If you store by way of our hyperlinks, Insiders can earn an affiliate fee. Be taught extra.

• The Sense 2 is Fitbit’s flagship wearable that’s each a strong health tracker and a succesful smartwatch.
• The 8 Collection is the newest iteration of Apple’s Watch that introduces temperature sensing and a low-power mode.
• We in contrast the 2 premium wearables to see which is the higher purchase.

In the event you’re trying to enhance your wrist, you’ve many choices. And if you happen to’re attempting to determine between the Apple Watch Collection 8 and the Fitbit Sense 2, there’s loads to contemplate.

Aside from worth, the principle distinction between Apple Watch Collection 8 and Fitbit Sense 2 is the checklist of superior options. Each watches share the identical capabilities as a health tracker, however as a fully-fledged smartwatch, the Apple Watch affords extra options with a wider collection of third-party apps, smarter instruments, and mobile connectivity.

However there are a variety of explanation why you’d need to select the Fitbit Sense 2. As Fitbit’s prime tier wearable, it strikes the appropriate steadiness between health tracker and smartwatch. This is how the 2 watches overlap.

Apple Watch Collection 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Specs at a look

Apple Watch Collection 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Design

On the subject of the general design, the Apple Watch 8 and Fitbit Sense 2 have an analogous sq. design with rounded edges. The Apple Watch is rated IPX6 mud resistant and water-proof to 50 meters; The Fitbit Sense 2 doesn’t have an official mud ranking however can also be water-proof to 50 meters.

By way of measurement, the Fitbit Sense 2 has a 40.5mm aluminum case with a 1.58-inch show, whereas the Collection 8 is available in a 41mm or 45mm case and is offered in aluminum or stainless-steel. Whereas aluminum is marketed as being light-weight, stainless-steel is a stronger and extra sturdy materials. Relying in your preferences, the Sense 2’s small measurement would possibly make it extra engaging than the 8 Collection, which some would possibly discover giant and ponderous.

Each watches characteristic bodily buttons and responsive touchscreen controls. The 8 Collection has a aspect button, together with a digital crown button that you would be able to press and rotate for numerous features. You possibly can rotate the crown bezel to zoom in, scroll by way of apps, or progressively get up the dimmed display screen.

Whereas the unique Fitbit Sense had a small touch-sensitive tactile button on the left aspect of the watch, Fitbit has added a bodily button to the Fitbit Sense 2, which is less complicated to make use of, particularly throughout exercises. A push of the aspect button takes you to the Sense 2’s apps menu as you swipe left and proper to modify between every day stats screens. Swiping up shows notifications and swiping down takes you to primary settings.

General, each watches are intuitive to make use of and navigate. However if you would like to have the ability to customise the look of your watch, the Apple Watch Collection 8 affords extra measurement, colour, and band choices than the Fitbit Sense 2.

Apple Watch Collection 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: smartwatch efficiency

The Fitbit Sense 2 was clearly designed with well being and wellness in thoughts, however past that, its capabilities as a smartwatch are restricted. For instance, you may see your textual content messages in your watch however if you happen to’re utilizing an iPhone you may’t reply. On Apple Watch, you’ve quick access to your calendar, podcasts, and different health monitoring instruments like All Trails or MapMyRun; on the Sense 2, you do not have entry to any of those.

That is as a result of the Sense 2 does not supply assist for third-party apps, which suggests you will not have the ability to obtain one thing like Spotify. Whereas the Sense 2 has all of the superior sensors to supply holistic well being monitoring, it has fewer “smarts,” which finally offers the 8 Collection an edge.

By its nature, the Apple Watch Collection 8 has extra options than the Sense 2 as a result of it is a full smartwatch first and a health tracker second. You possibly can textual content, make calls and hearken to music, and you can too observe turn-by-turn instructions out of your cellphone (full with haptic suggestions for when to show) or learn the information, test your financial institution accounts or reply to emails.

Apple Watch Collection 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Well being and health monitoring

Sense 2 and Collection 8 use progressive expertise to precisely document almost any well being information metric you would possibly care about. Whereas one would possibly assume that Fitbit has Apple overwhelmed right here, the 8 Collection consists of updates that focus totally on well being and health monitoring capabilities.

