Choosing between a Fitbit and an Apple Watch can be challenging, as both offer impressive features tailored to different needs. Also, since the acquisition of Fitbit by Google, there are even more smartwatches to choose from, such as the most recent Pixel Watch 3. In this article, we’ll comprehensively compare the two leading wearables in 2024, covering design, fitness tracking, battery life, smart features, and more. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or a tech lover, this guide will help you decide which device suits you best.
Table of contents
Fitbit vs. Apple Watch at a glance
| Feature/Spec | Fitbit | Apple Watch |
|---|---|---|
| Compatibility | Compatible with both iOS and Android | Exclusive to iOS (iPhone) |
| User interface | Simple and intuitive, but more limited customization | Highly polished, fluid animations, customizable watch faces |
| App ecosystem | Limited app selection, primarily fitness-focused | Access to over 2,000 apps via the Apple App Store |
| Voice assistants | Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa | Siri |
| Health & fitness integration | Integration with Fitbit Premium and Google Fit | Deep integration with Apple Health and Apple Fitness+ |
| Notifications | Basic notifications with limited interaction options | Rich notifications with deep interaction, including reply options |
| Music & media | Limited to Deezer, Pandora (music download only on select services) | Supports Apple Music, Spotify, podcasts, with offline playback |
| Mobile payments | Google Pay | Apple Pay |
| Sleep tracking | Advanced sleep metrics including Sleep Score | Basic sleep tracking with trends in Apple Health |
| Customization & personalization | Basic customization with limited third-party options | Extensive customization with third-party complications, watch faces |
Reasons to choose Fitbit
- Longer battery life, often lasting up to six days on a single charge (except in Pixel Watch).
- Compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
- Superior sleep tracking with detailed insights and sleep stages.
- Advanced stress management features, including EDA sensors and Stress Management Scores.
- More budget-friendly options available across a wider range of devices.
- Fitbit Premium offers personalized workout recommendations based on your fitness data.
- Lighter, more comfortable designs suitable for all-day wear and intense workouts.
Reasons to choose Apple Watch
- Seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, including iPhone, Mac, and Apple services.
- Extensive app ecosystem, with thousands of third-party apps available.
- Advanced health features like ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, and fall detection.
- High-quality OLED display with always-on functionality and vibrant colors.
- Cellular connectivity available on certain models, enabling phone-free usage.
- Rich and interactive notifications that allow for direct responses.
- Robust fitness tracking features with highly accurate built-in GPS and Activity Rings to motivate daily movement.
Fitbit vs. Apple Watch: What are the differences?
Here are all the differences you should consider when choosing a smartwatch with Fitbit or Apple Watch.
User experience
The Apple Watch, particularly the latest Series 9, continues to build on its reputation as a premier smartwatch, deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem.
Known for its sleek design, the Apple Watch offers robust features, including advanced health monitoring like ECG, blood oxygen tracking, and fall detection, along with new additions like crash detection and skin temperature sensors.
It’s designed to function seamlessly with iPhones, leveraging apps, notifications, and health features that are tightly integrated with iOS.
The Apple Watch is also a versatile fitness companion with features like Activity Rings, which gamify your daily exercise goals, and access to Apple Fitness+ for guided workouts. However, its battery life typically lasts around 18 hours, requiring frequent charging.
Image by: Apple
Fitbit, now under Google’s ownership, offers a wide range of wearables focused primarily on health and fitness.
The latest models, like the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4, provide comprehensive health tracking features, including stress management (via EDA sensors), heart rate monitoring, and sleep analysis with advanced metrics like the Sleep Score.
Fitbit devices are designed to work with both iOS and Android, making them versatile across different smartphone platforms. Fitbit’s strength lies in its detailed fitness tracking capabilities and extended battery life, often lasting up to six days on a single charge.
While the app ecosystem is more limited compared to the Apple Watch, Fitbit excels in fitness-specific features, offering insights that are particularly useful for health-conscious users.
Design and comfort
The Apple Watch is renowned for its sleek, modern design that embodies Apple’s signature minimalist aesthetics.
The rectangular case with rounded corners is instantly recognizable and available in various sizes (41mm and 45mm for the latest models).
It’s crafted from premium materials, including aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, and ceramic, offering options to match different styles and budgets.
The OLED display is vibrant and sharp, protected by scratch-resistant glass, and supports an always-on mode for quick glances at notifications or time without raising your wrist.
The design also includes easily interchangeable bands, allowing users to switch between different styles depending on the occasion or activity and the possibility to customize faces.
In terms of comfort, the Apple Watch is designed to be worn all day, with a lightweight build that doesn’t feel cumbersome even during workouts or sleep-tracking.
Fitbit devices, such as the Sense 2, Versa 4, or the Pixel Watch 1, 2, and 3, emphasize practicality and comfort, making them ideal for fitness enthusiasts.
Fitbit’s design philosophy focuses on creating lightweight, unobtrusive wearables that you can wear comfortably throughout the day and night.
The cases are typically crafted from aluminum, which helps keep the devices light and comfortable, and the bands are made from soft, flexible materials designed to withstand intense workouts.
