The Fitbit Sense 2 is, ostensibly, a sequel to the unique Sense. Nonetheless, if that is the case, then why is the Sense 2 lacking a ton of options current on the unique Sense? With out Google Assistant and third-party apps, the Sense 2 turns into a souped-up health tracker slightly than a real smartwatch expertise. With the near-identical Versa 4 providing all the identical Fitbit necessities for much less and the Fitbit-integrated Google Pixel Watch on the horizon, the Sense 2 is a bafflingly onerous promote.
On the earth of Fitbit, the Sense line is the place the corporate places all the things it’s bought. In 2020, the Fitbit Sense had each single health-tracking characteristic the corporate had launched up till that time. It additionally had an honest choice of smartwatch options that — after many notable software program and have upgrades — helped it change into probably the greatest smartwatches you can get.
As one would anticipate, hopes are excessive for the Fitbit Sense 2, which lastly landed in 2022. Does the brand new wearable from the Google-owned firm stack as much as its formidable predecessor? Let’s bounce in and discover out in Android Authority‘s Fitbit Sense 2 review.
About this Fitbit Sense 2 review: I examined the Fitbit Sense 2 for 5 days. It was on firmware 60.200001.184.16 and linked to my Samsung Galaxy S21 Extremely all through the testing interval. The unit was supplied to Android Authority by Fitbit.
What you want to know concerning the Fitbit Sense 2
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- Fitbit Sense 2: $299 / £269 / €299
The Fitbit Sense 2 launched on August 24, 2022, roughly two years after the unique Fitbit Sense. Fitbit is launching the Sense 2 at a fractionally cheaper price than its predecessor, although the unique Sense rapidly settled at an identical ~$300 worth level now lengthy after its launch. The Sense 2 is, as of now, the highest-end Fitbit you will get. There isn’t a health-tracking characteristic that another Fitbit has that doesn’t additionally seem on the Sense 2. Moreover, the Sense 2 has some options that don’t seem on another Fitbit gadgets.
It does, nevertheless, launch at a wierd time. The long-awaited Pixel Watch is mere weeks away on the time of this writing; a bonafide Google smartwatch that the search large has confirmed may have, “deep integration with Fitbit.”
Aesthetically, the Sense 2 isn’t too totally different from the unique. It’s barely thinner and lighter however has the identical show. Essentially the most notable design change is the addition of a bodily button. This replaces the capacitive groove that appeared on the unique Sense (in addition to the Versa 3). The addition of the button is a welcome change, because the unreliable and finicky groove was one of many most-loathed facets of the unique mannequin.
A brand new model of Fitbit OS debuts with the Sense 2. It’s a wholly revamped model of the software program with a way more Put on OS-like design. It consists of the flexibility to trace 20 further workout routines, together with HIIT, rollerblading, kayaking, and extra. Nonetheless, outdoors of those new workout routines, the core performance of the brand new Fitbit OS is similar because the previous Fitbit OS. Sadly, Fitbit confirmed that older Fitbit watches won’t see this new software program, which additionally means they gained’t see the 20 new train modes.
The Fitbit Sense 2 is the highest-end Fitbit you will get in 2022.
The Sense 2 is the primary machine from Fitbit to assist steady electrodermal exercise (cEDA) readings by way of its Physique Response sensor. EDA readings are used for testing how wired you’re in the mean time. Beforehand, Fitbits with EDA assist required you to manually create these readings. The Sense 2, nevertheless, makes use of cEDA readings to constantly monitor your stress ranges all through the day with out you needing to cease and spot-check. Nonetheless, spot checks are nonetheless accessible and Fitbit encourages persevering with to make use of that system for gaining extra knowledge.
Outdoors of the EDA/cEDA sensor, all the opposite Fitbit monitoring notables are right here: Energetic Zone Minutes, step, coronary heart fee, SpO2, sleep, and pores and skin temperature. ECG readings are additionally accessible in supported international locations, together with the US and lots of areas throughout Europe. There are additionally extra auto-tracked workout routines so that you’re much less prone to lose priceless knowledge when you overlook to manually choose your exercise. Constructed-in GPS continues to be accessible and you may pay for issues utilizing simply your wrist with the pre-installed Fitbit Pay. You may also obtain cellphone calls by way of the Sense 2 and listen to/reply to these calls proper on the watch utilizing its built-in microphone and speaker.
