Fitbit vs. Apple Watch: Placing smartwatches and health trackers to the check

Desk of Contents

Smartwatches and exercise trackers are a dime a dozen lately, however there are just a few manufacturers that stand out. Apple Watch has cultivated a stellar repute within the smartwatch class — and the upcoming Sequence 10 is rumored to come back with some cool new upgrades — whereas manufacturers like Fitbit have dominated the health monitoring area. Since Google acquired Fitbit again in 2019, competitors between the 2 manufacturers has been fierce, particularly now that the Google Pixel Watches make the most of Fitbit’s well being and wellness monitoring.

Whereas there are actually some stark variations between Apple Watches and Fitbits — and evaluating sure fashions may look like evaluating apples and oranges — Google’s push into the smartwatch class, in addition to Apple’s growing dedication to well being monitoring options, means there’s extra crossover between these manufacturers than ever earlier than.

So, is it higher to get an Apple Watch or a Fitbit? I put them to the check over the previous couple of weeks, and right here’s all the pieces you could know.

Sizes and screens

In terms of show high quality and display screen dimension, there’s fairly a little bit of selection to select from, particularly in the case of Fitbit. As a result of the model gives each exercise trackers and smartwatches, their trackers are typically a bit smaller, easier, and extra discreet — the 1.45-inch Cost 6 touts a full-color AMOLED show with a most brightness of 450 nits — whereas their smartwatches supply bigger, higher-quality shows. The Google Pixel Watch 2, for instance, boasts a 41mm AMOLED show with a most brightness of 1,000 nits, making it a significantly better choice for these serious about a brighter, clearer show.

Whereas Apple doesn’t supply conventional health trackers, it does supply a stable vary of smartwatch sizes — which is unquestionably a win in comparison with Fitbit’s single-size smartwatch choices. The Sequence 9 is on the market in 41mm or 45mm (with the SE obtainable in 40mm or 44mm, in addition to the Extremely 2 in 49mm), and it has an unmatched Retina LTPO OLED show with a most brightness of two,000 nits. 

Winner: Apple

Inner {hardware}

Whereas Fitbit boasts a broader product vary, which suggests a greater diversity of inside {hardware}, I made a decision to pit smartwatch towards smartwatch to see which has essentially the most spectacular specs on this class. I used to be happy to find the Google Pixel Watch 2 makes use of a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 chip, in addition to 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, however the Apple Watch Sequence 9’s specs are equally spectacular with Apple’s S9 chip, 1GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Efficiency-wise, it will be fairly laborious to differentiate between the 2 with out rigorous side-by-side testing.

Winner: Tie

Well being and health monitoring

Each Apple Watch and Fitbit supply entry to user-friendly well being and health monitoring, which suggests each manufacturers can help you monitor numerous metrics like steps, coronary heart charge, exercise period, energy burned, sleep, and extra. Nevertheless, the very best health tracker finally is dependent upon what information you’re serious about monitoring, as this varies from model to model and from product to product.

For instance, each Fitbit and Apple Watch supply sleep monitoring, so you’ll be able to monitor issues like sleep period and sleep phases, however each the Sequence 9 and the Google Pixel Watch 2 have comparatively shorter battery lives (18 hours versus 24 hours, respectively). This makes them less-than-ideal for twenty-four/7 put on, particularly since they’re a bit larger than different sleep trackers just like the Oura Ring. Nevertheless, Fitbit’s different exercise trackers — together with the Luxe, Cost 6, and Encourage 3 — all boast 5 days of battery life (or extra), making them higher choices for these serious about sleep information.

If you wish to monitor GPS in your runs, each Apple Watch and Fitbit supply built-in GPS on most of their merchandise (other than the Fitbit Luxe and Encourage 3). Coronary heart Fee Zone coaching can be doable with each the Pixel Watch 2 and the Sequence 9, so you may get notifications mid-workout whereas altering zones, which isn’t obtainable on different Fitbit merchandise. 

Despite the fact that Fitbit does some fairly cool well being monitoring insights — together with pores and skin temperature, coronary heart charge variability, and oxygen saturation — none of those are measured utilizing the Google Pixel Watch 2 except you put on it in a single day. In the meantime, the Apple Watch helps all of those measurements (other than the since-removed blood oxygen function) while not having to put on the watch in a single day. 

Winner: Tie

Smartwatch performance

When you’re searching for the very best smartwatch between Apple Watch and Fitbit, the reply is fairly clear: select no matter is appropriate together with your cellphone. Apple does appear to have the higher smartwatch general, however that doesn’t actually matter a lot if you happen to aren’t an iPhone person.

When you’re an Android person, the Pixel Watch 2 does stand out over different Fitbit smartwatches. It’s modern, simple to make use of, and packed stuffed with helpful apps and options — together with Google Assistant, Security Verify, and the Google Play Retailer — making it a extra sturdy smartwatch than different fashions from Fitbit. Is it the very best Android smartwatch available on the market? It’s laborious to say, particularly because the Samsung Galaxy 6 has a fairly stable repute, however it’s price watching to see what Google does with Fitbit subsequent. 

Mashable Gentle Pace

When you’re an iPhone person, nevertheless, stick to an Apple Watch over a Fitbit smartwatch. Technically, Fitbit’s different smartwatches — the Versa 4 and Sense 2 — are appropriate with each Android and iOS, however a number of the options (like smartphone notifications) solely work with Android telephones…and it’s laborious to beat Apple’s smartwatch expertise.

