Smartwatch Vs Fitness Tracker: Which Is Better For You?

A smartwatch is a wearable device with many of the same features as a smartphone, including making and receiving calls, text messages, and emails. On the other hand, a fitness tracker is a device that is specifically designed to track your fitness and activity levels.

So, which one is right for you: Smartwatch vs fitness tracker?

What is a Fitness Tracker?

A fitness/activity tracker, often known as a smart band, is a device that detects numerous health issues. It offers extra functionality, such as keeping track of walking and running distances, heart rates, sleep monitors, calorie counters, and so on, in addition to showing time. It is utilized in workouts, sports, and fitness activities.

In comparison to ordinary watches, smart bands are usually relatively small. It makes carrying training bands while completing complicated motions a breeze. The smart bands have a 0-1 inch display. Because of their smooth form, the screens are mostly rectangular. Instead of relying on a side button, they don’t have a touchscreen to control all functions.

Bands, unlike smartwatches, have a black and white display. Sensors are embedded in smart bands and are responsible for detecting the user’s medical problems.

Fitness trackers last longer than smartwatches when it comes to battery life. On a single charge, it easily lasts 4-5 days. Rubber is used to create the bands.

Smart bands also have GPS and PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence) to track your activities. Some fitness bands have features such as a touchscreen and water resistance. People’s health consciousness has resulted in significant growth in the adoption of smart bands. They provide information and data about your health.

What is a Smart Watch?

A smartwatch is a wristwatch that is worn on the wrist. It’s not like a traditional analog wristwatch. It has extra functions like heart/pulse rate tracking, pedometer and tachymeter, calling and messaging choices, Bluetooth connectivity, etc. Smartwatches are popular among today’s generation because of the additional functions that help people manage their hectic schedules.

The smartwatch’s display size varies from 1-to 3 inches. The screens come in various forms and sizes, including circular, rectangle, and square.

Smartwatches typically include touchscreen displays that are large enough to be manipulated with your fingertips. A smartwatch is more advanced than a smart band in terms of features and functionalities.

A camera, calling and messaging capabilities, apps, WIFI networking, health tracking, and sim cards are all available on smartwatches. Smartwatches are sturdy and can be worn every day. They either have leather, rubber, or even stainless steel detachable straps. Meetings, gatherings, parties, and other occasions call for the use of a smartwatch.

The touchscreen experience on a smartwatch is seamless since the screen is large enough. WhatsApp, text messages and emails can all be used and typed on just like a smartphone. The battery capacity of a smartwatch is quite large.

The battery, however, does not last long because it performs numerous advanced technical features and functions. As a result, it can only last 1-2 days on a single charge.

If you are considering buying your child a smartwatch, maybe this guide can help: Best Kids SmartWatch 2023

Main Differences Between Smart Band and Smart Watch

• During physical exercises, a smart band with health-related records is worn. Heart rate, pedometer, calling and messaging, tachymeter, smartphone apps, and other advanced technical features are available on smartwatches.
• A smart band acts as a health tracking system, whereas a smartwatch acts as a smartphone.
• The smart band’s display is smaller than the smartwatch’s.
• A smart band’s display is black and white, but a smartwatch’s display is colorful.
• The fitness tracker lacks touchscreen capabilities, whereas smartwatches have.
• The tracker is a fitness device, whereas a smartwatch is a multifunctional device.
• When compared to a smartwatch, a smart band is less expensive.

GPS and GPS watches

One of the features you’ll notice available while looking for a fitness tracker or smartwatch is GPS. Thanks to a technique known as triangulation, the GPS (Global Positioning System) can pinpoint you wherever you are on the globe.

Satellites determine triangulation, and a signal is transmitted back and forth to correctly monitor you while you’re running, walking, riding, or trekking. GPS is an excellent option if you want to check maps of where you went on your run or if you want a more specific estimate of your speed or distance traveled.

If you’re interested in GPS, keep in mind that it’s available as built-in GPS, linked GPS, and GPS watches. Built-in GPS keeps track of your distance and maps out your routes right on the watch, so you don’t have to bring your phone with you on your run.

Your fitness tracker or wristwatch will utilize your phone’s GPS to monitor you using linked GPS, and you’ll have to keep your phone with you at all times if you want to map your workout.

A GPS watch has GPS built-in. GPS watches may include smartwatch capabilities such as touchscreens, on-screen workouts, music storage, and text or phone notifications and have a simple style and tracking like a fitness tracker.

GPS watches are popular among runners who want to increase their endurance and speed, and cyclists love them since they can track their rate, pinpoint where they struggled on their ride, and map out their route.

Why Choose a Fitness Tracker

With a fitness tracker on your wrist, you can track every stride, run, and workout. It may be the best option if your main goal is to have a highly complete description of your health and fitness statistics.

Fitness trackers are straightforward to use and put on

The majority of fitness trackers resemble a bracelet. They’re typically light, lightweight, and composed of water and sweat-resistant materials to withstand all-weather workouts. Some fitness trackers have small touchscreens, while others are designed to seem like a watch and have buttons to scroll through your data.

A fitness tracker is a device that records all of your everyday activities

Did you return from the garden to the home on foot? Your fitness tracker will track those steps. Did you have to climb ten flights of stairs to get to work? It will keep track of your entire day’s activities, including your steps, distance, elevation, and calories burned.