As with all Fitbits, all this knowledge syncs with the Fitbit app in your cellphone. Fitbit Premium members get entry to extra in-depth knowledge in addition to just a few different perks. The watch comes with six free months of Fitbit Premium for brand new and current members.
The Fitbit Sense 2 is available in three colour mixtures: a Graphite Aluminum (darkish grey) case with a Shadow Gray band, a Platinum Aluminum (silver) case with a Lunar White band, and a Delicate Gold Aluminum (gold) case with a Blue Mist band. Though the colorways had totally different names, these are usually the identical decisions you had with the unique Sense. You should buy it from Fitbit.com, the Google Retailer, Amazon, Greatest Purchase, and lots of different third-party retailers.
A word on coronary heart fee monitoring: One of the elementary components of a very good smartwatch is coronary heart fee monitoring. This metric is of essentially the most worth for all kinds of well being assessments, together with total coronary heart well being, energy burned, sleep monitoring, alerts for early indicators of atrial fibrillation (AFib), and extra. Historically, Fitbits have excelled on this class. Sadly, throughout our testing we encountered some discrepancies when evaluating the information with a management machine. In consequence, we’re conducting additional checks earlier than offering a verdict on the Sense 2’s coronary heart fee monitoring capabilities. We’ll replace this review accordingly.
What’s good?
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Proper off the bat, I really like the design of the Fitbit Sense 2. Fitbit saved the machine acquainted for customers of the unique Sense whereas subtly refining issues, reminiscent of making it thinner and lighter. Nonetheless, the brand new button is what actually makes the design a winner. If I by no means want to make use of a capacitive groove once more, will probably be too quickly.
The button performs the identical performance because the groove. A fast faucet takes you again to the house display screen whereas a double faucet might be personalized to carry out numerous shortcuts (launch an app, provoke a digital assistant voice command, and so forth.). A brand new operate, nevertheless, is {that a} single faucet when you’re on the house display screen opens up an app selector. This offers you an inventory of all of the apps on the watch so you may rapidly launch what you want. It additionally throws your most-used apps to the highest of the record for straightforward entry.
The strap that comes with the Sense 2 is precisely the identical because the one which got here with the unique Sense. Other than the colours, there aren’t any variations between the Sense 2 straps and the straps for the unique Sense, the Versa 4, and the Versa 3. Swapping out straps could be very simple. You simply press the button, take away the strap, after which snap the brand new one as a substitute.
The Fitbit Sense 2’s show can be terrific. Though it’s mainly the identical show as the unique, it’s a type of “if it ain’t broke, don’t repair it” conditions. Even underneath the intense California solar, I might nonetheless very simply see the watch’s face.
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As with the unique Sense, the battery lifetime of the Sense 2 is great. It has the identical tiny 162mAh cell as its predecessor, however the Sense 2 milks that cell for all the things it’s value. I maxed-out all settings: vibrations set to excessive, the always-on show completely on, cEDA monitoring on, brightness all the way in which up, and so forth. I put the watch on with a 100% battery on Friday at 2:00 PM and was right down to 9% of battery at 10:00 PM on Monday, which is about 3.5 days of battery life.
Even when you push it to the restrict, you may get not less than three days of battery life out of the Sense 2.
Fitbit advertises the Sense 2 as having “6+ days” of battery. I’m certain you can attain that when you turned all of the settings down (particularly the always-on cEDA monitoring, which chews by way of battery life). Nonetheless, even when you push all the things to the restrict, you’re going to get not less than three days out of this watch, which is great for any smartwatch. It’s actually higher than any Put on OS watch we’ve seen to this point.
Charging is quick as nicely. You’ll be able to go from zero to full in round 80 minutes. Relying in your energy utilization settings, you can simply get a full day’s value of juice with quarter-hour on the charger.
