Although Fitbit’s new Charge 5 tracker is similar to the much more expensive Sense watch in many ways, some functions are only available on the Sense. So let’s have a look at which one is best for you, the Fitbit Charge 5 or the Fitbit Sense.
In addition to the Fitbit Sense wearable, Fitbit released the Charge 5 fitness tracker with ECG functionality. Now, people looking for a wearable with this functionality may save a lot of money if they don’t need the additional features of the fuller smartwatch. Consumers seeking the highest value ECG should consider how these models differ and where they intersect.
Compare prices and choose your favorite supplier below.
| Product | Supplier | |||
| Fitbit Sense | Amazon | View Offer | ||
| Fitbit Sense | eBay | View Offer | ||
| Fitbit Sense | Fitbit | View Offer | ||
| Fitbit Sense | Target | View Offer |
Fitbit band or a Fitbit watch?
If you already have a favourite watch, you may want to go with a Fitbit band so you don’t have to wear two watches.
Some folks just do not like watches and would like something smaller like the Charge 5.
Many people associate Fitbits with achieving 10,000 steps a day, but they’ve evolved to include heart rate tracking and analysis, as well as resting heart rate and sleep monitoring in the likes of the Sense. So which should you go for?
Health features
The Sense, the firm’s first product with an electrocardiogram app, came out in 2020. It’s able to identify heart conditions, including atrial fibrillation, using the ECG. Apple has made this feature famous with its Watch Series 4 smartwatch in 2018. The Fitbit Sense comes with a new Electrodermal Activity sensor (EDA) that tracks sweat to tell wearers how stressed they are. As a smartwatch, it can display alerts from your smartphone and use applications to make its features more useful.
Sensors
Fitbit’s sensor set is the same on both watches. The long list features 3-axis accelerometers, 3-axis gyroscopes, optical heart rate monitors, temperature sensors, vibration motors, and NFC chips for contactless payments. Also, there’s built-in GPS for monitoring outdoor activity without a smartphone.
There is no altimeter on the Charge 5, unlike on the Sense. This is an odd choice for Fitbit, and we are unsure why they made it. Besides that, the fitness band uses the same sensors as the Sense.
The pair has excellent water resistance, as you’d expect from Fitbit, at 5 ATM.
Battery life
Fitbit’s newest tracker, the Charge 5, offers a surprising number of features that are typically found in more expensive models. As with the Fitbit Sense, the Fitbit Charge 5 has ECG and EDA capabilities that distinguish it from other Fitbit watches and trackers. In both devices, the screen can utilize an always-on mode with its bright, vivid displays. Fitbit Sense has the best battery life of any smartwatch. It lasts six days on a full charge. It’s the Charge 5 that wins this category, lasting a full day longer.
Display and design
Let us begin with the smartwatch.
The watch is one of the tiniest smartwatches on the market, measuring 40.5mm wide and 12.35mm thick. The 1.58-inch OLED display is brilliant and is encased in a polished stainless steel bezel that houses the sensor’s electrical connections. The remainder of the body is made of aluminium.
The Sense comes with two silicone strap sizes that snap into the watch’s unique quick-release holes on the rear.
The watch’s screen may be programmed to always display the time and other info, or to light up when you turn your wrist or click the side button.
The Fitbit Charge 4 was a great fitness tracker last year, but it was let down by an obsolete grayscale display and cheap plastic construction. Fitbit’s most popular gadget, now in its fifth version, boasts an AMOLED colour touch screen and a metal shell, making the Charge 5 a wearable you’ll really want to wear.
As such, the Charge 5 is a totally different creature from both its predecessors and the Sense. Its appearance is similar to that of a traditional fitness band, making it perfect for those who prefer something more subtle. The device is 10% slimmer than previously, measuring 36.78mm x 22.79mm and 11.2mm in depth.
The Charge 5 has been upgraded significantly in terms of its screen. 260 x 170 pixels are displayed on the 1.04-inch AMOLED screen. In this regard, it is at the same level as the displays in the Sense and Versa 3 devices. They have a 40.48 mm x 40.48 mm AMOLED display with 336 x 336 pixels. It has Corning Glass 3 protection and can produce up to 1000 nits of light. As a result, even in the middle of a run, reading the data is a breeze.
As a result of its one-inch screen, the Fitbit Charge 5 offers a longer maximum battery life than the Fitbit Sense due to its smaller screen.
Compare prices and choose your favorite merchant on the table below.
| Product | Supplier | |
| Fitbit Charge 5 | Amazon | View Offer |
| Fitbit Charge 5 | eBay | View Offer |
| Fitbit Charge 4 | eBay | View Offer |
| Fitbit Charge 5 | Fitbit | View Offer |
Price
If you are primarily concerned with affordability in addition to ECG capabilities, the Fitbit Charge 5 wins hands down. It costs under $180, significantly less than the Fitbit Sense, which sells for just under $300.
Smart features
Fitbit Sense offers simple access to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, allowing you to set reminders, make quick inquiries, and manage smart home devices. Additionally, it includes a Bluetooth connection so you can talk hands-free and answer incoming calls. Sense users may find that jogging and other activities are more enjoyable when listening to music.
The Fitbit Sense may be worth the extra cost if you want a smartwatch that can offer you enhanced customization and advanced capabilities. Fitbit Charge 5 is a fantastic bargain for a unique, ECG-capable tracker, but those features may not be helpful if you’re primarily interested in health and fitness tracking.
A note on Fitbit Premium
Fitbit Premium is a premium membership service that gives Fitbit customers with extra statistics, instruction, and fitness programmes. Consider it like any other freemium service: anybody may download and use the Fitbit app for free, but if you want access to the whole Fitbit ecosystem, you’ll have to pay a monthly charge.
Throughout the day, Fitbit devices capture a lot of fitness and health data. Premium’s purpose is to help you understand how your metrics influence different aspects of your life. Premium, according to Fitbit, “turns data on your wrist into tailored suggestions.”
Fitbit Premium includes guided programmes, training videos, tailored insights based on your health and fitness level, and a unique Health Metrics dashboard, which aren’t accessible in the basic Fitbit app.
Fitbit Premium works with any device. It works with all Fitbit devices available today since it links to the Fitbit smartphone app rather than your wearable. This includes fitness trackers like the Charge and Inspire lines, as well as smartwatches like the Versa and Sense lines.
Which is best?
Sale pricing is sometimes offered on the Sense, which debuted in 2020, putting prices closer together. The two versions are almost similar in terms of monitoring, leaving the smartwatch functions as one of the few areas where they differ. The Fitbit Sense is a sophisticated and flexible smartwatch that can be modified with different clock faces and applications to update its appearance and add new features.
If you’re looking for enhanced customization and advanced functionality, then Fitbit Sense is worth the extra money. The Fitbit Charge 5 offers a great bargain for a unique, ECG-compatible tracker, but some of those features may not be relevant to those interested in tracking fitness and health.
If you’d like to know more about your Fitbit options, check out our Fitbit comparison.
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Last Updated on December 31, 2021
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