Fitbit Sense 2 Vs Garmin Forerunner 55

Fitbit Sense 2:  Complete Smartwatch

Introduced in the early 2022 Fitbit Sense 2 has hit the market during September of the year 2022. Much like its predecessor it is a powerful health tracker. Although, general trend has shifted a bit and it is geared more towards fitness activities Fitbit hasn’t shifted from providing the quality built.

In spite the claims of it being more of a health tracker than smartwatch Fitbit Sense 2 serves complete experience. Yes, there are few notable omissions from previous generations hope lingers soon enough Fitbit would update the device with timely changes.

Garmin Forerunner 55: All About  Running

Garmin is not new to the scenes of IoT world.

Serving the wearable community for almost 35+ years now Garmin products have seen all kinds of high and lows. Even when in recent years a growing trend has been noticed within the company belief to transition towards variety. The quality of its creation isn’t a question in anyone mind.

As is the case with latest Garmin Forerunner 55 released during June of year 2021. Meant to be an entry level smartwatch for those hoping to shift to a healthy lifestyle Forerunner 55 provides everything you could need in your first smartwatch. By nature it is more like a sport watch, don’t judge it by its look, it could be more than you think.

Garmin Forerunner 55 Vs Fitbit Sense 2: Running Time

Just as I said when we discussed the matter of Fitbit Versa 3 and Garmin Forerunner 55 it is not first time Fitbit and Garmin have found each other competing for a slice of cake. The following has been happening for a long time now.

Which is not a surprise, given the nature and intended market of each brand. Yes, even when they don’t have exactly the same set of target audience in mind.

Either way, my point is Garmin and Fitbit are well aware of each other position within the IoT landscape. As it is reflected further through their products trying to imitate the better part of each other. As it is further presented through the contrasting shades between Garmin Forerunner 55 and Fitbit Sense 2.

BODY In Question

Fitbit and Garmin have different ideas of what makes a good design good design. Which is fine, beauty of an object is subjective, however, if you’d ask me I’d definitely go for Garmin all round watch face than Fitbit cute but almost Apple Watch like structure. Don’t get me wrong I love Fitbit and their products, I have just never been fan of how they have kept the same design for Versa and Sense series for so long.

For sure, Garmin Forerunner 55 isn’t worlds apart either in context of watch face with its predecessor (Forerunner 45) the round sleekly design with little to define is holy grail of any kind of watch. You could say Garmin is playing safe by doing it, I’d say I admire their resilience to stick to tradition.

Built Quality

The Garmin Forerunner 55 boasts a weight of 37 grams, making it remarkably lightweight. Its presence is strong not in the sense that you would physically feel its weight on your wrist – you won’t, due to its lightweight nature. The watch features a total of 5 buttons adorning the bezel’s sides (3 on the left and 2 on the right), making them quite noticeable. If this is your first introduction to these buttons, you might be wondering about their purpose. Well, the reason is that the Garmin Forerunner series doesn’t incorporate touch screens.

“But it’s 2023, why doesn’t it have a touch screen?”

Someone

If this question has surfaced in your mind, allow me to reassure you that during the testing phase, I found the physical buttons on the Forerunner 55 to be quite enjoyable to interact with, even more so than the smooth screen of the Fitbit. Furthermore, all of these buttons are clearly marked, so there’s no risk of confusion.

Shifting our focus to the Fitbit Sense 2, it weighs in at 40 grams and features a 1.58-inch wide screen (which I’ll delve into further later on). Its composition includes a plastic backend complemented by aluminum accents along the edges. Similar to the Forerunner 55, the Sense 2’s presence is also unobtrusive on the wrist. Notably, the bands of the Fitbit Sense 2 are replaceable, offering you the opportunity to personalize your wearable experience.

Display Screen

Garmin Forerunner 55 falls short here…

While you would be able to see screen on both watches be it sunny day or darkened moony night (thanks to lighting up button on Forerunner 55) it is very – very – and I’d say emphasis are again on the word ‘very’ very hard to compete with OLED screen. Fitbit Sense 2 screen paints it’s 1.58 inch screen with million of colors within second and with respectable resolution (336x336px) as well.

Garmin Forerunner 55, on the other hand, has 1.08 inch screen and it is not working on OLED technology, so it automatically disqualifies for further investigation.

Resistivity Prowess

Garmin and Fitbit understands its users need. They are well aware smartwatch/health tracker/just tracker users would wander to deepest part of the world. Hence the need for resistivity from potential hazards that can affect the life of a smartwatch is more than a need.

They understand it very well.

So you’d be pleased to know that both Fitbit Sense 2 and Garmin Forerunner 55 are IP68 certified with tolerance level of 50 meter. They are both sand, dust, and impact resistant. Fitbit also have water lock function, further ensuing, a shield a protection from contact with large amount of water body.

FEATURES At Time

The primary reason many people buy smartwatches or just anything is how it can solve a problem for them. You have heart issue and wants to measure your RHR on daily basis? Get a health tracker. In need of a device that keeps you entertained and you won’t have to rely on your phone a lot? Get a smartwatch.

My point is we buy stuff that can solve our problems.

Fitbit Sense 2 and Garmin Forerunner 55 are also bought for the same reasons, and the problems they solve are through providing certain functionalities aka features.

Sensors Sensing Everything

Once more, I won’t provide an exhaustive list of the sensors integrated into the Fitbit Sense 2. Given its role as a health tracker, it’s expected to possess a robust sensor suite. However, if you’re interested, you can refer to the specifications of the Fitbit Sense 2.

Now, let’s shift our attention to the heart of the matter.