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Fitbit additionally drastically enhanced its auto-tracking characteristic on the Sense 2 (and, consequently, the Versa 4). Beforehand, on gadgets like the unique Sense, the Cost 5, and Versa 3, the train app would mechanically open after a couple of minutes of the consumer working. This is able to assist you to observe your run with GPS when you forgot to begin it. On the Sense 2 and Versa 4, nevertheless, this now works with walks and bike rides, too.
Associated: What’s the perfect health tracker?
This labored nicely in my expertise, with the app notifying me that I used to be strolling once I was, in truth, strolling. Nonetheless, it did mess up a bit once I was at a Rammstein live performance. As a result of I used to be leaping up and down and stamping my toes repeatedly, it mistakenly tracked me as being on a motorcycle experience for 2 hours, which I believed was fairly humorous. This isn’t too large of a deal, although, as you may simply delete errors like this out of your health historical past. I’d a lot slightly have the well being knowledge and never want it than need the well being knowledge and never have it.
Clearly, this eats up a little bit of battery life. For those who don’t prefer it, although, you may simply flip it off, which is a pleasant transfer by Fitbit.
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The Fitbit Sense 2 may even auto-track lots of different well being metrics. Fitbit’s glorious sleep monitoring is onboard (although Sleep Profiles are gated behind Fitbit Premium), as are automated SpO2 readings, pores and skin temperature readings, and extra (test the specs desk later on this review for all of the sensors). These readings all occur within the background and mechanically sync with the Fitbit app.
The Fitbit app continues to be terrific at itemizing out your metrics in easy-to-understand methods. Your pores and skin temperature readings, for instance, seem as a +/- quantity to present you a fast concept of the way you’re faring in comparison with your baseline. In case your readings are a lot larger than standard — say by one or two levels Fahrenheit — it might be an indication that your physique is preventing off some sort of illness. Your sleep, steps, coronary heart fee, train, and different metrics, together with feminine well being monitoring, are equally easy. There’s additionally a Neighborhood tab for anybody that desires to get chatting with fellow Fitbit customers.
The brand new processor within the Fitbit Sense 2 makes a giant distinction.
Though the corporate declined to present specifics, the Fitbit Sense 2 has an upgraded processor when in comparison with the unique Sense. Mixed with the brand new model of Fitbit OS, the UI is smoother, snappier, and extra dependable.
Hitting the bodily button immediately takes you to both the house display screen or the app selector, relying on the circumstances. Swiping from one panel to a different is easy. Opening/closing apps, toggling settings, and scrolling by way of lengthy pages all appear and feel nice. As a long-time Sense consumer, it’s instantly obvious that this new processor has made a giant distinction.
What’s not so good?
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As with the Fitbit Sense, the Sense 2 has onboard GPS. This implies you may exit on a run with out your smartphone and nonetheless get GPS knowledge. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t advise doing this if you need an correct map.
As talked about within the earlier part, I did two rollerblade journeys with the Sense 2. Right here’s my GPS map from the primary journey. The blue line is knowledge from the Wahoo Tickr X chest strap whereas the purple line is knowledge from the Fitbit Sense 2:
Full journey
Drawback instance 1
Drawback instance 2
As you may see, the general GPS journey knowledge from the Sense 2 is similar to the Tickr X knowledge. Nonetheless, if you dig down deep, you see the Sense 2 fails to be correct. Within the first downside instance, you may see the purple line heading deep into the homes lining the road. Within the second downside instance, you may see that the tree cowl within the park brought about some main discrepancies between the 2 gadgets (the Tickr X is extra carefully aligned with what I truly did that day).
The second journey, sadly, was not significantly better:
Full journey
Drawback instance 1
Drawback instance 2
As soon as once more, the general GPS knowledge exhibits a decent-enough map. When you zoom in, although, you discover plenty of points. Within the first downside instance, you may see the Sense 2 recording me performing some sort of loopy loop inside somebody’s home. It additionally didn’t report me doing an precise loop whereas ready to cross the highway (you may see the blue loop close to the road on the map). The park go to is even worse than the primary time with the purple line not coming near the blue line.
