David Bridges
Table of Contents
Smartwatches and activity trackers are a dime a dozen these days, but there are a couple of brands that stand out. Apple Watch has cultivated a stellar reputation in the smartwatch category — and the upcoming Series ten is rumored to come with some cool new upgrades — whilst brands like Fitbit have dominated the fitness tracking space. Given that Google acquired Fitbit back in 2019, competitors amongst the two brands has been fierce, specially now that the Google Pixel Watches make use of Fitbit’s well being and wellness tracking.
Whilst there are absolutely some stark variations amongst Apple Watches and Fitbits — and comparing specific models may possibly look like comparing apples and oranges — Google’s push into the smartwatch category, as nicely as Apple’s escalating dedication to well being tracking options, indicates there’s extra crossover amongst these brands than ever prior to.
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So, is it improved to get an Apple Watch or a Fitbit? I place them to the test more than the final couple of weeks, and here’s every little thing you need to have to know.
Left: Google Pixel Watch two (with Fitbit integration) Appropriate: Apple Watch Series four
Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable
Sizes and screens
When it comes to show high-quality and screen size, there’s very a bit of selection to select from, specially when it comes to Fitbit. Mainly because the brand gives each activity trackers and smartwatches, their trackers have a tendency to be a bit smaller sized, easier, and extra discreet — the 1.45-inch Charge six touts a complete-colour AMOLED show with a maximum brightness of 450 nits — whilst their smartwatches present bigger, greater-high-quality displays. The Google Pixel Watch two, for instance, boasts a 41mm AMOLED show with a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits, creating it a considerably improved selection for these interested in a brighter, clearer show.
Apple Watch Series 9 vs. Google Pixel Watch two: How are they distinct?
Whilst Apple does not present classic fitness trackers, it does present a strong variety of smartwatch sizes — which is absolutely a win compared to Fitbit’s single-size smartwatch offerings. The Series 9 is obtainable in 41mm or 45mm (with the SE obtainable in 40mm or 44mm, as nicely as the Ultra two in 49mm), and it has an unmatched Retina LTPO OLED show with a maximum brightness of two,000 nits.
Internal hardware
Whilst Fitbit boasts a broader item variety, which indicates a wider selection of internal hardware, I decided to pit smartwatch against smartwatch to see which has the most impressive specs in this category. I was pleased to find out the Google Pixel Watch two utilizes a Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 chip, as nicely as 2GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, but the Apple Watch Series 9’s specs are equally impressive with Apple’s S9 chip, 1GB of RAM, and 64GB of storage. Functionality-sensible, it would be fairly challenging to distinguish amongst the two without the need of rigorous side-by-side testing.
Well being and fitness tracking
Each Apple Watch and Fitbit present access to user-friendly well being and fitness tracking, which indicates each brands enable you to track numerous metrics like methods, heart price, exercise duration, calories burned, sleep, and extra. Nevertheless, the greatest fitness tracker in the end depends on what information you are interested in tracking, as this varies from brand to brand and from item to item.
Fitbit gives a wider variety of activity trackers.
Credit: RJ Andersen / Mashable
For instance, each Fitbit and Apple Watch present sleep tracking, so you can track issues like sleep duration and sleep stages, but each the Series 9 and the Google Pixel Watch two have comparatively shorter battery lives (18 hours versus 24 hours, respectively). This tends to make them much less-than-perfect for 24/7 put on, specially considering that they’re a bit larger than other sleep trackers like the Oura Ring. Nevertheless, Fitbit’s other activity trackers — such as the Luxe, Charge six, and Inspire three — all boast 5 days of battery life (or extra), creating them improved selections for these interested in sleep information.
If you want to track GPS on your runs, each Apple Watch and Fitbit present constructed-in GPS on most of their items (aside from the Fitbit Luxe and Inspire three). Heart Price Zone instruction is also attainable with each the Pixel Watch two and the Series 9, so you can get notifications mid-exercise whilst altering zones, which is not obtainable on other Fitbit items.
Even although Fitbit does some fairly cool well being tracking insights — such as skin temperature, heart price variability, and oxygen saturation — none of these are measured utilizing the Google Pixel Watch two unless you put on it overnight. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch supports all of these measurements (aside from the considering that-removed blood oxygen function) without the need of needing to put on the watch overnight.
Winner: Tie
Smartwatch functionality
If you are searching for the greatest smartwatch amongst Apple Watch and Fitbit, the answer is fairly clear: select what ever is compatible with your telephone. Apple does look to have the improved smartwatch general, but that does not truly matter considerably if you are not an iPhone user.
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If you are an Android user, the Pixel Watch two does stand out more than other Fitbit smartwatches. It is sleek, simple to use, and packed complete of helpful apps and options — such as Google Assistant, Security Verify, and the Google Play Shop — creating it a extra robust smartwatch than other models from Fitbit. Is it the greatest Android smartwatch on the industry? It is challenging to say, specially considering that the Samsung Galaxy six has a fairly strong reputation, but it is worth watching to see what Google does with Fitbit subsequent.
