Need an exercise tracker however can’t determine whether or not to purchase a Fitbit wristband or fork out for the somewhat beautiful Apple Watch, now at Collection 9? We pit Apple Watch vs Fitbit to see which comes out finest on varied points: health monitoring, heart-rate monitoring, design, value, apps, battery life, telephone calls, music, and so forth.
Apple is thought for its smartwatches, and Fitbit for its exercise trackers and health and well being smartwatches. However the boundaries and capabilities are getting blurred with Fitbits trying extra like watches with engaging touchscreens, and Apple including extra well being options to its Watch.
Even smarter Sense and Versa Fitbits don’t run a number of apps like a smartwatch, however they’re immediately comparable on lots of their fitness-measuring capabilities, design themes and capabilities. And most function on-wrist notifications resembling Caller ID, Texts and WhatsApp—which, to be honest, are probably the most used non-fitness apps on most smartwatches anyway.
As a direct comparability, we’ll have a look at the Apple Watch (together with the Watch SE, Series 8, Collection 9 and Apple Watch Extremely and Extremely 2) vs the Fitbit Cost 6, Versa 3 and Versa 4, and top-end Fitbit Sense and Sense 2. The explanation we embrace the older Versa 3 and authentic Fitbit Sense is that they’re truly extra feature-full than Fitbit’s later smartwatches as Fitbit leans nearer to its proprietor Google’s Pixel Watch 2, which incorporates Fitbit inbuilt.
There are money-off offers on the very newest Fitbits; see our roundup of the very best Fitbit offers. And look out for the best Apple Watch deals too.
Each Apple and Fitbit make wonderful merchandise, so it’s a matter of deciding which options actually matter to you. We’ll give attention to well being and health as a core requirement, however there may be extra to each manufacturers than simply these capabilities.
Exercise monitoring
Protecting match doesn’t imply it’s a must to be a gymnasium freak or marathon runner. Protecting lively all through the day presents actual well being advantages too, and each the Apple Watch and Fitbit exercise trackers are very good at getting you transferring extra.
The Apple Watch and Fitbit exercise trackers measure steps taken, distance travelled and energy burned. Additionally they present you what number of minutes you’ve been lively throughout the day. Every tracks your progress over time and may retailer historic information, and also you set each day objectives for your self.
As well as, the Apple Watch Collection 6 and later, together with Fitbit smartwatches (excluding the Versa Lite Version) all have a barometric altimeter that counts distance climbed (take the hilly route residence, not the flat one). The Fitbits additionally sync weight information from non-obligatory Fitbit Aria scales, whereas the Apple Watch will play good with some other well being and health app that syncs with Apple Well being on iPhone.
Consequently, the Fitbit fashions vary from on a regular basis health and lively health (identical to the Apple Watch) and additional to sports activities and efficiency health—with the Cost 6, Sense 2 and Versa 3 and 4 supporting operating, cross-training, biking, energy and cardio exercises.
Critical runners dismissed the unique Apple Watch and Fitbit for his or her wants, preferring the Ionic or different devoted operating watches from the Garmin or Suunto. However that modified with the discharge of the Apple Watch Collection 2, which featured a built-in GPS identical to the Fitbit Cost 4/5/6, Versa 2/3/4 and Sense.
The 2nd-gen SE, Collection 8/9 and Extremely and Extremely 2 have sooner processors than the earlier generations, so apps load faster. All Apple’s Watch fashions, besides the Extremely and Extremely 2, nonetheless have weak battery life (and even the Extremely 2 falls in need of the Fitbits as compared), topping out at 18 hours on common (the Extremely reaches 36 hours). A model with built-in 4G can be accessible so it could possibly work with out having to take your iPhone with you if you train.
This makes it a more in-depth match to the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 3 & 4, which (with comparable built-in GPS, music controls, notifications and contactless funds) can maintain most of your train wants with out requiring you carry a telephone or pockets round. Fitbit sadly eliminated a whole lot of the apps and music controls with its newer Versa 4 and Sense 2 smartwatches.
Health is clearly on the core of the Fitbits, whereas the Apple Watch counts exercise monitoring amongst its many options.
The Apple Watch presents two major health apps: Exercise, which is all about well being, motion, wellness and your each day routine; and Exercise, which tracks operating, biking, swimming and strolling. All this information is collected in your iPhone through the Exercise app, though you will get a extra holistic view of their well being by utilizing the Well being app in your iPhone, which integrates information from a number of sources, not solely the Watch.
Apple makes use of motion and calorie burn somewhat than steps, which is Fitbit’s major metric—though Fitbit additionally measures energy and different metrics. Steps are counted by Apple however they don’t seem to be a major metric as you discover on Fitbit. Apple sticks to motion somewhat than energy for customers aged 13 and beneath.
Learn right here for some nice suggestions and recommendation on how to use the Apple Watch Activity app.
Whereas they work brilliantly with the iPhone, Fitbits don’t formally help Apple’s Well being Package.
You possibly can see at a look how far you’re along with your each day motion and well being objectives by trying on the Apple Watch’s colourful three rings, which mild as much as present your progress. The Transfer ring reveals energy burned. The Train ring shows what number of minutes of brisk exercise you’ve achieved. And the Stand ring reveals how typically you’ve stood as much as cease sitting down. The goal is to finish every ring daily. It’s a terrific motivation software.
Apple defines train as any exercise that’s equal to not less than a brisk stroll. The Watch seems at your coronary heart charge and motion information, so simply going for a stroll won’t transfer that inexperienced ring as a lot as you’d assume. It needs you to get your coronary heart pumping a bit sooner. The Apple Watch learns your habits so will push you tougher the extra lively you recover from time.
We love the Apple Watch’s ping to remind you for those who’ve been sitting round too lengthy—time to stretch the legs and get the center charge up for a bit, or not less than rise up. Principally, it’s a get-off-your-ass alert, from the haptic pulses to your wrist to notifications, that you just’ve been idle for a protracted time period. You possibly can truly get an alert even when standing up as a result of what the Watch is definitely measuring is your lack of transferring about.
Fitbit’s Reminders To Transfer works in the identical method, and is discovered on all Fitbits.