This knowledge makes it onerous to advocate the Sense 2 if really correct GPS monitoring is essential to you.
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When the unique Sense launched in 2020, Fitbit promised it will ultimately assist Google Assistant. This was an enormous promoting level, even when it was disappointing it wouldn’t be accessible out-of-the-box. About three months after launch, although, the corporate delivered on that promise. With the Sense, you may long-press the capacitive groove to launch a Google Assistant voice command immediate. With that open, you may management your smart home, create calendar reminders, open/shut apps on the Sense, ship a textual content, begin a timer on the Sense, and far more.
Curiously, this isn’t the case with the Sense 2. Google Assistant isn’t supported out-of-the-box, and Fitbit instructed us there aren’t any plans to assist it at the moment.
Google Assistant is just not included with the Sense 2, and it appears prefer it’s by no means coming.
To be blunt, it is a enormous and disappointing downgrade. Google Assistant entry is what has set current Fitbit watches aside from the competitors. Assistant merely isn’t accessible on any smartwatches outdoors of the Put on OS ecosystem — apart from Fitbits. Given the truth that Fitbit is owned by Google, the omission of Assistant is much more complicated.
Whatever the reasoning, the Fitbit Sense 2 is objectively a a lot weaker product than the Fitbit Sense (and even the Versa 3) with out Google Assistant. Nonetheless, do word that Amazon Alexa assist is out there. That is hardly an enough substitute, although, when you think about that Fitbit’s providers have gotten increasingly built-in with Google’s.
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
The omission of Google Assistant is a head-scratcher, for certain, however the omission of Wi-Fi assist on the Sense 2 is totally bonkers. To be clear, once I say “Wi-Fi assist” I imply that actually. By Fitbit’s personal admission, the {hardware} wanted for Wi-Fi connections is contained in the Sense 2, however the software program doesn’t assist you to use it. In different phrases, Fitbit might very simply make the Sense 2 Wi-Fi-capable. It has chosen not to take action.
Fitbit put Wi-Fi {hardware} into the Sense 2, however provides us no strategy to entry it.
The dearth of Wi-Fi assist on the Sense 2 makes it, as soon as once more, objectively inferior to the unique Sense. Wi-Fi assist makes updating the watch quicker because you don’t have to switch knowledge out of your cellphone to the watch by way of Bluetooth.
Fortunately, the watch nonetheless syncs nicely with the Fitbit app, so that you don’t want to fret there — that has all the time used Bluetooth. You additionally don’t want it for music storage, however that’s solely as a result of the Fitbit Sense 2 doesn’t assist music storage in any respect.
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The Fitbit ecosystem has by no means been well-regarded for its app gallery. In comparison with the Apple Watch and Put on OS watches, the Fitbit app gallery has all the time been pretty anemic.
That being stated, the unique Fitbit Sense had entry to a couple heavy hitters. A number of music apps can be found, together with Spotify, Deezer, and Pandora. There’s a Starbucks app that permits you to simply pay on your tea utilizing your Starbucks Reward account. There’s even a rudimentary maps app that will get the job executed in a pinch.
The Fitbit Sense 2 doesn’t have any of those apps. In reality, it has precisely zero third-party apps. As of proper now, each app accessible for the Sense 2 is pre-installed, and it’s an extremely primary record:
- Settings
- Chill out
- Notifications
- ECG
- SpO2
- Alarms
- Climate
- Timers
- Discover My Telephone
- EDA Scan
- Train
We requested Fitbit if there are any plans to convey third-party apps to the Sense 2. It instructed us, “we are going to solely have first-party tiles accessible on [the Sense 2] at the moment.” That doesn’t assure different apps gained’t ever be accessible, however it actually appears like they gained’t. That implies that, until Fitbit makes it occur, there isn’t a strategy to take heed to and even management music by way of the Sense 2. Through the years, music controls have change into a elementary facet of a smartwatch, and for the Sense 2 to not have them is, frankly, ridiculous.
