The Battle Between Apple Watch vs Fitbit
Smartphones have come a long way, and in 2020, we even have smartwatches now. I know plenty of people out there who still cannot get a full grasp on smartphones, so smartwatches may be too cutting edge for some people who are content with watches that just tell time. Others might just see it as novelty technology with niche appeal, but we are going to dive into this battle between Apple Watch vs Fitbit to see which one is the best for you.
But for those of you who are interested in picking up a new smartwatch, we are glad you are here. Today, we will be talking about two heavy-hitters in the smartwatch industry: Apple Watch vs Fitbit. Let’s get started!
What is an Apple Watch?
The Apple Watch is the latest in Apple’s line of smart technology. Functioning as an add-on companion for a user’s iPhone, the Apple Watch is high on fitness tracking but has a wide assortment of apps available for users to tinker with. The smartwatch runs on its own watchOS. Apple releases new series of Apple Watches annually, so you can be sure that your smartwatch is always being improved.
Reception to Apple’s trademark iPhone has started to become stagnant in recent years, which makes the Apple Watch a companion for Apple as it is for Apple users. The Apple Watch is thriving and does not seem to be letting up for the foreseeable future, which is a good thing for the smartwatch business.
What is a Fitbit?
As you can probably gather from the name, Fitbit is a company that specializes in smart technology that primarily functions as activity and fitness trackers. Their products do everything from monitoring your heart rate, tracking how many steps you take per day and they can even track women’s menstrual cycles.
Fitbit has a lot of products on offer, but the one we will be focusing on today is their Fitbit Versa line of smartwatches.
How are the Apple Watch and Fitbit Versa similar?
Fitness Tracking
Both the Apple Watch and the Fitbit Versa series are great for everyone who is serious about their fitness and improving their health. Both smartwatches have some functionality that the other does not have or does not do as well, but both get the job done.
Optimal Battery Life
One of these smartwatches has significantly better battery life than the other, but both competitors get high marks in this department. They last long before dying and do not take long to charge.
Pros and Cons of the Apple Watch
Like anything in life, there are good things and bad things about something, especially electronics. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of an Apple Watch.
Pros of an Apple Watch
Receives Texts and Calls
When you have got your Apple Watch linked up with your iPhone, you will be able to send and receive messages on your wrist. This provides some unique, albeit occasional uses over using your phone.
For example, the Apple Watches in the more recent series are water resistant, which can be useful if you do not have an umbrella and you need to communicate with somebody when it is raining. Taking a dip in the ocean at the beach? You should not take your phone with you, but you can take your Apple Watch. Need to take a shower but are expecting an important phone call? Keep your Apple Watch away from any soap or haircare products and you can take it into the shower with you.
An Extra Device
It’s a little sad to say, but society is heavily reliant on smart technology and losing your smartphone can be detrimental to a person, even if it is a common problem like your smartphone dying and you not having a charger on hand. Your Apple Watch lets you communicate with your contacts, has access to thousands of apps and has a built-in GPS. This is great for travelers, as the last thing you want is to be in a foreign country without a lay of the land without a smart device.
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Convenient Size
This does not apply to all smartphones, but a lot of devices nowadays are big. Having to dig them out of your pockets frequently might get annoying for some, especially if you are a woman without pockets and have to dig it out of a purse.
Emergency Call Services
Starting with the Apple Watch Series 4 line of smartwatches, the Apple Watch has a built-in fall detector. When you suffer a hard fall, the Apple Watch will issue an alert, and if you do not address it within a minute, it will send an emergency call and your current location to your emergency contacts.
While I still stand by my statement that smartwatches are still just luxury purchases for the average consumer, this feature is especially great for folks from the older generation, as it can serve for health purposes. This feature can get a little annoying if you are physically active in certain activities though. If you do things like skateboarding, free running, gymnastics and take a heavy fall (which is normal), you might forget about the fall alert. This would result in a false alarm sent to your emergency contacts which could give them a scare. But overall, it is a great safety feature.
Fitness Tracker
The Apple Watch’s onboard fitness features, as well as its access to plenty more useful fitness apps, make it a great tool to have for anyone who is physically active. Workout timers, calorie trackers, heartrate monitoring, and almost everything else you could think of is found here.
