Fitbit to Apple Watch?

bucketfoot · 07-21-2025, 11:07 AM

Has anyone here transitioned from a Fitbit to an Apple Watch?

I'm a longtime Fitbit user, but am slowly seeing changes being made since they were bought by Google.

I use an iPhone, but am not an Apple fanboy. Although I think I prefer them over Google.

My biggest reasons that I have stayed with Fitbit so far are that fitness & sleep tracking are my primary use of the device (Sense 2) and the FAR SUPERIOR battery life of Fitbits.

I'd be curious to hear feedback from anyone who has made the switch in either direction.

freakystyly · 07-21-2025, 01:43 PM

Started using a Garmin a year or so ago. They come in different looks and styles, analog even. Apple does other "smart" things better that Garmin doesn't. But as far as actual fitness/sport tracking I think Garmin is better. Also, no subscription fees (yet). If I turn off the pulse oximeter sensor, the battery lasts weeks.

On a side note, I scored a 100 sleep score recently.

UncleWede · 07-21-2025, 04:14 PM

I may also have to switch to something else when they force the use of a Google account. I don't have, don't want a google account. I don't need more and more email accounts to get nothing but spam. I already have 3 . . .

I've had the current Versa 4 for 4-5 years. I was so glad when a "waterproof" fitness watch came out with built-in GPS tracking. I could leave my phone at home when I went on a run.

It seems I charge my Versa 4 about every 10 days.

ppointer · 07-22-2025, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I may also have to switch to something else when they force the use of a Google account. I don't have, don't want a google account. I don't need more and more email accounts to get nothing but spam. I already have 3 . . .

I've had the current Versa 4 for 4-5 years. I was so glad when a "waterproof" fitness watch came out with built-in GPS tracking. I could leave my phone at home when I went on a run.

It seems I charge my Versa 4 about every 10 days.

100% this ^^^. Not a fan of Google.

Mason Hatcher · 07-23-2025, 05:50 AM

Garmin is the answer for fitness. I get three weeks of battery, and more metrics than I know what to do with.

Vulpe · 07-23-2025, 01:26 PM

I was using a Fitbit for a while but I dislike when they updated the app some point in 2023. I was going to go to an Apple Watch when that Fitbit died but the series 9 went on sale and updated anyway. I dislike having to charge daily instead of every 3-4 days but otherwise I like it. Gives me a lot more information on my pace and whatnot but I was using the Fitbit Charge which had a smaller screen, I assume the larger ones give similar info.

bucketfoot · 07-24-2025, 03:49 PM

Just ordered a Garmin Vivoactive 6 as I really don't need any of the fancier training stuff.

The Apple Watch was ultimately a no-go due to the lack of battery life.

I'll probably use both my existing Fitbit and the Garmin in parallel for about a week to see what I prefer about both.

UncleWede · 07-24-2025, 05:18 PM

Even my old Versa, I only charge it about every 2 weeks. It tells me the battery is getting low at 30%, then I know I have a few more days to plan a decent charge when I'm neither active nor sleeping.

Funny thing about the sleep function, if I sit too long at my computer reading (emails, reports, news articles) it will record it as a sleep period. "When did I sleep 9 hours last night? Ohhh, 2.5 hours while at work"

Needsdecaf · Yesterday, 02:56 AM

Having owned a Garmin and multipl Apple Watches, I'd say it depends on what you want. The Watch Ultra only makes it two days on battery, and that's when new. I'm now down to a day and a half; only one day if I do a long workout (like a few hour bike ride).

The Garmin can do more fitness stuff and well.

The Apple Watch, well, it's an Apple watcn. It does a lot of other stuff depending on what apps you have. Like start my M3, navigate, stream Apple Music and Spotify, etc. And make phone calls untethered. But the trade off is battery life.

chassis · Yesterday, 05:37 AM

Fitbit user for the past 5 years, now with a Versa 4.

Fitness and sleep are my use cases, Fitbit does a good job with these.

Don’t line the Google related changes. Don’t like the size, weight, battery life and data privacy invasion of Apple Watch.

What Garmin units are ya’ll using?

