Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Which Smartwatch Is Best?
Fitbit's Sense 2 smartwatch has plenty of competition, but in the Android space, its main rival is the Galaxy Watch 5. Here's how they compare.
Among the Fitbit Sense 2's rivals is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, and both smartwatches will be fighting for a place on users' wrists. Apart from Samsung and Fitbit, the smartwatch space has plenty of competition thanks to wearables like the Apple Watch Series 8 and Google Pixel Watch.
The differences between the Fitbit Sense 2 and the Galaxy Watch 5 start with the design. The Sense 2 has a square dial, aluminum case, and replaceable 24mm flexible straps. It doesn't have an official IP rating but is water-resistant up to 50 meters. In contrast, the Galaxy Watch 5 has a round dial protected by sapphire crystal, an aluminum armor case, and a replaceable 20mm band. Samsung's smartwatch also comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes and has an IP68 dust and water resistance rating as well as a 5 ATM water-resistance rating. Fitbit offers the Sense 2 in Graphite, Platinum, and Soft Gold whereas the Galaxy Watch 5 can be purchased in Graphite, Silver, and Pink Gold. Samsung also sells a special Golf Edition of the Watch 5.
Sense 2 Vs. Galaxy Watch 5: Health, Fitness, & Apps
Both watches have sensors for heart rate tracking, blood oxygen level measurement, ECG measurement, and even have a skin temperature sensor. In addition to these, the Sense 2 also features a sensor for all-day stress tracking, while the Galaxy Watch 5 comes with a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis sensor for measuring body composition. Samsung's smartwatch also supports blood pressure monitoring, but not in the United States. They both have support for sleep tracking and women's health tracking. The Galaxy Watch 5 has support for over 90 sports modes, which is more than double the 40 available on the Fitbit Sense.
Samsung's Galaxy Watch 5 runs Wear OS with apps and watch faces available to download from the Play Store. In contrast, the Sense 2 runs Fitbit OS and provides users with an ample amount of apps and watch faces via the Fitbit Gallery. While Sense 2 come with a built-in Alexa voice assistant, it's lacking Google Assistant integration, unlike its predecessor. With Samsung's smartwatch, wearers can choose between Bixby and installing the Google Assistant. Both Fitbit and Samsung's watches have Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth, but only the Galaxy Watch 5 has optional LTE (via an eSIM).
Sense 2 Vs. Galaxy Watch 5: Battery, Price, & Verdict
Fitbit says the Sense 2's battery can last up to six days and supports fast charging – a 12-minute charge will provide a day's worth of battery. In contrast, the Galaxy Watch 5 can only manage about two days before it needs to be charged. However, it also has fast charging and can go from 0 to 45 percent in 30 minutes. Fitbit has priced the Sense 2 at $299.95, which is higher than the $249.99 starting price of the Galaxy Watch 5 (40mm Bluetooth version). Samsung also offers an LTE version for $279.99 and a larger 44mm version for $269.99 (or $299.99 with LTE).
Deciding which one to buy depends on multiple factors. Those who want a smartwatch that works with both Android and iOS are better off with the Fitbit Sense 2 as Samsung's watch only works with Android phones. What's more, Fitbit doesn't tie some of its important health features, including ECG measurement, to a particular type of phone. For context, and although there are unofficial ways to get them to work on non-Samsung phones, ECG and blood pressure measurement only works natively on Samsung phones. Overall, however, the Galaxy Watch 5 is the better of the two smartwatches when it comes to the quality of the build, smart features, and even the number of health metrics it can track. Not to mention, it is also the cheaper smartwatch and offers the option of LTE if wanted.
Should You Buy The Versa 4 Instead?
If price is an issue, buyers can also consider the Fitbit Versa 4. The cheaper smartwatch starts at just $199.95, undercutting both the Sense 2 and Galaxy Watch 5 by a fair margin. The Versa 4 has plenty of similarities with the Sense 2, including the design, however, it misses out on a few crucial features. For starters, the Versa 4 can't take an ECG, which might not be a deal-breaker for many users. It also misses out on a skin temperature sensor and stress tracking.
Apart from these features though, both smartwatches are pretty much on par, offering always-on displays, irregular heart rate notifications (Afib), an SpO2 sensor, and sleep tracking. For the average user looking to keep tabs on their health and fitness, the Fitbit Versa 4 is a capable smartwatch that's budget-friendly too.
