Apple Watch or Fitbit Charge 3? Help!

I have a Charge 3 and like both the style and functionality of it. It seems to be quite accurate too. Just a little under what I actually seem to burn. I do know that others with the same model have had some problems with the watch not working properly. Updates have helped with this for many though.

I love my Apple watch because it's more than just a fitness tracker. I've had it for years and love it.

I agree with the previous poster that you should try one out at the Apple store before buying it to see if you'd like it.

vickyg1986 wrote: »

MelanieCN77 wrote: »

They're really very different. Can you get to an Apple store and check out the Watch? I assume you have an iPhone, the AW won't work without. The Fitbit is a dedicated item, the AW does a whole lot more that you are paying for.

Do you think Apple Watch is more accurate than a Fitbit? I just need something for tracking so Fitbit would be sufficient for me, I don’t need all the extras the AW offers but would be willing to spend extra if it’s more accurate.

More accurate for what?

vickyg1986 wrote: »

Lillymoo01 wrote: »

I have a Charge 3 and like both the style and functionality of it. It seems to be quite accurate too. Just a little under what I actually seem to burn. I do know that others with the same model have had some problems with the watch not working properly. Updates have helped with this for many though.

Have you had any issues with it counting steps while you’re driving? I was reading reviews on Amazon and a lot of people said it counts steps while driving. It seems like the perfect device on paper but I’m worried about it’s accuracy

There are some added steps while driving but I think most would do this when you change gears or drive on bumpy roads.

I have fitbit charge 2 and it seems very accurate in terms of estimating my heart rate and TDEE. I tracked my weight changes and its TDEE estimates for several months and the results very spot-on.

But I don't know if Charge 3 is just as accurate. When it just came out many people reported it being less accurate than Charge 2. But I assume they have improved it with updates.

Honestly, none of these devices are infallible. They don't measure calorie expenditure, they estimate it, based on limited variables (age, sex, weight, stride length, heart rate, arm movements, altitude, GPS measurements, etc. - depending on the specific model). They're more personalized than the online calculators, but they may or may not be more accurate.

The good-quality devices will be accurate for most people, but further off for a few, and way off for a very, very few: That's the nature of statistical estimates, which is what a tracker gives you. My guess would be that if most online calculators come pretty close to accuracy in determining your weight loss rate, then good-quality trackers will be pretty accurate, and give you a more personally-tailored estimate.

I have a good-quality device (Garmin Vivoactive 3) and I like it. I've "talked" with other people here for whom this specific model is very accurate in its estimates. For me, it's pretty far off . . . about as far off as MFP, and in the same direction (estimates too low).

I think it's important to understand what these devices do (provide personalized statistical estimates) and what they don't do (measure calorie burn). With experience, you can use them to guide your weight loss. That may involve following their guidance . . . or adjusting it, based on experience.

I love my charge 3. Probably because I don't have to take it off in the pool. I'm not sure how accurate it is, but it gives me a ballpark idea of how much I'm working, sleeping, etc...

I have a Charge 3 since about 8 weeks ago and I love it!
But I believe it does overestimate my calorie burn. According to my Fitbit I burn on average 2850 calories /day.
I eat on average 1800 /day (and yes I log every bite, food scale etc.), so I should lose about 2lbs /week with this deficit. In reality I lost 'only' 6-7lbs in the last 8 weeks. MPF estimates my burn at 2380 /day on lightly active, which is more in line with reality.
It does tell me when I'm having a active or a lazy day, and it does motivate me to reach the goals and get of my but to get the numbers as high as possible

I just read somewhere else that Fitbit now has sleep tracking behind a paywall. May want to see if that's the case.

I don't have actual sleep issues beyond the average poor night here and there, but I am careful about my "sleep hygiene" as little can put a dent in your day like a bad night's sleep. I use a third party app on my Apple Watch and it is very interesting, I'm glad I make myself be in bed the time I do because my sleep is not super restful.

I've gone with the Samsung galaxy watch. You can swim with it and its pretty accurate. Im guessing you're a iPhone owner though lol

I have an Apple Watch (4) and love it - it does a lot more than just track so the extra features are worth it for me. I now leave my phone in the locker at the gym as I can play music on my AirPods with it, download workouts to it (gymholic) and use that to update weight training on the fly, in addition to tracking other exercises. I am not so worried about getting an exact calorie expenditure, so can't attest to how accurate it is, but the relative changes in active calories, resting calories, have been useful and seem pretty close in terms of trends for predicting my weight loss.

The only time that it was way off was when I went horseback riding (on a trail) and it counted that towards my steps! I use Zones now so that has additional fitness activities beyond what is in the Apple exercise app.

Do go and see one at the Apple store or find someone who has one.

I had 4 fitbits and then I discovered the samsung galaxy watch. Such a good looking watch & the step counts are very accurate. Fitbit has a lot of accidental steps. I will never get another fitbit - love the galaxy watch as it isnt just a fitness tracker. It has a great MFP app too

Cahgetsfit wrote: »

I was having the same dilema and ended up going with the Charge 3 because of 2 things - swimming and size.

It's smaller than apple watch and my wrist is small so Apple watch looks like a big square thing on there.

In terms of accuracy - it's OK. but not when i'm driving my manual transmission Jeep - then it thinks i'm riding a bike. I have removed the "auto detect outdoor bike" function but it still gives me steps for driving. I change gears with my left hand (australia) so even though it's my non-dominant hand normally, when I drive it does count it as steps. The forum said to take it off and stick it down your top when driving, but I can't be bothered doing that, I just don't believe the count at the end of the day when I do excessive driving (like hours, not just 10 mins to go up to the shops and back).

The sleep function is OK too.

Overall, I'm satisfied with it.

You can create a custom activity and force zero steps in the fitbit app during the time you were driving.

Having said that: driving consumes slightly more energy than lying in bed doing nothing.

Fitbit gives you 1x BMR during any time it doesn't detect any activity. While you're driving you're somewhere between 1.3 and 2.5 Furthermore it averages the activity it detects over 5 minutes and issues a single activity factor for the 5 minute time period based on the detections. In other words the extra calories (and steps) you get during driving are not that excessive most of the time.