I want to help you decide between Fitbit‘s newest and most advanced smartwatches – the Charge 5 and the Sense. As an experienced data analyst and wearable tech specialist, I‘ve closely studied both devices and can provide an in-depth comparison across all factors so you can determine which model fits your lifestyle and budget.
Allow Me to Introduce Fitbit
But first, a quick background if you‘re not familiar with Fitbit…
Fitbit pioneered the consumer wearables space back in 2007 when James Park and Eric Friedman founded the company. Since that time, they have grown exponentially and currently have over 29 million active users across more than 100 countries. Over 120 million Fitbit devices have been sold to date!
Fitbit made a name for itself with activity trackers and fitness watches that help people monitor steps, calories burned, heart rate zones, sleep patterns and much more 24/7. Their products range from basic pedometers under $100 to more advanced smartwatches closer to $300.
In 2021, search engine giant Google acquired Fitbit for $2.1 billion given the sheer volume of health and location data they have collected on consumers over the years through their popular devices.
Okay, now that you know a little bit about the company history, let‘s get into comparing their two newest products!
Comparing Key Specs and Features
I‘ll begin with a high-level overview so you can see how the Charge 5 and Sense stack up based purely on technical specifications:
| Metric | Charge 5 | Sense |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Sept 2021 | Sept 2020 |
| Display Size | 1.04” rectangle | 1.58” rounded square |
| Display Type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 332 x 206 pixels | 336 x 336 pixels |
| Pixel Density | 300 ppi | 326 ppi |
| Price | $149.95 | $199.95 |
| Battery Life | 7 days | 6 days |
| Weight | 33 grams | 46 grams |
| Waterproof Rating | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Straight off the bat, you‘ll notice the Sense has a significantly larger display with higher resolution and pixel density for a better visual experience.
However, the Charge 5 has the upside of being lighter weight making it more comfortable for 24/7 wear. And with 7 day battery life over 6, it edges ahead in that department.
Now let‘s dive deeper into the features and functionality.
Health & Fitness Tracking Ability
As comprehensive activity trackers and smartwatches, both the Charge 5 and Sense allow you to:
- Track steps, distance, calories burned and floors climbed
- View hourly movement reminders and goal progress
- Log workouts automatically with SmartTrack
- See real-time stats like pace, duration and heart rate zones during runs/rides
- Monitor your sleep stages (REM, light, deep sleep)
- Receive mobile notifications from your smartphone
- Set silent alarms with vibration wakeup
When it comes to basic health and fitness metrics, the Charge 5 and Sense have you covered and can help motivate you to stay active and improve health.
Heart Health Features
Additionally, both models provide deeper insights into your heart health:
- 24/7 heart rate tracking
- Heart rate notifications if too high or low
- Heart rate variability for gauging stress
- Oxygen saturation estimations
But the Sense takes heart health a major leap further with medical-grade electrocardiogram (ECG) and electrodermal (EDA) capabilities:
- EDA scan app detects electrodermal activity which may indicate stress response
- On-demand ECG readings check for underlying conditions like atrial fibrillation
- With an ECG Dx Program, results can easily be shared with your doctor
So if heart health is a priority for you, the more advanced ECG metrics of the Sense could provide essential data for you and your physician.
Stress Monitoring
And tying into heart health, managing stress is crucial. Both Fitbit models help there through:
- Breathing sessions guiding you through focused deep breathing
- Relaxation scores after each session
- Heart rate variability for clues into your body’s stress response
- Sleep tracking ties into recovery and managing stress as well
But the Sense takes stress tracking to the next level by detecting small electrical changes in your skin’s sweat level using the EDA scan app. This provides clues into your body‘s response to stress and gives you a handy tool to gain greater self-awareness.
Skin Temperature & SpO2 Tracking
Two final sensors round out the health tracking capabilities comparison:
- New on the Sense is an on-wrist skin temperature sensor for detecting variations that may signal wellness changes or menstrual cycles
- Both models estimate blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) to identify potential breathing disturbances
So if having comprehensive data on your temperature fluctuations or blood oxygen interests you, the Sense would be the way to go.
Overall for health & fitness tracking features, I give a slight edge to the Sense for cramming in highly advanced heart, stress and skin temperature metrics.
But make no mistake – the Charge 5 also offers a very broad set of capabilities to track all essential fitness and wellness stats for the average user. Unless you really value medical-grade ECG technology or seeing skin temp shifts, the Charge should suffice just fine!
