Between Fitbit Sense vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 which is a better smartwatch to buy? is a frequent question asked by smartwatch lovers. In this post, I will help you make the right choice based on my experience. If you recall, Active 2 was released last year, it’s one of the most advanced Samsung smartwatches behind the newly released Galaxy Watch 3. It has both a microphone and loudspeaker, music storage, helps you manage notifications, and equipped with sensors that enable it to track a whole lot of activities. These features on Active 2 are very similar to what you get with Fitbit Sense which was released alongside Fitbit Versa 3 and features an ECG app and an EDA stress sensor. Continue reading to find out my verdict on this comparison.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Fitbit Sense: Specs Comparison
| Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm) (bluetooth only) | Fitbit Sense | |
|---|---|---|
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ABOUT DEVICE |
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| Device name | Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (44mm) (Bluetooth only) | Fitbit Sense |
| Device type | Classic/Fitness smartwatch | Sport/Fitness smartwatch |
| Predecessor | Samsung Galaxy Watch Active | None |
| Successor | N/A | None |
| Date Released | September, 2019 | September, 2020 |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
WHERE TO BUY | ||
DISPLAY |
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| Display size | 1.4 inches (44mm) | 1.58 inches |
| Display type | Super AMOLED Full color | AMOLED |
| Display resolution | 360 x 360 pixels | 336 x 336 pixel |
| Pixel density | -- | -- |
| Display always-on | Yes | Yes |
| Input type | Touchscreen, 2 physical buttons Digital rotating bezel | Touchscreen Touchkey |
BODY |
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| Shape | Circular | Rectangular/curved |
| Casing material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Strap material | Fluoroelastomer (Aluminum) | Silicone |
| Bezel Material | Glass | Stainless steel |
| Weight | 30 grams (aluminum, without straps) | -- |
| Color(s) | Cloud-silver Aqua-black Pink-gold (aluminum) | Carbon/graphite White/gold |
| Dimension | 44 x 44 x 10.9mm (44mm) | 40.5 x 40.5 x 12.4 mm |
| Strap size | 20mm | 140 - 180 mm (small) 180 - 220 mm (large) |
| Screen protection | Corning Gorilla glass DX+ | Corning Gorilla glass |
| Durability test | MIL-STD-810G | |
| Waterproof rating | Yes, IP68, 5ATM MIL-STD-810G | Yes, 5ATM |
CLOCK FEATURES |
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| Time/Date | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
MEMORY |
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| RAM | 0.75GB non-LTE | -- |
| Internal storage | 4GB | About 4GB |
| Memory card slot | No | No |
MEDIA |
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| Audio | mp3/mp4 | mp3/mp4 |
| Microphone | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | No | No |
| Music streaming | Yes | Yes |
CONNECTIVITY |
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| Bluetooth | Bluetooth smart v5.0 LE | Bluetooth v5.0 |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes | No |
NOTIFICATIONS |
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| Calls alert | Yes | Yes |
| SMS alert | Yes | Yes |
| Email alert | Yes | Yes |
| Reminder | Yes | Yes |
CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY |
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| Network Technology | No | No |
| SIM | No | No |
FITNESS TRACKING |
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| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Floors climbed | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max. | Yes | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | No | Yes |
| Blood pressure | Yes | No |
| ECG Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen | No | Yes |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes | Yes, 20 |
PLATFORM |
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| Operating system | Tizen OS 4.0 | Fitbit OS |
| CPU | Dual core 1.15GHz | -- |
| GPU | -- | -- |
| Chipset | Exynos 9110 | -- |
SENSORS |
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| GPS | GPS/Glonass/Beidou/Galileo | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Barometer | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | No | No |
| Pulse Ox. | No | Yes |
| Altimeter | -- | Yes |
| ECG | Yes | Yes |
| Thermometer | No | Yes |
| Ambient light | Yes | Yes |
OTHER FUNCTIONS |
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| Interchangeable straps | Yes, 20mm | Yes |
| Custom watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Voice Assistant | Yes | Yes |
| Compatibility | Android 5.0+ & RAM 1.5GB+ iPhone 5+ and iOS 9.0+ | Android, IOS Check supported devices |
| Payment system | Samsung pay | Fitbit Pay |
| Companion app | Samsung Gear app | Fitbit App |
BATTERY |
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| Battery type | Non-removable Li-ion battery | Non-removable lithium polymer |
| Battery capacity | 340mAh | -- |
| Est. battery life | Standby :5 days+, Mixed usage: 2 days+ | Mixed usage: up to 6 days+ |
| Charging mode | WPC based wireless charging | Magnetic charging |
| Charging duration | About 1-2 hours | About 30mins-1 hours |
BOX CONTENTS |
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| Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 | Fitbit Sense | |
| Small and large straps | Large band Small band |
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| Wireless charger | Magnetic charging cable | |
| Quick start guide | Quick start guide | |
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 vs Garmin Vivoactive 4: The Difference
Design
Let’s start with the similarities, both Active 2 and Fitbit Sense are very compact and lightweight. So you can wear any of these two smartwatches comfortably all day long without feeling the need to remove them. I could wear the Active 2 all day long and the silicone straps doesn’t irritate my skin. Although, it’s advisable to always remove the band once in a while.