The Apple Exercise app provides you real-time stats for train time, distance walked/run, energy burned and tempo, and though it was initially irritating to make use of, a redesign means it’s not solely simpler to make use of, however importantly now works with 80 % of gymnasium tools, so that you’ll get the info from the operating machine or bike you employ at your native.
Setting objectives: Fitbit wins
One huge distinction right here is that Apple doesn’t allow you to set your self objectives for steps or different metrics, aside from calorie burn. If burning energy shouldn’t be your prime goal, then this can be a particular limitation of the Watch.
As compared, Fitbit permits you to set your self particular objectives for Steps, Distance, Energy Burned, Lively Zone Minutes, Flooring Climbed and your Hourly Exercise Objective.
Coronary heart-rate monitor: slim Fitbit win
The Apple Watch and heart-rate-checking Fitbits use one thing referred to as—deep breath now—photoplethysmography to measure your coronary heart charge. This makes use of inexperienced LEDs on the underside of the wristband to detect blood quantity and capillary-size adjustments beneath stress. When your coronary heart beats, your capillaries broaden and contract based mostly on blood quantity adjustments. The LED lights replicate on the pores and skin to detect blood quantity adjustments.
Blood is pink as a result of it displays pink mild and absorbs inexperienced mild. When your coronary heart beats, the blood stream in your wrist—and the inexperienced mild absorption—is larger.
The Fitbits monitor your coronary heart charge constantly, 24/7. They will retailer coronary heart charge information at 1-second intervals throughout train monitoring and at 5-second intervals all different instances.
However (or ought to I say wrist?) the Apple Watch checks your coronary heart charge solely each ten minutes throughout the day. Nevertheless, it does report your coronary heart charge constantly when the Exercise app is turned on, so that you get fixed suggestions throughout coaching periods. The Watch’s built-in heart-rate monitor does help exterior heart-rate screens too.
Apple has improved the Coronary heart Fee app, which now measures your resting coronary heart charge and your restoration coronary heart charge, and can provide you notifications if something appears awry.
The Apple Watch now comes with watchOS 10 pre-installed. Current enhancements embrace Coronary heart Fee Zones; customizable exercises; a Multisport exercise that routinely switches between any sequence of swimming, biking, and operating; Race Route, which helps you to compete in opposition to your finest time operating or biking a well-recognized route; Automated monitor detection; Working Kind metrics; Working Energy; Treatment logging and reminders; Sleep Phases; AFib Historical past; Temperature adjustments; and extra.
Fitbit says that the Sense and Versa (from model 3) have additionally improved heart-rate measurement, because the LED sensors have nearer contact with the wrist.
The Apple Watch has the flexibility to detect and warn of a protracted elevated coronary heart charge when not exercising, and is ready to spot low charges too (which may very well be an indication of bradycardia, when the center shouldn’t be pumping sufficient oxygen-rich blood across the physique). It additionally seems out for irregular coronary heart rhythms, notifying you of potential atrial fibrillation.
Sufferers visiting docs typically complain of coronary heart issues that aren’t taking place proper then, so having detailed and long-term coronary heart information on file within the Well being app is probably helpful.
Let’s have a look at these coronary heart sensors and the way they’ll detect sickness in additional element beneath.
Foundry
Cardio Health VO2 max Rating: Fitbit wins on testing
Cardio health is a measurement of your “VO2 max”, which is the utmost quantity of oxygen your physique can devour throughout train. The hospital-grade VO2 max process entails the individual driving a stationary bike or stroll on a treadmill at growing depth ranges whereas carrying a face masks. utilizing a health tracker is probably not as correct however it’s nonetheless a powerful indicator of how nicely your physique makes use of oxygen throughout strenuous train.
Your cardio health degree is a powerful indicator of your total bodily well being and a predictor of your long-term well being. In keeping with research, folks with low cardiorespiratory health have a 56 % increased danger of demise from coronary heart illness than those that are probably the most match.
Whereas Fitbit makes use of heart-rate information from a number of exercise varieties, together with Bike for instance, Apple provides its cardio health estimate by measuring how arduous your coronary heart is working throughout solely the next exercises: Outside Stroll, Outside Run or Mountaineering.
Fitbit’s calculation is due to this fact thought-about to current a fuller image. If operating and/or strolling are your major exercise varieties, then this distinction is basically irrelevant. My Cardio Health Rating seems rather more wholesome on Fitbit—with out utilizing a motorcycle journey to assist the calculation. I do a whole lot of strolling and I’ve a low resting coronary heart charge however I’m unsure my VO2 max rating is as nice as Fitbit suggests.
Checking coronary heart irregularities: Draw
Measuring coronary heart charge additionally permits for the units to test when the center’s rhythm is irregular—which is usually a signal of atrial fibrillation (AFib), a number one reason for stroke.
Each Apple and Fitbit embrace the flexibility to measure an individual’s electrocardiogram (ECG) sign.
The Fitbit Sense and Apple Watch embrace ECG checks. For instance, by putting a finger on the Digital Crown of the Watch you will get it to run an electrocardiogram (ECG) check on you.
Every ECG app is CE marked and cleared within the European Financial Space and FDA-approved within the US.
Notice that the U.S. Worldwide Commerce Fee has determined that the Apple Watch infringes ECG patents from medical gadget firm AliveCor, so this may very well be a blocker for this function sooner or later.
Checking blood oxygen (SpO2) ranges: Apple win
The steadiness of blood-oxygen saturation is significant to well being.
Low blood oxygen ranges may point out a situation referred to as Hypoxemia. Most individuals don’t have the continual well being circumstances (bronchial asthma, coronary heart illness, and continual obstructive pulmonary illness) that require them to watch their blood oxygen degree, however for those who do, then having an SpO2 sensor will probably be very useful.
A traditional SpO2 studying is often between 95 and one hundred pc.
Each the Apple Watch and the most recent Fitbit smartwatches supply SpO2 sensors to detect blood-oxygen saturation. Each enable on-demand readings of your blood oxygen, however Apple’s resolution is extra versatile.
The brand new Apple Watch can take a blood O2 studying in simply 15 seconds at any time of day, whereas Fitbit solely measures your blood-oxygen ranges when you sleep, and it’s a must to bear in mind to change the clock face for it to take a studying until you subscribe to Fitbit’s Premium service.
