries. The Sense 2 introduced continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) readings via its Body Response sensor.

I hope to see the return of all of these useful features and, ideally, a few more. The lineup’s advanced sensors made it the best in-house Fitbit for anyone with health concerns. I would want to see Fitbit continue to add more resources and tools to that end. I’d also like to see multi-day battery life approaching a week in length.

Back in with the old (specifically the smartwatch features)

In 2022, Fitbit stripped the current model of Wi-Fi support and third-party app support, kneecapping the Versa 4 and Sense 2 to encourage shoppers toward the Pixel Watch line. The devices also dropped Google Assistant, leaving just Amazon’s Alexa as the sole voice assistant. Another blow came in March 2023, when Fitbit removed music storage support, further weakening all Fitbit smartwatches. My biggest hope for the next generation of Fitbit smartwatches is that these basic features return to round out the devices. I would also love to see more Google integration on the device to offer users even more tools and smart features.

GPS accuracy improvements

Similarly, the Fitbit Sense 2 seemed to take a step backward regarding GPS accuracy compared to the original Sense. The flukey heart rate accuracy we ran into during our Fitbit Sense 2 review would need to be addressed in order for a Sense 3 to stand as a worthwhile device.

Music storage and music controls

Even though I already mentioned the cutting of music storage above, the topic deserves its own entry on my wishlist. Access to playlists is an important part of fitness training for many users. I hope Fitbit reconsiders this move and brings back music storage on a potential Sense 3.

A universal charger

I know it’s shouting into the void to keep asking brands to retire their proprietary chargers, but I’ll scream away anyway. Fast, reliable charging is crucial to the user experience on all wearables. Fitbit offers some of the best battery specs in the game. I just want to see less e-waste and more compatibility between products and the mess of cables I already own.