Fitness trackers are charting new courses of popularity every day.
Here’s why:
These devices:
- Raise awareness on improving health with real-time data.
- Fuel behavior changes to accommodate more physical activity.
- Address the menace of sedentary lifestyles.
At present, the market is swamped with many wearables in the market, and two products that are ‘a league apart’ are:
Fitbit and Apple Watch!
Both of the devices pack a cool-drool of features and continually evolve to satisfy the changing needs of the market.
Despite this, there exist some differences.
This is a compare-and-contrast guide that aims to provide comprehensive information on Apple Watch vs. Fitbit Sense and help our readers decide which fitness tracker is the right choice for them.
If you’re planning to buy a fitness tracker or upgrade your existing one, check out what we have in store for you and make an informed decision.
Let’s dive right in!
Fitbit vs. Apple Watch: The Bird-Eye View
Fitbit | Apple Watch |
Monitors various metrics, including heart rate, sleep, physical activity, and more. | Monitors various metrics, including heart rate, sleep, physical activity, and more. |
| Lightweight | Some designs are heavy and non-ergonomic |
| Onboard GPS included | In-built GPS |
| Water-resistant, swim-proof | Water-resistant, swim-proof |
| Choices available to suit all budgets | A pricey investment |
| No cellular options | Cellular add-on included |
| Long battery life | The battery life is relatively short. |
Precap
Both Fitbit and Apple Watch are leaders in the market, with each having the edge over the other on various fronts.
Fitbit is an ideal choice for those looking for a cost-effective option in the category, with superior battery life and more descriptive health tracking metrics, whereas Apple Watch is an investment worth considering for those who crave convenience, accuracy and a holistic range of features.
For the following article, we’re comparing Fitbit Sense 2 with Apple Watch Series 8, the latest models in the market currently.
Fitbit Sense 2: Feature Specifications
| Feature Type | Credentials |
| Heart rate tracking | Yes |
| Water-resistant | Yes, up to 50 meters |
| Battery life | 5-6 days |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android |
| Health sensors | GPS/GLONASS/, HRM, altimeter, skin temperature, gyroscope, accelerometer, ambient light, SpO2, cEDA |
| Size | 1.57 * 0.47 * 1.57 inches |
| Audio | Built-in speaker & microphone |
| Mobile payments | Fitbit Pay & Google Wallet |
| Offline media storage | No |
Apple Watch Fitness Tracker Series 8: Feature Specifications
| Feature Type | Credentials |
| Heart rate tracking | Yes |
| Water-resistant | Yes, up to 50 meters |
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours, magnetic fast charging |
| Compatibility | iOS |
| Health sensors | L1 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou, skin-temperature, gyroscope, High-g accelerometer, ambient light, SpO2, optical health sensor, always-on altimeter |
| Size | 1.77 x 1.50 x 0.42 inches |
| Audio | Built-in speaker & microphone |
| Mobile payments | Apple Pay |
| Offline media storage | No |
Which is Better: Fitbit or Apple Watch? The End-To-End Comparison Guide You Need.
Criterion One: Fitness Tracking
The Fitbit and Apple Watch share similarities and differences in equal measure.
Both fitness trackers can:
- Monitor physical activities, including step count and calories burned.
- Track specific workouts, such as hiking and bicycling, and their outcomes.
- Provide health-related summaries by keeping tabs on metrics, such as Sp02.
However, Fitbit Sense 2 captures a sizable market for its best-in-class fitness and sleep tracking.
The fitness tracker packs cutting-edge features to suit diverse needs and preferences and even recommends full-body workouts based on the data collected over time.
The Sense 2 is an improvement over the previous Fitbit versions for its ability to track stress through the ECG sensor and body response movements. Besides, it has an optical heart rate and an altimeter to track pulse rate and body oxygenation as well as the flights of stairs one climbs each day, respectively.
The OS is a neat piece of tech, showcasing multiple stats on the screen for a quick look. Flick left or right, and you get to a sum of the day’s stats, a graph of heart rate function, key sleep metrics, and some smart extras.
The verdict:
Fitbit Sense 2 covers a broad set of everyday health aspects and plays a pivotal role in helping you learn about your core health score. The good battery life (6+ days) adds more perk points. Looking for a reliable tracker that assists in smart sleep tracking? Fitbit Sense 2 is the best deal out there, hands-down.
Criterion 2: Ease of Setup
Both the Fitbit and Apple Watch fitness trackers have a straightforward setup and are easier to get up and running.
That’s one strike for user-friendliness!
The Sense 2 can be set up via the Fitbit app on your smartphone. Follow the prompts, pair the device with the phone, set up your Fitbit account, and configure the settings.
Similarly, Apple Watch 8 has a no-hassle setup process that typically starts through the Apple Watch app and pairing the tracker with the smartphone app to select the desired settings.
Simple and sweet!
The verdict:
It’s a tie! Setting up both fitness trackers is as easy as ABC; a process that gets completed in a couple of minutes. So, you can’t go wrong with either option. However, note that the ease of setup always comes down to personal preferences and the familiarity you have with the devices and their respective ecosystems.
