Wear Radar
← Compare

Apple WatchvsFitbit Charge

7d vs 1d
battery life
Fitbit Charge lasts longer
$279
price gap
Fitbit Charge cheaper
0.2 Hz
HR sampling
Apple Watch only — Fitbit Charge undisclosed
17g
lighter
Fitbit Charge
Apple Watch
Buy/Wait:good

Current model just released

Full details →
Fitbit Charge
Buy/Wait:superseded

This model is no longer sold new. It has been replaced by the Fitbit Edge.

Full details →
Apple WatchFitbit Charge
Pricing
Starting price$399$120★
Subscription✓ Noneℹ️ Optional — $79/yr
Hardware
Weight32g15g★
Water resistance50m50m
Battery1 days7 days★
Always-on display✅★❌
GPS✅✅
Cellular✅★❌
PlatformiOS onlyiOS & Android
TierSmartwatchFitness Tracker
Buy timing
ReleasedSep 18, 2026Sep 28, 2023
Cycle advicegoodsuperseded
Deals advicegoodclearance
Next model——

Health Sensors

Apple Watch only
5 exclusive sensors
Irregular RhythmBackground optical check for irregular heart rhythms
Fall DetectionAuto-calls emergency services after a hard fall
Crash DetectionDetects vehicle crashes and alerts emergency contacts
Sleep ApneaFDA-cleared detection of signs of moderate to severe sleep apnea
Blood PressureDetects hypertension patterns — trend tracking, not clinical mmHg
Both
5 shared
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
ECGDetects irregular heart rhythms (AFib)
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
Skin TempOvernight changes linked to illness or cycle tracking
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Fitbit Charge only
1 exclusive sensor
EDA / StressSkin conductance sensor measuring stress responses

Why buy each?

Apple Watch

Heart rate every five seconds

The new health sensing system samples heart rate every five seconds all day — 60x more often than the Series 11 — and measures HRV every five minutes.

Readiness score

A daily 0–10 readiness score combines sleep, vitals, training load, and activity to suggest how hard to push.

ECG, SpO2 and hypertension notifications

On-demand ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep apnea detection, and hypertension notifications carry over from the Series 11.

Fitbit Charge

ECG and EDA stress in a slim band

Full ECG, electrodermal activity stress sensing, SpO2, and continuous heart rate in a tracker thinner than most smartwatches.

Google apps integration

Google Maps navigation, Google Wallet NFC payments, and YouTube Music controls — more useful on-device apps than any previous Charge.

7-day battery with GPS

7 days of typical use, dropping to around 30 minutes per GPS workout session before needing a charge.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Fitbit Charge wins

$357 vs $399 over 3 years.

For battery life
Fitbit Charge wins

7 days vs 1 days battery.

For health depth
Apple Watch wins

10 sensors · 0.2 Hz HR sampling.

For daily comfort
Fitbit Charge wins

15g.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Watch-only sensors: Irregular Rhythm, Fall Detection, Crash Detection, Sleep Apnea, Blood Pressure.
  2. Charge-only sensors: EDA / Stress.
  3. Weight. Charge is 17g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Charge is $279 cheaper upfront ($120 vs $399).
Pick the Apple Watch if…

iPhone users who want the most capable smartwatch health experience available. Ideal for anyone who values medical-grade monitoring (ECG, blood pressure, SpO2), a premium always-on display, and the best Apple Watch workout tracking. If health is your priority, this is the one to get.

Full details →
Pick the Fitbit Charge if…

Anyone who wants serious health and fitness tracking without the bulk or cost of a full smartwatch. Works with both Android and iPhone, making it the most accessible Fitbit tracker in the lineup.

Full details →
← Compare other watches