Fitbit Sense is targeted at helping users to improve their fitness and overall health. While Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is a more general-purpose smartwatch outfitted with a robust set of sensors to track your health as well as plenty of smarts to give it a go beyond just being a fitness tracker.
When it comes to fitness tracking, both devices are equally capable, offering support for a wide range of activities and the ability to track heart rate, steps, and more.
However, when it comes to smarts, the Galaxy Watch 5 has a clear advantage. It runs on Samsung’s One UI operating system (backed by WearOS), which is more intuitive and user-friendly than Fitbit’s OS. In addition, the Galaxy Watch 5 offers support for Samsung Pay and a wider selection of apps, voice assistants, and plenty of other features.
Here, we will compare Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Fitbit Sense to find out which one is the right fit for you.
Table of Contents
Galaxy Watch 5 vs Fitbit Sense: General Comparison
| Galaxy Watch 5 | Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | Fitbit Sense | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | August 10, 2022 | August 10, 2022 | September 1, 2020 |
| Predecessor | Galaxy Watch 4 | Galaxy Watch 4 Classic | Fitbit Versa 3 |
| Company | Samsung | Samsung | Fitbit |
| Operating System | WearOS (One UI) | WearOS (One UI) | Fitbit OS |
| Compatible Smartphones | Android (Works best with Samsung) | Android (Works best with Samsung) | iOS 12.2 or higher. Android OS 7.0 or higher. |
| Competition | Fitbit Sense, Ticwatch Pro 4G, Garmin Venu 2 | Garmin Fenix 7, Garmin Instinct 2, Polar Vantage 2 | Galaxy Watch 4, Fossil Gen 6, Apple Watch 7, |
| Sensors | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Heart Rate + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor | Samsung BioActive Sensor (Optical Heart Rate + Electrical Heart Signal + Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis), Temperature Sensor, Accelerometer, Barometer, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Light Sensor | Multi-path optical heart rate senior, multipurpose electrical sensors, compatible with ECG app & EDA app, Red and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, Gyroscope, Altimeter3-axis, accelerometer, Skin temperature sensor, Ambient light sensor |
Galaxy Watch 5 vs Fitbit Sense: Price & Value
| Galaxy Watch 5 | Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | Fitbit Sense | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth/GPS | 40mm: $279 | 44mm: $299 | $449 | $250 |
| LTE | 40mm: 329 | 44mm: $349 | $499 | No LTE Model |
Fitbit Sense is a more affordable option on the market, usually selling for around $250. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 has a starting price of around $280 for Bluetooth, 40mm model. You will have to pay a premium of around $30-50 if you go for a higher size or pick the LTE model with standalone capabilities.
However, the balance tilts in the favor of the Galaxy Watch 5 when you consider the Fitbit app subscription(which costs $10/month or $80/year) which allows you to unlock advanced health metrics.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 5
Galaxy Watch 5 vs Fitbit Sense: Design & Display
| Galaxy Watch 5 | Galaxy Watch 5 pro | Fitbit Sense | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 40mm: 39.3 x 40.4 x 9.8 mm |44mm: 43.3 x 44.4 x 9.8 mm, 33.5g | 45.4 x 45.4 x 10.5 mm | 40.48 x 40.48 x 12.35 mm |
| Buttons | 2 Buttons | 2 Buttons | 1 Button |
| Weight | 40mm: 28.7g | 44mm: 33.5g | 46.5g | 42g; |
| Colors | Graphite, Silver, Sapphire, Pink Gold | Black Titanium, Gray Titanium | Carbon/Graphite stainless steel, Lunar White/Soft Gold stainless steel |
| Band Size | 20mm (M/L) | 20mm (M/L) | 22mm |
| Casing Material | Aluminum | Titanium | aluminum case, stainless steel ring for ECG |
| Strap Material | Silicone | Silicone | Silicone |
| Screen Size | 40mm: 1.2 inches (396×396 Pixels) | 44mm: 1.4 inches, Super AMOLED (450×450 Pixels) | 1.4 inches | 1.58-inch |
| Screen Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Screen Resolution | 40mm: 396×396 Pixels; 44mm: 450×450 Pixels | 450×450 Pixels | 336 x 336 pixels |
| Screen Protection | Sapphire Crystal Glass | Sapphire Crystal Glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Always-on Display | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Rotating Bezel | Touch | Touch | No |
| Waterproofing | 5 ATM (up to 50m) | Suitable for Shower, Swimming | 5 ATM (up to 50m) | Suitable for Shower, Swimming | 5 ATM (up to 50m) |
When it comes to design, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and the Fitbit Sense are two very different devices. The Galaxy Watch 5 has a circular design and comes in two sizes (40,44mm) while the Fitbit Sense has a square design making it closer in looks to the iconic Apple Watch.
The Galaxy Watch 5 has a rugged design, with Sapphire glass to protect the display against scratches. It also features two buttons for navigating the watch when your hands are sweaty.
Fitbit Sense, on the other hand, is protected by gorilla glass 3 and only one haptic button which many users reported to be quite finicky.
