Fitbit Sense vs Amazfit GTS (2021): Is Fitbit’s New Smartwatch Worth It?

Amazfit released the Amazfit GTS last August and plans to release a sequel to the GTS lineup soon — codenamed “Newton,” we’ve yet to hear of a release date for the newest GTS Amazfit has to offer. Fitbit, on the other hand, plans to release the Fitbit Sense this September, introducing another fine addition to their selection. The biggest factors to consider when thinking about choosing between the two is price and value, and that’s where we come in.

One brand offers more colourways, but the other only offers two colours — albeit strap swapping is an option to accessorise the watch even more. With its features, Amazfit’s newest smartwatch is being offered at a more entry-level pricepoint — will the Fitbit Sense’s feature be worth extra expense? Let’s dive (up to 50m, supposedly) right in and find out.

Fitbit Sense vs Amazfit GTS Comparison Chart

Features

The older Amazfit GTS is commonly mistaken as the Apple Watch due to its shape, and the resemblance is quite obvious. The Fitbit Sense is more square-ish in comparison.

Right off the bat, the Sense beats the GTS when it comes to connectivity due to it not having any support for Wi-Fi. The Fitbit Sense supports Supports Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) and also feature a Voice Assistant, helping users to interact with their watches even easier than with the Amazfit GTS.

The visuals are where the Amazfit GTS shines (pun intended) most radiant. Its screen is 4.43% bigger than the Sense’s and displays 36.25% higher resolution. With a 13.29% higher pixel density than the Amazfit Sense’s screen, you’re sure to enjoy a crisp and lifelike display, regardless if you’re just checking the time or your sudden increase in heart rate after that 3rd bottle of Red Bull. The GTS is also outfitted with basic features that the Sense lacks, like a barometer, a compass, and a phone locator — all overly underappreciated necessities when you’re out and about.

Despite not being released yet, what we can gather from Fitbit’s official website is that it has a route tracker, a Smart Alarm, Menstrual Health Tracking, compatibility with smart scales (through the Fitbit app), an on-wrist skin temperature sensor, monitors blood oxygenation levels, and automatically detects when you start any activity like steps, distance, floors climbed, active minutes and calories burned — educating you the things you do every day get you closer or further from your fitness goals. The automatic all-day activity tracking also saves you the hassle of having to manually enter your achievements at a later time, which is not the case with the Amazfit GTS.

Design

The Fitbit Sense has a stainless steel construction partnered with a silicone strap, while the Amazfit GTS sports an aircraft-grade aluminium alloy.

The Fitbit Sense and Amazfit GTS smartwatches both sport an AMOLED screen made out of Corning^® Gorilla^® Glass 3, ensuring a scratch-proof, fingerprint resistant, dustproof and water-resistant construction. Water-resistance is limited to 5 ATM, which is appropriate for splashes, swimming, rain or snow, and snorkeling. Activities that present higher water pressures, depths, and temperatures like scuba diving, or wearing the watch under a hot shower is considered user abuse and not recommended. Wiping the watch dry immediately after exposure to water is also considered a best practice by both manufacturers.

Both brands can also duke it out when it comes to aesthetics since the Amazfit GTS is available in more colourways: Obsidian Black, Rose Pink, Steel Blue, Vermillion Orange, Lava Grey, and Desert Gold. Despite the Sense being only available in White/Gold and Carbon/Graphite, it promotes accessorising through colourful and brightly coloured strap replacements, including Fitbit.com exclusive collections from designers brands Victor Glemaud and Pendleton.

Battery Life

The Amazfit GTS provides 8 days longer battery life than the Fitbit Sense.

The Amazfit GTS and the Fitbit Sense both run on lithium-ion batteries, which is typically expected on standard wearables — but the Amazfit GTS was made to optimise its watch’s power consumption, stretching the battery life to 14 days while maintaining a slim and sexy silhouette. Battery life will vary depending on usage, though — this 14-day battery life can be stretched further to 46 days while under basic watch mode. Then again, turning off the heart monitor and other functions defeat the purpose of owning a smartwatch.

A fast-charging feature is what the Fitbit Sense offers that the GTS does not — charging for 12 minutes gives it enough juice to last an entire day. It’s definitely an appropriate compromise to make up for its 6+ day battery life, which is considerably lower than the GTS.

Price

The Amazfit GTS is a more pocket-friendly alternative to brands like Fitbit and Apple, while the Fitbit Sense’s heftier price comes with more features and a trusted reputation for reliability and style.

Fitbit has earned itself a solid foundation in the fitness smartwatch niche market and has had enough experience to know what makes customers tick (pun intended). Their strong foundation in the industry allows them to charge prices that are considerably higher than any other recent competition, but still more affordable than Apple or Garmin. Their offerings range from entry-level, mid-range, and high-end, allowing buyers to choose a specific model that fits their needs and budget.

Amazfit, on the other hand, is producing more and more top-of-the-line smartwatches that are more accessible to people with the same level of enthusiasm but fewer spending power. They have a bit of catching up to do when it comes to the number of features they can offer compared to brands like Fitbit, but it’ll only get better for them in the next few years.

Verdict

If you’re not too keen on making sure your smartwatch has all the bells and whistles available in the market, then the Amazfit GTS is the way to go.

Given, the Fitbit Sense is LOADED to the brim with features someone with a limited imagination wouldn’t even think of throwing into something as small as a watch — but unless you’re a professional athlete, a personal trainer, or someone who actually has an active lifestyle, it’s not going to do a lot for you. It is marvelous though for people who actually have an active lifestyle and living it everyday.

If you’re the type that just allots a bit of time in your day for a quick jog or weight training, it would be best for you to opt for the Amazfit GTS. It’s got enough features to help you with your non-professional, non-competition training goals, and tells you the time just the same — with a better screen, too.

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