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If you are an iPhone user, on the other hand, stick with an Apple Watch more than a Fitbit smartwatch. Technically, Fitbit’s other smartwatches — the Versa four and Sense two — are compatible with each Android and iOS, but some of the options (like smartphone notifications) only perform with Android phones…and it is challenging to beat Apple’s smartwatch encounter.
Winner: Apple Watch
Battery life
As far as battery life, Fitbit requires the crown. The Apple Watch Series 9 does present an 18-hour battery life (36 hours in low energy mode), but the Google Pixel Watch two slightly outperforms it with an advertised 24-hour battery life. Other Fitbit items are even extra impressive, with a six+ day battery life for Fitbit’s other smartwatches Versa four and Sense two, as nicely as a 5-day battery life for the Fitbit Luxe, seven-day for the Charge six, and a whopping ten-day charge for the Inspire three.
Durability and longevity
If you are searching for a fitness tracker that can deal with all types of put on and tear, each Apple Watch and Fitbit are fairly dependable selections. All of Fitbit’s items are water resistant up to 50 meters, and the Pixel Watch two holds a water-protection rating of five ATM (up to 50 meters), as nicely as an more IP68 dust and water-protection rating. Apple Watches are also water resistant up to 50 meters — with the Series 9 holding an more IP6X10 dust resistance rating (the SE does not) — whilst the Ultra two requires the cake with water resistance up to one hundred meters, IP6X dust resistance, and an more EN13319 rating for recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters.
As far as longevity, it is challenging to make a straight comparison amongst the brands due to the selection of selections obtainable. Some Reddit customers say that their Fitbit trackers have a tendency to final about two years, whilst other Redditors report that their Apple Watch generally lasts 4 to six years. This is fairly on par with my encounter, as I’ve been utilizing a Series four Apple Watch considering that January 2019 with no troubles. Will the Google Pixel Watch two hold up very as extended? It is a tiny also quickly to inform.
Winner: Apple Watch
Smartphone compatibility
You may possibly be questioning, “Is Fitbit compatible with iPhone?” Honestly, it depends.
The Fitbit app is compatible with most common smartphones — such as iOS and Android devices — and all of Fitbit’s items are technically compatible with iPhone, aside from the Google Pixel Watch and the Pixel Watch two. Nevertheless, it is significant to note that Fitbit’s other smartwatches (the Versa four and the Sense two) are technically compatible with iPhones, but that does not include things like quite a few of the more options like smartphone notifications.
That getting mentioned, the greatest selection for you depends on your telephone. If you use an iPhone, stick with an Apple Watch or a single of Fitbit’s activity trackers. If you use an Android device, you can use any of Fitbit’s items, which technically tends to make Fitbit the winner of this category.
Winner: Fitbit
Value variety
Fitbit’s wider item variety indicates it has a improved value variety, also. If you are operating on a price range, that indicates Fitbit is the way to go. Its activity trackers are very a bit more affordable than its smartwatches, with the Inspire three beginning at $99, and its most common tracker, the Charge six, clocks in at $159.
If you are searching for a smartwatch, on the other hand, the costs are a tiny extra comparable amongst brands. The Google Pixel Watch two begins at $349, creating it slightly more affordable than the Apple Watch Series 9 (begins at $399) and slightly extra high-priced than the Apple Watch SE (begins at $249).
Yes, technically, there are extra smartwatch selections obtainable from Fitbit — the Versa four ($199) and the Sense two ($249) — but taking into consideration they lack app retailers, it does not truly really feel suitable to place them on the exact same tier as the Pixel Watch two or the Series 9. Fitbit also gives a kid-friendly smartwatch, the Ace LTE ($299), but it needs an more $9.99 per month information program.
Winner: Fitbit
Other options
Whilst I enjoyed utilizing Fitbit’s items, there weren’t quite a few standout options that created me really like a single extra than the other. The Pixel Watch two is a strong smartwatch, but so is the Series 9, so — once more — it truly depends on what telephone you are utilizing.
As far as activity trackers go, Fitbit had a single semi-important function missing, at least for fellow fitness center rats: most of its lineup is not compatible with exercising gear, aside from the Charge six. This indicates you cannot connect any of your Fitbit devices — such as the Google Pixel Watch two — to fitness center gear (treadmills, stationary bikes, and so on.) to view/sync information like heart price, calories burned, and distance. Meanwhile, this is a baseline function in Apple Watches — even my old Series four connects to compatible gear at the fitness center utilizing NFC functionality — which created it all the extra surprising to find out that Fitbit skipped that function.
Is it a dealbreaker? Likely not for most folks, but it is a function I’ve truly loved utilizing on my Apple Watch, so not obtaining it felt weird.
Winner: Apple Watch
The verdict
It is not specifically the flashiest answer, but the clear winner amongst Apple Watch and Fitbit depends on you. If you are searching for a uncomplicated fitness tracker, the greatest Fitbit watch is most likely the Charge six. It packs a effective punch into a tiny device — such as well being and fitness tracking, sleep tracking, constructed-in GPS, and extra — whilst boasting a wonderful battery life and a strong value tag.
If you are extra interested in a high-quality smartwatch, then get what ever functions with your telephone. The Apple Watch is a excellent decision that is each functional and sturdy, but the Google Pixel Watch two is shaping up to be a decent competitor.
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