I'm a Garmin girl, but the Fitbit Sense 2 could sway me

I must admit, when it comes to fitness trackers, I'm a Garmin ride or die kind of girl. I like their metrics, the GPS, not so much the app, but we allow it. There's something about the data-first approach that just works for me.

But I also really enjoy a tracker that's geared towards mental well-being as much as physical well-being. A cortisol over cadence kind of well-being. And that's exactly what the Fitbit Sense 2 does. It prioritizes things like stress, sleep, and recovery just as much as steps and heart rate, which makes it stand out in a market that often focuses purely on smashing PRs.

Why I would switch to the Fitbit Sense 2

The Fitbit Sense 2 is Fitbit's most advanced smartwatch. So, before diving into any of the other metrics, if you want the best of the best, this is the model for you.

It also looks good, similar to the Versa range. It has a handy touchscreen, almost mimicking the Apple Watch in design. It even has a bright AMOLED display, so the graphics are always sharp and colorful. Does this really matter in the grand scheme of things? Probably not. Is it nice to have? Absolutely.

And while this watch does track fitness metrics (use it for runs, walks, swims, and more), the Sense 2 goes further with features designed to monitor your stress, sleep, and overall health trends over time.

One of these features that would potentially persuade me to swap my Garmin is the Body Response sensor. This tracks electrodermal activity (EDA) to help detect physical signs of stress throughout the day (it's a fancy tool that measures tiny changes in the sweat levels on your skin). Combined with guided breathing sessions and a stress management score, it’s surprisingly useful if you’re trying to stay more in tune with your body.

It also includes an ECG app for heart rhythm checks and a skin temperature sensor, which runs in the background while you sleep. These aren’t features you’ll necessarily use 24/7, but it’s nice knowing they’re there, especially if tracking long-term health trends is important to you.

The sleep tracking is another big selling point for this watch, especially with its emphasis on wellness. Like some of the more advanced Fitbit models, the Sense 2 gives you a detailed breakdown of your sleep stages: light, deep, and REM, plus a sleep score each morning that’s easy to understand at a glance. The score is essentially a sleep grade out of 100; if you get 100, you slept perfectly (and you've won the non-existent competition we all play with ourselves).

For everyday use, it’s got the lifestyle features you'd want from a smartwatch. Receive notifications on your wrist as well as access to Google Maps and Google Wallet. If you have an Android phone, you can even reply to messages using quick replies or voice dictation. But sorry, iPhone users, this still isn't a function that's compatible with Apple. If you're all about the Apple ecosystem, just get an Apple Watch. You know you were going to do that anyway. