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We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

Fitbit Flyer Wireless Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1
Review updated Mar 09, 2018 at 05:09 pm
Latest change: Test bench update Nov 21, 2019 at 11:25 am
Fitbit Flyer Wireless Picture
6.9
Mixed Usage
6.5
Neutral Sound
7.3
Commute/Travel
7.9
Sports/Fitness
6.8
Office
5.1
Wireless Gaming
5.0
Wired Gaming
6.5
Phone Call

The Fitbit Flyer are good sports headphones that are also decent for most use cases. They have a fairly straightforward wireless design that feels well-built and durable. They're also stable enough for running, and come with a variety of tips and stability accessories to help you find a good fit. Unfortunately, they have a slightly overpowering bass and they lack a good app for added customization options.

Our Verdict

6.9 Mixed Usage

Decent for mixed usage. The Fitbit flyer are best used for sports, but they're portable and isolate enough for more casual uses like commuting and traveling. They also barely leak, so they're a good option for noise sensitive environments like being at the office. However, they have quite a bit of latency which will not be suitable for watching movies or gaming.

Pros
  • Stable design for sports.
  • Very low leakage.
Cons
  • Poor latency performance.
  • Mediocre battery life.
6.5 Neutral Sound

Average for neutral listening. They have a lot of bass which unfortunately sounds a bit boomy and overpowers some of the instruments and vocals in the mid-range. Their treble range is also somewhat recessed but has a few spikes that makes sharp sounds a bit piercing, especially, on already bright tracks. They won't be the best headphones for more neutral listeners and have a small soundstage due to their in-ear closed back design. However they should sound good enough for most.

7.3 Commute/Travel

Above-average for commuting. They isolate decently well against ambient noise, they're portable and have an easy-to-use control scheme. They should be suitable for most commuters but would be better if they had a longer battery life with better power saving features.

7.9 Sports/Fitness

The Fitbit Flyer are good sports headphones. They have a breathable in-ear fit, with multiple stability fins and wings that make them stable enough for working out and running. They're also wireless, they have a simple and efficient control scheme, and they're compact enough to fit into most pockets which make them easy to have on you at all times.

6.8 Office

Average for office use. They block a decent amount of noise and barely leak, so you will rarely distract your colleagues even if you like to listen to your music at higher volumes.

5.1 Wireless Gaming

Below-average for gaming. They have an average-at-best microphone, but way too much latency to be suitable for gaming. They're also not as customizable as most gaming headsets since they have no app support

5.0 Wired Gaming
  • 6.9 Mixed Usage
  • 6.5 Neutral Sound
  • 7.3 Commute/Travel
  • 7.9 Sports/Fitness
  • 6.8 Office
  • 5.1 Wireless Gaming
  • 5.0 Wired Gaming
  • 6.5 Phone Call
  1. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
  2. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
  3. Updated Mar 09, 2018: Review published.
  4. Updated Mar 07, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
  5. Updated Mar 05, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Mar 05, 2018: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Headphones

Comparison picture

The Fitbit Flyer are good sports headphones that have a fairly common wireless in-ear design. They're decently premium-looking headphones and feel durable enough to last you a while. They also come with a variety of tips and stability accessories that make them stand out when compared to competing models. However, they have a fairly weak battery performance with no power saving features, and they do not have a very customizable sound unlike some of the models below. 

Bose SoundSport Wireless

The Bose SoundSport Wireless are slightly better headphones than the Fitbit Flyer. The Bose have a more comfortable earbud fit that most will prefer over the in-ear fit of the Fitbit Flyer. They also have a better-balanced sound quality and a better battery performance overall, thanks to their auto-off feature. The Fitbit Flyer, on the other hand, have a more isolating in-ear fit that's more suitable for noisy environments. They also leak a lot less so you can play your music at higher volumes without distracting the people around you. On the upside, both headphones are stable enough for sports and most physical activities.

Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless

If you prefer the compact format of a truly wireless design, then the Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless will be a better choice. However, if you want a typical wireless in-ear for sports, go for the Fitbit Flyer Wireless instead. The Apple have an excellent 25-hour battery life, thanks to their compact and portable charging case. They also have an earbud design that most will find more comfortable than the FitBit. On the other hand, the FitBit have a more isolating in-ear fit, which makes them more suitable for noisy environments and commutes. The FitBit are more stable thanks to their multiple tips and stability fins sizes, and they have a lot more bass and will sound more exciting than the AirPods.

Jaybird X3 Wireless

The Jaybird X3 Wireless are better wireless in-ears than the Fitbit Flyer Wireless. The Jaybird have a better isolating in-ear fit and come with a couple more tip options than the Fitbit. They also have a better default sound that you can customize via the Jaybird app and a longer battery life. On the other hand, the Fitbit have a more premium look and feel, and come with a few more stability fin options, which may be more comfortable for some ears. They also have a much easier to charge design that does not require a proprietary charging clip like the Jaybird, which can be very limiting.

Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless

If you prefer the compact format of a truly wireless design, then the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless will be a better choice; however, if you want a typical wireless in-ear for sports go for the Fitbit Flyer Wireless instead. The Bose have a better sound quality than the Fitbit. They're also a bit more comfortable to wear thanks to their earbud design. The Bose are also a bit more portable, thanks to their truly wireless design, although their case is rather bulky. On the other hand, the Fitbit have a more isolating in-ear fit, which makes them more suitable for noisy environments and commutes. They're also more stable thanks to their multiple tips and stability fins sizes. The Fitbit also have a longer battery life on a single charge.

Sony WI-SP600N Wireless

The Sony WI-SP600N Wireless have about the same performance as the Fitbit Flyer Wireless, but they're more customizable. The Sony have a better companion app, which gives them a lot more options and features you can tweak to better your listening experience. They're also noise cancelling, so they do a bit better for commuting. On the other hand, the Fitbit are a bit more stable for the gym with a smaller and easier to use in-line remote. The Fitbit also have a longer battery life and offer slightly better value for your money if you do not mind not having an EQ.

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Test Results

Design
Design
Style
Type In-ear
Enclosure Closed-Back
Wireless Yes
Transducer Dynamic

The Fitbit Flyer have a simple and straightforward design that looks good and feels high-end. They feel a lot more premium than the Plantronics BackBeat Fit but do not benefit from the extra stability of an ear-hook design. They look somewhat like the Jaybird X3 but with slightly bigger earbuds, and fortunately, they do not stick out of your ears like the Bose SoundSport Wireless. They come in two color schemes, Nightfall Blue and Lunar Gray. The latter is a bit more flashy but still looks great for outdoor use. The special stability wings make them stand out from the other similarly designed wireless in-ears, but overall they do not feel very different from those models, especially when using the normal stability fins.

7.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.05 lbs
Clamping Force
0 lbs

The Fitbit Flyer have a typical in-ear fit that's decently comfortable but won't be for everyone. They come with 3 sets of gel tips of varying sizes and a couple of different stability wings and fins. The fit isn't altered much by the additional stability accessories though, so if you're not a big fan of in-ear designs you will have some of the same issues with these headphones.

7.2
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
N/A
Ease Of Use Good
Feedback Okay
Call/Music Control Yes
Volume Control Yes
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
N/A
Noise Cancelling Control N/A
Talk-Through
N/A
Additional Buttons Bass Effect

These headphones have a decent control scheme that's easy to use but not as responsive. They provide call/music, track skipping, and volume controls. The buttons are well spaced out and intuitive but feel a bit mushy. On the upside, they give you a lot of auditory feedback and you can even change the language or switch to just tones. They also have a special EQ mode called power boost that you can enable by pressing the volume up and down buttons at the same time.

8.9
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 1.1 °C

The Fitbit Flyer are very breathable headphones. They do not cover the ears so they won't make you sweat more than usual. The stability wings cause a slightly higher temperature difference since they have more points of contact with the notch of your ear than the fins but it's a very noticeable difference and shouldn't change much to your work out routine.

8.6
Design
Portability
L 2.1"
W 1.3"
H 2.2"
Volume 6 in³
Transmitter Required N/A

Like most wireless in-ears, these headphones are very portable. They're compact and will easily fit into your pockets or bags. The carrying pouch also doesn't add much bulk, so they won't be much of a hassle to have on you at all times.

6.0
Design
Case
Type Pouch
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A

The Fitbit Flyer come with a carrying pouch that will protect the headphones from scratches and minor water exposure. It's also fairly easy to carry on you at all times and will store all the accessories that come in the box. The pouch is very similar to the Jaybird X3 but its a bit easier to open without all the accessories tumbling out.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The Fitbit Flyer have a good build quality that feels decently high-end. The cable is flat and rubberized and feels durable enough to last you a while. The earbuds and the in-line remote also look well-made with a polished design and dense plastic that won't get damaged if you accidentally drop the headphones once or twice. They're also sweat proof and which makes them decently durable headphones, however, since the earbuds are not detachable if the cable snaps or the remote breaks you will have to get a new pair.

8.0
Design
Stability

The Fitbit Flyer are stable sports headphones. They come with both stability fins and a wing design that some may prefer. In our test, the fins were a bit more stable than the wings but as long as you can get a secure fit they will be stable enough for exercising and working out.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Fitbit Flyer Headphones
  • Earbud tips (x3 sizes)
  • Stability fins  (x2 sizes)
  • Stability wings (x2 sizes)
  • USB charging cable
  • Carrying pouch

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
0.99 dB
Treble Amount
-3.58 dB
8.9
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.23 dB

The frequency response consistency of the Fitbit Flyer is excellent. If the user is able to achieve a proper fit and an air-tight seal using the assortment of tips that come with the headphones, then they should be able to get consistent bass and treble delivery every time they use the headphones.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
6.8
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.59 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
17.31 Hz
Low-Bass
-0.1 dB
Mid-Bass
7.02 dB
High-Bass
2.37 dB

The Fitfit Flyer have an average bass. Their LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 17Hz, which is excellent. Accordingly, low-bass is within 0.1dB of our target, which ensures a deep and thumpy bass, which is important for bass-heavy genres such as EDM, Hip-hop and film scores. However, the 6dB dip around 40Hz has a negative effect on the punch of low/sub-kick drums. The wide 10dB peak that covers mid-bass, adds excess body to bass guitars and kick drums at the expense of overpowering vocals and other lead instruments. Overall, their bass has just the right amount of thump and too much body, but without sounding too boomy.

8.8
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
1.58 dB
Low-Mid
1.61 dB
Mid-Mid
-1.35 dB
High-Mid
1.11 dB

The mid-range performance of the Flyer is great. The response is quite even and consistent, with the only remark being the 5dB dip centered around 700Hz. This nudges vocals and lead instruments towards the back of the mix, making it a bit recessed.

6.5
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.73 dB
Low-Treble
-0.68 dB
Mid-Treble
-5.22 dB
High-Treble
-4.57 dB

Average treble range performance. The asymmetrical dip between 3KHz and 9KHz, negatively affects the detail and presence of vocals and lead instruments. However, since the bigger part of the dip is around 9KHz, most of the negative effect will be perceived as a lack in sharpness (S and T sounds).

6.5
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
2.25 dB
Dips
1.91 dB
7.3
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
1.37
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.47
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
2.29
Weighted Phase Mismatch
5.52

The imaging performance of the Flyer is about average. The weighted group delay is 1.37, which is quite high, and among the worst we have measured so far. The GD graph shows that the problem area is in the lower bass, especially around 40Hz, which corresponds to the 40Hz dip in the frequency response. This suggests that the bass of the Flyer won't be very fast and tight, which will negatively affect its punchiness. On the plus side, the L/R drivers of our test unit were decently matched, which helps with the accurate placement and localization of objects (voice, instruments, footsteps) in the stereo image. The phase mismatch in the treble range although audible, won't have a significant negative effect on localization.

0.6
Sound
Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
N/A
PRTF Size (Avg.)
N/A
PRTF Distance
N/A
Openness
3.0
Acoustic Space Excitation
0.2

The soundstage of the Fitbit Flyer, like most other in-ears, is poor. This is because creating an out-of-head and speaker-like soundstage is largely dependent on activating the resonances of the pinna (outer ear). The design of in-ears and earbuds is in such a way that fully bypasses the pinna and doesn't interact with it. Also, because these headphones have a closed-back enclosure, their soundstage won't be perceived to be as open as that of open-back earbuds like the Apple AirPods (1st generation) Truly Wireless or the Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless.

