I had a few people request this post when I bought my Apple Watch back in January but I felt like I didn’t know enough about the Apple Watch to really compare the two. Now that I’ve had my watch for 6 months, I felt that I really figured out which features I used and which ones I didn’t so now I can adequately compare the Fitbit (which I had for 2 years) and the Apple Watch! When my friend texted me earlier this week about making the switch from Fitbit to Apple Watch, I realized I definitely had enough pros and cons for both so here are my thoughts on the Apple Watch and the Fitbit:
Apple Watch
Pros: The Apple Watch is a great tool if you have the iPhone. It is pretty much an extension of your phone, but I think it makes me less attached to my phone, if that makes sense. Since I’m getting texts and calls on my watch, I don’t need to constantly check my phone for updates. It’s really nice. I have the Airpods and the Watch is AMAZING with them. I can change songs using my watch and my phone doesn’t even need to leave my bag. I love it. I also love the look of the Apple Watch. The screen is bigger, there’s more to do on it, and you can customize your watch face to look however you want. There are SO many options! The standard band I got with it holds up really well. I have the white band and it doesn’t stain or smell even after 4+ spin classes a week.
Exercise Tracking: I think the Apple Watch tracks exercise just as good as my Fitbit did and there are SO many different workouts to choose from. They have spin, barre, elliptical, stair stepper, HIIT, rower, outdoor cycling, indoor/outdoor running and walking, etc. I felt that there were a lot more options of the category of workout you’re doing on the Apple Watch.
Cons: The biggest con I have with the Apple Watch is that the Activity and Health apps aren’t streamlined like they are in the Fitbit app. I wish I could see my calories, steps, workouts, etc. all together in one place. Hopefully that’s something Apple will work on. I also miss the Fitbit step challenges. They were a fun way to motivate yourself into being more active. There is a “friends” part on the Activity app that sort of makes up for that where you can see if your friends close their rings but it’s not the same! Another con is that the Apple Watch doesn’t automatically track your workouts like the Fitbit does. You have to remember to press “start” or the workout won’t count! The Apple Watch needs to charge every night, which isn’t a big deal, but if you had a Fitbit before it might take some getting used to. I just plug it in next to my bed with my phone and it’s not an issue.
Price: The Apple Watch can get expensive ($200+), however, I purchased a Series 1 and have had no problems. I don’t feel like I’ve missed out on anything by not getting the Series 3 or the cellular. The one I have is 38mm.
Fitbit
Pros: I loved the Fitbit because it allowed me to connect with my friends and boyfriend through step challenges. The main goal was steps, it was easy to use, and the app was very streamlined and user-friendly. I would recommend the Fitbit to anyone who is just starting out with exercise tracking devices and isn’t sure if they need anything fancy. When I had a Fitbit I used the Charge 2 HR and I really liked it. I felt it was a good size and didn’t feel bulky on my wrist. I also love that the Fitbit stays charged for a longer period of time and it can TRACK YOUR SLEEP! That’s the biggest thing I miss about the Fitbit. I loved seeing how well I slept the night before and not needing to charge it as often.
Exercise Tracking: Exercise tracking is intuitive on the Fitbit, which I miss sometimes. If you start working out, it tracks it regardless of if you pushed “start” on your watch. I also think the heart rate part of the Charge HR was a little more “in your face”. The Apple Watch tracks heart rate but it doesn’t show up on the screen like it does on the Fitbit. If that’s something you think you’ll be tracking a lot the Fitbit might be a better choice for you.
Cons: Durability is the biggest con with the Fitbit. I had my Charge HR for less than a year and the band smelled terrible, it was easily stained, and my boyfriend and I both had many issues with the strap breaking off. The screen was easily scratched as well. The phone call/text notification feature stopped working on Ryan’s Fitbit randomly which was weird, although it is an option if you want something like that.
Price: At ~$150, it’s slightly cheaper than the Apple Watch. I think this is the best bet for anyone who either a) doesn’t have an iPhone or b) is only looking for something to track fitness without all the bells and whistles. I think you’ll be a lot happier with something like this!
