Vivofit 2 Vs. Fitbit Charge

Vivofit 2 Vs. Fitbit Charge

You are probably trying to get away with the best between these two products. While plenty of people have fond of Fitbit’s products, the fact is these models tend to be somewhat oversimplified. On the other hand, some might feel that Garmin produces much better gadgets than they do to fitness trackers.

However, that doesn’t mean that both products are not strong contenders when it comes to dependable activity trackers. As such, we decided to compare and contrast Vivofit 2 vs. Fitbit Charge as they are both virtually similar, and you may want to go over their differences yourself.

Both products are prevalent in most part, but they’re still some glaring variances which we’ll address in the later paragraphs. So, be sure to find out more.

Difference Graph

Here we’ve prepared an end to end comparison focusing on all key aspects that each model has to offer. As you may already know, both products are nearly identical. The Fitbit Charge has a slight pro in terms of price, coming at around $150. Vivofit 2, on the other hand, is $130, but opting for the separate chest strap for the heart rate monitor will increase the price up to about $170.

For this particular post, we’ll assume that you’ll need a heart rate function irrespective of which model you choose. It’s quite apparent that Vivofit 2 is somewhat incomplete (feature-wise) short of heart rate monitor.

The Fitbit Charge also incorporates an altimeter that helps in tracking your climbing workout progress. In contrast, the Vivofit 2 lacks the feature, but the difference is just trivial unless you are someone who performs a lot of climbing. The Fitbit Charge also includes an automatic sleep tracking function, which is great, though we didn’t find any application of these sorts of extras on a fitness tracker.

Fitbit seems to go with a smartwatch-like device as their Charge model has the capabilities of receiving calls from a smartphone, and it comes with a vibration function to facilitate this. While this is more of a gimmick, some people might find it useful.

The Fitbit charge also features an optical heart rate sensor, and while this function is more convenient to use, we found that it’s not so accurate compared to one based on a chest strap.

On the better side of the Vivofit, 2 is the ability to integrate with ANT+ gadgets. This makes its connectivity options much more varied and particularly suitable for cycling computers as well as heart rate monitor sensors.

The Fitbit Charge lacks this feature but makes up for it by employing auto-sync capabilities. Basically, the device will sync with your smartphone when in range and upload all the stats to the app. It’s a fantastic feature preferred by most, and it’s nice to see it incorporated with the Fitbit Charge.

The Vivofit 2 is also up to 5 ATM waterproof, meaning you can use it to track your swimming progress. The Fitbit Charge is merely splash-proof and is not ideal for water-based workouts. The Vivofit 2 comes with a 12 months battery life with interchangeable bands.

Aesthetic & Functionality

The Fitbit Charge is offered in three sizes with the smallest size measuring 5.5 inches long while the larger size measures7.5 inches. It weighs approx. Four ounces and like all Fitbit trackers, it features a soft, pliable rubber band that feels quite flimsy but very comfortable. It is only available in black.

There is a single dial embedded on the left side of the device. By pressing it, you can scroll through different stats like your heart rate, step counter, calorie counter as well as heart rate. Holding the button, you’ll be initiating the stopwatch. We so much like the simplistic design applied here and is more important since you don’t have to deal with numerous setup options.

While the Fitbit Charge is one of the few models from Fitbit that has an embedded optical heart rate function, you’ll have to strap the device really tightly to your wrist. Its band is much similar to a watch style though you’ll get some bit of chuffing.

On the other hand, the Vivofit is offered in two sizes. The small option measures around 5 inches long while the large unit comes in at 6 inches. The model has a relatively large heads up display that goes for one inch long and half an inch wide. The whole thing weighs approx half a pound.

This device is vastly customizable, and it is available in multiple options in the market. It is easy to detach from the center pocket, and you can have it as a necklace too. The locking mechanism here is actually intuitive.

It’s more like a turn-latch system than a watch-style clasp. In case you like doing swinging-like sports, this device will be an ideal tracker for you. It’s next to impossible for this unit to fall off.

The single button is another hallmark of this unit. It is fixed just about the right side of it and is partly hidden. The button functionality is similar to that of Fitbit Charge, clicking it to scroll through various stats and press & holding it to set a stopwatch or activate a sleep-tracking mode.

Fitbit offers a variety of trackers in the market, but they all utilize the same app. The app has been subjected to many iterations and updates; it is a quite well-rounded app. Moreover, Fitbit trackers are generally compatible with other third-party apps. The most striking ones are the Mapmyrun and Strava.

That said, he Fitbit activity tracker can track virtually anything you might expect of it, and it has several detailed graphs and breakdowns. One downside to the app is that it lacks a thorough sleep tracking function, but we feasibly excuse the Fitbit Charge considering that the brand is not much dedicated to sleep monitoring products.

Additionally, it supports a heart rate function so you can expect a few extra perks in the app interface. With the Fitness Charge, you’ll be able to assess your heart rate on the device or the iPhone app. All you need to do is to click on the heart rate tab, and the device will present a detailed graph showing you the calories burned and your heart rate peak over 30 days in actual time.

Garmin has a phone and a desktop that is compatible with IOS and android devices. The app is fairly basic but effective enough to get the job done, and it serves pretty well in keeping track of your progress.

You will be able to view the steps taken, calories burned, sleep metrics, and activities. It has a calorie graph at the bottom side of it — the calorie count function couples with Myfitnesspal, which enables you to upload your calories and food logs.

At the very same bottom, the unit features a course tracking system that comes in handy for persons with vigorous running or cycling sessions. Although they are rather basic and provide not really a whole lot of information, these features will present you with a breakdown in graph form.

Overall, the app is slightly basic, particularly when it comes to heart rate and sleep tracking graphs, and you can rely so much on the information. The sleep tracking function is similar to trends sort of graphs and will not track various levels of sleep.

For the heart rate monitor, it only grants you a quick graph relating to your daily totals. What’s better, the online applications much more robust. Users can access much more detailed information like heart rate performance and comprehensive running metrics.

When comparing the functionality of Vivo 2 vs. Fitbit Charge, Garmin’s app is somewhat outdated and slightly rough around the edges. Most smartwatches will offer the benefit of Garmin’s Connect IQ, yet their fitness trackers don’t. And all these aspects are well included by the Fitbit Charge in the broader spectrum.

Conclusion

It’s still quite challenging to choose between the Vivo 2 vs. Fitbit Charge as both models are pretty similar and fall just about the same price category. The remarkable thing that makes the Vivofit 2 a definite standout is the tracking accuracy, at least from what we have experienced.

However, the Fitbit Charge has a much better app that can support both first and third parties. It is more convenient to use since you don’t have to use any chest strap to assess your heart rate. The Fitbit Charge is, however, less comfortable to wear since you’ll first have to sit and snug it against your wrist to get a better reading.

To this end, it all comes down to individual preferences. We would certainly recommend the Vivofit 2 if you want a comfortable and more precise fitness tracker. But if you are a beginner looking for something less obtrusive and a little easier to use, then we would recommend going for the Fitbit Charge. It includes all the basics and serves pretty well too.