Fitbit customers require a Premium subscription to then monitor developments over time within the Well being Metrics dashboard throughout the Fitbit app.
One other alleged Apple infringement is on a patent for the Apple Watch’s blood oxygen sensor, so this function additionally has a short-term danger of disappearing.
You can even learn your blood oxygen ranges utilizing a pulse oximeter. Right here’s what that’s and the place to purchase one.
Calorie counting: draw
The essential components for losing a few pounds is to rely energy in and guarantee you’re expending extra energy out by train. Each the Watch and Fitbits enable you rely these energy.
The Apple Watch makes use of movement and coronary heart charge information to find out calorie rely, which then dictates the Transfer metric of the Exercise app. As you proceed to put on your Apple Watch it can higher study your habits, common coronary heart charge ranges, and regular exercise ranges, serving to to make calorie counts extra correct.
Not like Fitbit, Apple splits aside “resting energy” (energy you burn simply by present) and “lively energy” (burnt by extra vigorous exercise). The Transfer ring is fascinated with Lively, not Resting energy, which is a bit extra rigorous than Fitbit’s strategy. Fitbit permits for “resting energy” too.
Your Resting Metabolic Fee (RMR) is the variety of energy that your physique burns while you’re at full relaxation (with muscle tissue relaxed, resembling asleep) to maintain itself alive (maintain very important organs resembling your coronary heart, mind, nervous system, lungs, kidneys, liver, muscle tissue, and pores and skin) and digest meals. (Technical bit: Resting Metabolic Fee shouldn’t be the identical as Basal Metabolic Fee (BMR), which excludes the energy burned digesting meals.)
In the event you set your calorie-burn goal excessive on the Apple Watch you’ll have to stroll the equal of 20,000 Fitbit steps.
The likes of the Versa and Sense acknowledge if you’re operating and routinely enter Run Mode—beginning the GPS or linked GPS—and even routinely pause if you do. The most recent Apple Watch variations additionally do that.
Fitbit estimates the variety of energy burned based mostly in your BMR (Basal Metabolic Fee), calculated utilizing your peak, weight, age, and gender. The trackers that measure coronary heart charge go into extra element, with the calorie burn estimate taking coronary heart charge into consideration.
Fitbit calorie monitoring begins at midnight and incorporates the energy burnt whereas sleeping—which is clearly missed by the Apple Watch that has to cost in a single day. If you sync your tracker, Fitbit replaces the estimated calorie burn along with your tracker’s information.
You can even manually log health actions, so the energy burned throughout these actions are additionally taken into consideration. If you log your meals every day you possibly can set a Fitbit Meals Plan that estimates your each day calorie consumption, and data the variety of energy you’ve gotten burned and eaten thus far within the day.
Sleep monitoring: Fitbit win, Apple enhancing
Scientists are more and more linking weight acquire and poor metabolism to sleep deprivation, so getting a very good evening’s sleep needs to be a part of your well being, health and weight-loss technique. Sleep loss can result in an elevated prevalence of diabetes and weight problems. We must always all be aiming for 8 hours of sleep per day.
Eight hours is a worthy goal, however unrealistic for a lot of (resembling dad and mom!). Between 6 and seven.5 hours is possibly a purpose you’ll hit extra typically.
As a result of its battery life is proscribed (see beneath), many customers cost their Watch in a single day. The Apple Watch’s battery life is far improved, nevertheless, so can (on mild, non-GPS use) final practically three full days and two nights. However to get wherever close to this degree of battery life you’ll must cease monitoring exercises, reduce your app use and switch off the always-on show.
Apple prefers you to cost your Watch if you get an opportunity throughout the day. Take a look at our roundup of the best Apple Watch chargers, stands and docks. You should purchase iPhone chargers that additionally cost your Apple Watch through the included cable; see Macworld’s listing of the best MagSafe chargers.
However that’s not as spectacular as Fitbit battery life that may final per week or extra between expenses.
Since watchOS 7 Apple has included a Sleep app. It helps you identify a daily bedtime routine and hold monitor of your sleep developments evening after evening. watchOS 9 added Sleep Phases, an enchancment of Sleep that screens phases like REM and deep sleep.
In the event you cost your Watch in a single day, Apple presents sleep monitoring and is attempting to place the Watch as one thing you possibly can put on in a single day, notably for those who’ve obtained the Extremely with its longer battery life—though it’s uncomfortable to put on in mattress as a result of it’s thicker!
Apple Sleep makes use of movement sensors, heartbeat sensors, and microphones to detect micro-movements to trace how deeply customers are sleeping. Watch will sync with the iPhone or iPad to indicate visualisations of the durations of wake and sleep, plus a chart exhibiting weekly sleep developments. In watchOS 7 and later, Apple improved the providing with the addition of breath-rate monitoring.
Evaluating Apple’s Sleep app to Fitbit’s is revealing, as my colleague David Worth describes in his in any other case glowing Apple Watch 8 review. Regardless of loving the most recent Apple Watch, he replaces it with a Fitbit at bedtime! He’s extra impressed with the sleep-tracking in watchOS 9: “Apple Watch’s sleep monitoring function has obtained quite a bit higher this 12 months. Up to now I’ve complained that it’s far much less subtle than the monitoring supplied by rival wearables, however now you get broken-down instances for Awake, REM, Core and Deep sleep phases, together with estimates of the particular sleep you’ve had versus the time spent in mattress.”
In the event you use the most recent Fitbits to trace your sleep, you possibly can see a report of the Sleep Phases you cycle by at evening. When you’re asleep every evening, your physique sometimes goes by a number of sleep cycles: Gentle Sleep, Deep Sleep, and REM sleep that’s related to dreaming.
Fitbit goes into a lot larger element on the totally different Sleep Phases you undergo, and now presents a nightly Sleep Rating on the standard of your sleep.
Sleep phases are historically measured in a lab utilizing an electroencephalogram to detect mind exercise together with different techniques to watch eye and muscle exercise. Fitbit’s trackers can’t match this degree of medical accuracy however can estimate your sleep phases each evening.
