Fitbit Sense vs Galaxy Watch 4: Which Is Right for You?

As if smartphones weren’t handy enough, smartwatches came along and blessed us with even more convenience and utility. Gamers, fitness enthusiasts, and those always on the go can get a lot of use out of owning a smartwatch.

With many models to choose from, it can be difficult to know which will make the perfect gift. If you’re contemplating an Android staple or a more fitness-inclined model, rest assured we’re going to carry out a full Fitbit Sense vs Galaxy Watch 4 comparison so you can make your pick with confidence.

Fitbit Sense vs Galaxy Watch 4: Side-by-Side Comparison

Fitbit Sense vs Galaxy Watch 4: What’s the Difference? 

Design

Design-wise, these two watches are markedly different. While the Galaxy Watch 4 has a more classic look, the Fitbit Sense naturally looks more athletic, similar to Apple Watches. The Fitbit Sense works through capacitive touch, similar to the touch-sensitive bezel of the standard Galaxy Watch 4. On the other hand, the Watch 4 Classic uses a rotating bezel, more like a traditional watch.

Keeping with tradition, the Galaxy Watch 4 has a rounded watch face, whereas the Fitbit Sense has a more modern, square one. Some users have noted frustration with the side touch button on the Fitbit Sense, as it can tend to be glitchy, activating when you don’t want it to and not responding when you do.

Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch with Tools for Heart Health, Stress Management & Skin Temperature Trends, Carbon/Graphite, One Size (S & L Bands Included) (Renewed)

$129.95

• EDA Scan app detects electrodermal activity which may indicate your body's response to stress and a built-in skin temperature sensor logs yours each night so you can see when it varies
• Assess your heart for atrial fibrillation –a heart rhythm irregularity- and easily share results with your doctor (The Fitbit ECG app is only available in select countries. Not intended for use by...
• An on-wrist skin temperature sensor tracks yours each night so you can see how it varies. You can also see your nightly blood oxygen levels at a glance with our collection of clock faces
• Free 6-month trial of Fitbit Premium for new Premium users (New Premium users only. Valid payment method required. Free trial must be activated within 60 days of device activation. Cancel before free...
• High & low heart rate notifications alert you if yours seems above or below your average

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03/03/2023 06:15 am GMT

There are more color options with the Watch 4, but the soft palettes of the Fitbit Sense are rather unique. While the overall sizes are similar, the Fitbit Sense does weigh appreciably more than the Galaxy Watch 4, so it’s something to consider if you’re after the lightest model.

Both models have a 5 ATM rating, meaning they can be submerged up to 50 feet, but they differ in that the Fitbit Sense can only be submerged at this depth for 10 minutes, whereas the Galaxy Watch 4 can survive for 30 minutes. If you’re a fan of going underwater for extended periods with your smartwatch, this is definitely a factor to think about.

Display

The devices have similar displays, but the Fitbit Sense does have the larger of the two. On the other hand, the Galaxy Watch 4 has a Super AMOLED display as opposed to a standard AMOLED, so the resolution is sharper and the display is brighter. It’s not a massive difference, but definitely noticeable if you’re comparing the two watches side by side.

Sensors

The biggest reason for wearing a smartwatch is usually the sensors and functionality it offers. In this respect, both watches support several health features, such as heart rate measuring and ECG, body composition analysis, sleep tracking, blood-oxygen reading, and even logging of your menstrual cycle.

The Fitbit Sense is a bit more advanced, though, as it gives you the ability to measure your stress levels and skin temperature, as well as give ECG readings independent of phone use. The ECG on the Galaxy Watch 4 is only usable if paired with a compatible Samsung smartphone.

Both watches can track your workout and monitor your route using GPS, but the Fitbit Sense offers more in that it can track your ‘Active Zone Minutes,’ or the minutes you’re spending in the ideal heart rate range when exercising.

SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 4 44mm Smartwatch with ECG Monitor Tracker for Health, Fitness, Running, Sleep Cycles, GPS Fall Detection, Bluetooth, US Version, Black

$105.99

• BODY COMPOSITION ANALYSIS: Galaxy Watch4 is the first smartwatch to off body composition data right on your wrist, On your own schedule, now you can get readings on body fat, skeletal muscle, body...
• BETTER SLEEP STARTS HERE: Wake up feeling refreshed and recharged with advanced sleep tracking; When you go to bed, your Galaxy Watch4 sleep tracker starts monitoring your sleep and SpO2 levels...
• BE SMART ABOUT YOUR HEART: Take care of your heart with accurate ECG monitoring and keep an eye on possible atrial fibrillation, a common form of irregular heart rhythm; Share personalized readings...
• MAKE EVERY WORKOUT COUNT: Get the most out of every exercise session with advanced workout tracking that recognizes 6 popular activities, from running to rowing to swimming, automatically in just 3...
• GO THE EXTRA MILE: Improve your runs with advanced running coaching technology; VO2 Max readings assess your oxygen levels to manage and track your heart and lung endurance

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03/03/2023 10:49 am GMT

Another aspect you may not have considered is that both watches can be used for near-field communication, or NFC. In this way, you can share data with a nearby device, such as a smartphone. You can also use either device to wirelessly pay for a purchase, much like you’d use a contactless card.