07-21-2025, 11:07 AM	#1
bucketfoot Major 1379 Rep 1,010 Posts Drives: 2024 BMW 230i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Centennial, CO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW 230i xDrive [10.00]	Fitbit to Apple Watch? Has anyone here transitioned from a Fitbit to an Apple Watch? I'm a longtime Fitbit user, but am slowly seeing changes being made since they were bought by Google. I use an iPhone, but am not an Apple fanboy. Although I think I prefer them over Google. My biggest reasons that I have stayed with Fitbit so far are that fitness & sleep tracking are my primary use of the device (Sense 2) and the FAR SUPERIOR battery life of Fitbits. I'd be curious to hear feedback from anyone who has made the switch in either direction. __________________ This post sent using 100% recycled electrons.
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07-21-2025, 01:43 PM	#2
freakystyly Colonel 4143 Rep 2,195 Posts Drives: F22 B58 6MT Join Date: May 2016 Location: Ontario iTrader: (0)	Started using a Garmin a year or so ago. They come in different looks and styles, analog even. Apple does other "smart" things better that Garmin doesn't. But as far as actual fitness/sport tracking I think Garmin is better. Also, no subscription fees (yet). If I turn off the pulse oximeter sensor, the battery lasts weeks. On a side note, I scored a 100 sleep score recently.
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07-21-2025, 04:14 PM	#3
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18873 Rep 9,453 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	I may also have to switch to something else when they force the use of a Google account. I don't have, don't want a google account. I don't need more and more email accounts to get nothing but spam. I already have 3 . . . I've had the current Versa 4 for 4-5 years. I was so glad when a "waterproof" fitness watch came out with built-in GPS tracking. I could leave my phone at home when I went on a run. It seems I charge my Versa 4 about every 10 days. __________________ I have romped on her and I giggled like a drunk infant the entire time. - Sedan_Clan
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07-23-2025, 05:50 AM	#5
Mason Hatcher Captain 1313 Rep 787 Posts Drives: BMW X3 Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: FW-TX iTrader: (0)	Garmin is the answer for fitness. I get three weeks of battery, and more metrics than I know what to do with.
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07-23-2025, 01:26 PM	#6
Vulpe Lieutenant 460 Rep 451 Posts Drives: F87 M2C Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Hawaii iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW M2 Competi ... [10.00]	I was using a Fitbit for a while but I dislike when they updated the app some point in 2023. I was going to go to an Apple Watch when that Fitbit died but the series 9 went on sale and updated anyway. I dislike having to charge daily instead of every 3-4 days but otherwise I like it. Gives me a lot more information on my pace and whatnot but I was using the Fitbit Charge which had a smaller screen, I assume the larger ones give similar info. __________________ Past: 2011 Acqua Minerale Blue Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Past: 2017 Alpine White 440i F32 Current: 2020 Long Beach Blue M2 Competition PC Build: 9950X3D/9070xt
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07-24-2025, 03:49 PM	#7
bucketfoot Major 1379 Rep 1,010 Posts Drives: 2024 BMW 230i xDrive Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Centennial, CO iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW 230i xDrive [10.00]	Just ordered a Garmin Vivoactive 6 as I really don't need any of the fancier training stuff. The Apple Watch was ultimately a no-go due to the lack of battery life. I'll probably use both my existing Fitbit and the Garmin in parallel for about a week to see what I prefer about both. __________________ This post sent using 100% recycled electrons.
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07-24-2025, 05:18 PM	#8
UncleWede Long Time Admirer, First Time Owner 18873 Rep 9,453 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Dark Graphite Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Oxnard, CA iTrader: (0)	Even my old Versa, I only charge it about every 2 weeks. It tells me the battery is getting low at 30%, then I know I have a few more days to plan a decent charge when I'm neither active nor sleeping. Funny thing about the sleep function, if I sit too long at my computer reading (emails, reports, news articles) it will record it as a sleep period. "When did I sleep 9 hours last night? Ohhh, 2.5 hours while at work" __________________ I have romped on her and I giggled like a drunk infant the entire time. - Sedan_Clan
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Yesterday, 02:56 AM	#9
Needsdecaf Major General 9460 Rep 7,962 Posts Drives: 2024 G80 Comp xDrive Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: The Woodlands, TX iTrader: (0)	Having owned a Garmin and multipl Apple Watches, I'd say it depends on what you want. The Watch Ultra only makes it two days on battery, and that's when new. I'm now down to a day and a half; only one day if I do a long workout (like a few hour bike ride). The Garmin can do more fitness stuff and well. The Apple Watch, well, it's an Apple watcn. It does a lot of other stuff depending on what apps you have. Like start my M3, navigate, stream Apple Music and Spotify, etc. And make phone calls untethered. But the trade off is battery life.
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Yesterday, 05:37 AM	#10
chassis Colonel 9092 Rep 2,702 Posts Drives: 9Y0 Cayenne S Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Einbahnstraße iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 Porsche Cayenne S [7.69]	Fitbit user for the past 5 years, now with a Versa 4. Fitness and sleep are my use cases, Fitbit does a good job with these. Don’t line the Google related changes. Don’t like the size, weight, battery life and data privacy invasion of Apple Watch. What Garmin units are ya’ll using?
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