Fitbit additionally bought followers fairly excited when it introduced that each Google Maps and Google Pockets could be coming to the Sense 2. Nonetheless, these apps will not be supported but and Fitbit has not given a agency dedication on when they’ll land.
First notification
Second notification
The Fitbit Sense 2, just like the Sense, can ping you if you get smartphone notifications. That is terrific for sure conditions, reminiscent of driving. It’s so much safer to rapidly look at your watch when a textual content message is available in as in comparison with fumbling together with your cellphone.
Nonetheless, the brand new Fitbit OS modifications how notifications land. Once I obtained texts by way of Google Messages, for instance, the alert first exhibits some primary particulars of the notification. Then, it fades away to disclose one other notification that has the very same info in addition to the message itself. You’ll be able to see this within the gallery above.
Throughout my time utilizing the Sense 2, I discovered myself getting a notification vibration on the watch, lifting my wrist to see it, after which merely holding there like an fool ready for the second half of the notification to point out. This setup is just not user-friendly in any respect. I can solely hope that Fitbit removes this in a future replace for the brand new Fitbit OS.
Fitbit Sense 2 specs
| Fitbit Sense 2 | |
|---|---|
|
Show |
1.58-inch AMOLED 336 x 336 decision At all times-on show supported |
|
Dimensions and weight |
|
|
Battery |
162mAh Cost time (0-100%): Two hours |
|
IP ranking |
IPX8 |
|
Sensors |
Microphone |
|
Connectivity |
NFC |
|
Storage |
4GB (OS solely, inaccessible) |
|
Compatibility |
Android 8 Oreo or larger |
|
NFC funds |
Fitbit Pay |
|
Smartwatch options |
Name, textual content, and app notifications On-wrist Bluetooth calls Amazon Alexa built-in Small choice of Fitbit apps Google Maps (coming quickly) |
|
Colours |
Shadow Gray band / Graphite Aluminum case |
|
In-box contents |
Fitbit Sense 2 |
Fitbit Sense 2 review: The decision
C. Scott Brown / Android Authority
We’ve had quite a few arguments right here at Android Authority about what makes a smartwatch totally different from a health tracker. You most likely have your individual definition. Nonetheless, for my cash, the Fitbit Sense was a smartwatch by way of and thru. It had Wi-Fi connectivity, a small-but-decent app retailer, Google Assistant assist, the flexibility to obtain cellphone calls, and much more.
Sadly, I don’t know if I’d say the identical factor concerning the Fitbit Sense 2. Due to what number of options Fitbit has eliminated, it appears to have change into a glorified health tracker with just a few smarts tossed in to assist justify the inflated worth.
Even when we ignore the smartwatch/health tracker debate, the Sense 2 is in a bizarre place the place for each constructive there’s a saddening destructive. It has just about each fitness-tracking characteristic available on the market however the built-in GPS fared poorly in our testing. The battery life is nice however there aren’t any third-party apps to utilize that spectacular endurance. It’s thinner and lighter than the first-generation mannequin however regardless of having the {hardware}, there’s no Wi-Fi assist. For all the things Fitbit refined or launched with the Sense 2, it took one thing away from the unique Sense.
The Fitbit Sense 2 might have been an amazing smartwatch. As a substitute, it is an costly health tracker.
All this makes the Sense 2 a sequel that truly gives much less worth than its two-year-old predecessor. Whenever you see what the unique Sense can do and examine it to this new mannequin, you may’t assist however query why anybody would get the 2022 machine over the 2020 model. Sure, the brand new cEDA characteristic is cool and unique to the Sense 2, however the authentic Sense has each different health-tracking characteristic discovered within the Sense 2. Is there actually a purchaser on the market who would prize cEDA over Google Assistant and third-party apps? Is there actually a purchaser who would have a look at the unique Sense that goes on sale for ~$200 and suppose paying an additional $100 for the Sense 2 could be value it?
