When I think of fitness trackers, Fitbit immediately comes to mind. A brand that has become synonymous with step counting and the collection of general fitness statistics. But Fitbit, part of the Google-Alphabet group, makes devices that are more than just workout companions. The Fitbit Sense 2 is a smartwatch offering many of the features one looks for in a wrist-worn smart object. After all, the Sense 2 has a decidedly high-end look. It is a visibly classy smartwatch. Tested in graphite aluminium, it also exists in soft gold and platinum, along with a wide range of optional straps.
The Sense 2 is quite comfortable to wear. The basic strap is comfortable, thanks partly to the Apple Watch-style fastening system. Attaching and removing straps is also improved to allow people to change them in no time. If the initial setup is a breeze, putting all the Sense 2 features to work took a bit of work. A lot of authorizations must be granted before the watch is fully functional, but this gives the user greater knowledge about Sense 2’s data collection.
The smartwatch has a very nice display, deep blacks and vivid colours, and it is bright enough to be used in difficult lighting conditions. It is easy to read, and the numerous dials available look good. It is water-resistant up to 5 meters and is rated to operate up to 45 degrees Celsius. According to the company, the battery can last over six days on a single charge, something very close to reality. With 12 minutes of fast charging, you get 24 hours of battery life. That’s what you would generally expect from a Fitbit, although a lot depends on how you use the device.
Personal assistant
Like other Fitbit devices, the Sense 2 tracks steps and heart rate, but its catalogue of sensors goes much further. The smartwatch includes a unique Body Response sensor designed to detect and manage stress. Quest tracks electrodermal activity, heart rate, heart rate variability and skin temperature. Using this data, the Sense 2 aims to help you be more aware of what causes stress and thus reduce it over time. The Sense 2 can also help detect atrial fibrillation using an electrocardiogram app and is even able to measure oxygen levels in the blood.
In addition, the Sense 2 features 20 additional exercise modes to those offered by the Sense, including Dance and Weightlifting, and a new sleep profile dial that will tell you what animal your sleep resembles, with six potential options, including a hedgehog. Although none is intended for severe medical use, the wide range of sensors, combined with powerful analytical software, allows the Sense 2 to be a valuable companion for keeping track of your fitness and overall health.
Fitbit Sense 2 is packed with useful features into a beautiful device to wear and see. Perhaps it will lose ‘sense’ when Google’s Pixel Watch arrives, which already integrates a lot of Fitbit’s functionality, moreover with the addition of Big G’s apps, from Maps to Pay, absent here. As of today, at 299.99 euros, this Sense 2 remains the premier device for those who need to keep a close eye on their health, within the limits of what a home device can do.
Now we will have to see how Google will decide to take the Fitbit brand forward, aware that it will already have a competitor to the famous fitness watch line with the Pixel Watch. The company will probably keep the two brands separate to position Fitbit, once again, as a workout tool and its Pixel Watch as a competitor to Apple and Samsung. Will they remain separate? Will they go into a single device? What will happen in the future we do not know and, frankly, it matters little now.
