Apple Watch vs Fitbit

strifechick

I currently have a Fitbit charge and I'm relatively happy with it overall for fitness tracking purposes, though it has been acting up and I think it might be nearing the end of it's life.

So I'm considering getting an Apple Watch instead of replacing the Fitbit, just because of its extra features but I want to know if anyone is familiar with how well it works for fitness tracking and/or compatibility with the MFP app.

Any info that anyone can provide would be appreciated!

TilKingdomCome

I changed to Apple Watch after several faulty Fitbits.
Best thing I ever did.
It is compatible with MFP however the calories earnt from your steps is less, which I don't think is such a bad thing.
I have runkeeper hooked up to it for my runs which works well off the watch. I only use the Apple activities if I'm doing one of their designated activities, like HIIT, which is rare.
There are other apps for exercise you can link up to it but I don't normally do anything other than walk (which I don't record as an exercise) and run. My strength training is too minimal to add.

strifechick

TilKingdomCome wrote: »

I changed to Apple Watch after several faulty Fitbits.
Best thing I ever did.
It is compatible with MFP however the calories earnt from your steps is less, which I don't think is such a bad thing.
I have runkeeper hooked up to it for my runs which works well off the watch. I only use the Apple activities if I'm doing one of their designated activities, like HIIT, which is rare.
There are other apps for exercise you can link up to it but I don't normally do anything other than walk (which I don't record as an exercise) and run. My strength training is too minimal to add.

I heard it doesn't have a built it sleep tracker which is something I have a problem with do you have any expirence with 3rd party apps? Are there any decent/accurate ones?

ironmangomez

Look into the Garmin line too. They're great activity trackers

strifechick

ironmangomez wrote: »

Look into the Garmin line too. They're great activity trackers

I really do like my Fitbit so if I don't upgrade to a smart watch I think I would just get a newer version of what I have.

I'm just not sure if the Apple Watch would be able to keep up with the fitness side of things. I don't want to spend all the money on one and then end up let down on the feature that I honestly use the most which is what I'm concerned about.

It seems like each review I read contradicts the next so I can't find anything that really helps me out so it's kinda confusing!

ocrXfitter

I've had almost every iteration of Fitbit. I absolutely love my Fitbit Blaze. I run, lift, do Crossfit, and do yoga, and it works great for everything. Plus, I really like the way it looks. I'm not a fan of how any of the other activity trackers look.

plumeyer

ocrXfitter wrote: »

I've had almost every iteration of Fitbit. I absolutely love my Fitbit Blaze.

I have to ask, and this is just because I was brought up in a frugal household, is the additional $50 (from Costco) worth it to get the Blaze? If so, why?

Thanks in advance!

sllm1

I love my FitBit Blaze as well, and I, too, have had every FitBit known to man.

It's better because of the heart rate monitoring feature. The band can be replaced. The battery life has been awesome. I love it. It's like an Apple Watch/FitBit combo for much cheaper than the Apple watch. I can get texts and phone call notifications on it - although you can't answer from the watch.

strifechick

sllm1 wrote: »

I love my FitBit Blaze as well, and I, too, have had every FitBit known to man.

It's better because of the heart rate monitoring feature. The band can be replaced. The battery life has been awesome. I love it. It's like an Apple Watch/FitBit combo for much cheaper than the Apple watch. I can get texts and phone call notifications on it - although you can't answer from the watch.

What can the blaze do that the charge 2 can't? Does it just have the bigger fancy screen? Can you respond to texts on it?

I kind of like the idea of the Apple Watch because it can do non fitness things as well I don't have anything specific in mind but I like the idea of the versatility.

cwolfman13

Personally, I think Fitbit is going to be pushed to the wayside by smart watches.

MrsSeager

I just got an Apple Watch and it's been great! It does track your steps...but you have to change the setting to track with Apple Watch not iPhone in the MFP STEPS setting. I love it. I use Activity to track my workouts, and then just input that info into MFP and it syncs. Nice to be able to check quickly what your steps are, calories are, etc.

strifechick

MrsSeager wrote: »

I just got an Apple Watch and it's been great! It does track your steps...but you have to change the setting to track with Apple Watch not iPhone in the MFP STEPS setting. I love it. I use Activity to track my workouts, and then just input that info into MFP and it syncs. Nice to be able to check quickly what your steps are, calories are, etc.

