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Google's acquisition of Fitbit in 2021 signaled a new focus on fitness trackers for the tech company. Despite taking over a wearable lineup that included premium smartwatches like the Fitbit Sense 2 and Fitbit Versa 4, Google released its own namesake wearable in 2022 called the Google Pixel Watch.
Around the same time, Fitbit released the Sense 2, a next-generation version of its flagship. Despite the fact both watches technically come from the same company, they each offer a different enough experience that one might be better for some users over the other. And although they differ, they're two of the best Android smartwatches you can buy.
Below, we break down the features of both devices to help you decide which, if either, is right for you. If you want a more in-depth look at either model and want to learn more about our experience testing them, make sure to check out our Google Pixel Watch review and Fitbit Sense 2 review in full.
Google Pixel Watch Check price at Amazon 
Fitbit Sense 2 Check price at Amazon Check price at Walmart Check price at Best Buy Google Pixel Watch vs. Apple Watch Series 8: Specs at a glance
Google Pixel Watch | Fitbit Sense 2 | |
Price | $350 | $300 |
Display size | 41mm | 41mm |
Case size | 41mm | 41mm |
Compatibility | Android 8 phones and newer | iPhone and Android phones |
Battery life | Up to 24 hours | Up to 6 days |
Fitness features | Optical heart rate sensor, blood oxygen sensor, Fitbit health and fitness tracking | Optical heart rate sensor, blood oxygen sensor, cEDA reader, Fitbit health and fitness tracking |
Color options | Black, Stainless Steel, Champagne | Graphite, Platinum, Soft Gold |
Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Cellular connectivity | 4G LTE | No |
Mobile payments | Yes (Google Wallet only) | Yes (Fitbit Pay only) |
Extras | Emergency SOS, fall detection, always-on display, Built-in microphone and speaker, Google services | Built-in microphone and speaker, Amazon Alexa |
Google Pixel Watch vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Design
The Google Pixel Watch features a more conventional and straightforward watch design, with a circular display and case. The bezel is more subtle than the Sense 2's, as it's partially hidden by the rounded edges of the screen.
The Pixel Watch comes in four different case and band color combinations, with the primary options for the former being black, champagne, or stainless steel. You won't trick anyone into thinking it's an actual analog watch, but it is more subtle than the oblong or rectangular designs of most Fitbit devices.
The Sense 2 follows the trend of notable Fitbit shapes with its "squircular" case and flat display. That is, it has a mostly square shape but rounded edges that almost give it a sort of circular feel. And instead of a protruding crown like the Pixel Watch, the Fitbit Sense 2 has a button embedded into the side for a more consistent and futuristic look.
Google Pixel Watch vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Smartwatch performance
The Pixel Watch relies on Wear OS for most day-to-day tasks, which makes it about as good of a smartwatch as you can get. There is one caveat, however: if you're an iPhone user, you're better off looking at the Fitbit device (or better yet, an Apple Watch) since Wear OS is an Android-based operating system that works best with Android devices.
Conversely, the Sense 2 is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, meaning that any smartphone user who can download the Fitbit app will be able to interface with the watch. And this would be great news if we hadn't found the Sense 2 to be such a middling option in terms of its smartwatch capability.
For starters, the Sense 2 has no third-party app support, meaning most users are essentially stuck with whatever comes on the device. This includes a lot of the built-in health and tracking features (which are great), along with Google Maps and Google Wallet, but does not include Google Assistant.
The strange silver lining here is that there is voice assistant support on the Sense 2, but only for Amazon Alexa. And while that may make up for the lack of Google Assistant, relying on digital services from multiple providers always promises a clunkier experience in the long run.
This is why the Google Pixel Watch provides a far superior smartwatch experience — and why we tabbed it as one of the best Android smartwatches. Wear OS delivers a seamless experience that makes navigating the watch's apps, interacting with its notifications, and general daily use intuitive and easy. It acts as a natural extension of your smartphone in a far better way than the Sense 2.
Google Pixel Watch vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Health and fitness tracking
When it comes to health and fitness tracking, the Sense 2 is the clear winner — which is no surprise as it's not only one of the best Fitbits but one of the best fitness trackers, too. Fitbit has been perfecting health and fitness tracking over several models and iterations of its smartwatches, so it's no surprise Google's first smartwatch has some catching up to do (even if it does own Fitbit).
What is surprising is just how bad the Google Pixel is at tracking fitness, even without comparing it to anything else. The watch relies on GPS to start tracking workouts, and instead of taking time to ensure it's actually connected, the Pixel often just starts tracking anyway.
This results in inaccurate readings which may be a minor annoyance when analyzing individual workouts, but worthless and perhaps even a net negative if you're looking for insights over time. This is especially true for anyone intending to use it to train for a specific event or race. The Pixel Watch's inaccuracies in pace and distance render it useless for this use case.
The Sense 2 not only handles fitness tracking seamlessly but health tracking as well due to unique insights and metrics available via the Fitbit App. With features like in-depth sleep tracking, real-time stress detection, and menstrual cycle logging, it's able to fulfill most basic wellness monitoring needs with ease.
Plus, its tracking capability is far more accurate. We found the GPS to sync quickly before starting a workout and the tracking itself was often within a negligible difference each time we used it.
The Fitbit app is also available for use with the Google Pixel Watch, but functionally, the Pixel just can't beat Fitbit at its own game.
Google Pixel Watch vs. Fitbit Sense 2: Battery life
The Google Pixel Watch's battery life isn't anything special for a smartwatch, requiring a nightly recharge with regular use. This is similar to other devices such as the Apple Watch Series 8 and shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone used to wearing these devices.
Conversely, the Fitbit Sense 2's battery boasts a six-day maximum and during our tests, we often got close to those six days of battery life, though we mostly used the bulk of the battery on tracking workouts.
Which should you buy?
When asking whether you should opt for the Google Pixel Watch or the Fitbit Sense 2, consider a second question: Do you want a "smart" watch or a sporty one? Despite their similarities as wearables, watches, and Google properties, the Pixel Watch and Sense 2 fall into entirely different categories.
If you're an Android user looking for one of the best Android smartwatches with an easy-to-use operating system and third-party app support, then we recommend the Pixel. Just know it doesn't offer much in the way of reliable or accurate fitness tracking.
If you want an iPhone-friendly experience, then it's easy to justify picking the Sense 2. However, it's important to remember you're limited to the Fitbit App and whatever functionality you can squeeze out of Amazon Alexa on the watch itself. It's not nearly as powerful smartwatch-wise and mostly offers a basic experience.
And finally, if you're OS-agnostic and just want one of the best fitness trackers with a solid wellness tracking experience, the Sense 2 is what you seek. The Pixel falls far below our expectations for any device with fitness-tracking capabilities, let alone one that's related to the Fitbit family of devices.
Google Pixel Watch Check price at Amazon Fitbit Sense 2 Check price at Amazon Check price at Walmart Check price at Best Buy 
Alexander Johnson Tech Updates Editorial Fellow Alexander Johnson was a former Tech Updates Editorial Fellow for Insider's Reviews Archive. Based in Ohio, he maintains reviews and guides related to tech products, streaming services, and all things digital. An alum of Kent State University, he previously interned for The Nation magazine and fact-checked for Insider and other major national publications. When not working, he can be found in a book, toolbox, or Linux terminal. Read more Read lessYou can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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