Criterion 3: Accuracy
Apple Watch 8 gets ahead of Fitbit Sense 2 in terms of accuracy and veracity of data.
Since all Apple Watches are equipped with advanced GPS capabilities and the top-notch distance tracking feature, they provide precise, consistent results. The latest Series 8 model banks on two frequencies of GPS, which significantly cuts down the possibility of dropped signals and delivers outcomes that can be trusted.
However, the Fitbit Sense 2 doesn’t fare well against Apple Watch 8.
It’s because of two reasons:
- Fitbit Sense 2 has a single-frequency, in-built GPS, so the possibility of signal loss cannot be entirely ruled out.
- Fitbit Sense 2—because of its limitations—provides inflated, inaccurate data, giving a false sense of wellness picture to its users. During our testing, we observed that some stats related to step count and calorie burn were inflated.
The verdict:
Both Fitbit and Apple Watch trackers do a convincing job of tracking health metrics that matter. But the Apple Watch is packed with better, more comprehensive features to track and measure our fitness accurately. Having said that, we aren’t implying that Fitbit provides inaccurate information every time. In fact, the fitness tracker presents fitness stats and sleep data, which is spot-on and reliable.
Criterion 4: Design and Comfort
The Fitbit Sense 2’s design isn’t a major promotion over its previous versions.
If you’re familiar with the Fitbit series, you’ll know that the Sense 2’s design brings no novelty to the table except the addition of a physical button replaying the touch panel.
Speaking of the size and shape, the Sense 2 takes in all the praise for:
- Its slimmer dimensions.
- The OLED panel.
- The domed glass face (more square-shaped than most).
As far as the materials are concerned, the sides of the fitness tracker are made of aluminum, and the back comes in plastic.
One of our testers lauded the Fitbit watch for being so comfortable that he barely felt he had anything on. He admitted using the watch comfortably during high-intensity workouts and praised its engineering for being customer-centric.
He further added how he struggled with wearing the Apple Watch, which would instantly go into emergency mode and affect the quality of his workout.
The Apple Watch 8 is built on similar lines as Apple Watch 5 and 7. It is a typical iteration with nothing significant apart from being a bit bigger. It has an ergonomic design, fits nicely around the wrist, and has an OLED display, which is clear and bright.
However, on the comfort side, it loses points against Fitbit Sense 2.
The verdict:
If you’re looking for a fitness tracker that helps you track fitness holistically, practice mindfulness, and comes in a cost-effective range—all while promising comfort and robustness—place your bets on the Fitbit Sense 2.
Criterion 5: Compatibility
The Apple Watch 8 is exclusive to iOS and doesn’t support Android. No surprises here!
If you’ve an iPhone, it makes sense to bring in a Series 8 Apple Watch and get access to a whole band of features available for iOS users, such as Siri support and deep integration with iOS.
But, if you’re an Android user, invest in the Fitbit Sense 2 fitness tracker, more so in today’s times when the company is owned by Google, and the market is awash with news of Google launching a premium Fitbit smartwatch edition powered by Google Wear OS.
The verdict:
It’s as plain as day! Use Series 8 if you have an iPhone and Fitbit if you have an Android. We’re often asked: ‘Does Fitbit work with an iPhone?’
The answer is: YES!
All you need to do is to download the Fitbit app on your smartphone (Apple iOS 15 or higher or Android 9 or higher) and pair it with your watch to configure the settings.
Criterion 6: Battery Life
When discussing battery life, users want to know how long it lasts. The longer the battery life, the better!
The Fitbit Sense 2 can function for straight 6 days on a single charge. The Apple Watch, on the other hand, lasts for only 18-20 hours and has drawn the market flak for needing to be charged frequently.
The verdict:
By all measures, the Fitbit Sense 2 takes the cake for being the fitness tracker with the maximum battery life. Despite the launch of the new Apple Watch Ultra—having twice the battery life of its predecessors—the Fitbit range stands as the undisputed leader in the category.
Criterion 7: Water-Resistance
When compared to its predecessors, the Fitbit Sense 2 scores an extra for being swim-proof and its ability to track swim workouts efficiently.
Similarly, the Apple Watch 8 has a robust build that promises waterproofing and highly reliable fitness tracking up to 40-50 meters.
The verdict:
While both fitness trackers offer water-resistant features, we suggest opting for the Ultra edition of the Apple Watch if you’re into swimming and water sports. The Ultra smartwatch packs a highly durable design and can withstand water recreation better than any of Apple’s fitness tracking devices.
Which is Better: Fitbit or Apple Watch?
Choosing a Fitbit or an Apple depends entirely on your preferences and budget.
The Fitbit range commits itself to holistic fitness tracking, with every possible feature to help users understand their bodies better. The Apple Watch, on the other side, is more of a commercial entrant in the category.
However, at the same time, you can’t brush aside the precision of Apple technology and the reliability of the results it offers. The Fitbit needs more finish on that front.
The Fitbit watches don’t cost a bomb, but the Apple Watch is rather expensive and suits only a few budgets. Compatibility again favors Fitbit since these watches can work alongside iOS and Android. That, however, isn’t the case with the Apple Watch.
Overall, the decision is yours. It all depends on which ecosystem you trust and how important fitness tracking is to you.