Each watches supply built-in GPS, which suggests you may observe your runs and out of doors actions with no cellphone. Different similarities embrace the flexibility to observe pores and skin temperature (which helps monitor stress, sleep and ovulation), blood oxygen ranges, sleep, coronary heart price and electrocardiogram (ECG) measurements.

However there are additionally some key variations to notice.

In the event you’re inquisitive about carefully monitoring your psychological well being, Sense 2 has launched a brand new physique response sensor that measures steady electrodermal exercise (cEDA) to observe stress ranges in actual time. The cEDA charges stress based mostly on three metrics: coronary heart price, coronary heart price variability (HRV), and pores and skin temperature measurements.

The 8 Collection does not measure electrodermal exercise however affords important security options you will not discover on the Sense 2. Along with fall detection, the 8 Collection has added crash detection and emergency SOS. I too have seen it in motion first hand.

After a fall on my mountain bike, the 8 Collection instantly began vibrating and beeping, prompting me to faucet the “I am OK” button to show off the alerts and keep away from calling 911. The opposite possibility I had was to press and maintain the aspect button to carry up the display screen to name 911 and share my location.

The opposite main distinction between these two watches is the way in which every presents its amassed well being information. Apple Watch makes use of its Well being and Exercise apps, whereas Sense 2 primarily makes use of the Fitbit app. To get essentially the most out of each experiences, we suggest subscribing to Fitbit Premium or Apple Health Plus.

In whole, the Sense 2 tracks 40 completely different exercises whereas the Collection 8 is suitable with greater than 60. That will help you attain your health targets, the Apple Watch makes use of rings to set every day markers and baselines, whereas Fitbit makes use of lively zone minutes.

The 8 Collection additionally depends on utilizing the iPhone’s Exercise app to view information like coronary heart price zones, tempo, and customized intervals. The app permits you to dig into superior information like what your working cadence is or how a lot working energy you’ve. You possibly can even compete in opposition to your self from previous exercises.

Fitbit affords an analogous expertise however in a distinct bundle. It affords perception into the guts price zones you enter as you train whereas additionally analyzing your tempo. It offers a every day readiness rating that evaluates your earlier exercise for the week, your stress ranges, and the way a lot relaxation and restoration you’ve got needed to let you know the way far you’ve got pushed your self that day.

Apple Watch Collection 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: battery life

One of many fundamental causes you’d need the Fitbit Sense 2 over the Collection 8 is battery life. Fitbit says the Sense 2 can last as long as six days on a single cost, although I’ve discovered that the estimate varies relying on whether or not I’ve used the always-on show or turned on steady GPS. Nonetheless, it has among the finest batteries for any wearable machine.

By comparability, the Apple Watch Collection 8 lasts 18 hours. It must be famous that the 8 Collection has a brand new vitality saving mode that guarantees as much as 36 hours of battery life. However in trade for extra juice, Battery Saver mode disables the core options that make the 8 Collection helpful within the first place, so I do not suggest utilizing it frequently.

Which must you purchase?

Each watches are snug to put on, elegant, slim and simple to make use of, and every affords numerous helpful instruments to enhance your well being and well-being. Together with normal health monitoring, these watches each have high-tech options like ECG and blood oxygen readings, temperature monitoring, and sleep monitoring.

The Apple Watch Collection 8 is $100 costlier than the Fitbit Sense 2 however you get a extra full smartwatch. The Sense 2 is extra of a fitness-focused watch with some intelligent options. In the event you’re on the lookout for a Fitbit possibility that higher fills this hole, I like to recommend wanting into the Google Pixel Watch.

When finally selecting which watch is greatest, it is vital to take into consideration the kind of cellphone you will be utilizing it with. The Sense 2 works with each Android and iOS-enabled telephones, although it will possibly’t name or textual content from Fitbit when paired with an iPhone. In distinction, the 8 Collection is solely suitable with iOS-enabled telephones.

In case your fundamental focus is monitoring health metrics, go for the Fitbit Sense 2. If you wish to focus in your health AND have a watch that works for on a regular basis good wants, the 8 collection is your most suitable option.