Fitbit Sense 2 review: A smartwatch that counts steps back

With its watch, Fitbit has managed to set high standards in the wearable health monitoring industry. Over the years, the company has developed at an enviable rate and has become appetizing, moreover Google, which eventually acquired its assets some time ago. We have already tested the original Sense and it left us with a good impression, but this new generation prevailed in everything, but it seems to be far from its goal. Should I buy the Fitbit Sense 2? This is the honest opinion of NIUSGEEK.

FITBIT SENSE 2: Specifications

FITBIT SENSE 2: here’s what you need to know

Repetitive design. Well, no, it’s not far from the original Sense, except for certain elements, such as an activated interaction button on the left side, which replaces the haptic part of Sense 1, and a special coating on the sensors. Oh, and sadly, the most unfortunate change concerns the straps, which are not backwards compatible with the 2020 version of Sense.

Keep in mind that these straps are not 100% hypoallergenic. Due to my sensitivity to silicone, I had bouts of itching and some sores after several days of contact with the equipment.

The Sense 2’s 40mm aluminum frame is surrounded by this metal frame, which houses the famous EDA system for measuring voltage, as well as space for the device’s microphone on the left side and speaker next to the button.

Already in the lid, which is in contact with the skin, heart rate sensors, temperature sensors and a pulse oximeter are located crosswise; in turn, with four contact charging points that are compatible with the USB adapter that came with the original Fitbit Sense.

No news on screen. The 1.58-inch AMOLED is the same as the previous one, although its oleophobic protection seems to be slightly better. We keep the same screen brightness, although we get customizable backgrounds and a bit more life in AOD.

My guess is that, like my original Sense, this Sense 2 will scratch around the edges when we inadvertently start banging it against everything. Even though Corning Gorilla Glass 3 has withstood direct drops, it has always been susceptible to scratches.

Other than that, we have good panel brightness in light, though not as intense as a similarly priced watch (Huawei GT3 Pro or Amazfit GTR 4Just to name a few).

A Google product… without Google. There are some observations here. To begin with, we are facing a change in Fitbit’s strategy that cuts down on opportunities we already had before. First, we don’t have a custom WiFi connection, unlike the first Sense, which allowed me to download content from my home network.

In addition, this Sense loses Google Assistant and retains Alexa only in certain markets. We have Google Maps, but this is not a big advantage.

No third party apps. Here, things change dramatically compared to the first model. We are losing access to the various apps that have provided Fitbit with personalized solutions for years. We no longer have Spotify controls for music, Uber car requests, or access to games and activity reminders beyond what comes by default.

I understand that this might be a relief to many users who look down on these apps and choose to avoid them, but you don’t expect something that already came from Versa to be rooted out. What’s more, they don’t even bank on WearOS to salvage third-party inefficiencies on the platform, and choose a twist that goes nowhere. The bonus is that you don’t have music controls either. None, not mine. NOTHING.

Various FitbitOS. Okay, the changes are obvious. We have a clearer system, with more informative screens and a settings panel that makes more sense: dragged from above, and not on the first screen, as in the previous version.

The whole interface feels smoother, which should be a plus as there aren’t many pre-installed apps. We retain access to exercise programs, a Premium service – you have six months free with Sense 2 – for mindfulness sessions that users can follow in a personalized way, and a more detailed display of data related to stress, rest and details beyond physical activity.

Performance improvement. Faced with this adversity, Fitbit has improved its collection of information, albeit with a lack of it. First, step measurement is no longer so inaccurate and reduces the number of steps recorded without passing, the effect of extreme sensitivity.

In the case of cEDA, a new stress measurement sensor, this is a first-generation setting that allows us to continuously recognize our body’s response to certain external stimuli. Another attribute is the continuous heart rate meter, which now combines retrieval data with other parameters such as breathing during sleep phases and a pulse oximeter.

Unfortunately, oxygen measurement is still carried out automatically and is only recorded at night when we sleep. There are several automated parts of the device and the app itself that run in the background. However, they are never released for user use. For example, measuring body temperature or ECG.

More autonomy. Yes, it is noticeable and understandable that the elimination of some features of the original Sense. This reduction allows the team to have another day of independence from the Charger. In my tests, I was able to work up to 5 full days with all options and occasionally using Google Maps. Although the Sense 1 gave me up to 6 days of power reserve, it has been reduced by 30% in a year of use.

What surprises me is that it takes longer to charge than the Sense 1 as this generation manages to go from 0 to 100% in an hour. In this case, it took me up to 75 minutes to charge the battery.

FITBIT SENSE 2 Is it worth it?

I think not, and I’ll tell you why. I feel like this is a different watch, more focused on health than general use, and that it ultimately deviates from the Sense 1’s promise for the worse: no Google, no music control, no Wi-Fi, and no faster charging.

The very fact that they don’t outperform the original makes me consider other brands that are more focused on adding features rather than removing them. Amazfit, Huawei and Samsung are far superior to what Fitbit offers as a team. By subscription, Fitbit destroys the rest. However, this is of little use when your daily use is interrupted by an absence. I’m not going.