Apple and Fitbit have recently released their latest smartwatches, and it’s safe to say that things are about to get serious.
Sense 2, ideally Fitbit’s best smartwatch-ish model, is all set to compete against the new Apple Watch 8 in health and fitness tracking.
But, if you’re in a hurry, let us give you a gist before we dive down to the ultimate showdown.
The main difference between Apple Watch 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2 comes down to the bits of LTE connectivity, Music storage, Car crash detection, and some new health monitoring sensors, which only one of these watches possesses.
Spoiler Alert: It’s not Fitbit Sense 2.
Yes, Apple Watch 8 comes with all these features, but does Fitbit Sense 2 has anything extra-ordinary to offer? Yes, Sense 2 can beat Apple Watch 8 by miles in battery life and even give tough competition in health monitoring features.
So, now that you’re familiar with the whole scenario let’s get to the ultimate showdown and see what these new watches offer against each other.
Apple Watch 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: General Comparison
| Product name | Apple Watch 8 | Fitbit Sense 2 |
| Predecessor | Apple Watch 7 | Original Fitbit Sense |
| Competitions | Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, Garmin Venu 2, Fossil Gen 6 | Polar Vantage 2, Coros Apex Pro |
| Release date | 16th September 2022 | 29th September 2022 |
| Parent company | Apple | Fitbit |
| Operating system | WatchOS 9.0 | Fitbit OS |
| Compatibility | iOS | iOS & Android |
| LTE connectivity | Yes | No |
| Music Storage | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi, LTE | Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, Altimeter, Compass, SpO2, VO2max, temperature (body), Natural language Commands, Dictation (talking mode) | Optical heart rate sensor, SpO2 monitoring, Altimeter, 3-axis accelerometer, Skin temperature sensor, Ambient light sensor |
| Water-resistance | 50m (5ATM) | 50m (ATM) |
Apple Watch 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Price
| Apple Watch 8 | Fitbit Sense 2 | |
| Bluetooth/GPS | $399 | Around $300 |
| LTE | $499 | It doesn’t have an LTE variant |
Apple Watch 8 starts at $399 for the GPS-only model and $499 for the LTE model. However, remember that you’ll also need to pay for a monthly cellular plan if you want to use the LTE features.
By contrast, the Fitbit Sense 2 starts at just $299. That’s a significant price difference, especially considering that both devices offer similar features and functionality (Almost).
That said, if you’re willing to pay more for a premium experience, the Apple Watch 8 is the better option.
Apple Watch 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Design and display
| Apple Watch 8 | Fitbit Sense 2 | |
| Colors | Alumium: (Starlight, Midnight, Silver, Red) Stainless Steel: (Silver, Graphite, Gold) | Shadow Grey, Lunar White, Blue Mist |
| Case Size | 41mm, 45mm | 40mm |
| Dimensions | 45mm: 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm 41mm: 41mm x 35mm x 10.7mm | 40.5×40.5x 12.35 mm |
| Strap Size | Not specified | 24mm |
| Display Type | Retina LTPO OLED display | AMOLED |
| Display Size | 45mm: 1.7 inches 41mm: 1.4 inches | 1.58 inches |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes |
| Display Resolution | 45mm: 484 x 396 pixels 41mm: 430 x 352 pixels | 454 x 454 pixels |
| Screen Protection | Aluminum: Ion-X front glass Stainless Steel: Sapphire Crystal Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Buttons | Yes, one button & Digital Crown | Yes, one button |
| Band Material | Silicone | Silicone |
| Weight | Aluminum (45mm): 38.8g Aluminum (41mm): 32g Stainless Steel (45mm):51.5g Stainless Steel (41mm): 42.3g | 48g |
Although every Apple Watch comes with a bunch of new features. But what’s most striking about this year’s model is what hasn’t changed: the design and display.
That’s right; the Watch 8 is identical to last year’s model, the Watch 7. And by identical, I mean literally.
Apple Watch 7 felt like a huge update, with a larger case sizing to a bigger display (20% larger than Watch 6), but the Watch 8 is just the carbon copy of its predecessor, except for the few sensors and new colors.
Fitbit Sense 2 also comes in a similar shape and size, but it’s significantly thinner (10%) and lighter (15%) than the original Fitbit Sense, something to cheer about, at least.
Regarding design, the Apple Watch 8 and Fitbit Sense 2 are very similar. Both watches are square and have touch screens with always-on displays.
However, there are some important differences to note.