Fitbit estimates sleep phases utilizing a mixture of motion and heart-rate patterns. When you’re sleeping, your gadget tracks the beat-to-beat adjustments in your coronary heart charge, referred to as coronary heart charge variability (HRV), which fluctuate as you transition between mild sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep phases.
Apple
Like Fitbit, Apple use the Watch’s accelerometer and coronary heart charge sensor to find out if you’re in REM, Core, or Deep sleep phases, in addition to fundamental sleep length that the Apple Watch already options. Customers are capable of view detailed details about the time and high quality of their sleep with extra metrics together with coronary heart charge and respiratory charge, in sleep comparability charts within the Well being app. This may also help diagnose potential circumstances like apnea.
Apple added fast-charging to the Apple Watch 7 and later, which can remind you when it’s time to cost it earlier than you go to mattress.
However Apple wants to significantly enhance the Watch battery life if it’s going to be as efficient on this key well being measurement as Fitbit. Whereas that is definitely the case with the Watch Extremely, the profit to sleep monitoring is undone by this mannequin being too cumbersome for comfy nighttime put on.
Take a look at Macworld’s roundup of the best Apple Watch chargers.
Apps: Fitbit wins on health, Apple on every thing else
Apple’s Exercise and Exercise apps look wonderful, in fact, however Fitbit’s interesting multi-phone app options extra health stats and information graphics. Fitbit additionally wins by having a wealthy desktop dashboard to gather and set up your exercise information.
The Versa 3 & 4 and Sense 1 & 2 work with the Fitbit Coach and Premium, which mix dynamic video exercises with Audio Teaching periods to assist customers improve endurance, pace and kind. With pricing of £7.99 or $9.99 a month, Fitbit says its Premium service will develop to incorporate superior instruments with a library of packages and exercises to ship customized adaptive well being and health teaching.
Apple has launched its personal Health+ with exercises and trainers for £9.99 or $9.99 a month, and it’s suitable with most Apple units together with Mac, iPad and Apple TV. Although the providing was initially restricted, it has expanded to incorporate the likes of Yoga and HIIT.
The Versa and Sense may measure up higher in opposition to the Apple Watch if that they had a much-expanded vary of non-fitness apps. Proper now its apps are very restricted exterior of Fitbit’s spectacular well being and health capabilities, plus notification options.
Fitbit is definitely transferring backwards when it comes to apps, eradicating most from its newest smartwatches, the Versa 4 and Sense 2. Fitbit’s proprietor Google is pushing smartwatch customers to its newer Pixel smartwatch, with Fitbit inbuilt.
For this reason some Fitbit customers are transferring to Apple Watch regardless of years of having fun with the Fitbit expertise. Learn our information on how to switch from Fitbit to Apple Watch.
In order for you a wide variety of non-health apps then the Watch or an Android equal will go well with you higher than a Fitbit, though they do function Caller ID, textual content message and calendar alerts on display screen.
Sporting each Watch and Versa and Sense we discovered that probably the most used Apple Watch apps had been Notifications, that are ably dealt with by the Fitbit smartwatches too—and in a much less graphic method by the less-smart Fitbit trackers too. If the Apple Watch has a “killer app” it’s in all probability Exercise—so the Fitbits compete very favorably for the most-used each day apps regardless of providing fewer third-party apps.
Different Apple apps embrace Calendar, Digital camera Distant, Climate and Apple Maps. And there’s an enormous vary of third-party apps for the Apple Watch.
With the Watch, you can too create an album of images saved in your watch and share these with folks. You can even create a Watch face with one in every of your images because the background.
The Fitbits are restricted nearly solely to health options. As well as, the Encourage 2 & 3, Cost 5 & 6, Versa 3 & 4 and Sense 1 & 2 all function Caller ID and Textual content notifications, buzz and present on display screen who’s calling when your telephone (iPhone, Android or Home windows Telephone) rings.
Music: Apple wins
You are able to do quite a bit with music on the Apple Watch in case you are utilizing Apple Music. You possibly can add music to your library, take away songs, mark what you want, add songs to the queue, browse an artist’s music, and look at the contents of albums and playlists.
You possibly can play music saved on Apple Watch, scroll by album art work, then faucet a playlist or album to play it.
You even have a specific amount of management when utilizing Spotify on the Apple Watch: Play, pause, and skip music and podcasts; management quantity; browse playlists and tracks; add songs to your Spotify library; get information about what’s taking part in; and save your favorites.
Fitbit’s music choices depend upon the smartwatch mannequin. Beforehand, you would obtain 2.5GB of music (about 300 songs) or podcasts to the Ionic, Versa and Versa 2. However, frustratingly, with the Sense and Versa 3, you should utilize solely obscure premium streaming companies Pandora and Deezer, or use the watch to regulate Spotify Premium in your telephone.
Fitbit has once more gone backwards with the Versa 4 and Sense 2, which take away music controls altogether.
For precise offline music storage on the wearable, Apple wins simply—though provided that you employ its Music service or Spotify.
Design: Fitbit catching up
There are various totally different combos of Apple Watch varieties, sizes and straps, from the straightforward Sport to the Watch Hermès Version. Apple’s Jonathan Ive (now departed from Cupertino) scored one other design success with the Watch, and it’s actually somewhat stunning. The selection of straps for the Watch is immense, and customers reward their robustness—the place older Fitbit bands used to fail extra ceaselessly.
Fitbit’s tracker wristbands are much more minimal, with easy screens (see beneath) and stark straps, accessible in a variety of a number of colours. You possibly can put on Fitbits such because the Encourage 3, Luxe or Cost 6 along with your common wristwatch, however I wouldn’t put on an Apple Watch with a standard watch on the identical arm—the identical is true of the Versa and Sense Fitbits, although.
The Apple Watch is your major watch, not one other wristband. The Fitbit Cost 6 or Encourage 3 can simply be worn as your solely watch, too, in fact, however can journey additional up the wrist for those who nonetheless love your common timepiece.
Strap selection: The Fitbit Versa (beneath) and Sense seems quite a bit just like the Apple Watch, however have a smaller however nonetheless respectable vary of straps—with a selection of colours in Small and Giant sizes. There are extra luxurious straps additionally accessible at further price: Stainless Metal hyperlinks or Mesh, plus Leather-based.