The Garmin Forerunner 55 is fundamentally a sports watch. It’s important to emphasize that its inherent nature is not that of a smartwatch or a health tracker, but rather a dedicated tool designed to enhance and support physical training. Yet, don’t let this categorization constrain its capabilities.

Similar to the Fitbit Sense 2, the Garmin Forerunner 55 enables you to monitor metrics such as heart rate, sleep statistics, pace, distance, and GPS location. In fact, in my opinion, Garmin surpasses Fitbit in this aspect, and I have my reasons:

• To unlock advanced insights on Fitbit, you would need to subscribe to Fitbit Premium at a monthly cost of $9.99.
• The Garmin Forerunner 55 comes with integrated Fall Detection and Live tracking. It’s worth mentioning that Fitbit also has the necessary hardware for Fall Detection; however, a functioning algorithm hasn’t been implemented for undisclosed reasons.
• Regarding GPS tracking, the Forerunner 55 significantly outperforms anything you’d find on the Fitbit Sense 2.
• Although it’s infrequent, the Fitbit Sense 2 occasionally suffers from inaccuracies in heart rate (or Resting Heart Rate) readings during workouts.
• While you can’t view sleep statistics directly on the Garmin Forerunner 55, the associated mobile application provides access to this information. In contrast, Fitbit Sense 2 requires a mandatory subscription to Fitbit Premium.

Metrics like SpO2 are exclusive to the Fitbit Sense 2, given that the Garmin Forerunner 55 isn’t designed as a health tracker. Considering its primary purpose, its impressive capabilities are noteworthy.

Connectivity Ability

Both Fitbit Sense 2 and Garmin Forerunner 55 can connect to Android and iOS smartphones. To ensure smoother onboarding make sure your phones are updated to latest OS which for Android should be at least 8.0+ and for iPhone iOS 14.0 or further.

While Fitbit have given Sense 2 all of the following: Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi, and NFC. The same can’t be said for Garmin’s sport watch, the smartwatch falls a bit short here. It doesn’t have NFC or Wi-Fi support although as an alternative ANT+ is available and it makes up for it to an extent. But just to an extent.

Wits To Out Wit

While the Garmin Forerunner 55 excels as a sports watch, its primary focus isn’t directed towards achieving the comprehensive standards of a smartwatch. In this regard, the Fitbit Sense 2 holds an advantage.

Let’s delve into the facts to comprehend the reasoning behind this distinction: Fitbit, as you may already be aware, offers a holistic experience with its trackers. Interestingly, even the Sense 2 model falls short of being the most comprehensive iteration. The primary drawback lies in the company’s seemingly indifferent approach towards enhancing its somewhat monotonous operating system, resulting in an underwhelming user interface.

However, it’s worth noting that Fitbit Sense 2 does present enhancements such as compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Fitbit Pay, contributing to an enriched user experience.

On the other hand, Garmin provides a mobile application and allows the download of third-party apps. Nonetheless, the available options are limited and do not match the breadth of choices offered by smartwatches like those from the Samsung Galaxy Watch series or even Fossil’s smartwatch lineup.

BATTERY Life

If you are returning visitor to Chronoat you’d know when we compare Fitbit products with other brands it is usually the Fitbit having the upper upper hand in the matter of a battery. Which is understandable Fitbit trackers are known for amazing battery life. Sadly or maybe not sadly but more like surprisingly Garmin beats the Fitbit at their own game here.

How and why it does that, well, let’s have a look…

Lifespan Over Lifetime

Fitbit claims that under moderate usage, your Sense 2 can maintain a battery life of 5-6 days. However, if you’re a fan of the ALWAYS ON mode and continuous GPS tracking, the battery life could decrease to 2-3 days. This is an impressive feat, as not many smartwatches can sustain such performance under heavy usage. If you notice a significant decline in battery life, it might be worth considering replacing the battery of your Fitbit.

To extend the battery life, you can adopt battery-saving practices like keeping the Fitbit brightness low and disabling Bluetooth connections.

On the other hand, the Garmin Forerunner 55 boasts an astonishing battery life. Once fully charged, it can last for an incredible 14 days without needing a recharge. Yes, that’s two whole weeks without having to reach for a power socket. While continuous usage can reduce this figure, it’s important to note that even with decreased usage, you’re still talking about days of battery life, not mere hours.

“But why does it last for 14 days? How is that possible?”

Someone

If you’re pondering this question, it’s because Garmin has streamlined its purpose and focused on essential functionalities. It avoids extravagant features and remains true to its core nature. This approach is evident when comparing the characteristics of both devices.

Charging Time

It takes two hours for Forerunner 55 to go from 0% to 100%. Whereas for Fitbit Sense 2 you can be done in 90 minutes or so. However, since time duration can be greatly influenced by age of device, a little variation in downward spiral can be more or less expected.

Wireless Charging

Fitbit has chosen not to incorporate wireless charging into its trackers. The reasons behind this decision are unclear, as even their latest releases (both Sense 2 and Versa 4) lack this feature. This omission is quite disappointing, I must say. On the contrary, Garmin has adopted a more progressive approach. Surprisingly, despite its sporty and simplistic design, the Forerunner 55 from Garmin supports wireless charging.

If you possess a compatible charging pad designed for Garmin products, you can simply place your Garmin Forerunner 55 on it to initiate the charging process.

Fitbit Sense 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 55: STOP Now!

And there we have it…

Let’s recap what we have learned here: Fitbit Sense 2 is a high-end health tracker meant to provide the excellence in the basics fitness actives. Whereas Garmin Forerunner 55 is ideal beginners running watch crafted to aid anyone out there thinking of starting from tomorrow. It might be unfamiliar to some of the advance functions available in the Garmin portfolio. It is perfect and we know you’d love it.