The Apple Watch 8 is available in two sizes (41mm and 45mm), while the Fitbit Sense 2 is available in only one size (40mm).
Additionally, the Apple Watch 8 has a 1.7-inch Retina LTPO OLED display with a resolution of 494 x 396 pixels, while the Fitbit Sense 2 has a 1.58-inch AMOLED display with the resolution of 454 x 454 pixels.
While both watches are attractive and functional, the slightly larger size and higher-resolution display of the Apple Watch 8 make it the better option for most users.
Apple Watch 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Health/Fitness features monitoring
| Apple Watch 8 | Fitbit Sense 2 | |
| Heart rate tracking | Yes | Yes |
| ECG tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| HRV alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Blood pressure | No | No |
| Respiration Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Pulse Ox | Yes | Yes |
| Stress tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Hydration/Body battery monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Women health tracking | Yes (advanced) | Yes (menstrual cycle) |
| All-day activity tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-sport modes | Yes | Yes, 40+ |
The Apple Watch 8 and the Fitbit Sense 2 offer a range of health and fitness features, but there are some critical differences between them.
The Apple Watch 8 takes a more comprehensive approach. Its new temperature sensor can deeply determine your body temperature and provide better insights into your menstrual cycle and ovulation period.
It also has an improved heart rate monitor and comprehensive sleep tracking capabilities, gives HRV alerts, monitors Blood oxygen levels, etc.
The Fitbit Sense 2, on the other hand, offers almost everything AW8 is offering, even the Skin and temperature sensor. Although it might not be as accurate as AW8, it does have it all.
But you need to know that some of the features of Sense 2 are dedicated to the ones who opt for Fitbit Premium Subscription, such as daily readiness scores, etc.
In terms of fitness tracking, both watches are also almost equally matched with built-in GPS for accurate tracking, multi-sport modes, or 50m water resistance for showering and swimming.
All in all, Apple Watch 8 and Fitbit Sense 2 go neck-to-neck in their health/fitness tracking.
Apple Watch 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Smart features
| Apple Watch 8 | Fitbit Sense 2 | |
| Smart notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Microphone/Speaker | Yes | Yes |
| Standalone calling/texting | Yes | No |
| Virtual Assistant | Siri | Google Assistant/Alexa built-in |
| Find my Phone/Watch | Yes | Yes |
| Music storage | Yes (2GB) | No |
| Calendar/Weather | Yes | Yes |
| NFC payments | Apple Pay | Fitbit Pay/Google Wallet (coming soon) |
Both these watches are as “smart” as it gets, thanks to their ability to receive notifications, make/receive calls, and built-in voice assistants.
In addition, both devices come with onboard NFC technology (Apple Pay/Garmin Pay), which allows users to make contactless payments.
Although Apple Watch 8 has LTE connectivity, it can be used as a standalone device; the Fitbit since 2 does not have this feature.
Unfortunately, this means you will need your phone to fully use all of the features if you opt for Fitbit sense 2.
Another difference between the two watches is that the Apple Watch 8 has music storage, so you can store songs on the watch and listen to them without having your phone.
The Fitbit Sense 2 does not have this feature as well, so you must stream music from your phone if you want to listen to it on your watch.
Apple Watch 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Battery life
| Apple Watch 8 | Fitbit Sense 2 | |
| Battery life | Up to 18 hours and 36 hours in power-saving mode | 6+ days |
| Fast charging | Yes | Yes |
There’s no doubt that when it comes to battery life, the Fitbit Sense 2 ultimately beats the Apple Watch 8.
With a single charge, the Sense 2 can last for 6+ days, while the Apple Watch 8 can only last for 18 hours or 36 hours if you use the power-saving mode.
This is a massive advantage for people who need a smartwatch to keep up with their active lifestyle without worrying about charging it daily.
Apple Watch 8 vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Who’s the Winner?
It is a close call, but we have to give the title to Fitbit Sense 2. Not to take anything away from Apple Watch 8, but the price doesn’t justify the slight changes to its predecessor.
Of course, you will get a better health tool kit that is more optimized in terms of safety (Car crashing), but Fitbit Sense 2 can counter this without being expensive.
The only considerable advantage Apple Watch 8 has over Fitbit Sense 2 is its LTE connectivity and Music storage.
If this is something important enough for you, then you should go with Apple Watch 8, but if you’re okay with Bluetooth calling and can enjoy music on your watch without needing to download it, Sense 2 is the way to go.