The Sense 2 additionally has some formidable competitors. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 ($279.99 at Samsung) has loads of well being options, a sturdy app library, Google Assistant, and a cultured, sturdy design, all for $20 much less. You gained’t get the cEDA sensor and the battery life is nowhere close to as spectacular, however you’ll get an precise smartwatch. Likewise, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 ($249.99 at Garmin) is a bonafide smartwatch with some terrific well being options (particularly for runners). Even when you splurge on the Venu Sq 2 Music Version, you’re nonetheless on the similar $299 worth of the Sense 2. Lastly, the Apple Watch SE 2 ($249 at Greatest Purchase) misses out on some superior sensors, however is in any other case the proper entry level for iPhone customers.
Don’t overlook that simply shopping for a Sense 2 doesn’t unlock its full potential. To get all the things out of it, you’ll want to have Fitbit Premium, which prices $9.99 every month. You get six months free together with your buy of a Sense 2, however if you need entry to all of the health coaching and meditation movies, the deep dive knowledge on your Day by day Readiness Rating and Wellness Report, gamified health challenges, recipes and vitamin recommendation, Sleep Profiles, and much more, you’ll have to pay up ultimately. Keep in mind that you don’t want Fitbit Premium, because the watch will work nice with no subscription, however that is however one thing to bear in mind as you mull over your buy.
Fitbit has taken a wearable that grew into being one of many higher smartwatches available on the market, stripped out a lot of its smarts, and turned it into an overpriced health tracker. I’m certain it can have an viewers amongst die-hard Fitbit followers that desire a smartwatch kind issue with each potential new monitoring metric, however it’s a tough promote when the cheaper Versa 4 ($169.95 at Fitbit) exists with an equivalent design and have set (albeit with lots of the similar caveats), for $70 much less. The one factor you actually lose are ECG, EDA, and cEDA readings.
However those who desire a true flagship Fitbit will seemingly have to look to Pixel Look ahead to the true “sequel” to the Fitbit Sense — as a result of the Sense 2 ain’t it.
Fitbit Sense 2
Skinny, gentle, and cozy • Terrific battery life • Shiny AMOLED show
Look how they massacred my boy.
The Fitbit Sense 2 is, ostensibly, a sequel to the unique Sense. Nonetheless, if that is the case, then why is the Sense 2 lacking a ton of options current on the unique Sense? With out Google Assistant and third-party apps, the Sense 2 turns into a souped-up health tracker slightly than a real smartwatch expertise. With the near-identical Versa 4 providing all the identical Fitbit necessities for much less and the Fitbit-integrated Google Pixel Watch on the horizon, the Sense 2 is a bafflingly onerous promote.
Prime Fitbit Sense 2 review questions and solutions
Is the Fitbit Sense 2 waterproof?
The Fitbit Sense 2 has a 5ATM water-resistance ranking. Which means you may swim as much as depths of 50m.
Does the Fitbit Sense 2 assist Google Maps and Google Pockets?
Fitbit lists assist for Google Maps and Google Pockets for the Sense 2 as “coming quickly,” however gained’t say when.
Does the Fitbit Sense 2 assist Google Assistant?
No. The Sense 2 solely helps Amazon Alexa for voice instructions.
What measurement straps does the Sense 2 assist?
The Sense 2 has 24mm straps. Nonetheless, it makes use of a proprietary connector, so that you’ll have to get straps made for the Sense or Sense 2. Moreover, straps for the Versa 3 and Versa 4 will work as nicely.
Is there a wall adapter within the field with the Sense 2?
The Sense 2 doesn’t include a charger. You’ll discover a charging cable with a USB-A connection within the field, however you’ll want to supply your individual USB-A wall adapter.
Can I cost the Sense 2 with the identical charger that comes with the unique Sense?
Sure, you need to use the unique Sense charger with the Sense 2. You may also use the chargers for the Versa 3 and Versa 4, ought to you want to.
Does the Fitbit Sense 2 nonetheless include six free months of Fitbit Premium?
Sure. New and current Fitbit Premium subscribers obtain six free months of Premium once they join the Sense 2 to their account.
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