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Original poster

Whats better a Fitbit or Apple Watch

44 replies

eastereggs12 · 13/04/2023 15:13

Im very lucky I have been given some money for my birthday which I wanted to get either a fit bit or Apple Watch. I have £250 but don't know what's best.

I want to use it when doing classes and swimming and I do have an apple phone.

Any recommendations?

Thanks

OP posts:
SchoolNightWine · 13/04/2023 15:52

I chose a Fitbit over the Apple Watch as it had a much longer battery life when I was looking (5 days compared to Apple's 1 day). The Fitbit works fine with iPhones and tracks all the exercising I need it too.

Harrysmummy246 · 13/04/2023 21:14

A lot of people in the fitness group I belong to are finding their fitbit dies on them relatively soon after purchase (1yr or so). Would you consider a garmin watch instead? The app that goes with them is pretty helpful. At least for Android but i'm sure they're also apple compatible

TokyoSushi · 13/04/2023 21:16

If you're looking to use it more for fitness, Fitbit.

If you're looking to use it for fitness but also for messages, email, news alerts etc etc, Apple.

CommanderSeven · 13/04/2023 21:21

If you go for Fitbit it's owned by Google now so your data is probably used by Goggle somehow.

SleekMamma · 13/04/2023 21:23

You have to have an iPhone for the Apple watch to work. It's not a stand alone watch.

gloriousnamechangesgalore · 13/04/2023 21:26

Ive just got a Fitbit (using my Tesco points) - had it about 8wks.

I like it to a point, but I do a lot of driving and it counts that as steps/distance so my figures are all wrong. To mitigate it I can "add" driving as an exercise and enter the time spent driving and it should then reflect that adjust the figures IYSWIM.
But it's a bloody faff especially if doing lots of short journeys during the day.
I'm told the Garmin is better than either the Fitbit or Apple as an exercise tracker - I'm not sure I'd buy another Fitbit unless this was fixed

Fuelledbycaffeine89 · 13/04/2023 21:28

I would imagine it depends on what you want it for.

I have a garmin and I love it. Swapped from my i-watch a couple of years ago.

accurate on running distances, can upload bank cards for contactless and messaged come through.

Jorvik1978 · 13/04/2023 21:29

I chose a Garmin over both the FitBit and Apple watch. It's a very basic model but is pretty accurate for distance measured in both # of steps and via the GPS. And it doesn't count driving as steps!

Briallen · 13/04/2023 21:30

I didn’t get on with the Apple Watch although have friends who love it. I sold mine and got a Fitbit which I much prefer. Mine doesn’t track driving as steps.

FlickyCrumble · 13/04/2023 21:31

I moved over to an Apple Watch and to be honest the being able to phone and text on it is a great feature but when it dies I shall go back to Fitbit despite them only lasting 1/2 years. The fitness recording is far superior.

astarsheis · 13/04/2023 21:31

Garmin Venu2S here. I actually find it more stylish and i can track all the sports i do.
Think apple watch and fitbit look a bit dated now.

brooksghost · 13/04/2023 21:44

I've got a Garmin VenuSq; for me, it's been great for swimming and running. It holds its charge for 5 days (I use it daily for training) unlike DH's Apple Watch which seems to be permanently on charge- he has to charge it every evening.

fellrunner85 · 13/04/2023 22:16

Neither - get a Garmin.

Justcannot · 13/04/2023 22:18

Another vote for a garmin-i love mine! Great for fitness tracking, syncs well and easily, looks beautiful, and easy to read messages, calls etc.

Daisy03 · 13/04/2023 22:56

Love my Apple Watch, have had it 3 years and will buy another one when necessary. Find it great for tracking exercise including swimming, it has settings to record anything you want and provides data on your phone for splits etc.
Also lovely for the notifications from phone, and comes with the opportunity of many different straps

Original poster
eastereggs12 · 14/04/2023 09:34

Thanks everyone- what garmin do people recommend?

OP posts:
beguilingeyes · 14/04/2023 10:22

Another vote for Garmin. I had a very swanky Fitbit and it died after a year or so. My Garmin (Forerunner 35) is fairly basic but just goes on and on.

Menopants · 14/04/2023 10:26

If you want to use it for swimming then definitely a garmin. I run so use the forerunner music. It would work well for swimming too and you apcan listen to music and podcasts from it if you have waterproof headphones

astarsheis · 14/04/2023 19:08

eastereggs12 · 14/04/2023 09:34

Thanks everyone- what garmin do people recommend?

I have the Garmin Venu2S and love it. I do a variety of sports and can monitor all my data. I link it to Garmin Connect (APP) and Strava.

HundredMilesAnHour · 14/04/2023 19:35

I had a couple of Fitbits (but I got sick of replacing the straps as they never lasted long) and then changed to a Garmin Venu 2S. I preferred the Garmin to Fitbit but then also got an Apple Watch 8. I wore them both for a week and the Apple Watch fitness tracking was more accurate (when compared with my MyZone that I also wear for gym/cardio work) than the Garmin. Now I'm sticking with the Apple Watch 8 and I'm super happy. I resisted Apple watches for many years but I guess they sucked me in eventually!

NyanBinaryJohn · 14/04/2023 19:38

Another vote for Garmin. Vivoactive 4s. Mine's been going strong for almost 3 years. You can't read WhatsApp messages etc from an iPhone, but you do get notifications. For me it's a great activity watch, I prefer it over my old Fitbit. Plus I like that it looks like a round watch instead of a square face.

LucifersLight · 14/04/2023 19:39

Annything but AW is for people who want to look poor with no sense of style lol

fellrunner85 · 14/04/2023 20:02

I wore them both for a week and the Apple Watch fitness tracking was more accurate

In many many years of club running I've never heard anyone say an Apple watch is more accurate than a Garmin. It's always the other way round - people ditch their Apple watches to trade up to Garmin.

HundredMilesAnHour · 14/04/2023 21:09

fellrunner85 · 14/04/2023 20:02

I wore them both for a week and the Apple Watch fitness tracking was more accurate

In many many years of club running I've never heard anyone say an Apple watch is more accurate than a Garmin. It's always the other way round - people ditch their Apple watches to trade up to Garmin.

I wouldn't know about running (or swimming) but for rowing and cycling and HIIT and weightlifting, my Apple Watch was more accurate than my Garmin. It surprised me as I didn't get the Apple Watch to use for fitness tracking and was expecting to continue using my Garmin for fitness. I had noticed discrepancies previously between my Garmin and my MyZone but not paid much attention until I got the Apple watch as well.

MasterOfOne · 14/04/2023 21:13

I am a lifelong fitbit owner from the start currently on my second sense due to issues with charging and the battery.

This will also be my last fitbit as they are just riddled with issues now.