Fitbit Sense 2

Overview

The Fitbit Sense 2 is a paradox: it adds innovative stress management features while removing capabilities from its predecessor. With industry-leading battery life and comprehensive health tracking, it excels as a wellness device but disappoints as a smartwatch. The controversial removal of WiFi, music storage, and voice assistants makes this feel more like an advanced fitness tracker than a true smartwatch competitor.

The Stress Management Revolution

The Sense 2’s standout feature is continuous EDA (cEDA) monitoring:

• All-day stress tracking: Not just spot checks
• Body Response notifications: Real-time stress alerts
• Stress Management Score: Daily resilience metric
• EDA Scan app: 2-minute guided sessions
• Reflection logging: Track stress triggers

This is the most comprehensive stress management system on any wearable, genuinely useful for anxiety management and mindfulness.

Health Tracking Excellence

Beyond stress, the Sense 2 delivers:

• ECG app: FDA-cleared AFib detection
• SpO2 monitoring: Blood oxygen trends
• Skin temperature: Variation tracking
• Sleep tracking: Best-in-class with Sleep Profile
• Daily Readiness Score: Training optimization
• Heart rate variability: Overnight HRV tracking
• Active Zone Minutes: Personalized intensity goals

The health metrics rival or exceed Apple Watch and Galaxy Watch.

The 6-Day Battery Advantage

The Sense 2’s killer feature:

• Typical use: 6-7 days easily
• Heavy use: 4-5 days with GPS and always-on
• Power saving: Up to 12 days
• GPS continuous: 5 hours tracking
• Fast charge: 12 minutes = 24 hours

This destroys every competitor, enabling continuous sleep tracking without charging anxiety.

What Fitbit Removed (The Controversy)

The Sense 2 inexplicably removes features from Sense 1:

• No WiFi: Must sync via Bluetooth only
• No music storage: Can’t store songs
• No voice assistants: Despite Google ownership
• No third-party apps: Closed ecosystem
• Fewer clock faces: Limited selection

These removals feel like cost-cutting rather than focusing, frustrating upgraders.

The Physical Button Debate

Replacing the haptic button with physical:

• Pro: More reliable, tactile feedback
• Con: Feels cheaper, less premium
• Reality: Works better but feels worse

The button is polarizing—some love the reliability, others hate the feel.

Fitbit Premium Dependency

Many best features require Premium ($9.99/month):

• Daily Readiness Score
• Sleep Profile (monthly analysis)
• Wellness Report
• Guided programs
• Video workouts
• Advanced insights

The Sense 2 includes 6 months free, but the subscription feels mandatory for full value.

Real-World Performance

Stress Tracking Accuracy

The cEDA sensor impresses:

• Correlates well with perceived stress
• Body Response alerts are timely
• Trends match life events
• Actionable insights provided

It’s not perfect but genuinely helpful for stress awareness.

Sleep Tracking

Fitbit remains the gold standard:

• Accurate sleep stages
• Detailed Sleep Score
• Smart wake within 30-minute window
• Sleep Profile categorizes your patterns
• Restoration metrics

Better than Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, or Garmin for sleep.

Exercise Tracking

Solid but not spectacular:

• 40+ exercise modes
• Built-in GPS accurate
• Auto-exercise recognition works well
• Swimming tracking included
• Heart rate zones displayed

Missing advanced running dynamics and training load analysis.

Design & Comfort

The squared-circle design:

• Lightweight: 37.6g feels like nothing
• Thin profile: 11.2mm sits flat
• Infinity band: Comfortable for 24/7 wear
• Always-on AMOLED: Beautiful display
• One size only: May be small for large wrists

Comfort is excellent for all-day and sleep wear.

Smart Features (Or Lack Thereof)

Where the Sense 2 falls short:

• Notifications: View only, limited responses
• No apps: Just Fitbit’s built-in selection
• No music: Control phone playback only
• No voice: No assistant integration
• Basic only: Timer, alarms, weather

It’s barely a smartwatch by modern standards.

Who Should Buy the Sense 2?

Perfect For:

• Stress management priority
• Sleep optimization focus
• Week-long battery requirement
• Health data enthusiasts
• Cross-platform users (iOS/Android)
• Current Fitbit users

Should Avoid:

• Smart features important
• Music storage needed
• Voice assistant users
• Previous Sense 1 owners
• App ecosystem important

Consider Instead:

• Pixel Watch 2: If you want Fitbit + smart features
• Galaxy Watch 6: Better all-around for Android
• Garmin Venu 3: Similar battery, more features
• Apple Watch: If on iPhone and want apps

Value Proposition

At $249 (often $199 on sale):

• Excellent for health tracking
• Unmatched battery life
• Unique stress features
• Works with any phone
• Comfortable design

But limited as a smartwatch.

The Google Question

With Google owning Fitbit:

• Why remove Google Assistant?
• Why not integrate Wear OS features?
• Is this the last Sense?
• Will Pixel Watch replace it?

The future is uncertain, which affects buying decisions.

Verdict

The Fitbit Sense 2 is the best health tracker that happens to have smart features, not a smartwatch with health tracking. The 6-day battery life and comprehensive health metrics are genuinely impressive, while the continuous stress monitoring is innovative and useful.

However, the removal of features from the original Sense is baffling and disappointing. For the same price, competitors offer far more smart functionality. The Sense 2 feels like Fitbit gave up competing as a smartwatch and retreated to being a super-tracker.

Should you buy it? Only if health tracking and battery life are your absolute priorities and you don’t care about smart features. For stress management and sleep optimization with week-long battery, it’s unmatched. For everything else, look elsewhere. The Sense 2 is excellent at what it focuses on but too limited for the smartwatch category in 2024.