This is a great convenience, especially nowadays when paying for things quickly and cashlessly is essentially the norm. So far, it looks as though the Fitbit Sense is winning the race in terms of functionality, but it’s worth saying that it lacks the LTE (Long Term Evolution) capabilities of the Galaxy Watch 4.

So, while you can use your Galaxy Watch 4 to send messages and receive and make phone calls independently of your smartphone, you’re going to have pair your Fitbit Sense with your phone to enjoy the same functionality.

The health-conscious will likely see the Fitbit Sense as a better investment, while those looking forward to using their smartwatch to communicate will be disappointed.

Battery Life

We can see that the Fitbit Sense has a slightly larger battery than the Galaxy Watch 4, but how does this translate into runtime and charge time? Well, Samsung reports the battery life of the Galaxy Watch 4 to be around 40 hours, although in reality a lot of users experience around a day’s worth of charge, along with a two-hour charge time.

The Fitbit Sense, however, allegedly gives up to a massive six days of battery life and has been reported by one tester to give three days alongside heavy use, even with the Always-On Display active. Basically, the Fitbit Sense is leaps and bounds ahead of the Galaxy Watch 4 when it comes to battery life.

Tech Specs

Even though Fitbit is owned by Google, Fitbit Sense uses its own OS, while the Galaxy Watch 4 uses WearOS 3.0. Practical performance is still quite similar, but you are getting significantly more storage space with the Galaxy Watch 4, as well as more RAM.

Another bonus of the Galaxy Watch 4 is that there are a lot more apps you can use, via Google, than the Fitbit Sense can. If you use Google Maps and Google Play Music often, you’ll be thrilled that these are both compatible with the Galaxy Watch 4.

Strangely, though, there is no Google Assistant support, whereas the Fitbit Sense does have this, as well as Alexa support. For the Galaxy Watch 4, you have to rely on Bixby for voice support. Put simply, you get more voice control options with the Fitbit Sense, but less storage and a smaller selection of apps.

Price

All in all, the pricing for these two devices isn’t too dissimilar. As of writing, the Fitbit Sense is available for only $10 more than the Galaxy Watch 4, a price gap that’s closed considerably over the past year.

While there are the bigger versions of the Galaxy Watch 4 as well as the Classic models, they aren’t always much more expensive than the standard model. Generally, the Bluetooth models of the Galaxy Watch 4 are a bit cheaper, so if using your watch independently of your phone isn’t important to you, that’s another option.

Galaxy Watch 4 vs Galaxy Watch 4 Classic: 6 Must-Know Facts

1. The Fitbit Sense has a square watch face, whereas the Galaxy Watch 4 is more rounded.
2. Generally, the Fitbit Sense is slightly more expensive than the Galaxy Watch 4. 
3. There are different color options available for each watch.
4. Both watches make use of an aluminum case, except the Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, which uses stainless steel.
5. Both models perform similarly, but you get more storage and RAM with the Galaxy Watch 4.
6. The Galaxy Watch 4 has more apps to choose from, but the Fitbit Sense can track more health data.

Galaxy Watch 4 vs Galaxy Watch 4 Classic: Which One Is Best?

In a lot of ways, these smartwatches perform similar functions. A big difference is in the design and shape of the watch, along with the way the screen is used. With the Fitbit Sense, you’re getting access to some more health data that the fitness-minded will likely find appealing.

The drawback, though, is that it must be paired with your phone for you to make full use of it. If battery life is your priority, then the Fitbit Sense is the easy choice as the difference isn’t even comparable.

For more casual use, the Galaxy Watch 4 pulls ahead, since it has a wider app selection. As well as this, it has more functions that can be used independently. But if you don’t have a Samsung phone, the Fitbit Sense is a better choice since it pairs with iPhones.

Fitbit Sense vs Galaxy Watch 4: Further Reading

Having a tough time choosing which smartwatch to go for? Have a look at these other comparisons to help you make the right decision.

• Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 vs Galaxy Watch 3: 5 Key Differences – Curious how the previous generation stacks up? Check out the Galaxy Watch 3 here.
• Apple Watch Series 8 vs. Google Pixel Watch – It would only make sense to take a look at the competition. Find the Apple vs Google breakdown here.
• Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch: Which is Better? – Fancy a more classic smartwatch? See how the Versa compares to the first-generation Apple Watch.