Glad you like it! Did you use a different fitness tracker before you got the watch or just the iPhone itself?

ocrXfitter

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Personally, I think Fitbit is going to be pushed to the wayside by smart watches.

If they start making smart watches that look as nice as my Blaze, then maybe. I haven't been impressed by anything I've seen and I don't want the additional functionality.

ocrXfitter

strifechick wrote: »

sllm1 wrote: »

I love my FitBit Blaze as well, and I, too, have had every FitBit known to man.

It's better because of the heart rate monitoring feature. The band can be replaced. The battery life has been awesome. I love it. It's like an Apple Watch/FitBit combo for much cheaper than the Apple watch. I can get texts and phone call notifications on it - although you can't answer from the watch.

What can the blaze do that the charge 2 can't? Does it just have the bigger fancy screen? Can you respond to texts on it?

I kind of like the idea of the Apple Watch because it can do non fitness things as well I don't have anything specific in mind but I like the idea of the versatility.

I really just like the look of the Blaze better. I had a Charge HR before the Blaze, and I still use that when I'm actually doing an OCR. I got the Blaze before the Charge 2 came out.

cwolfman13

ocrXfitter wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Personally, I think Fitbit is going to be pushed to the wayside by smart watches.

If they start making smart watches that look as nice as my Blaze, then maybe. I haven't been impressed by anything I've seen and I don't want the additional functionality.

They're struggling financially right now...they had a 75% stock crash last year...I'm not convinced they'll weather the storm. At most they'll be a niche product.

angelahammon

I have a fit bit and an apple watch, i love them both, but the apple watch has to be charged every day as it runs out of battery very quickly, my gut instinct would be to go with fitbit, i like how you can enter challenges with other users!!

adipace815

I have used several fitbit's, polar and now the Apple Watch. I like the Apple Health Suite. I agree that MFP significantly discounts calories for steps from Apple. I think the fitbit was more accurate with counting stair steps. I think the Apple Watch and the numerous running companion apps are pretty solid with using heart rate during workouts and counting calorie burns. I am kind of an Apple person, but I think there were a lot of features on the fitbit that I liked as well. I don't think you will be unhappy whichever way you go.

cwolfman13

I've been eyeballing the Samsung Gear S3...mostly for all of the other stuff it does, not much of my exercise is step based.

strifechick

adipace815 wrote: »

I have used several fitbit's, polar and now the Apple Watch. I like the Apple Health Suite. I agree that MFP significantly discounts calories for steps from Apple. I think the fitbit was more accurate with counting stair steps. I think the Apple Watch and the numerous running companion apps are pretty solid with using heart rate during workouts and counting calorie burns. I am kind of an Apple person, but I think there were a lot of features on the fitbit that I liked as well. I don't think you will be unhappy whichever way you go.

Have you owned both? If so which have you thought was the best personally? Just out of curiosity?

strifechick

From what everyone has been saying I think I would go with the blaze over the charge2 but still stuck with the debate over the Apple Watch though haha

Aarjono

I've had several fitbits that broke (and I know several people who have also dealt with breaking fitbits). I now have an apple watch and love it. Yes, the calorie burn is lower than with fitbit, but I agree with the poster above that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

charlenealex

I switched from the Fitbit charge hr to the Apple Watch 2 about a month ago. It takes some getting used to. I won't lie, I thought about taking the watch back because I'm used to the fitbit but I'm glad i didn't. The Apple Watch is growing on me.

I liked the iPhone app for the Fitbit better then Apple Watch. Apple Watch is very complex, I liked the simplicity of the Fitbit. The Fitbit gave me what I needed without being overwhelming.

With the Apple Watch once you get to know the apps and what they all mean it can do some pretty neat things. I like that I can run with my Watch and not need my phone and my Watch still tracks everything.