In order for you a watch to appear like a watch, then the Apple Watch and Fitbit Versa or Sense are for you. As a private desire, we discovered the slimmer Fitbits to be probably the most comfy of all of the smartwatches we examined, however the Apple Watch is definitely not uncomfortable.
The Fitbit Encourage 3, Luxe and Cost 6 are additionally comfy, and, in truth, largely it’s tough to let you know’ve obtained one on in any respect, as they’re so light-weight.
Display screen: Apple wins
Apple Watch vs Fitbit specs and dimensions: The Fitbit Sense and Versa fall barely behind the smaller model of the Apple Watch Collection 9. Each Fitbits are geared up with a 1.58-inch show with a decision of 336 x 336 pixels, whereas the 41mm Apple Watch Collection 9 sports activities a 1.69in show at 430 x 352.
The scale of the Sense and Versa 3 pebble are 40.48mm.
All Fitbits use an AMOLED show, which presents deeper blacks and sharper particulars than the unique Versa.
The Apple Watch show elevated with the Collection 7, leaping up from 40mm and 44mm to 41mm and 45mm respectively, the place it stays with the Collection 9. Whereas it doesn’t sound like quite a bit, mixed with smaller bezels, there’s a 20% improve in total show measurement.
The brand new Apple Watch 9 is available in 41mm (430 x 352 pixels) and 45mm (484 x 396) sizes.
The most recent Extremely 2 display screen measures 49mm (410 x 502).
The 40mm Apple Watch SE has a 324 x 394 decision. The 44mm Apple Watch SE has a 368 x 448 decision.
The Apple Watch’s touchscreen is a colourful magnificence. The Versa and Sense’s coloration screens usually are not as lush as Apple’s, however do enable for greater than the opposite Fitbit exercise trackers’ minimal seems—the Encourage 3, Fitbit Luxe and Cost 6 boast a small however coloration display screen.
As a result of the display screen is small, you may favor utilizing the Apple Watch’s Digital Crown to navigate as your finger will cowl an enormous chunk of the show. Swiping works nice, although, and that is accessible on the Cost 6, Luxe, Versa and Sense in Fitbit’s line-up.
You additionally get customisable watch faces with Apple, from digital and analogue chronometer and picture backgrounds to the Siri-powered watch faces and extra, with an ever-expanding assortment of faces. There’s additionally a variety of problems from each Apple and third-party apps, permitting you to get data just like the climate, air high quality and extra at a look.
You can even choose watch faces on the Ionic, and even design your personal, however it could possibly’t compete within the complication division.
The Watch fared very nicely in US Shopper Studies checks to see how scratch-proof its display screen is. The Sport mannequin was impervious to all however a masonry drill bit, and the Sapphire display screen of the highest Watch couldn’t be scratched in any respect! With iPhone-like Gorilla Glass the Ionic’s display screen can be spectacular.
In order for you your wrist’s display screen to be all the time on, then solely the Fitbit Versa and Sense and Collection 6, 7, 8 and 9 plus Extremely 1 & 2 of Apple Watch supply this feature—helpful throughout exercises or cycle rides if you won’t wish to elevate your wrist to your face.
There’s definitely much less selection or frivolity with Fitbit, which sticks to its easy digital show on all however the Sense and Versa, which might present different faces for those who fancy it. However their less-flashy shows imply large further battery life for the Fitbits in comparison with the rapidly tiring Apple Watch.
GPS: Apple wins on built-in
The unique Apple Watch didn’t have built-in GPS—it paired with the iPhone in your pocket and used its GPS as an alternative. That was an issue for runners away from an indoor treadmill. Sure, you possibly can carry your telephone round with you on a run, however the Watch sells itself as a devoted train gadget, and with out GPS it’s not so for runners. That drawback was solved with the Collection 2, which means the present Collection SE, 9 and Extremely 2 all have GPS built-in.
Utilizing a mountaineering app ViewRanger you possibly can choose from close by hikes, get notifications about scenic factors whereas en-route, be sure to don’t go off the path, and report your exercise monitoring, all utilizing the Watch’s GPS.
The highest-end Apple Watch Extremely contains a dual-frequency GPS for precision.
Working GPS eats battery life, and that’s one thing that the Watch doesn’t have oodles of. Critical runners are in all probability higher suggested to go for a devoted runner’s watch from the likes of Garmin, however the Apple Watch is now a correct contender.
The Fitbit Versa, Sense and non-smartwatch Cost 6 even have GPS built-in.
The Fitbit Versa Lite, Versa 2, Luxe and Encourage 2 & 3 want to attach along with your smartphone for GPS performance, though they may work with iPhone, Android and Home windows Telephone in comparison with the Apple Watch’s iOS-only compatibility. The Ionic does have a built-in GPS, and as talked about earlier will routinely flip this on when it acknowledges you’ve gotten began a run.
To get comparable options with the opposite Fitbits you should utilize the MobileRun app, which provides you the flexibility to trace runs, walks, and hikes utilizing GPS. The MobileRun function is obtainable for all customers of GPS-enabled units operating the Fitbit apps for iOS, Android, and Home windows Telephone.
The Apple Watch will also be tied to different iOS apps, resembling MotionX GPS and RunKeeper, that use the iPhone’s GPS.
Fitbit’s A number of Sport Mode additionally permits you to monitor your biking (distance, location, common pace, coronary heart charge and energy burned).
The Apple Watch’s Maps app, nevertheless, lends itself to lengthy runs, particularly in new places. Each Watch and Fitbit smartwatches have Climate apps so you possibly can inform whether or not to place a coat on earlier than you allow the home.
The Apple Watch Collection 6 launched a built-in Compass to the vary, with extra location information, resembling heading, incline, latitude, longitude and present elevation. The Apple Compass has been improved on the most recent watchOS 9.
Most up-to-date fashions of Apple Watch additionally supply Worldwide SOS, which works by urgent and holding the facet button to name the emergency companies.
Telephone calls in your wrist: Apple wins however Fitbit catching up
With the Apple Watch you possibly can each make and obtain voice calls in your wrist. You possibly can even use Siri for hands-free dialling, just by elevating your wrist and talking.