There are more similarities than one can expect by the mere appearance of these watches. Both have an always-on display option and an AMOLED panel. Water resistance is also identical – 5ATM or 50 meters. You can swap the bands on both devices too.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 5
Galaxy Watch 5 vs Fitbit Sense: Smart features
| Galaxy Watch 5 | Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | Fitbit Sense | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating System | WearOS | WearOS | Fitbit OS |
| Connectivity Options | Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi(802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz), GPS, LTE | Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n 2.4+5GHz), GPS, LTE | Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz) |
| Processor | Exynos W920 | Exynos W920 | ARM Cortex-M4 |
| RAM | 1.5GB RAM | 1.5GB RAM | Not Specified |
| Storage | 16GB | 16GB | 4GB (2.5GB available for music storage) 7 days of motion data, daily totals for the past 30 days |
| Speaker & Mic | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Companion App | Galaxy Wearable | Galaxy Wearable | Fitbit |
| Contactless Payment (NFC) | Samsung+Google Pay | Samsung+Google Pay | Yes (Fitbit App) |
| Standalone Calling and Texting | Yes (LTE model) | Yes (LTE model) | No |
| Voice Assistant | Bixby, Google Assistant | Bixby, Google Assistant | Yes (Google Assistant/ Amazon Alexa) |
| Timer & Alarms | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Popular Apps | Strava, Spotify, Google Maps, Youtube Music, Google Keep, Google Pay, Nike Run Club | Strava, Spotify, Google Maps, Youtube Music, Google Keep, Google Pay, Nike Run Club | Strava, Nike Run Club, Google Pay |
When it comes to smart features, the Galaxy Watch 5 has a definite advantage over the Fitbit Sense.
First of all, it runs on the WearOS platform, which gives you access to a wide range of apps. That includes Google Suite (Google Maps, Google Assistant, Google Pay) and other popular apps like Spotify, Strava, and Youtube Music.
Secondly, it offers seamless integration with Android phones, especially Samsung Galaxy S22 Series. Finally, the Galaxy Watch 5 support both Bluetooth and Standalone calling and texting (with LTE models).
In comparison, the Fitbit sense only offers a limited number of apps and watch faces. There are two voice assistants on board (Alexa+Google Assistant), but you can use one at a time. Both music storage and streaming over Wi-Fi are cut (Spotify is not supported). Sense can also make NFC payments via Fitbit Pay.
Just featuring these bells and whistles isn’t enough, the Galaxy Watch 5’s UI is way more user-friendly and snappier. It is equipped with one of the most wearable chips Exynos W920 and 1.5 GB RAM.
Winner: Galaxy Watch 5
Galaxy Watch 5 vs Fitbit Sense: Health & Fitness
| Galaxy Watch 5 | Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | Fitbit Sense | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Monitoring | Yes (Advanced) | Yes (Advanced) | Yes (Basic) |
| Stress Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ECG Monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Body Composition | Yes | Yes | No |
| Blood Pressure Tracking | Yes | Yes | No |
| Workouts | 30+ | 30+ | 20+ |
| Automatic Workout Tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GPS Tracking | Yes +Glonass/Beidou/Galileo | Yes +Glonass/Beidou/Galileo | Yes + Glonass |
Both watches offer almost the same health features, and we cannot give one device an advantage over the other because most of their health metrics are approved by none other than FDA.
To name a few common health features – both support can track your heart rate 24/7, and offer advanced sleep monitoring (REM, Light, Deep) as well as ECG and SpO2 tracking.
One of the key improvements in the Galaxy Watch 5 is the addition of a skin temperature sensor which will help it to close the gap with devices like Fitbit Sense, Oura Ring, and Whoop in monitoring sleep.
They also have onboard GPS and GLONASS to track your runs, walks, and hikes. Plus, there are plenty of workout profiles to choose from, and you can also create custom ones.
Winner: Tied
Galaxy Watch 5 vs Fitbit Sense: Battery Life
| Galaxy Watch 5 | Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | Fitbit Sense | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery Size | 40mm: 284mAh | 44mm: 410mAh | 590mAh | Not Specified. |
| Expected Battery Performance | Almost 50 hours | Almost 80 hours | Almost 6 days max, 3-5 days with normal usage |
| Fast Charging Support | Yes | Yes | No |
Fitbit wearables have always been known for their long-lasting battery life, and the Fitbit Sense is no exception. With a rated battery life of up to 6 days which reduces to two days with Always-on Display enabled, calls and notifications turned on, and occasionally listening to music.
With Galaxy Watch 5, Samsung has increased the battery life by up to 10 hours making it last for a total of 50 hours between charges. However, these numbers are based on Samsung’s own internal testing and will vary depending on how you use the device.
Galaxy Watch 4 has had a few battery life issues, which gave Fitbit devices an edge in this department. However, with the improvements made in the Galaxy Watch 5, Samsung has managed to close the gap.
When it comes to charging, both watches offer fast charging support. You can juice up both watches from 0 to 100% in just over an hour.
Winner: Fitbit Sense
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 vs Fitbit Sense: Ultimate Winner
We have compared both watches in almost 5 different domains, and it is quite clear that the Galaxy Watch 5 is a more complete smartwatch. Take the value proposition, smart features, or even the battery performance, you will find the Galaxy Watch 5 leading in almost all of them.
There is another reason we discourage you to buy the Fitbit sense: Fitbit Sense 2 is expected to launch sometime later this year and it is rumored to come with WearOS, as Fitbit is now a subsidiary of Google.
