Fitbit vs. Apple Watch: Comparing smartwatches vs. fitness trackers

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smart watch and activity tracker Today, there are many such brands, but some stand out. apple watch Established a strong reputation in the smartwatch category – and Upcoming Series 10 It’s rumored to come with some cool new upgrades — and brands like Fitbit already dominate the fitness tracking space. since Google acquires Fitbit Back in 2019, competition between the two brands was fierce, especially now that the Google Pixel watch taps into Fitbit’s health tracking capabilities.

While there are certainly some clear differences between the Apple Watch and Fitbit — comparing certain models might seem like comparing apples and oranges — Google’s entry into the smartwatch category, and Apple’s increasing investment in health tracking features, means these There is more crossover between brands than ever before.

So, is it better to buy an Apple Watch or a Fitbit? I’ve been testing them out over the past few weeks, and here’s everything you need to know.

Left: Google Pixel Watch 2 (Fitbit integrated) Right: Apple Watch Series 4
Photo credit: RJ Andersen/Mashable

Size and screen

There are a lot of choices when it comes to display quality and screen size, especially when it comes to Fitbit. Since the brand offers both activity trackers and smartwatches, their trackers tend to be smaller, simpler, and more discreet—the 1.45-inch Charge 6 has a full-color AMOLED display with a maximum brightness of 450 nits—while their Smartwatches offer larger, higher-quality displays. For example, the Google Pixel Watch 2 has a 41mm AMOLED display with a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, making it a better choice for those interested in a brighter, clearer display.

While Apple doesn’t offer a traditional fitness tracker, it does offer a range of smartwatches in a full range of sizes — which is a definite win compared to Fitbit’s single-sized smartwatch offerings. Series 9 is available in 41mm or 45mm sizes (SE in 40mm or 44mm, Ultra 2 in 49mm), and has an unrivaled Retina LTPO OLED display with a maximum brightness of 2,000 nits.

Winner: Apple

Internal hardware

While Fitbit has a wider product range, which means a wider variety of hardware inside, I decided to compare smartwatches to smartwatches to see which one has the most impressive specs in the category. I was pleased to find that the Google Pixel Watch 2 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 chip along with 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, but the specs of the Apple Watch Series 9 are equally impressive, with an Apple S9 chip, 1GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Performance-wise, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two without rigorous side-by-side testing.

Winner: Tie

Health and fitness tracking

Both Apple Watch and Fitbit offer user-friendly health and fitness tracking features, which means both brands allow you to track a variety of metrics such as steps, heart rate, exercise time, calories burned, sleep, and more. However, the best fitness tracker ultimately depends on what data you’re interested in tracking, as this varies from brand to brand and From product to product.

Fitbit offers a wider range of activity trackers.
Photo credit: RJ Andersen/Mashable

For example, both the Fitbit and Apple Watch offer sleep tracking, so you can track things like sleep time and sleep stages, but the Series 9 and Google Pixel Watch 2 have relatively short battery lives (18 hours and 24 hours, respectively). This makes them less suitable for 24/7 wear, especially since they are smaller than other sleep trackers such as Oura Ring. However, Fitbit’s other activity trackers—including the Luxe, Charge 6, and Inspire 3—all boast five days (or more) of battery life, making them better options for people interested in sleep data .

If you want to track GPS while running, Apple Watch and most Fitbit products offer built-in GPS (except the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire 3). Pixel Watch 2 and Series 9 also offer heart rate zone training, so you can be notified when you change your heart rate zone during exercise, something you don’t get with other Fitbit products.

While Fitbit offers some pretty cool health tracking insights — including skin temperature, heart rate variability, and oxygen saturation — none of these are measured with the Google Pixel Watch 2 unless you wear it overnight. Also, Apple Watch supports all of these measurements (except Blood oxygen function has been deleted), no need to wear the watch all night.

Winner: Tie

Smart watch functions

If you’re looking for the best smartwatch between Apple Watch and Fitbit, the answer is clear: choose one that’s compatible with your phone. Overall, Apple does have the better smartwatch, but if you’re not an iPhone user, that doesn’t matter.

If you’re an Android user, the Pixel Watch 2 really stands out from other Fitbit smartwatches. It’s stylish, easy to use, and packed with useful apps and features – including Google Assistant, Safety Check, and the Google Play Store – making it a more capable smartwatch than Fitbit’s other models. Is it the best Android smartwatch on the market? It’s hard to say, especially since Samsung Galaxy 6 has a pretty good reputation, but what Google does next with Fitbit is worth watching.

