The Pixel Watch's fitness and health tracking features are powered by Fitbit, but is it worth buying over Fitbit's own Sense 2 smartwatch? The Pixel Watch is not the only smartwatch sold by Google. Since the company also owns Fitbit, watches like the Sense 2 and Versa 4 are also among its portfolio. As a matter of fact, Fitbit's lineup of wearables for 2022, which also includes the Inspire 3 fitness tracker, are all available on the Google Store.
In addition, buyers can also purchase the Fitbit Charge 5 and the Fitbit Luxe on Google's online store. However, accessories for these Fitbit wearables are only available for purchase on Fitbit's site. Interestingly, Fitbit not only sells the Pixel Watch on its own site but also sells a few official Pixel Watch bands too. However, those who want to pick up the Stretch Band and the Two-Tone Leather Band will only be able to do so from the Google Store.
The Pixel Watch and the Fitbit Sense 2 look nothing alike. The former has a round display housed in a stainless steel case and weighs 36 grams (without the band). On the other hand, the Sense 2 has a square display that sits inside an aluminum case and weighs 37.64 grams. Both watches have a 5ATM water resistance rating which means they are water-resistant up to a depth of 50 meters. Buyers will be able to purchase the Pixel Watch in four color options while Fitbit sells the Sense 2 in three colorways. Buyers also have the choice of purchasing extra bands that are available in different materials and colors.
Fitbit Sense 2 Works With Android & iOS
Both the Pixel Watch and the Fitbit Sense 2 have AMOLED displays with support for Always-on display. They also have an optical heart rate sensor (high and low heart rate alerts available only on the Sense 2), blood oxygen monitoring, and the ability to record an ECG. The Sense 2 can even measure skin conductance (cEDA) for continuous stress monitoring, and has a temperature sensor too. In addition to being able to record an ECG, the Fitbit Sense 2 continuously checks for signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib) as it has support for irregular heart rhythm notifications. Both smartwatches have support for sleep tracking, menstrual health tracking, and stress tracking. They can also track dozens of sports, while the Fitbit app provides users with several workouts from trainers. However, only the Fitbit has automatic workout detection. Both smartwatches have inbuilt GPS.
Google's smartwatch has Emergency SOS and fall detection (coming later) which are not available on the Fitbit Sense 2. The two smartwatches boast smart features, but the Pixel Watch has the upper hand in this regard. Google's smartwatch has Google Assistant support, Google Maps, Google Wallet, as well as Gmail and Calendar apps pre-installed. Users can also download their playlists or podcasts to the watch's 32GB of storage. Google also released a Google Home app that's also available for other Wear OS watches, so users can control their smart home appliances right from their wrists. In contrast, the Fitbit Sense 2 has Alexa built-in, and will get Google Maps and Google Wallet apps. There is support for streaming from Deezer and Pandora, but the low storage means users can't download their playlists for offline listening.
The two watches have Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and Wi-Fi (deactivated on the Fitbit Sense 2). The Pixel Watch also has an LTE mode. With respect to compatibility, the Pixel Watch only works with Android devices whereas the Fitbit Sense 2 works with Android and iPhone. The advertised battery life of the Pixel Watch is up to 24 hours depending on usage, but that pales in comparison to Fitbit's claim of six days of battery life on the Sense 2. In addition, both watches have support for fast charging. Google says a 30-minute charge should translate to a 50 percent battery top-up, while Fitbit claims charging for just 12 minutes will provide a day's worth of battery life.
At $299.95, the Fitbit Sense 2 is the better health tracking device thanks to having more health tracking sensors, although, like the Pixel Watch, a Fitbit Premium subscription is needed to get the best experience. It also has significantly longer battery life and works with both Android and iOS devices. On the other hand, the Pixel Watch, which costs $50 more (or $100 more for the LTE model) has better smart features, fall detection and emergency SOS, built-in storage, and optional LTE. So for those who want a smartwatch that's great at tracking their overall health but don't care about its other smart features, the Fitbit Sense 2 is the one to go for. The Pixel Watch will suffice for those who want a watch that can not only track essential health and fitness metrics but can also serve as an extension of their smartphone.