Can you use your old Fitbit Charge 4 charger with the new Charge 5? Unfortunately, no. Fitbit has introduced a new proprietary charger for the latest Charge 5 model, so the previous Charge 4 cables and bands are incompatible. This change might be annoying, especially if you’ve got Charge 4 accessories lying around, but there’s a good reason behind it.
The Charge 5 isn’t just an upgrade in tracking features; it’s undergone a significant redesign. It’s not only a different shape compared to its predecessor but also about 10% slimmer. Because of these changes, Fitbit has also introduced a new proprietary band system, meaning you’ll need new Fitbit Charge 5 bands if you want to change your style.
Despite these inconveniences, the new design and substantial hardware and software upgrades justify the changes. The Charge 5 has a magnetic charging cable tailored to its sleeker dimensions. Plus, according to Fitbit, even with advanced features like an AMOLED display, it maintains a long battery life — up to seven days on a single charge.
There’s also some good news for anyone upgrading from the Fitbit Luxe: the Charge 5’s charger is compatible with the Luxe’s, thanks to some shared design elements. This compatibility means you won’t need a new charger if you’re moving from a Luxe to a Charge 5.
Although adjusting to these changes can be tough, especially if you’ve been using the same accessories for a while, they signify improvements that will likely enhance your Fitbit experience in the long run. Hopefully, Fitbit might make all their chargers interchangeable in the future, but it’s important to ensure you have the correct charger for your device.
Since 2016, Usman has flourished as an independent tech journalist, reveling in the evaluation of diverse tech gadgets, with a particular fondness for charging technology to ascertain product performance. Besides his journalistic endeavors, he helms the Charger Harbor YouTube channel, where he extends his tech insights to a broader audience.