You’ll be able to choose custom workout profiles like hiking, HIIT training, and weight training and track them if you have a tracker with advanced features. Swimming may be trackable depending on your fitness tracker, and some trackers enable multi-sport tracking if you practice many sports during your daily workout.

Many fitness trackers also track your sleep, allowing you to wear it all night and see how many hours of REM and light sleep you’re getting.

Fitness tracker applications allow you to keep track of your progress

You should be able to look down at your wrist and check if you’re meeting your fitness objectives with a fitness tracker. You’ll be able to track much more once you sync your tracker with the companion app. Some companion apps allow you to track your food intake, water intake, and weight loss or gain.

All of your data is visible over days, weeks, months, and years if you wear it long enough. Such data is invaluable if you want to see how you improved or where you need to improve.

Fitness trackers with GPS and heart rate monitoring

While a fitness tracker is less complicated than a smartwatch, firms like Fitbit, Samsung, Garmin, and Polar offer devices with 24/7 heart rate tracking and built-in GPS.

Why Choose a Smartwatch?

Samsung Galaxy Watch4 44mm Smartwatch with Heart Rate Monitor

A smartwatch could be the answer if you want an all-in-one watch that keeps you updated on everything as your phone does.

Be the best option for you. You can receive and answer phone calls, respond to texts and emails, get directions or browse maps, and get your favorite app updates while wearing a smartwatch.

A smartwatch can also track your fitness, and some models come with built-in workout plans that you may follow.

Maybe you want to know the way smartwatch activity: How Does A Smartwatch Work?

Smartwatches are designed to look like watches

You’ll adore a smartwatch if you prefer the look of traditional timepieces but don’t want to wear a fitness bracelet. Many of the different models have adjustable watch straps, circular faces, and eye-catching bezels, just like a traditional watch. Some have a color or black-and-white touchscreens, while others use buttons to navigate your options.

With a smartwatch, you should see all your information on the watch’s screen. You’ll be able to access the same information on your wrist if you connect your watch with your phone or computer.

Smartwatches allow you to stay connected using your preferred operating system

You may choose an Android or Apple smartwatch in the same way you can pick an Android or Apple phone. The Apple Watch is the only wristwatch that runs the watchOS operating system, but Google’s Wear OS is available on various Android smartwatches.

While you are not required to use the same operating system like your phone, some smartwatches offer capabilities that can only be used when paired with a compatible phone. Some smartwatches, for example, may only allow you to answer calls if you have a phone that uses a similar operating system.

If you get a Wear OS watch, you should be able to load programs on it that doesn’t require your phone to function. This means you can keep track of your fitness while leaving your phone at home.

Smartwatches may also track your fitness

As I previously indicated, some smartwatches provide step-by-step workouts right on your wrist. Smartwatches with numerous workout options are also available, allowing you to tailor how you measure your fitness. They’ll track everything that fitness trackers do, including distance, steps, calories burnt, and, in some cases, elevation.

Smartwatches, like fitness watches, have companion apps that you may use to track even more data. Adding apps to your wristwatch is one of the most significant differences between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. If you track your runs using Strava or Runkeeper, you’ll be able to do it immediately on your wrist.

Heart rate monitoring and GPS are available on smartwatches

Many smartwatches have 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and you can observe your heartbeat in real-time with a touchscreen on your wrist. Smartwatches from Nokia, Garmin, Apple, Fitbit, and Samsung provide reliable heart rate tracking and will tell you your resting heart rate and how you perform in various heart rate zones over time.

Some will even have a Pulse Ox sensor to track your oxygen saturation, and the Apple Watch has an electrocardiogram built in to identify abnormal heartbeats.

Smartwatches with built-in GPS are available, as are smartwatches with connected GPS monitor your fitness. They can accurately track your jogging pace and trace the routes you take while providing coaching to help you improve your speed and endurance.

FAQs

Is it true that all smartwatches are fitness trackers?

A smartwatch will typically have all of the fitness tracking capabilities of a tracker, plus more; for example, most smartwatches have heart rate sensors and built-in GPS for more accurate health tracking and coaching and specific workout tracking, which only the most advanced fitness trackers offer.

Is it worthwhile to invest in a fitness tracker?

Fitness trackers may tell you how many calories you burn, how many steps you take, how far you run, and how well you sleep at night, among other things. Remember that the statistics they provide, which might vary in accuracy, aren’t a replacement for a doctor’s overall health assessment.

Is a fitness band reliable?

These fitness trackers are remarkably accurate when it comes to tracking heart rate. Stanford University researchers discovered that these trackers could consistently calculate heart rate within 5% of the actual rate by LED lights to detect blood mobility.

Is it okay for me to wear a fitness tracker and a watch simultaneously?

Yes, you can wear a mechanical watch and a tracker simultaneously. In truth, when fitness trackers first appeared on the market, they were never intended to replace the watch but rather to complement it.

Conclusion

The smartwatch has recently become a popular device, allowing you to make and receive calls or text messages on your wrist. For those who are always on the go, a smartwatch is ideal. On the other hand, fitness trackers allow you to stay fit without constantly looking at your smartphone.

For those who are always on the go, a smartwatch is ideal. On the other hand, fitness trackers allow you to stay fit without constantly looking at your smartphone. HereOfamily hopes this guide is useful for you.