Fitbit Announces The Alta, A $130 Customizable Fitness Band

With its interchangeable bands that transform the device from something people wear at the gym to one you’d want to leave on for a night out, the Fitbit Alta is the most fashionable fitness tracker available on the market. That makes sense given that Fitbit is angling the Alta as a potential fashion accessory, touting its exchangeable bands that range from sporty (rubber) to stylish (leather), along with a stainless steel shell that houses the OLED display.

Here’s what it looks like.

Fitbit is accepting pre-orders for the Alta starting today on their website, while a number of retailers offer presale options from tomorrow.

The Fitbit Alta will track your activity during the day, including steps taken, distance covered, calories burned, and active minutes. Alta is dramatically sleeker than previous models and it looks more like jewelry than a gadget. Stay tuned for our review of the device. But it’s arguably the best-looking Fitbit wristband so far.

First, Fitbit introduced its latest accessory, dubbed the Blaze, which looks like a smartwatch but is really a fitness-tracking device dressed up as one. In terms of features, the Alta comes with all the usual slew of tracking capabilities, including the new SmartTrack algorithm that can automatically recognize different types of exercises. Notifications on iOS, Android and Windows Phone are sent the same as with any other model, alerting the wearer through vibrations and on the device’s display. It’s not as health oriented as some of the company’s previous products though as it lacks Global Positioning System and a heart rate sensor.

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For durability, the Fitbit Alta is sweat, rain, and splash proof. Also, the Alta has a slightly shorter battery life compared to the Charge-just five days compared to seven to 10 days-but that can likely be attributed to its full touchscreen. Until now, all Fitbit devices except the Blaze have been single-piece bands made out of rubber. It synchronizes wirelessly with your iPhone, letting you track your fitness information on your handset.