I walked 5,000 steps with the Fitbit Edge vs Apple Watch SE 3 — and the winner surprised me

In a recent test comparing the fitness tracking abilities of the Fitbit Edge and the Apple Watch SE 3, the more budget-friendly Fitbit emerged victorious. Despite both devices being well-suited for logging basic walking workouts, with onboard GPS and barometric altimeters, the Fitbit proved to be the better choice in several key areas.

To begin, the Fitbit Edge accurately logged 5,016 steps during a approximately 45-minute walk, just eleven steps away from the actual count. The Apple Watch SE 3, on the other hand, registered 1,109 steps fewer than the manual count. Although the Apple Watch SE 3 was slightly outside the acceptable range, this is still a commendable performance for an entry-level smartwatch.

Another area where the Fitbit Edge outperformed the Apple Watch SE 3 was in logging climb data. The Edge's altimeter provided precise information about uphill efforts, accurately matching the control data. In contrast, the Apple Watch SE 3 overestimated the climb by a similar margin to the Apple Watch 12 in a previous test.

When it came to calorie burn, the Fitbit Edge reported 459 calories burned, while the Apple Watch SE 3 recorded a lower figure of 372 calories. This discrepancy may be attributed to the devices being worn on different wrists, as both fitness trackers are designed to be worn on the wrist of the wearer's choice.

Both the Fitbit Edge and the Apple Watch SE 3 consumed similar amounts of battery during the walk, with the Fitbit lasting up to a week per charge, compared to the Apple Watch's 18-24 hours. However, when it comes to GPS battery life, the two devices were nearly evenly matched, with each using 6% of their batteries during the approximately 45-minute walk.

The surprising winner in this comparison was the Fitbit Edge, offering accurate data, longer battery life, and more comprehensive fitness tracking capabilities at a lower price point.