{"id":487816,"date":"2022-08-26T00:17:24","date_gmt":"2022-08-25T21:17:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2022-08-26T00:17:24","modified_gmt":"2022-08-25T21:17:24","slug":"why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"#Why Fitbit Smartwatches Shouldn\u2019t Run Google\u2019s Wear OS \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3f5851d7aaf\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a3f5851d7aaf\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os-review-geek\/#%E2%80%9CWhy_Fitbit_Smartwatches_Shouldnt_Run_Googles_Wear_OS_%E2%80%93_Review_Geek%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Why Fitbit Smartwatches Shouldn\u2019t Run Google\u2019s Wear OS \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os-review-geek\/#Wait_People_Want_Fitbit_to_Use_Wear_OS\" >Wait, People Want Fitbit to Use Wear OS?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os-review-geek\/#Battery_Life_Is_the_Biggest_Problem\" >Battery Life Is the Biggest Problem<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os-review-geek\/#Do_You_Really_Want_Fitbit_to_Cost_More\" >Do You Really Want Fitbit to Cost More?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os-review-geek\/#Fitbits_Greatest_Strength_Is_Its_Simplicity\" >Fitbit\u2019s Greatest Strength Is Its Simplicity<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os-review-geek\/#Take_Your_Pixel_Watch_and_Leave_Fitbit_Alone\" >Take Your Pixel Watch and Leave Fitbit Alone<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CWhy_Fitbit_Smartwatches_Shouldnt_Run_Googles_Wear_OS_%E2%80%93_Review_Geek%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Why Fitbit Smartwatches Shouldn\u2019t Run Google\u2019s Wear OS \u2013 Review Geek&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div id=\"article-content-area\">\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage size-full wp-image-127055\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1631dd5e.png?width=1200\" alt=\"The Fitbit Sense 2 on a black background\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\">Fitbit<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>During its I\/O 2022 conference, Google teased that a next-gen Fitbit device could run Wear OS. People really took that teaser to heart. And while I hate to rain on their parade, I\u2019m here to say that Wear OS would ruin everything that\u2019s good about Fitbit\u2019s products.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Wait_People_Want_Fitbit_to_Use_Wear_OS\"><\/span>Wait, People Want Fitbit to Use Wear OS?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Back in 2020, people worried that Google\u2019s acquisition of Fitbit would lead to disaster. They complained that Fitbit devices would be forced to run Wear OS. And these same people have totally flip-flopped\u2014they\u2019re mad that Wear OS isn\u2019t included in <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/126847\/fitbit-debuts-two-premium-smartwatches-and-a-fitness-tracker\/\">the latest Fitbit trackers!<\/p>\n<p>This is the same reactionary stuff we always see in the tech world. But admittedly, the idea of combining Fitbit services with the Wear OS platform is kind of exciting.<\/p>\n<p>Fitbit doesn\u2019t make \u201creal\u201d smartwatches. Its products don\u2019t have a robust <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a> selection, a touchscreen keyboard for texting, or deep smartphone integration. But Fitbit offers some of the best fitness and health-tracking services of any company.<\/p>\n<p>Combining Fitbit services with a proper smartwatch might lead to a cool product. In fact, that\u2019s the whole idea behind the Pixel Watch. But Google should use the Pixel Watch to test this idea instead of ruining Fitbit with Wear OS.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Battery_Life_Is_the_Biggest_Problem\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_1\">Battery Life Is the Biggest Problem<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-78610\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2021\/04\/557b6bd8.png\" alt=\"The Fitbit Luxe fitness tracker.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><\/p>\n<p>In the world of smartwatches and fitness trackers, Fitbit is the king of battery life. Its products last between 5 and 10 days on a charge, and it\u2019s all thanks to the lightweight and efficient Fitbit operating system.<\/p>\n<p>By comparison, Wear OS devices are lucky to survive a full day on your wrist. The Wear OS software blows through battery life. Not only is it bloated and inefficient, but it requires a power-hungry CPU. This is doubly true when you enable GPS, Bluetooth, or cellular service.<\/p>\n<p>A Fitbit device running Wear OS would have a terrible battery life. Sure, a larger battery could extend the battery life a bit, but it would also increase the watch\u2019s size and price.<\/p>\n<p>This is the biggest problem with the whole \u201cFitbit should use Wear OS\u201d schtick. Why would someone shell out for a Fitbit that lasts one day on a charge when the $99 <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Fitbit-Inspire-Fitness-Tracker-Included\/dp\/B08DFGPTSK\/?tag=reviewgeek-20\">Fitbit Inspire 2<\/a> (which regularly goes on sale for around $65) can endure 10 days of activity?<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Do_You_Really_Want_Fitbit_to_Cost_More\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_2\">Do You Really Want Fitbit to Cost More?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-126850\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1f79506c.jpg\" alt=\"Fitbit Sense 2, Versa 4, Inspire 2\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1081\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/blog.google\/products\/fitbit\/fall-2022\/\">Fitbit<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If Google decides to stick Wear OS on a Fitbit device, it will probably choose a model that has a large smartwatch-styled display. This will achieve two things\u2014first, it will ensure that the watch has a big screen for all those fancy Wear OS features. But it will also give Google more leeway in terms of pricing.