I like that I can text with my Watch and not need my phone.

For fitness I find it harder to reach goals. The activity ring is hard!

SleepMatic is the closest for sleep tracking that I could find for AW. It does the job.

You can get an app called sync that syncs your Apple Watch data to your Fitbit dashboard but it doesn't pull over the heart rate info.

There are waaaayyy more options with the AW so if you like nifty gadget sort of thing and you have the cash get the AW. If you want something that just gives you what you need then go with the Fitbit.

KirbySmith46

I have the blaze but I'm upgrading to the Apple Watch. The blaze is very inaccurate!

datguy2011

My charge HR works great. I use to work out, step counter, track races and even sleep.

MeanderingMammal

cwolfman13 wrote: »

ocrXfitter wrote: »

cwolfman13 wrote: »

Personally, I think Fitbit is going to be pushed to the wayside by smart watches.

If they start making smart watches that look as nice as my Blaze, then maybe. I haven't been impressed by anything I've seen and I don't want the additional functionality.

They're struggling financially right now...they had a 75% stock crash last year...I'm not convinced they'll weather the storm. At most they'll be a niche product.

I'd agree. The hardware is mediocre, and the only area where they're leading is the social platform. There are many examples of good social platforms that have been subsumed into other things.

MelanieCN77

I went from Fitbits (I had three over the years) to AW and love the AW. It synchs nicely with MFP and the native apps work well. There is a third party sleep app that works great (called Sleep++). AW doesn't make a big deal out of steps but it does count them, they're just not front and center in what you are shown. Chasing your streaks is fun and addictive. It is a bit lacking in the social aspect that Fitbit has but you can Activity Share and make of it what you want.

annaskiski

There's an app called 'activity club'. You can compete with people with fitbits or other devices. (i.e. not just apple watches'

carolyn000000

The thing about the iwatch is it does so much more. My favorite- it can ping my watch when I can't find it. I know ....that's lame. Also I have it set to share workouts with friends and family so we can cheer (or egg!) one another on. I can also get the weather, answer my phone, play music and pair it to my Bluetooth head phones, read and answer text messages, and so much more. I love it. The only other tracker I had was the mio fuse; what I liked about that was you could program your training zones and it would vibrate as you went into different training zones. My iwatch does not do that. In my opinion, well worth the money.

annaskiski

Lol, my iPhone is always on no ring , no vibrate. So I use the watch to ping it at least once a day to find it

MichelleJ322

I notice that with my Apple watch (series 1) my calorie count for steps taken is minimal as opposed to calorie count for steps taken with different Fitbit devices. I really (!!) like the Apple watch and I'm not *that* concerned with the calorie count as I prefer to track calories burned via planned exercise sessions. The question that I have is which is more accurate for calories burned: Apple watch or Fitbit? It's more of a curiosity at this point as I'm not likely to switch back to Fitbit but the discrepancy is pretty large for example: 273 calories for 9,851 steps on Fitbit and 9 calories for 7,353 on Apple watch.

ITUSGirl51

I got the series 3 AW in November. I like it for fitness tracking and for receiving and sending text messages and phone calls and meeting notifications. I also don’t worry that it’s giving me too many active calories.

One thing annoying about how the AW syncs activity with MFP is how it gives or doesn’t give you extra calories for steps, If you log actual exercise with the AW, MFP erases all the extra step calories even if they were earned at a different time than your exercise. For example my husband and I went mall shopping last weekend and got to the mall about 15 min before the stores opened. Instead of standing around we decided to walk the mall over and over until they opened. MFP gave me about 70 calories for the walking and shopping that morning. Later that day, we went for a 4.5 mile brisk walk outside. I turned on the AW exercise tracking and MFP gave me a around 260 exercise calories and erased the 70 calories from shopping and mall walking. So that day I had a lot of AW active calories that MFP didn’t give me credit for.

I’ve gotten used to it and figure it should take care of any food logging issues, but sometimes I feel like I’m not eating enough to keep up my energy because I don’t want to go over my MFP allotment and not lose weight.