If somebody calls you when you’re carrying your Apple Watch (and it’s inside vary of your iPhone, or a mobile mannequin that may work independently of the telephone), you’ll be alerted by a delicate vibration in addition to an audible ringtone for those who haven’t set the gadget to silent.
Have a look at your watch and also you’ll see who’s calling, together with a solution or decline button. If it’s somebody you wish to discuss to, faucet the inexperienced reply button. There are a built-in speaker and microphone, so that you’ll be capable to chat with out getting your iPhone out of your bag or pocket. In the event you don’t need everybody else to have the ability to hear your dialog you’ll want to use a Bluetooth headset, or switch the decision from the Watch to your iPhone.
The one Fitbits with a microphone are the Versa 2, 3 & 4 and Sense 1 & 2, which makes use of the mic to function Amazon’s Alexa (normally a greater voice assistant than Siri however Siri on Watch can provide you with instructions or play you a music).
With each the top-end Fitbit Sense and Versa, now you can take hands-free Bluetooth calls with the on-device microphone and audio system, ship incoming calls to voicemail, and management quantity with out reaching for a telephone. Android customers may also reply to textual content messages on-the-go with voice-to-text instructions.
Likewise, the Apple Watch has a microphone and a speaker, so you possibly can discuss to it and it could possibly discuss to you. You can even use the mic to do voice dictation, ship audio messages, and chat to associates through the Telephone app. It additionally boasts as much as 32GB of storage so you possibly can hold a bunch of your dearest images in your wrist.
However, in fact, the Apple Watch pairs solely with Apple’s iPhone, so Android customers ought to contemplate Fitbit their good friend, or look to different smartwatches from the likes of Samsung and Google’s personal Pixel smartwatch.
Battery life: Fitbit wins, no contest
The Apple Watch has so many potential makes use of (make calls, view images, ship and test messages, change music, test climate, exercise monitoring, digital funds, and, er, inform the time) that its battery runs down quite a bit sooner than customary exercise trackers.
Apple says you’ll rise up to 18 hours of lively and passive use with the SE and Collection 8: that’s 90 time-checks, 90 notifications, 45 minutes of nonstop app use, and a 30-minute exercise with Bluetooth music playback from the watch. So you’ll want to cost each evening until you employ it solely to inform the time through which case you may get three days out of it in Energy Reserve Mode.
The most recent Apple Watch Extremely boasts a 36-hour battery life—as much as 60 hours on low energy settings, claims Apple.
As talked about earlier, Apple Watch has much-improved battery life, and with mild use (Exercise monitoring, Time and Notifications identical to on a Fitbit) can final practically two full days—and crucially a few nights for sleep monitoring. However Apple acknowledges the weaker battery life by not having sleep monitoring as a built-in app.
The Apple Watch is sensible about saving what battery life it has. The watch face all the time turns off each 15 to twenty seconds. If you put your arm down the display screen goes black (or dims for those who’ve obtained an always-on mannequin). If you increase your wrist, the display screen returns.
You can even put it into “Energy Save Mode” within the Exercise app in your telephone to show off heart-rate monitoring fully throughout runs—though that’s not nice for studying extra about your run. Critical runners need element earlier than, throughout and after the run, and don’t wish to carry their iPhone and their Watch with them.
Fitbits final quite a bit longer between expenses, at round 5 days. The Cost 6 can run for as much as per week; the Encourage 3 for 10 days. Fitbit re-charging time is round two hours, across the identical as with the Watch. In the event you use the Fitbit’s or Watch’s GPS quite a bit then battery life will drop significantly. With GPS turned on the Fitbit will fade by 10 hours, and the Watch by 5.
Anybody who’s a eager tracker consumer will know the worry when you’re instantly alerted to a fading battery. Each step should be counted. Overuse your Watch, and it would die throughout a exercise or simply transferring round throughout the day.
Learn how to get longer Fitbit battery life.
Water resistance: Apple Watch Extremely wins
The Apple Watch SE and Collection 9 are waterproof, “as much as 50 meters”—though it’s actually not for deep water, as Apple explains: “Which means it might be used for shallow-water actions like swimming in a pool or ocean. Nevertheless, Apple Watch shouldn’t be used for scuba diving, waterskiing or different actions involving high-velocity water or submersion beneath shallow depth. Stainless-steel and leather-based straps usually are not water resistant.”
Divers fare higher with the strong Apple Watch Extremely 2, which might attain depths of 100m (beneath ISO customary 22810), though Apple says that the Extremely “shouldn’t be used for diving beneath 40 meters”. A Depth app makes it appropriate for snorkeling or informal underwater exercise. With it, you possibly can see the time, present depth, water temperature, length beneath water, and most depth you’ve reached.
The Fitbits are swim-proof and secure within the water at 5 ATM (50m). Fitbit additionally recommends taking its wristbands off earlier than showering as a result of, as with all wearable gadget, it’s finest to your pores and skin if the band stays dry and clear. See: Are Fitbits waterproof? for extra particulars.
The Apple Watch and Fitbit smartwatches supply swimming monitoring options. Each the Watch and Fitbit Sense function a gyroscope for extra correct swim measurements.
Rewards: Fitbit loses its medal, Apple wins
After they attain their private bests or hit milestones, Apple Watch customers get a particular badge for every achievement, which is then saved within the Health app on their iPhone.
Fitbit used to dish out a number of enjoyable badges for achievements, tying them to comparative distances, so that you’d get a Sahara badge if you’ve walked the equal distance (not all in at some point!).
Sadly, Fitbit eliminated such badges and challenges initially of 2023, claiming that they had been hardly ever used.
An actual motivational plus with Fitbit (and plenty of different exercise trackers) is the flexibility to compete in opposition to associates. This can be a enjoyable method to push your self that bit additional: stroll that escalator, go away the elevate and take the steps.
Apple Watch homeowners can share their Exercise circles with your mates to maintain one another motivated, however this isn’t as straightforward as with Fitbit.
With Apple, you possibly can invite associates to compete in a seven-day competitors the place you each earn factors by filling your Exercise rings.
Apple presents achievement badges for the primary time you carry out new workout routines, exercise data, 7-workout weeks, and transfer objectives and streaks. There are month-to-month challenges, too.