These two are also very durable, the cases are made of aluminum, while the straps come in silicone. Although, Active 2 is slimmer than Fitbit Sense.
Secondly, the display of each of these two is powered by AMOLED which offers a very colorful and interactive viewing experience. However, while active 2 has a digital rotating bezel that allows you to navigate the device effortlessly alongside 2 physical buttons by the side and touchscreen support, Fitbit Sense relies on the touch-sensitive screen and a haptic button by the side to access the device. I haven’t had the best experience with the haptic button as it can be very frustrating and annoying.
Since each of these two is rated 5ATM, it’s waterproof up to 50 meters, so you can wear both Active 2 and Fitbit Sense for swimming.
Media
Both Active 2 and Sense allow you to store music on the watch, its same 4GB storage capacity. However, while you can add your personal music to Active 2, you can’t do that on Fitbit Sense. You can only access Deezer playlists and Pandora stations and as well allows you to control Spotify playlist on your phone.
Additionally, while each of these two smartwatches has both a loudspeaker and microphone, only Active 2 allows you to make and receive calls from the watch. You can also play media files aloud which is not possible with Fitbit Sense.
Health and Activity Tracking
When you talk about fitness tracking, both Active 2 and Fitbit Sense are advertised and marketed as fitness smartwatches that can help you reach more fitness goals. Note: these are not medical devices that can replace your doctor, always consult your doctor before taking any medical advice.
Active 2 and Fitbit Sense will track your steps, count floors and calories, measure your heart rate, and track your sleep. Both smartwatches track your resting heart rate and heart rate range. With these two, your sleep is tracked in four stages; deep, light, awake, and REM stages of sleep. You will also see your sleep trend from the respective apps. Its Fitbit app for Sense and Samsung Health app for the Active 2.
With inbuilt GPS in Active 2 and Fitbit Sense, you can track your routes, pace, and distance with both smartwatches. Active 2 allows you to view tracked routes directly from the device, it also tracks my cadence which Fitbit Sense doesn’t track.
_ There are 39 preloaded sport modes on Active 2, Fitbit Sense has only 20 workout modes. Both smartwatches will track your blood oxygen level, but the Fitbit Sense only tracks your blood oxygen level overnight.
_ Both smartwatches feature an ECG app that allows you to take ECG tests directly from your wrist which can help you detect irregular heart rhythms which is a common sign of atrial fibrillation.
_ Both smartwatches come with a stress app that guides you through a breathing session to help bring you back to calm.
_ There’s a body temperature sensor on Fitbit Sense which tracks your body temperature to monitor changes.
_ Another difference in fitness tracking is that Active 2 features blood oxygen tracking and incidental fall detection which Fitbit Sense lacks.
Notifications
You can reply to notifications on both smartwatches with your voice, emojis, and preset replies. However, only Active 2 allows you to reply by texting back and there are far more preset replies with the ability to add more. You can also view chat history on Active 2 which is not possible with Fitbit Sense.
Battery Life
When I tested these two smartwatches, Active 2 averaged about 2 days, while Fitbit Sense lasted up to 5 days.
Which is Better Between Active 2 and Fitbit Sense
Active 2 is a more comprehensive smartwatch than Fitbit Sense, it has an attractive aesthetics, more features, but disappoints in battery life. Meanwhile, Fitbit Sense is a decent fitness smartwatch with up to 5 days long battery life.
Prices
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