Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch

kandiormand

I’m currently pregnant , due next month , but I want to get back in shape after the baby and would like a watch to help me keep track . Can’t decide between Fitbit Versa or Apple Watch , suggestions ??

AnvilHead

A great source for reviews of fitness wearables is dcrainmaker.com. He does incredibly thorough, comprehensive reviews of all aspects of each device. He hasn't yet done his in-depth review of the Versa (keep an eye on his site, it should be coming soon), but here's his review of the Apple Watch Series 3: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/11/apple-watch-series3-cellular-fitness-sport-review.html

Anecdotally, I wore an Apple Watch (Series 1) every day for a year. There were things I liked about it and things I didn't like about it. Overall, I think it's a great smartwatch with decent fitness/activity features built in, which are crippled by Apple's lame fitness software (and it hurts me to say that because I'm a big fan of Apple products and own a lot of them).

I switched to a Garmin 935 and it's a much better fitness/activity watch, with much better software (and much better battery life). Where the Apple is a great smartwatch with decent fitness/activity features, the Garmin is a great fitness/activity watch with decent smartwatch features. Garmin gives you a lot more data from your workouts than Apple does, and they use a cloud-based platform so you can view it from your computer, tablet, etc. in a web browser, where you can only view Apple's workout data on your watch or your phone - and the data is very scant and basic.

As far as Apple vs. Fitbit and the quality of the actual hardware, Apple is hands down far better made, more durable and higher quality (as is Garmin when compared to Fitbit, IMO). Fitbit's biggest advantage is their social media side of things, if you're into that aspect of it - it's much more advanced and robust than Apple's.

KateTii

I've had both an activity tracker and an apple watch. I definitely prefer the apple watch, simply because it has more use for me. I never used the in-depth tracking features apart from maybe step count, but use most features of the apple watch.

idioblast

I have a FitBit Blaze and will be upgrading to the Versa. One of the main reasons is the FitBit app and social side (like @AnvilHead mentioned). The other main reason is the battery life. I do not like taking my watch off to charge because I usually forget to put it back on. The Blaze and Versa last about 4-5 days depending on use, while everyone that I talk to that has an Apple watch has to charge daily. I guess I could take it off at night to charge, but I really like to see the sleep data.

change4char

What do you want out of the smart watch? I bought a Fitbit after I had my first child to lose the weight and it motivated me, so I've upgraded multiple times and have just bought the Fitbit Versa. So far, I like it. It's comfortable, accurate in steps, and pretty (although both are). As others pointed out, I'm into the Fitbit community and app that comes along with it. I like my sleep data and wear it for multiple days before I charge. I really only use mine for fitness and sleep data and upgraded bc of the look. I don't want a "real" smart watch, but do like the option of apps. If you are an Apple user already, want a "real" smart watch, and don't mind charging every day, I'd think the Apple watch is more for what you're looking at.

wendydynamite

I actually have both. The Apple Watch and the Fitbit Flex 2. I love the Fitbit for the interaction with the community and challenges; however hands down if Apple would step up to the plate and offer the same in their smart watch, I would leave Fitbit.

guy_1987

I have a Fitbit Charge 2 and I love it!

Had it over a year and its never let me down.

Jadub729

I have fitbit charge 2 and love it! I've had a fitbit for years now, never had any complaints. I like to wear mine to track my sleep and I dont think I'd watch an apple watch or versa, they're too big. The apple watch has to be charged everyday like your phone from what I understand. I charge my fitbit once a week.

shadow2soul

I have the Ionic and not sure I am 100% happy with it.

I got it knowing the App Store would be small compared to Apple or Samsung. That didn’t bother me.

However, I have to pull out my phone and sync my Fitbit to the app to do things like check the weather. At which point I am just going to check it with my phone.

App called Clue for monthly cycle tracking:


I’m a little disappointed and annoyed. I just synced my Ionic 30 mins ago, background sync is turned on, and I am still getting messages like this.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Fitbit and have been using their trackers since 2013. The “smart watch” features just fail to meet expectations.

KWlosingit

shadow2soul wrote: »

I have the Ionic and not sure I am 100% happy with it.

I got it knowing the App Store would be small compared to Apple or Samsung. That didn’t bother me.

However, I have to pull out my phone and sync my Fitbit to the app to do things like check the weather. At which point I am just going to check it with my phone.

App called Clue for monthly cycle tracking:


I’m a little disappointed and annoyed. I just synced my Ionic 30 mins ago, background sync is turned on, and I am still getting messages like this.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Fitbit and have been using their trackers since 2013. The “smart watch” features just fail to meet expectations.

I am not sure if this is your issue but the blue tooth antenna in smart phone starts to go bad after a while and will cause these sync issues. I had the same problem with my fitbit and my sleep headphones and when I upgraded my phone all sync issues went away.
Hubby has a different phone and a smart watch and car he likes to sync to his phone. He is also having issues with both. His phone is older so we are pretty sure it is the phone not the other devices.

shadow2soul

KWlosingit wrote: »

I am not sure if this is your issue but the blue tooth antenna in smart phone starts to go bad after a while and will cause these sync issues. I had the same problem with my fitbit and my sleep headphones and when I upgraded my phone all sync issues went away.
Hubby has a different phone and a smart watch and car he likes to sync to his phone. He is also having issues with both. His phone is older so we are pretty sure it is the phone not the other devices.

I have a brand new iPhone 8 that I purchased the same day. Actually placed a target pick up today order while I was in Sprint waiting to replace my old phone and picked up the Fitbit after I was done. I don’t have issues getting it to sync, but in comparison I owned a Samsung Gear S2 at one point and it would pull information from my phone as long as it was in range. The Ionic is requiring me to open the Fitbit app to pull information from my phone which is silly and kind of defeats the purpose of having those apps on my watch.