Discover My…: Apple wins, Fitbit catching up
Smartwatches aren’t low-cost, and generally you mislay one. If it falls off your wrist whereas out on a run, your possibilities of discovering it unaided are slim.
Fortunately, Apple has constructed its Discover My tech into its Apple Watch, identical to it has with most of its merchandise. Robotically enabled, this makes use of Wi-Fi or mobile connections in Location Providers to detect the place your Apple gadget was final recorded. Apple Watch with GPS can use GPS and a trusted Wi-Fi connection.
In case your Apple Watch is paired along with your iPhone, it’s arrange routinely if you activate Discover My iPhone.
Press on the Watch’s facet button to convey up your apps; and click on on Discover Gadgets.
You possibly can see your Apple Watch units on a map, play a sound to seek out it, show a message on a misplaced Watch, lock it till you recuperate it, and even erase it for those who don’t. In case your Apple Watch goes lacking, you possibly can instantly lock it from iCloud.com or your paired iPhone. If you discover it, you possibly can unlock it.
It’s not doable to make use of such know-how with most Fitbits. The corporate has not too long ago partnered with location specialist Tile to combine its device-finding software program with the entry-level Fitbit Encourage 2. We hope, and count on, the opposite Fitbits to have Tile tech added quickly.
For different Fitbits, you want the app and a few luck. Verify the Fitbit app to see the final time your gadget synced. If it synced not too long ago, then it’s in all probability throughout the vary of your telephone, so take your telephone to the place you assume you misplaced it, and attempt to sync. In the event you’re in luck and the Fitbit is inside 30 toes Bluetooth vary, the Fitbit will sync, proving it’s close by.
You can even strive utilizing a Bluetooth locator app that will help you discover your gadget inside about 100 toes if its battery continues to be reside.
Evaluating all of the fashions: Apple Watch vs Fitbit
Whereas it’s a terrific entry-level health tracker, the Fitbit Encourage 3 is possibly too fundamental to be in contrast with the Apple Watch.
The Fitbit Cost 6 shouldn’t be a smartwatch. Its apps are fundamental, though it has seen an improve from monochrome to paint touchscreen. However aside from that, it’s an exercise tracker that provides a whole lot of health and sensible options, together with built-in GPS, heart-rate monitor, automated exercise detection, altimeter, smartphone notifications, contactless funds, and even stress monitoring. Costs begin at: US $159 / £139.
The Fitbit Versa 3 is a smartwatch with a terrific coloration touchscreen that permits for brighter graphics and on-screen exercises, plus an always-on show possibility. It has a microphone and speaker for telephone calls, and has each Alexa and Google Assistant voice instruments, music management, and a few smartwatch apps. Costs begin at US $169 / £169.
The Fitbit Versa 4 smartwatch matches the Versa 3 on most seems and options, however crucially is proscribed on others (resembling third-party apps, Google Assistant and music management), making the Vesra 3 the higher health smartwatch, and it’s cheaper too. Costs begin at US $199 / £179.
The Fitbit Sense provides a bunch of sensors which might be constructed round well being in addition to health. It has stress-management instruments based mostly on sensors that measure Electrodermal Exercise (EDA) and Pores and skin Temperature. There’s SP02 monitoring for blood oxygen and electrocardiogram (ECG) to test your coronary heart’s rhythm with excessive and low heart-rate notifications. Costs begin at US $219 / £219.
As with the cut-down Versa 4, the Fitbit Sense 2 has been hobbled by Fitbit/Google to push the Pixel Watch, so we favor the cheaper authentic model. Costs begin at US $249 / £219.
Google, which purchased Fitbit in 2019, now has its personal smartwatch, the Pixel Watch 2. It boasts much more apps than the Fitbit Sense or Sense 2 however, regardless of having Fitbit options baked in, doesn’t have as many well being and health sensors because the cheaper Fitbit smartwatch. Costs begin at $349 / £349.
The Apple Watch SE is the entry-level mannequin, however matches the higher-end Apple Watch fashions on many options, though lacks a number of the well being and health capabilities. For fundamental health monitoring, it’s a terrific worth smartwatch in both 40mm or 44mm sizes. Costs begin at US$249 / £259.
The Apple Watch Collection 9 has a bigger show (41mm or 45mm) that curves across the edges (that may be set to always-on), together with ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, sooner charging and a extra superior coronary heart sensor. Whereas the SE has an aluminum case, the 8 has choices in chrome steel, too, with extra coloration and band choices. Costs begin at US$399 / £399.
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 is the final word Apple Watch and is priced accordingly. It has a bigger, brighter 49mm show (410 x 502 pixels) and is tremendous powerful, made with titanium. Whereas not matching Fitbit’s battery life, its 36-hour length smashes the SE and eight’s 18 hours. It’s waterproof as much as 100m, in comparison with the opposite Watch and Fitbits that may attain 50m, so is a greater possibility for divers. Its GPS is extra correct than the opposite smartwatches reviewed right here. Costs begin at US$799 / £799.
Worth: Apple getting cheaper
After all, value is vital when selecting between Fitbit and Apple Watch.
Nobody ever accused Apple of promoting low-cost merchandise. Its capacity to make the trade’s most costly merchandise into bestsellers is the explanation that it’s one of many richest firms on the planet. And the Apple Watch, whereas on no account the costliest watch on this planet, is the priciest smartwatch.
However Apple has now reduce the entry-level Apple Watch value right down to Fitbit smartwatch ranges of affordability. Fitbit nonetheless has less expensive choices for trackers that aren’t smartwatches, although.
The Apple Watch SE is the entry-level Apple Watch, priced at US$249 / £219 for the 40mm variant and US$279 / £249 for the 44mm variant, with the mobile mannequin costing US$50 / £70 extra.
Collection 9 Apple Watches are a noticeable bounce up in price, beginning at US$399 / £399 for the 41mm model, with the metal variant costing much more extra (from $699 / £699), and the mobile mannequin of every additionally prices extra (US$499 / £499 for the aluminum physique).
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 is on one other degree however not too far off the metal Collection 9, beginning at US$799 / £799.
Purchase on the Apple Store US, Apple Store UK or Apple Store AU.