However, if you are an iPhone user, stick with the Apple Watch instead of the Fitbit smartwatch. Technically, Fitbit’s other smartwatches – the Versa 4 and Sense 2 – are compatible with Android and iOS, but some features (like smartphone notifications) only work with Android phones… and it’s hard to beat Apple’s smartwatch experience .

Winner: Apple Watch

Battery Life

When it comes to battery life, Fitbit comes out on top. The Apple Watch Series 9 does have a battery life of 18 hours (36 hours in low-power mode), but the Google Pixel Watch 2 has slightly better battery life, with a claimed battery life of 24 hours. Other Fitbit products are even more impressive. The Versa 4 and Sense 2 have a battery life of more than six days. The Fitbit Luxe has a battery life of five days. The Charge 6 has a battery life of seven days. The Fitbit Luxe has a battery life of more than six days. The battery life is up to 10 days.

Winner: Fitbit

Durability and longevity

If you’re looking for a fitness tracker that can handle all kinds of wear and tear, the Apple Watch and Fitbit are both pretty solid options. All Fitbit products are water-resistant to 50 meters, with the Pixel Watch 2 rated to 5 ATM (up to 50 meters) and also IP68 dust- and water-resistant. The Apple Watch is also water-resistant to 50 meters, with the Series 9 having an additional IP6X10 dust-resistant rating (the SE does not), while the Ultra 2 is even better, with 100 meters of water resistance, an IP6X dust-resistant rating, and an additional EN13319 Recreational scuba diving is rated up to 40 meters.

In terms of longevity, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison between brands due to the variety of options available. Some Reddit user said their Fitbit trackers generally last around two years, while other Reddit users Report Their Apple Watches typically last four to six years. This is fairly consistent with my experience, as I’ve been using a Series 4 Apple Watch since January 2019 without any issues. Will the Google Pixel Watch 2 last this long? It’s too early to tell.

Winner: Apple Watch

Smartphone compatibility

You may be wondering “Is the Fitbit compatible with the iPhone?” Honestly, it depends.

The Fitbit app is compatible with most popular smartphones, including iOS and Android devices, and with the exception of the Google Pixel Watch and Pixel Watch 2, all Fitbit products are technically compatible with the iPhone. Fitbit’s other smartwatches (Versa 4 and Sense 2) are Technically Compatible with iPhone, but does not include many additional features such as smartphone notifications.

That being said, the best option for you depends on your phone. If you use an iPhone, stick with an Apple Watch or one of Fitbit’s activity trackers. If you use an Android device, you can use any of Fitbit’s products, which technically makes Fitbit the winner in this category.

Winner: Fitbit

price range

Fitbit’s wider product range means it also has a better price range. If you are on a budget, then Fitbit is the best choice for you. Its activity trackers are much cheaper than smartwatches, with the Inspire 3 starting at $99 and its most popular tracker, the Charge 6, selling for $159.

However, if you’re looking for a smartwatch, prices are more comparable between brands. The Google Pixel Watch 2 starts at $349, which is slightly cheaper than the Apple Watch Series 9 (starting at $399) and slightly more expensive than the Apple Watch SE (starting at $249).

Yes, Fitbit technically has more smartwatches to choose from — the Versa 4 ($199) and Sense 2 ($249) — but considering their lack of an app store, putting them next to the Versa 4 It does feel out of place on the same level.

Winner: Fitbit

Other features

While I enjoy using Fitbit products, there aren’t many standout features that make me prefer one over the other. The Pixel Watch 2 is a solid smartwatch, as is the Series 9, so again, it really depends on which phone you use.

As far as activity trackers go, Fitbit is missing a semi-critical feature, at least for fitness enthusiasts: Most of its lineup, with the exception of the Charge 6, isn’t compatible with exercise devices. device. At the same time, this is an essential feature of Apple Watches—even my old Series 4 can use NFC to connect to compatible equipment at the gym—which makes it all the more surprising that Fitbit skipped the feature.

Is this a deal breaker? Might not be for most people, but it’s a feature I really enjoy using on my Apple Watch, so it feels weird not having it.

Winner: Apple Watch

judgment

It’s not the flashiest answer, but the clear winner between Apple Watch and Fitbit is up to you. If you’re looking for a simple fitness tracker, the best Fitbit watch might be the Charge 6. With more features, great battery life and a solid price tag.

If you’re more interested in a good smartwatch, then get one that fits your phone. The Apple Watch is an excellent choice that’s both practical and durable, but the Google Pixel Watch 2 is shaping up to be a decent competitor.