Fitbit Sense 2, Versa 4, Google Pixel Watch: Which To Choose?

Fitbit Sense 2, Fitbit Versa 4, or even the Google Pixel Watch: which of these three watches is the best-connected watch for sports and health? This comparison tells you which smartwatch to choose according to its sensors and health monitoring functions, autonomy, design, and screen. The good news for those in a hurry is that all three models offer the same functionality when it comes to sports and sleep tracking. Likewise, all three smartwatches rely on the good old Fitbit app to process the results.

The daily fitness index, the barometer of your daily fitness, is common to all models. This, unfortunately, also applies to the Fitbit Premium subscription, which you must subscribe to if you want to use all the features. On the Fitbit side, the two models are distinguished above all by the vigilance functions that the Fitbit Sense 2, more expensive by around 70 euros, offers compared to the Versa 4. In addition to stress monitoring via the EDA sensor, the measurement ECG is reserved for the more expensive Sense 2 again this year.

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Fitbit Sense 2 vs. Versa 4 vs. Pixel Watch: Design And Display

As with the previous generation, the current Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 watches have almost the same design. There are some minor color differences. On the Sense 2, you have three options; on the Versa 4, there are four color variants to choose from. The Pixel Watch, on the other hand, is entirely different. Unlike smartwatches under the Fitbit banner, it relies on a round case and, therefore, a round touch screen. Its 41 mm case is also significantly more compact than the two Fitbit watches. All three models have a touch screen, which is, in principle, very similar from one model to another.

You scroll through some quick settings from top to bottom, and from bottom to top, you scroll through notifications. Finally, horizontally, you navigate through a series of widgets that show you, for example, the steps taken, your current pulse, your resting pulse, or sleep data from the past night. The Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 each have a mechanical home button on the case’s left. The Google Pixel Watch, on the other hand, has a crown on the right that can rotate and serve as a home button. Above, a second configurable button defaults to a list of recently used apps and functions.

Fitbit Sense 2 vs. Versa 4 vs. Pixel Watch: Battery Life

With the extra buttons, Google considers that the Pixel Watch, with Wear OS 3.5, runs a significantly more complex operating system than the Fitbit models (Fitbit OS). At first glance, both interfaces look similar and offer a comparable range of functions. In addition to the typical training functions, there are Google Wallet and Google Assistant – on the Fitbit models, you will additionally find Fitbit Pay and Amazon Alexa, the latter of which can be retrofitted to the Pixel Watch via the Play Store. And it is here that we come to the decisive difference. The Pixel Watch indeed offers the possibility of reinstalling applications.

You’ll find every conceivable app in the Play Store for Wear OS, from Komoot to Spotify to Shazam. While you are limited to pre-installed apps with Fitbit smartwatches, the Pixel Watch gives you almost unlimited functions. But these smartwatch capabilities also come at a price. The autonomy of the Google Pixel Watch is significantly lower than that of the two Fitbit models. While the Sense 2 and Versa 4 each last six days, according to the manufacturer, the Pixel Watch only lasts 24 hours. With the Always-on screen activated, the autonomy should be lower, namely around 20 to24 hours.

Fitbit Sense 2 vs. Versa 4 vs. Pixel Watch: Sensors And Tracking Features

All three smartwatches have a basic set of sports features in common. These include, for example, the optical pulse sensor, which, in addition to the current heart rate and resting pulse, also registers the blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). All models also have in common an integrated GPS module with an altimeter. But that’s about all. The Sense 2 is the only model to offer a few additional sensors, particularly on the themes of vigilance and health. The car sensor allows you, for example, to perform an EDA scan and thus assess your stress level.

Furthermore, the Sense 2 is also the only model of the trio to allow ECG recording. And finally, you will only find the skin temperature sensor in Sense 2. Finally, there are still limitations that apply to all models. So neither the Fitbit watch nor the Google Pixel Watch connects to external accessories. Particularly interesting would have been chest straps for more accurate heart rate measurement – or speed and cadence sensors for cyclists. But we can’t have everything.

Fitbit Sense 2 vs. Versa 4 or Pixel Watch: Conclusion – Which Model To Buy?

Ultimately, it’s hard to recommend any particular model. The Fitbit Versa 4, with its suggested retail price of 229 euros, is the best value for money and already offers good possibilities for sports monitoring. The Fitbit Sense 2 adds a layer with sensors for EDA, ECG, and others, but it costs 299 euros and is also a little more expensive. Finally, the Pixel Watch, which costs at least 379 euros, is again on the level of the Versa 4 regarding the scope of fitness functions. Still, on the other hand, it has comprehensive intelligent features – and is the only model available in LTE varying.