Google Fitbit Edge Vs. Pixel Watch 5: Should you spend $200 more?

If you’re looking for a new wearable on your wrist, you have the choice between a smartwatch or a fitness tracker. There are screenless trackers like the Fitbit Air that work similarly to smart rings in that they offer a completely passive app-driven experience. But if you want a screen, Google’s latest two models are the Google Pixel Watch 5 and the just-announced Google Fitbit Edge. The latter is located well between the Pixel Watch 5 and the Fitbit Air. It has a screen like the Pixel Watch 5, but much smaller. It’s not a full-fledged smartwatch experience, but you get premium features with wrist access.

Considering that the Pixel Watch 5 costs over $200 more than the Fitbit Edge, with the Pixel Watch 5 starting at $400 and the Fitbit Edge starting at $180, it’s important to figure out which one is right for you and will best meet your needs. You don’t want to spend a lot more on the Pixel Watch 5 when you won’t use the upgrades. Conversely, you don’t want to go back to the Fitbit Edge only to find that you’re missing features that you would use with the Pixel Watch 5. So, let’s break things down.

The Google Pixel Watch 5 features a dome-shaped display with access to apps, messages, workout stats and more. You get visible tiles with the Fitbit Edge to view stats, select workouts, and view incoming calls and messages, song titles, and more. But it’s a smaller screen, but also with more screen real estate than previous generation Fitbit trackers. The main difference is that the Pixel Watch 5 comes with Wear OS, so you get the full Google experience with access to apps and other Wear OS features, including Gemini, Google Home for controlling smart home devices, Google Wallet, and more.

There’s no speaker or mic on the Fitbit Edge, so you can’t make or receive calls like you can on the Pixel Watch 5. You can, however, access Google Maps and media controls. However, the Pixel Watch 5 only lasts 30 hours or 48 hours in Battery Saver mode, while the Fitbit Edge lasts up to seven days per charge. Meanwhile, the Fitbit Edge comes with built-in GPS that lets you track walks and runs even without your phone, but it’s only a single band, while the Pixel Watch 5 has dual-frequency GPS for greater accuracy.

Also think about the phone you own. You cannot pair a Google Pixel Watch 5 with an iPhone. Previous Android smartwatches could pair with iPhones without some Wear OS features exclusive to Android devices, but only with third-party software like Merge. If you’re using an iPhone, the Fitbit Edge works just as well as an Android phone. For Google Pixel phone owners, the Pixel Watch 5 gets exclusive features like camera controls, phone unlock, and call screening.

The overall fitness, health, and wellness experience between the two trackers is broadly the same. Both devices work with the Google Health app and offer access to all the same features there. This includes Google Health Premium with a subscription, and both trackers come with a three-month trial. They both track essentials like activities with auto-sensing, sleep, and vital signs like heart rate, ECG, blood oxygen, and skin temperature. There are also the latest Health Guardian features, including blood pressure trends and insulin resistance tracking. Although you can’t access the Gemini AI features from the Fitbit Edge itself, you can take advantage of AI Coach in the app (which requires the Premium subscription) to set workout plans and receive guidance, ask questions, log meals, and more.

That said, if your priority is primarily health and wellness and you don’t care much about things like Google Wallet and all its cool features, Wear OS apps, the ability to answer calls right from your wrist, and control smart home devices, the Pixel Watch 5 might be more than you need and not worth the extra $200. If battery life is a deciding factor for you, you might be willing to forgo the Pixel Watch 5’s extra features to have something that will last up to a week. In short, the Fitbit Edge is ideal for fitness-focused users, offering an identical app-based experience, while Google’s Pixel Watch 5 adds more wrist controls, app access, smart features and more for a robust communications experience.