<\/p>\n<p>See, the recent Wear OS 3 update raised the bar for Android smartwatches. In order to build a Wear OS 3 smartwatch, you need a fairly powerful <em>wearable<\/em> chipset. Such chipsets are expensive and practically non-existent.<\/p>\n<p>Fitbit products traditionally use cheap Toshiba CPUs. So, if a Fitbit runs Wear OS, it will need a more powerful Samsung or Snapdragon chipset. And that means a price hike.<\/p>\n<p>Google is in a decent position here\u2014the latest\u00a0Fitbit Versa 4 and Fitbit Sense 2 cost $230 and $300, respectively. These devices are already quite expensive, and if next-gen models get a price hike, customers may not complain too much.<\/p>\n<p>But here\u2019s the thing; the Fitbit Sense 2 isn\u2019t supposed to be an alternative to the Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch. It\u2019s a fitness-focused device, and at $300, it exists to compete with similarly-priced fitness platforms like\u00a0Garmin Venu. The Fitbit Sense 2\u2019s high price is a reflection of its compact design, killer battery life, advanced sensors, and fitness tracking software; it has little to do with <em>smartwatch<\/em> functionality.<\/p>\n<p>Switching Fitbit devices to Wear OS would almost certainly lead to a price increase. And it would be accompanied by a loss of the Fitbit\u2019s best features. This kind of trade-off just doesn\u2019t make sense.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Fitbits_Greatest_Strength_Is_Its_Simplicity\"><\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" name=\"autotoc_anchor_3\">Fitbit\u2019s Greatest Strength Is Its Simplicity<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-126856\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/08\/df95bf84.jpg\" alt=\"Fitbit Inspire 3\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/redirect.viglink.com\/?key=204a528a336ede4177fff0d84a044482&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fitbit.com%2Fglobal%2Fus%2Fproducts%2Ftrackers%2Finspire3&amp;cuid=xid:{xid}&amp;___trxnet=vg\">Fitbit<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In early 2022, I had the chance to review a product called the Withings ScanWatch. It\u2019s a health and fitness-focused smartwatch, but oddly enough, its defining feature is an analog watch face. It doesn\u2019t have a big OLED display; it\u2019s just a normal-looking watch that happens to have some smart features.<\/p>\n<p>Our readers were very excited about the ScanWatch\u2014it\u2019s a smartwatch for people who don\u2019t like smartwatches. You don\u2019t need to charge it every day, its interface is dead simple, and it doesn\u2019t force you to wade through a ton of confusing features.<\/p>\n<p>Fitbit devices are a bit more fleshed out than the ScanWatch, but they benefit from this same simplicity. People love Fitbit because it makes straightforward, health-focused products. You don\u2019t need to be a dork or a rocket scientist to make the most of a Fitbit, and it won\u2019t distract you with unnecessary features or beg for its charger every day.<\/p>\n<p>If Fitbit switched to Wear OS, it would alienate thousands of users. The simple and accessible Fitbit platform would become complicated, or at the very least, unappealing.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Take_Your_Pixel_Watch_and_Leave_Fitbit_Alone\"><\/span>Take Your Pixel Watch and Leave Fitbit Alone<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-119793\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/06\/10fb15c7.png\" alt=\"The Google Pixel Watch surrounded by other Google devices.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\">Google<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The idea that Fitbit devices should run Wear OS is ridiculous. But there\u2019s one good thing that would come of it\u2014Fitbit\u2019s superior health and exercise tracking would finally arrive on a \u201creal\u201d smartwatch.<\/p>\n<p>Or maybe you could just buy the <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/115571\/google-pixel-watch\/\">Pixel Watch. It\u2019s the first Wear OS device to integrate with Fitbit services, and it launches in late 2022.<\/p>\n<p>The Pixel Watch should give you the best of both worlds. Now, I can\u2019t promise that \u201cthe best of both worlds\u201d is any good. Most Wear OS devices are objectively terrible! But if you want a combined Wear OS and Fitbit experience, pay for a Pixel Watch and leave Fitbit\u2019s products alone.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, Google teased a Wear OS-based Fitbit device when it announced the Pixel Watch. I\u2019m not sure how such a product would be any different from the Pixel Watch, and frankly, I hope that Google drops the idea. If Google wants a sportier Pixel Watch, it should just make a Pixel Watch Pro.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\nsetTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n  fbq('init', '1137093656460433');\n  fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/127007\/why-fitbit-smartwatches-shouldnt-run-googles-wear-os\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Why Fitbit Smartwatches Shouldn\u2019t Run Google\u2019s Wear OS \u2013 Review Geek&#8221; Fitbit During its I\/O 2022 conference, Google teased that a next-gen Fitbit device could run Wear OS. People really took that teaser to heart. And while I hate to rain on their parade, I\u2019m here to say that Wear OS would ruin everything that\u2019s&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":487817,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.reviewgeek.com\/p\/uploads\/2022\/08\/1631dd5e.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-487816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=487816"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/487816\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/487817"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=487816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=487816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=487816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}