Unlike optical heart rate sensors, which use light to generate heart readings, ECG detects the timing and strength of the electrical activity in your heart. We've gone into more detail about this subject in our ECG and wearables guide, but to keep things simple, ECG (or EKG) stands for electrocardiogram.

If you've got a Fitbit Charge 5 and you're currently getting to grips with how it works and want to know why and how to use the ECG feature, we've broken down the key things you need to know about it, plus, take you through what to do to take that first ECG reading.

Joining the likes of the Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, Withings ScanWatch and Fitbit's own Sense, it also meant you didn't have to own a full-fat smartwatch or spend huge amounts of money to access what could be for many, a very desirable feature.Įssential reading: SpO2 and pulse ox wearables explained When the Fitbit Charge 5 was introduced with an ECG sensor, it became the first fitness band to pack in sensor technology capable of delivering the kind of heart rate monitoring accuracy that could help detect signs of serious heart health conditions.

Costco fitbit charge 5