Microsoft recently took the wraps off its Microsoft Band, a fitness tracking wearable, gearing up to throw the gauntlet to the popular Fitbit Surge activity tracker.
Consumers face plenty of choices for fitness tracking devices. However, which fitness tracker is worth the money is the million dollar question. We take a look at how the two fitness wearables -- the Microsoft Band and Fitbit Surge -- stack up against each other when it comes to performance.
Design and Display
In terms of design, the Microsoft offering resembles a wristband whereas the Surge, touted to be the "most advanced fitness tracker to date," is pegged as a "Fitness Super Watch" and has a square watch-like shape.
The Microsoft band has a 1.4-inch color display, which is touchscreen. The display is easy to read even in harsh sunlight. The Surge, on the other hand, has a 1.25-inch monochrome LCD screen that has backlight capability. The display is also touchscreen.
The screen resolution for the Microsoft Band is 320 x 106 pixels. The display resolution for the Fitbit Surge is not known.
Durability
Both the Microsoft Band and Fitbit Surge are water-resistant. However, the former has a resistance rating of IP 54 against the latter's IP 68 (5 ATM). This basically means that the Surge offers much better resistance to dust and water compared to the Microsoft Band.
Battery Life
The Microsoft Band packs in a 2x 100mAH Li-ion battery, which offers two days of usage. The battery capacity of the Surge is not known, but it offers support for up to seven days, giving it a clear edge over the Microsoft offering yet again.
When it comes to charge time, the Microsoft Band and Fitbit Surge are on even keel. The Microsoft Band takes less than 1.5 hours to charge, whereas the Surge takes between one to two hours.
Connectivity and Features
Both devices offer GPS and Bluetooth 4.0 support and have a built-in accelerometer, heart rate tracker and gyroscope. The gadgets also offer haptic feedback
However, the Microsoft Band ups the ante by including a galvanic skin response sensor and UV monitor. The Surge, on the other hand, has music controls, a feature missing in the Microsoft Band.
The Microsoft Band also has a voice assistant -- Cortana -- if you're using Windows 8.1.
Both the Surge and Microsoft Band offer calls and texting and are iOS, Windows and Android compatible.
Price
The Microsoft Band is priced at $199, whereas the Fitbit Surge will set you back by $249.
These fitness devices are evenly matched with little separating the two. If a feature-rich device is what you're after, then the Microsoft Band may fit the bill. On the other hand, if battery life and durability take priority, the Fitbit Surge is your go-to fitness tracker.
