Fitness trackers are becoming increasingly popular, with many people wanting to take better control of their health.
With the Apple Watch release date revealed, many are considering its fitness features and whether it's enough to replace their Fitbit Flex or Jawbone UP24.
The Obvious
There are a number of things to note in comparing the likes of the Apple Watch to devices like the Jawbone UP24 and the Fitbit Flex. Clearly, the Apple Watch is in a different category than the other fitness trackers. For those who want a device that they can use apps on and do things beyond simply tracking fitness metrics, then between these options the Apple Watch is the clear choice and you can stop reading now.
Still here? Well, that must mean that you're buying the device primarily as a fitness tracker. All three of these options are great choices.
Design
The Apple Watch has a totally different design than either the Fitbit Flex or the Jawbone UP24. That's largely because of the fact that it is an all-around device that has to be appropriate at other times during the day.
The design of the Fitbit Flex is very simple and sleek. It also offers something unique in that while it doesn't have a display, it does have five LED lights, allowing users to get a glimpse of their progress.
The Jawbone UP24 is also very sleek, offering a little bit more of a modern design. It is sleeker and subtler than the Fitbit, however it does not have a way of showing users their progress like the Fitbit Flex and the Apple Watch, apart from the accompanying app.
Tracking Capabilities
All of these fitness trackers are on par with any other fitness tracker on the market, able to track movement like steps taken and distance.
One thing that the Jawbone UP24 and the Apple Watch have over the Fitbit Flex is the fact that they can both track heart rate. The Fitbit Flex is also unable to track calories burned, knocking it down another peg compared to its competition.
The Apple Watch perhaps goes above and beyond through using the iPhone's sensors like GPS.
Conclusions
The Apple Watch is clearly a more comprehensive device than the Fitbit Flex or the Jawbone UP24. It is also aimed at a different market than simply fitness junkies. And, of course, it's far more expensive than the two fitness devices, starting at $349 compared to the Jawbone UP24's $75 on Amazon or the Fitbit Flex's $100.
Photo Credit: Apple