Winner: Apple Watch

Battery life

So far as battery life, Fitbit takes the crown. The Apple Watch Sequence 9 does supply an 18-hour battery life (36 hours in low energy mode), however the Google Pixel Watch 2 barely outperforms it with an marketed 24-hour battery life. Different Fitbit merchandise are much more spectacular, with a six+ day battery life for Fitbit’s different smartwatches Versa 4 and Sense 2, in addition to a five-day battery life for the Fitbit Luxe, seven-day for the Cost 6, and a whopping 10-day cost for the Encourage 3. 

Winner: Fitbit

Sturdiness and longevity

When you’re searching for a health tracker that may deal with all types of wear and tear and tear, each Apple Watch and Fitbit are fairly dependable choices. All of Fitbit’s merchandise are water-resistant as much as 50 meters, and the Pixel Watch 2 holds a water-protection score of 5 ATM (as much as 50 meters), in addition to an extra IP68 mud and water-protection score. Apple Watches are additionally water-resistant as much as 50 meters — with the Sequence 9 holding an extra IP6X10 mud resistance score (the SE doesn’t) — whereas the Extremely 2 takes the cake with water resistance as much as 100 meters, IP6X mud resistance, and an extra EN13319 score for leisure scuba diving as much as 40 meters. 

So far as longevity, it’s laborious to make a straight comparability between the manufacturers because of the number of choices obtainable. Some Reddit customers say that their Fitbit trackers are likely to final round two years, whereas different Redditors report that their Apple Watch sometimes lasts 4 to 6 years. That is fairly on par with my expertise, as I’ve been utilizing a Sequence 4 Apple Watch since January 2019 with no points. Will the Google Pixel Watch 2 maintain up fairly as lengthy? It’s just a little too quickly to inform. 

Winner: Apple Watch

Smartphone compatibility

You is perhaps questioning, “Is Fitbit compatible with iPhone?” Truthfully, it relies upon.

The Fitbit app is appropriate with hottest smartphones — together with iOS and Android gadgets — and all of Fitbit’s merchandise are technically appropriate with iPhone, other than the Google Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch 2. Nevertheless, it’s necessary to notice that Fitbit’s different smartwatches (the Versa 4 and the Sense 2) are technically appropriate with iPhones, however that doesn’t embody most of the extra options like smartphone notifications. 

That being mentioned, the best choice for you is dependent upon your cellphone. When you use an iPhone, stick to an Apple Watch or one among Fitbit’s exercise trackers. When you use an Android system, you should use any of Fitbit’s merchandise, which technically makes Fitbit the winner of this class.

Winner: Fitbit

Worth vary

Fitbit’s wider product vary means it has a greater value vary, too. When you’re working on a price range, which means Fitbit is the way in which to go. Its exercise trackers are fairly a bit cheaper than its smartwatches, with the Encourage 3 beginning at $99, and its hottest tracker, the Cost 6, clocks in at $159. 

When you’re searching for a smartwatch, nevertheless, the costs are just a little extra comparable between manufacturers. The Google Pixel Watch 2 begins at $349, making it barely cheaper than the Apple Watch Sequence 9 (begins at $399) and barely costlier than the Apple Watch SE (begins at $249). 

Sure, technically, there are extra smartwatch choices obtainable from Fitbit — the Versa 4 ($199) and the Sense 2 ($249) — however contemplating they lack app shops, it doesn’t actually really feel proper to place them on the identical tier because the Pixel Watch 2 or the Sequence 9. Fitbit additionally gives a kid-friendly smartwatch, the Ace LTE ($299), however it requires an extra $9.99 per thirty days information plan.

Winner: Fitbit

Different options

Whereas I loved utilizing Fitbit’s merchandise, there weren’t many standout options that made me love another than the opposite. The Pixel Watch 2 is a stable smartwatch, however so is the Sequence 9, so — once more — it actually is dependent upon what cellphone you’re utilizing. 

So far as exercise trackers go, Fitbit had one semi-critical function lacking, at the least for fellow health club rats: most of its lineup isn’t appropriate with train tools, other than the Cost 6. This implies you’ll be able to’t join any of your Fitbit gadgets — together with the Google Pixel Watch 2 — to health club tools (treadmills, stationary bikes, and so on.) to view/sync information like coronary heart charge, energy burned, and distance. In the meantime, this can be a baseline function in Apple Watches — even my previous Sequence 4 connects to appropriate tools on the health club utilizing NFC performance — which made it all of the extra stunning to find that Fitbit skipped that function.

Is it a dealbreaker? Most likely not for most individuals, however it’s a function I’ve actually beloved utilizing on my Apple Watch, so not having it felt bizarre.

Winner: Apple Watch

The decision

It’s not precisely the flashiest reply, however the clear winner between Apple Watch and Fitbit is dependent upon you. When you’re searching for a easy health tracker, the very best Fitbit watch is probably going the Cost 6. It packs a robust punch right into a tiny system — together with well being and health monitoring, sleep monitoring, built-in GPS, and extra — whereas boasting an incredible battery life and a stable price ticket.

When you’re extra serious about a high quality smartwatch, then get no matter works together with your cellphone. The Apple Watch is a improbable selection that’s each useful and sturdy, however the Google Pixel Watch 2 is shaping as much as be a good competitor.