The public has taken a keen liking to smart watches, with many large brands jumping on the bandwagon to keep up. This being so, Fitbit and Apple fight for the top spot, and I want to dive into which one is truly the ‘right’ choice? In this article I’ll be comparing two watches the Apple Watch Series 4 and the Fitbit Ionic, for the sake of a fair comparison.
Price
No smart watch is cheap, however, there is a large price difference between the two watches. With Fitbit Ionic sitting around $270 and Apple Watch retailing, nearly double as much, at $479. Take note, that typically cellular data on the Apple Watch will cost more, so $479+ to take full advantage of all the Apple Watch features. So, if you’re shopping on a budget of under $300, I’ve made your decision for you, get the Fitbit. That’s no fun though, so let’s dive a little deeper.
Similarities
In terms of style and customization, Fitbit and Apple have similar options. Both watches have a variety of bands to choose from and feature a square face. In terms of software and watch face design, both companies provide in depth customization options to allow the user to make the watch their own. Both have a GPS feature that keeps track of where you are, how far you’ve gone, and the pace you traveled at. Both watches are water resistant to 50 meters. The battery life on both watches is more than 24 hours, so the watches will not die out in the middle of the day. Moreover, payment options are available since both feature a NFC chip.
Biometrics
Fitbit will continuously track your heart rate. It will then apply the information to sleep tracking, fitness guidance, and guided breathing sessions.
The Apple Watch also tracks your heart rate continuously. Additionally, it has EGG, which allows the watch to track the heart’s electrical signals. This information can be applied to keeping track of the state of health your heart is in and learn of any irregularities. Furthermore, the watch has accelerometers which will notify the watch if you’ve fallen and will allow you to contact people if you need help. The Apple Watch does not come built in with sleep tracking, however, it does have an app you can download.
Fitness Tracking
Both watches have standard modes for different types of workouts. Moreover, both will suggest changing modes depending on how the wearer is moving. Also, both will track heart rate zones and calculate stats. The two will also work with different workout apps, but double check compatibility with specific apps! To organize all the data, Fitbit has a feature called Smartrack, while Apple Watch uses an in-house app.
Apple Watch has a few more features compared to the Fitbit regarding fitness. Firstly, Apple allows collaboration with friends. This way, the user can motivate themselves by competing or reaching different milestones with friends, without literally working out with them. Additionally, Apple displays how much the user has stood, moved, and exercised in concentric circles for an easy visual to keep track of your activity throughout the day.
Phone Integration
In terms of phone integration, Apple takes the lead compared to Fitbit. Both watches receive notifications from the phone, customized by permissions. This, however, is where the similarities between the two stops.
Fitbit syncs to both iPhones and Androids, however, it will only allow Androids to take calls. Take note, that no matter what the phone must be on person to take advantage of this feature. To listen to music on the Fitbit, there are a few options. The Fitbit has enough storage for 300 songs (a bit smaller than Apple’s storage) and allows the user to use apps such as Pandora.
Apple allows the user to take calls and send texts while your phone sits at phone, since it has its own cellular data. In terms of music, Apple allows the user to connect to Apple Music, and gives 16 GB of memory to download songs from iTunes.
So, which one is better?
Both the Fitbit Ionic and the Apple Watch Series 4 hold their own as capable smart watches. The Fitbit is cost effective and has all the necessary components people typically look for in a smart watch. On the other, if you’re a die-hard Apple fan, you have a few extra dollars, or if you want the extra features, splurge on the Apple Watch!