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. We tested both to see which tracker was best.
Compare prices and choose your favorite supplier from this list:
| 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. In our testing, we concluded that this is purely down to personal preference. Some people find that their clothes can get caught on a bigger smartwatch, so perhaps the band is better.
However, in giving up the smartwatch option, you are also giving up more in-depth data on the screen. Therefore with a band, you are going to be more reliant on using the app on your smartphone after exercising.
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 and Charge 5.
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.
While the Sense does offer Fitbit Pay, I found that it’s not as widely accepted as Apple Pay or Garmin pay for example. So you might find that you can only use it in a handful of places.
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. I definitely noticed that the display was particularly colourful and smooth.
The Fitbit Sense has the best battery life of any smartwatch. It’s suggested that it holds six days on a full charge. However in reality, and of course depending on your use of the device, you’re really getting closer to 5 days. Although, any Apple SE user which is a comparable device will tell you that five days is a dream.
It’s the Charge 5 that wins this category, lasting a full day longer.
Display and design
Fitbit Sense
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.
overall, I really enjoyed the look of this new Fitbit device. Many people assumed it wasn’t much more expensive Apple Watch. I didn’t always correct them. It’s incredibly sleek.
Whilst we absolutely love the functionality of the sense and agree it is revolutionary for the brand, the side button is so easily pressed that you can accidentally pause a workout and not realise it. This also triggers things like Alexa when not exercising.
The watch’s screen can be programmed to always display the time and other info, or to light up when you turn your wrist or click the side button. We found that an always-on screen is a personal preference. I didn’t enjoy the always on at night time, so turned it off.
Fitbit Charge 5
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.
I couldn’t help but notice just how comfortable this device is. However, as with a lot of Fitbit bands, I have seen others commenting on the strap being quite uncomfortable in that it trapped sweat. Some have experienced a red mark on their wrist. Personally, I didn’t, however, I have seen this complaint across the brand’s range.
Charge 5 benefits
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 was 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. Upon testing, we found this to be realistic also; giving an extra day in comparison.
Because of this excellent battery life, there is no worry about using it for sleep tracking. Although you will need to use the Fitbit app to see your data, the data you do get is excellent. As we’ve come to expect with most Fitbit devices you get six months free Fitbit premium.
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.
The latter is the most expensive offering from Fitbit so far, but that’s to be expected as it is also the smartest device they have produced to date. So if you want advanced metrics and more smart features than your average Fitbit, you bring yourself into the smartwatch world and we think this is a fair price if you look at it from that perspective.
Smart features
Of course, the Fitbit Sense offers simple access to Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, allowing you to set reminders, make quick inquiries, and manage smart home devices.
personally, my home is full of smart devices which are controlled by Alexa. So, I found this particular feature to really open up the efficiencies of running my household. All I had to do was talk to my watch instead of shouting at an Amazon Echo device somewhere in the room.
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.
So this is why our testers believe that the Fitbit Sense is worth the extra cost if you want a smartwatch that can offer you enhanced customization and advanced capabilities.
Fitness and health features
Both the Sense and Fitbit Charge 5 Fitness Tracker give you a comprehensive view of your overall health and fitness. Having tested both, we can’t really differentiate which is better on the actual device itself, because you have access to the data through the Fitbit app. So I guess the question is if you want to see some details on-screen (then get the Sense) or if you’re happy to use your smartphone (then get the Charge 5).
With the Stress Management Score, you can find your optimal amount of stress and manage it. The EDA Sensor in both devices will monitor your body’s stress response and gives you tips on how to better cope with stress.
PurePulse monitors your heart rate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can maximise your exercise. You’ll also be alerted if something goes awry.
Heart rate abnormalities and fibrillation are detected by the ECG app. It also alerts you if your heart rate rises or falls outside of a certain range.
You’ll get a wide range of information and the ability to create your own personal goals by tracking your Active Zone Minutes, heart rate, and sleep.
I went for a run with the Charge 5. The built-in GPS eliminated the need for any smartphone. After my workout, I used the Fitbit app to see my speed, distance, and a route map.
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. (Plus here’s a tip from us to you that when a new version is in the making or due to be released, the previous versions go down in price).
Is there going to be a Fitbit Sense 2?
The two devices are 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 can avoid the issue with the side button, you’ll really enjoy this watch. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past it, and went back to using my versa two.
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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