Fitbit wristbands begin at US $99 / £84 for the Fitbit Encourage 3. The Fitbit Cost 6 is priced at US $159 / £139, the Fitbit Versa 3 at US $169 / £169, and the Fitbit Sense at US $279 / £219. Don’t hassle with the dearer however cut-down Versa 4 or Sense 2.
Even the costliest Fitbit is across the identical value as the most cost effective Apple Watch—even the Watch SE. Notice that you would be able to typically choose up a Fitbit cheaper on-line from shops resembling Amazon, whereas Apple hardly ever presents reductions.
See our up to date roundup of the finest Fitbit offers.
After all, you get a complete lot extra performance to your cash with the Apple Watch, but when it’s exercise monitoring you’re after then you definitely save a bunch going for a Fitbit.
Compatibility: Apple is iPhone solely
Fitbit is suitable with iOS and Android. You don’t must have a smartphone for Fitbit to work, as you possibly can sync with the wonderful desktop Fitbit Dashboard, but it surely’s good to have extra syncing alternatives and be capable to see some fancy stats and graphs on the go.
Whereas solely the Versa 3 and Sense smartwatches can run apps themselves, these Fitbit wristbands will be built-in with apps resembling MapMyRun, MyFitnessPal, Runkeeper, Endomondo, Strava and extra. Later Versa 4 and Sense 2 are severely cutback relating to third-party apps.
Google’s Pixel Watch, as you may think, is Android solely.
For apparent causes Apple Watch is suitable with iOS units solely, so the iPhone is the one smartphone that may work with it, and you really want one for it to make sense.
Apple Watch can run different health apps, resembling Nike+Run Membership, Runtastic Professional, Pocket Yoga, Map My Run, Endomondo, and Cyclemeter GPS, with extra being added on a regular basis.
Listening to: Apple wins serving to your ears
Apple launched a Noise app in watchOS 6 that measures ambient sound ranges and length of publicity. watchOS 7 added additional aids to listening to well being with headphone audio notifications.
This may present how loudly you’re listening to sound by your headphones when utilizing an iPhone, iPod contact or Apple Watch, and the way these ranges might influence listening to over time.
Apple will let you know when your listening has reached 100% of the secure weekly listening quantity as decided by the World Well being Group.
The Well being app may even management the utmost degree for headphone quantity.
Fitbit Premium vs Apple Health+
Each Apple and Fitbit have particular subscriber companies, the place further options, some stats, and customized insights must be paid for.
Apple’s Health+ is, because the identify implies, centered on exercises and health, whereas Fitbit Premium takes in health, well being, diet and wellbeing.
Apple’s Health+ subscriber service is pretty new. It prices $9.99 / £9.99 per month or $79.99 / £79.99 per year. Health+ will be shared amongst as much as six members of the family for a similar value. If you purchase an Apple Watch, new customers get three months of free Health+.
It contains residence exercise packages that complement the Watch’s health options so your exercise is tracked alongside the exercises movies that may be watched in your iPhone, iPad or AppleTV.
Exercise classes embrace Excessive-Depth Interval Coaching (HIIT), Energy, Yoga, Dance, Core, Biking, Treadmill (for operating and strolling), Rowing, and Aware Cooldown.
Digital trainers tailor the exercise to your required degree.
After the exercise, you possibly can see your exercise metrics, resembling coronary heart charge, length, tempo and energy burned. As you hit varied targets, the Watch’s Exercise ring is mirrored on the exercise’s video display screen.
Fitbit Premium has been going for longer and presents tons extra than simply exercises, together with guided packages that will help you keep lively, eat and sleep nicely, and handle stress.
It’s priced increased than Apple’s service, at $12.99 / £7.99 per thirty days or $104.99 / £79.99 per 12 months, so a bit cheaper within the UK when paid month-to-month.
It options video and audio exercises (strolling, weights, cardio, dance, martial arts, yoga, and extra) that may be considered in your telephone through the Fitbit app, and even some in your Fitbit watch.
Subscribers obtain customized insights, Sleep Rating breakdown, and a Wellness Report based mostly in your stats. There are additionally Premium-only challenges.
There’s a three-month free trial of Fitbit Premium, and new customers get free Premium when shopping for a tracker or smartwatch, as much as a 12 months’s price with the Fitbit Encourage 2.
There is no such thing as a household membership possibility for Fitbit Premium.
Which must you purchase: Fitbit or Apple Watch?
If health is your major focus then we predict the Fitbit trackers come out on high (particularly for those who’re into multi-sports), however the Apple Watch, in fact, presents much more than simply exercise monitoring and heart-rate monitoring, and—battery life apart—is catching up with Fitbit for health factors.
The increasing Apple Watch app ecosystem will make the Watch a way more versatile wearable than a devoted health band.
However that comes at a reasonably steep value.
The Fitbits supply a lot better battery life (the Cost 6 lasts as much as per week!), and so don’t must be charged each evening when you sleep. Solely the costly Apple Watch Extremely 2 will get shut at a day and a half.
Detailed sleep monitoring will be practically as enlightening to the state of 1’s well being as one’s daytime train routine. Whereas Apple has added a Sleep app, its weaker battery life makes this troublesome for customers. Sleep monitoring on the Fitbit is far simpler, though Fitbit does conceal a number of the metrics again for its Premium subscribers.
And we love the motivation supplied by Fitbit’s Pals league.
Crucially, when you’ve got an Android, the Apple Watch is just not for you. With out an iPhone, it’s fairly ineffective. And because it was purchased by Google, the advantages of Fitbit for iPhone customers are lowering so iPhone customers are being pushed by Fitbit/Google into the arms of Apple.
Apple Watch customers don’t have to get a Fitbit in addition to their prized digital timepiece, however runners and the health nuts ought to contemplate including some third-party apps or a devoted sports activities watch from Garmin, Suunto or Polar, or check out the Ionic.
After all, one huge benefit of the Apple Watch is its capacity to make and obtain telephone calls, matched solely by the Fitbit Versa 3 & 4 and Sense 1 & 2.
So for health and exercise monitoring we vote for the Fitbits, however applaud Apple for the Watch’s health apps that ought to push Watch homeowners to rise up and transfer about extra – one thing all of us gadget homeowners may do with to cease us sliding into unhealthy existence.
Take a look at our Which Fitbit is Finest roundup right here.
