It's been over half a year since Fitbit recalled all of its latest Force wristbands, but it finally looks like a replacement is right around the corner. Of course, Fitbit isn't just releasing a new version of the Force. New FCC and patent filings suggest that the new Fitbit is something new and better.


Leaked product images indicate that Fitbit will soon be releasing two new models: the Charge and the Charge HR. The "HR" apparently stands for the addition of a heart rate tracking function, a key feature that Fitbits have been lacking in the past. Filings with the United States Patent and Trademark Office also indicate that the new device will also feature navigation information, weather forecasts, call notifications, and volume control for your smartphone. That's on top of the regular pedometer, altimeter, sleep tracker, and calorie counter.

Of course, this is all just conjecture based upon rumors and paperwork. We won't know the specifics of the new Fitbit for certain until Fitbit announces them. However, since the FCC granted approval for a new "wireless activity tracker" from Fitbit, you can be sure something is on the way. And since two new Fitbit models called the Charge and Charge HR—priced at $185 and $220, respectively—have popped up on a Russian retailer's website, the rumors seem that much more likely. [FCC, USPTO, Ed Townsend via Engadget]