Cons of an Apple Watch
Requires a Recent iPhone
Are you one of those people who is content with your old iPhone 5? If so, you are going to have to say goodbye to it, because to use the Apple Watch, you are going to need a more up to date iPhone model.
Restricts You to iPhone
One of the biggest issues that people have with Apple tech, is that while the technology is good, it is also restrictive. Especially compared to Android devices. If you want to use the Apple Watch, that means being an iPhone user, which can be a deal breaker for some people. To put it plainly, the Apple Watch is for Apple loyalists.
It’s Expensive
You probably saw this one coming if you are familiar with Apple devices, but the most recent Apple Watch, the Series 5, costs a pretty penny. $399 to be exact. And this is the beginning price. Add on the fact that you also need a recent iPhone for this to work, you are going to be investing quite a bit of money into your Apple smart technology. Now, you might be thinking of just buying an Apple Watch from one of the older Series, but then there are…
The Annual Series Upgrades
One of the positives of smartphones, is how settled the market is. Sure, the 5G race is heating up, but for the average consumer, a smartphone from three to four years ago still gets the job done, and then some.
The smartwatch market is still growing and watchOS is still improving. Apple makes significant upgrades to its Apple Watch every year, which makes these things almost like a sports video game, except more expensive. You really do not want to buy one of the older models if you can help it, as there are notable reasons to get the latest and greatest.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the older models are still expensive despite them now being outclassed. So, in my opinion, buying an older model is a little bit of a waste.
Pros of the Fitbit Versa 2
Affordable
Coming in at $199, the Fitbit Versa 2 is far cheaper than the latest Apple Watch. In fact, the Fitbit 2 is cheaper than every Series of the Apple Watch except for Series 1 and 2. This price also does not even take into consideration special sales, or things like Black Friday and Cyber Monday, which could lower the price even more. It’s an affordable smartwatch with high level of functionality.
Outstanding Battery Life
The Versa 2 battery life is very impressive. Even with the always-on display, you can expect this thing to last up to two days per charge. With the always-on display turned off, the battery life nearly doubles. It’s got the Apple Watch beat in this department by a significant margin.
No Limitations to Devices
Unlike the Apple Watch, the Versa 2 does not restrict you to any one smartphone. So, all the iPhone 5 users out there who want a smartwatch, the Versa 2 is right up your alley.
Native Sleep Tracker
Having trouble sleeping? The Versa 2 might be able to help you with that. The Versa 2 comes equipped with a built-in sleep tracker that documents how long you sleep, the quality of sleep, everything you can think of. You probably did not know how many sleep statistics there were before using a Versa 2. It grades your sleep which will help you know what areas you need to focus on improving.
Onboard Music Functionality
Would you believe me if I told you that you could listen to music on your smartwatch? With the Versa 2, you can do just that. You can download hundreds of songs on your computer and then transfer them over to your Versa 2.
I personally do not like taking my smartphone out with me when I’m going for a run in the morning, but I do not like not having any music to listen to either. This does require you have a set of Bluetooth headphones though.
Top Tier Fitness Tracker
Fitness tracking is what Fitbit does best with their products and the Versa 2 is no exception. Easy navigation, concise and thorough analysis of every stat you can think of, the Versa 2 will turn you into a graph lover within days. Fitness junkies will love this smartwatch.
Cons of the Fitbit Versa 2
Lack of Apps
While the Apple Watch has nearly 20,000 apps for users to choose from, the Versa 2 limits you to a couple hundred. If you always have your smartphone on your person, this is not as big a deal, but it is still very noticeable.
Inability to Respond to Messages
You know how you can send an iMessage to someone who does not have an iPhone? Well, if you have an iPhone, do not expect to be responding to an iMessage from your Versa 2, because it is not happening
Which Should You Buy?
As I stated numerous times before, I consider smartwatches to be luxury items for most consumers, that you can easily pass on. But if you had to purchase one, I would say that if you want to best smartwatch experience there is to offer, buy the Apple Watch. If you are a fitness freak and want a high-quality fitness tracker, pick the Versa 2.