7.2
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.379
WHD @ 100
0.229
Isolation
7.0
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-19.76 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
-4.29 dB
Mid
-19.65 dB
Treble
-36.83 dB

The isolation performance of the Flyer is decent. In the bass range, where the rumble of airplane and bus engines sit, they achieve 4dB of isolation, which is inadequate. In the mid-range, important for blocking out speech, they reduce outside noise by almost 20dB, which is great. They also have a a very good performance in the treble range, which is important for cutting out sharp sounds such as S and Ts.

9.8
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
22.03 dB

The leakage performance of the Flyer is excellent. These in-ears do not leak in the bass and mid ranges at all, and the entirety of the leakage is in the treble range. The overall level of the leakage is also extremely low, making the leakage of these headphones practically non-existent.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-line
Yes
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
N/A
Mic Yes

The in-line microphone of the Fitbit Fliyer is mediocre. In quiet environments, speech recorded/transmitted with it would sound relatively full, but noticeably muffled and lacking in detail, which could make speech a tad difficult to understand at times. In noisy environments, they will struggle to separate speech from ambient noise in even in moderately loud situations like a busy street.

6.2
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
LFE
226.27 Hz
FR Std. Dev.
4.03 dB
HFE
2,560 Hz
Weighted THD
1.181
Gain
23.42 dB

The recording quality of the Fitbit Flyer's mic is about average. The LFE (low-frequency extension) of 226Hz, is decent, indicating that speech recorded or transmitted with it would sound relatively full. The HFE (high-frequency extension) of 2.6KHz however, is mediocre and results in a speech that lacks detail and presence. This would have a small but noticeable negative effect on the intelligibility of speech.

6.3
Microphone
Noise Handling
Speech + Pink Noise
Speech + Subway Noise
SpNR
15.31 dB

Below-average noise handling. In our SpNR test, the in-line microphone of the Fitbit Flyer achieved a speech-to-noise ratio of 15dB, suggesting their microphone is best suited for quiet environments, and may struggle to separate speech from background noise in moderate and loud situations.

Active Features
5.1
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
Rechargable
Continuous Battery Life
6.5 hrs
Additional Charges
0
Total Battery Life
6.5 hrs
Charge Time
1.7 hrs
Power Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
No
Charging Port micro-USB

These headphones have a mediocre-at-best battery performance. They lasted about 6.5 hours of continuous playtime at moderate volume, which should be okay for most listeners as long as you remember to turn them off. Unfortunately, they do not have an auto-off timer when inactive (unless you disconnect your Bluetooth source) and you can't use them while they are charging. On the upside, a quick 15-minute charge gives you an hours worth of playback.

0
Active Features
App Support
App Name N/A
iOS N/A
Android N/A
macOS N/A
Windows N/A
Equalizer
N/A
ANC Control
N/A
Mic Control N/A
Room effects
N/A
Playback Control
N/A
Button Mapping N/A
Surround Sound N/A

They are not compatible with the Fitibit app as they have no sensors or trackers, and the app does not offer customization options like an equalizer.

Connectivity
8.2
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
4.2
Multi-Device Pairing
2 Devices
NFC Pairing
No
Line of Sight Range
122 ft
Default Latency
220 ms
aptX Latency
N/A
aptX(LL) Latency
N/A

These headphones have multi-device pairing but no NFC support. On the upside, their hold-to-pair procedure is fairly easy to use and pairs easily with most Bluetooth devices.

These headphones have quite a bit of latency at 220ms. This makes them poorly suited for watching videos and gaming and is a bit on the higher side for Bluetooth headphones.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
0
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
N/A
USB Audio
N/A
Detachable No
Length N/A
Connection N/A
Wired Latency
N/A

They have no wired option. If you want a good sounding wired in-ear, check the 1More Triple Driver In-Ear.

Connectivity
PC / PS4 Compatibility
PC / PS4 Analog
No
PC / PS4 Wired USB
No
PC / PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox One Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
No
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Wireless
No
0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
N/A
USB Input
N/A
Line In
N/A
Line Out
N/A
Optical Input
N/A
RCA Input
N/A
Dock Charging
N/A
Power Supply
N/A

The Fitbit Flyer do not have a dock. If you want a headphone that's versatile and has a dock, try the SteelSeries Arctis 7. However, it won't be as compact or as portable as the Fitbit Flyer.