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Apple Watch or Fitbit: which one should you choose?

Roel3 DECEMBER 2025
Two smartwatches are displayed on a gradient purple background separated by a white "VS". The watch on the left has a black band and face displaying "12:58".

Apple Watches and Fitbits are popular smartwatches. But which brand suits you better? The 2 have a lot in common, but they also differ significantly in a few key areas. We compare the Apple Watch with Fitbit so you can more easily decide which of these 2 smartwatches is the best fit for you.

The most important differences Apple Watch and Fitbit models

A woman in a white sports bra smiles, looking at a watch on her left wrist against a blue background.

An Apple Watch uses watchOS as its operating system and can only be used with iPhones. Fitbit sports watches, on the other hand, use their own operating system, which works with both iPhones and Android smartphones. However, to discover the most important differences between Fitbit and Apple Watch, it’s best to compare specific models from these smartwatch brands. So, take a close look at the features, display and design of the smartwatch model you’re interested in.

Which smartwatch suits you?
Property nameOperating systemBattery lifeScreen size & resolution Housing Sport & activitiesApps & smart functionsGPS
Apple Watch Ultra 3

watchOS

42 hours

49 mm x 44 mm x 12 mm. 422 x 514 pixels OLED screen.

Titanium.

Running, cycling, swimming, diving and many more multi-sports.

Fitness app, sleep score, heart rate monitor, music & podcasts, Apple Pay.

Built-in GPS

Apple Watch SE 3

watchOS

18 hours

44 mm x 38 mm x 10.7 mm. 368 x 448 pixels OLED screen or 40 mm x 34 mm x 10.7mm, 324 x 394 pixels OLED screen.

Aluminium.

Wide range of workouts: running, cycling, fitness, swimming.

Access to App Store, sleep score, heart rate monitor, messages and calling, Apple Pay, Maps and Weather app.

Built-in GPS

Apple Watch Series 11

watchOS

24 hours

46 mm x 39 mm x 9.7 mm and 416 x 496 pixels OLED screen or 42 mm x 36 mm x 9.7 mm and 374 x 446 pixels OLED screen.

Aluminium or titanium.

Extensive: running, cycling, swimming, fitness, multi-sport, training measurements.

Access to App Store, sleep score, heart rate monitor, messages and calling, music, Apple Pay, Maps and Weather app.

Built-in GPS

Fitbit Inspire 3

Fitbit OS / Fitbit app

Up to 10 days

39.32 mm x 18.6 mm x 11,75 mm, 206 x 124 pixels AMOLED screen.

Plastic housing with silicone strap.

Basics: steps counter, walking, running, simple workouts.

Primarily health and activity features via Fitbit app sleep and heart rate tracking.

GPS via smartphone

Fitbit Charge 6

Fitbit OS / Fitbit app

Up to 7 days

36.73 mm x 23.09 mm x 11,20 mm, AMOLED screen.

Plastic housing with silicone strap.

Focused on fitness: running, cycling, fitness.

Some built-in apps (Google Maps, Wallet), smartphone notifications, heart rate monitor, sleep tracking.

Built-in GPS

Fitbit Versa 4

Fitbit OS / Fitbit app

Up to 6 days

40.5 mm x 40.5 mm x 11.2 mm, AMOLED screen.

Aluminium housing with silicone strap.

Many sports profiles: running, cycling, swimming, fitness, HIIT.

Limited number of apps, notifications, Google Maps and Wallet, sleep tracking, stress recognition.

Built-in GPS

Available Fitbit models

Pink smartwatch with rounded square display, gold frame and fitness stats shown as colourful arcs and bold white numbers.

In addition to the latest Fitbit Versa 4, its predecessor, the Fitbit Versa 3, is still very popular. The Versa models from Fitbit offer the most smart features, such as an Always-On display, built-in GPS and integration with popular Google apps like Maps and Wallet. Dedicated athletes and swimmers often go for the Fitbit Charge, as this watch offers more than 20 workout modes. Want to track your activity and still look stylish? Then the Fitbit Luxe is likely to appeal to you. The Fitbit Inspire is a good choice for beginners who want to keep an eye on their health.

Compare Fitbit models

The differences in screen and sizes

Black smartwatch with bold digital face, blue blocks and oversized numbers filling almost the entire screen.

Apple Watches have a rectangular design with rounded corners. Apple smartwatches come with aluminium or titanium cases. Fitbits vary more in shape: there are models with a slim, elongated display and smartwatches with a larger square or rectangular design. You can choose Fitbits with aluminium or stainless-steel cases. With Apple Watch accessories and other wearable accessories, you can customise your watch to suit your taste.

Apple Watch or Fitbit: which watch has the best battery?

Black smartwatch resting on a dark charging pad, bright green digits display time, date and early alarm.

Looking for a smartwatch with long battery life? Fitbit activity trackers and smartwatches generally have better battery capacity than Apple Watches. Some Fitbit models even last several days on a single charge. By comparison, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 has the most powerful battery of all Apple Watch models and lasts up to 42 hours. If you want a more traditional Apple Watch with a good balance between features and battery life, the Apple Watch Series 11 is a solid choice. However, battery life mainly depends on how you use your smartwatch. If you often use your wearable to make calls, listen to music and browse apps, the battery will drain more quickly.Bovenkant formulier

Read all about the Apple Watch Series 11

Compare health data and fitness tracking

Wrist wearing a white‑band smartwatch, rectangular screen showing colourful list details as the person extends their arm.

You can use both the Apple Watch and Fitbit to gain better insight into your health. Both measure, among other things, how many steps you take, how many calories you burn and what your heart rate is. Fitbit smartwatches often focus a bit more on fitness and sports activities. For example, they can notify you when you’ve been sitting still for too long. Both Apple Watches and Fitbits track how long and how well you sleep, but some models analyse slightly more than others. So, make sure to check which health features each specific model offers. If you mainly want to monitor your daily health rather than track sports performance, an activity tracker is also a good option.

View the best activity trackers

Does an Apple Watch or a Fitbit suit you better?

A man in a blue hoodie checks a black sports watch on his wrist outdoors.

Your choice between an Apple Watch and a Fitbit depends on many factors. For example, think about which design you prefer and which operating system you like working with. Both Apple and Fitbit offer different models of smartwatches, sports watches and activity trackers, each with their own specifications and design. It’s a good idea to compare the different models to find the right smartwatch that meets your needs.

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