Smart Features Beyond Just Fitness
Now let’s move beyond just health metrics and talk smartwatch capabilities…
Both the Sense and Charge 5 allow you to receive call, text and app notifications when paired to an iPhone or Android device via Bluetooth.
You can also manage basic music playback like skip, play and pause tracks using on-screen controls.
But three major smart features set the Sense apart from the Charge 5:
1. Voice Assistant Integration
- Amazon Alexa built-in lets you set timers/alarms, ask questions, dictate to-dos, control smart home devices and more totally hands-free!
- Similarly, you can tap into Google Assistant to complete tasks by voice
- Neither Voice AI options exist on the Charge 5
So if you love controlling devices hands-free with Alexa or Google, this could be a major perk.
2. Onboard Music Streaming with Spotify
- The Sense lets you download playlists and podcasts from Spotify for phone-free listening!
- And you can always control Spotify playback right on your wrist.
- Lacking a WiFi chip, the Charge 5 doesn’t support onboard Spotify
For music lovers who workout without their phone, this standalone streaming is invaluable.
3. Quick Replies and Voice Messaging
- The Sense allows you to utilize preset quick replies or customize your own to instantly respond to texts and calls from your wrist. Very handy!
- You can also dictate voice message replies using the built-in mic.
- No way to respond to notifications exists on the Charge 5.
So if functionality like voice assistants, phone-free Spotify streaming, and quick messaging replies appeal to your connected lifestyle, the Sense delivers in those departments!
But if you don‘t care about extra "smart" bells and whistles and just want robust fitness tracking, the Charge 5 keeps costs down by omitting those things to instead focus purely on activity metrics.
Stylish Design Appeals of Both Models
Lastly, I want to touch on aesthetics, because no one wants to wear an ugly health tracker daily right??
Fitbit Charge 5 Design
- With the Charge 5, Fitbit adopted a stylish, high-end jewelry aesthetic with stainless steel casing and soft silicone bands.
- Slim, lightweight rectangle touchscreen design profile makes it comfortable enough to wear 24/7.
- The simple monochrome display keeps focus on just the essential fitness stats without lots of bells and whistles.
- Available colors: black, lunar white and steel blue
Despite its mid-range pricing as their #2 model, the Charge 5 looks downright elegant and I‘d feel good wearing it anywhere from the gym to a business meeting. Fitbit upped their design game big time from past Charge editions.
Fitbit Sense Design
- The Sense smartwatch sports a much more premium style including:
- Stainless steel body with aerospace-grade aluminum
- Curved high resolution display for better screen visibility
- Softer silicone storage casing for enhanced comfort
- Higher quality materials like stainless steel versus aluminum used on lower-end Fitbit models
- Rectangular watch face with rounded edges gives it a classy yet high-tech vibe
- Three model colors offered: graphite, lunar white and platinum
Overall, I find the Sense to provide a more stylish, executive-level aesthetic. But that‘s not surprising given its positioning as their current flagship device with a price tag to match.
Either way, I don‘t think you can go wrong – both watches look fantastic! It just comes down to your personal preferences.
Do you like traditional round watch faces? Or prefer slim rectangle fitness trackers? There are strong arguments to be made for both designs.
To Wrap Up…Which is the Right Fit(bit) For You?
To summarize this comprehensive Charge versus Sense comparison:
The Fitbit Sense wins out if:
- Medical-grade heart diagnostics appeal to you
- You love smart assistant voice control functionality
- Controlling Spotify streaming from your wrist is essential
- Quick call/text replies from device is convenient
But maybe paying $200+ for a premium smartwatch doesn’t fit your budget? If so, then…
The Fitbit Charge 5 is potentially the better buy if:
- You care most about robust fitness/wellness tracking
- Prefer a slimmer, more lightweight wearing experience
- Want to keep costs lower closer to $150 price point
- Ample battery life for long intervals between charges a priority
At the end of the day, determining which one better matches your needs depends on:
- How advanced you want your health metrics to be (especially heart health)
- Whether extra smartwatch features are must-haves for your lifestyle
- Your sense of style and wearing comfort preferences
- How much you‘re comfortable spending on a wearable
Hopefully this detailed comparison of specs, features, sensors, design and other factors makes it easier to decide whether the Charge 5 or Sense should be your next wearable!
Let me know if any other questions come up in your buying process. Happy to offer my Fitbit guidance anytime as an experienced data analyst in this space. Talk soon!
