I swam 1400m with the Apple Watch 12 and Fitbit Edge: Here’s which fitness tracker came out on top
I put the Fitbit Edge and Apple Watch 12 to the test in the pool.
Both the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Fitbit Edge are sophisticated fitness trackers designed for more than just step counting and calorie tracking. One area they excel in is swimming, which I tested by swimming 1400 meters using Speedo smart goggles as a control. After reviewing both devices' performance, the Apple Watch Series 12 emerged as the superior tracker.
Both trackers use an internal accelerometer and gyroscope to measure arm pulls and calculate strokes per length and stroke rate. However, the Apple Watch asks you to confirm the pool length before starting a workout, allowing you to see how many lengths you've completed while swimming. The Fitbit Edge lacks this feature.
Upon exiting the pool, the Apple Watch provides a detailed breakdown of distance covered per stroke, while the Fitbit Edge does not. The Speedo iQ Vanisher 3.0 goggles, used as a control, offered additional data such as pace, distance, resting periods, head position, breath time, and distance per stroke.
The Apple Watch Series 12's measurements closely matched those of the goggles, while the Fitbit Edge recorded a longer swim and more lengths. While the Fitbit Edge's data is useful for casual swimmers, the Apple Watch proved more accurate and informative for my needs. The ability to input the pool length and quickly see lengths covered allowed me to listen to my podcast without interruption. I am eager to continue testing wearables in the pool and would be interested in hearing which device you find more appealing.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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