Blaze vs Surge vs Charge 2 - How they compare on the SAME FEATURES?

[Zharko]

I'm interested in understanding how the more sophisticated Fitbit devices compare (e.g. Surge, Charge 2, Blaze, and Alta HR). I've seen the official page which neatly provides a basic outline of what types of information and technology each of them provides (thank you fitibit for providing this in an easy to read table!). I've also seen multiple posts (for example this, this, or this) in the forums which mostly discuss a) the things mentioned on that page or they go into differences in b) how the devices look or c) their UX/interface/interaction with device.

I'm interested in something else. Specifically, for the "basic" features and "exercise" FEATURES WHICH THEY SHARE, assuming they were worn on by the same person, with the same user details provided, at the same time, on the same wrist, in the same location ... basically under the same theoretical circumstances (1) should the sensors across these watches pick up the same signals and subsequently (2) would the underlying algorithms process those signals the same way to produce the same result? (via the app or data export or the API?

To clarify:

• (1) is a question on the underlying technology/hardware
• (2) is a question on the software / algorithms

For reference, these are the features of particular interest:

• Steps, Calories, & Distance (--> and subsequently the 'active minutes' and related metrics which are reported)
• Floors Climbed
• Sleep Tracking
• SmartTrack (exercise recognition)
• PurePulse Heart Rate 
• Cardio Fitness Level

[Julia_G]

Hi, @Zharko, I think they are similar or the same.  Some trackers have more features than others, but they share the same basic functioning and algorithms.

The watches with an "exercise function" basically create a time stamp and a label.  They also turn on more frequent HR sampling. I am pretty sure the HR detection is the same across devices.

SmartTrack will not give you distance, whatever your activity.  Also I suspect (but don't know for sure) that SmartTrack does not trigger more frequent HR sampling (as the ones with manual exercise modes do) so probably during exercise you may get less detailed HR reporting compared to the other devices you are interested in.

I don't think you are going to get any definitive answers from Fitbit, other than what is one the official page, ams answers here to these sorts of questions are really guesses based on personal experience of how the trackers work, but if you would like some further information you could try framing a more specific question.

[WavyDavey]

I haven't seen anything on these forums that indicates that the hardware is different in regards to heart rate, steps, active minutes, etc. Also haven't seen anything that indicates the algorithms are any different.

Differences are more around extra functionality such as Relax, or the presence or absence of GPS on the unit. Not seeing a huge difference that would effect the basic statistics, or I think we'd know because people with both trackers would have reported it.