Fitbit watches feature a more traditional watch shape, focusing on function over form, though they still offer customization with interchangeable bands.
Though not as large or vibrant as the Apple Watch’s OLED screens in some models, the displays are clear and functional, supporting all necessary interactions.
Fitbit’s emphasis on comfort is evident in the design choices, prioritizing a snug fit and ensuring that the devices stay in place during various physical activities.
Fitness and health tracking
The Apple Watch is a powerful fitness and health tool, praised for its seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem.
It uses the Activity Rings system to motivate users to meet daily Move, Exercise, and Stand goals, making fitness tracking engaging and competitive.
The Series 9 and newer models feature advanced health sensors, including ECG for heart monitoring, SpO2 tracking, and a skin temperature sensor for cycle tracking and wellness insights.
Additionally, features like fall detection and crash detection provide safety by automatically contacting emergency services when needed.
For workout tracking, the Apple Watch excels with built-in GPS, enhanced by multiband GNSS technology in the latest models, making it ideal for outdoor activities like running and cycling. Apple Fitness+, a subscription service, offers guided workouts that sync with the watch, providing real-time metrics.
Fitbit, known for its fitness tracking, offers easy-to-understand data that is accessible to all fitness levels.
Features like 24/7 heart rate monitoring, Active Zone Minutes, and advanced sleep stage tracking make Fitbit devices highly effective.
The Fitbit Sense 2 includes stress management tools like the EDA sensor, offering insights into stress responses, while the Daily Readiness Score from Fitbit Premium guides users on when to rest or exercise based on recent activity, sleep, and heart rate variability.
Fitbit also supports menstrual health tracking, using a skin temperature sensor to provide insights into ovulation patterns, though not for medical diagnosis. For outdoor enthusiasts, Fitbit devices include built-in GPS, with some models relying on phone-connected GPS.
Smart features and connectivity
The Apple Watch, especially the latest Series 9, excels in smart features and seamless connectivity within the Apple ecosystem.
It supports a wide range of apps, nearly as many as on an iPhone, allowing access to productivity tools and entertainment directly on the wrist. Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, enables users to send messages, set reminders, and control smart home devices.
Cellular models of the Apple Watch let users make calls, send texts, and stream music without needing their iPhone nearby, which is ideal for staying connected on the go.
The Apple Watch also integrates with Apple Pay for secure, contactless payments. Notifications are interactive, allowing users to respond directly from the watch. It supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and LTE connectivity, ensuring constant connectivity, even without a phone.
Fitbit smartwatches like the Sense 2 and Versa 4 focus more on health and fitness while offering essential connectivity features. Compatible with both iOS and Android, Fitbit provides notifications, music control, and Google Pay for digital payments.
Voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant enable tasks like checking the weather and controlling smart home devices. While Fitbit’s app ecosystem is less extensive than Apple’s, it covers core functionalities well.
Fitbit devices include Bluetooth and Wi-Fi but lack cellular capabilities, requiring a smartphone for online tasks. However, the Pixel Watch offers a high-end alternative within the Fitbit ecosystem, integrating Fitbit’s health-tracking features with cellular connectivity for those who want to stay connected without their phone.
Price and value
Fitbit is generally more budget-friendly, offering devices from basic fitness trackers to advanced smartwatches.
Entry-level models like the Fitbit Inspire 3 provide essential fitness tracking at a lower price, making them accessible to a broad audience.
Mid-range options like the Versa 4 and higher-end Sense 2 deliver advanced health monitoring and smart features while remaining more affordable than most Apple Watch models.
Fitbit devices typically cost between $100 and $300, making them a good value for those focused on fitness and health without needing extensive app ecosystems or premium materials.
For a premium experience within the Fitbit lineup, the Google Pixel Watch is the high-end option. Priced at $349 for the Bluetooth/Wi-Fi model and $399 for the 4G LTE version, it integrates Fitbit’s health tracking with Google’s Wear OS, offering a comprehensive smartwatch experience that rivals the Apple Watch.
Fitbit also offers the Fitbit Premium subscription at $79.99 per year, providing personalized insights, advanced sleep tools, and guided programs, significantly enhancing the value of a Fitbit device.
In contrast, the Apple Watch is positioned as a premium product, with prices reflecting its extensive features and seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem.
The latest models, like the Apple Watch Series 9, start at $399 and can go up to $799 or more, depending on materials and features like GPS + Cellular.
The Apple Watch SE offers a more affordable entry point at around $279, still carrying many core Apple Watch features.
The Apple Watch justifies its higher price with advanced health features, seamless device integration, and a robust app ecosystem.
Conclusion
Fitbit smartwatches are the right choice for you if you want longer battery life, compatibility with both iOS and Android devices, and superior sleep-tracking features at a budget-friendly price.
If you prefer seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem, an extensive app ecosystem, and advanced health features, the Apple Watch is a perfect fit.
If you decide to go for an Apple Watch, consider buying a refurbished one to save money. RefurbMe is a platform where you can compare prices of refurbished Apple Watches from various reputable merchants, all of them with a warranty.
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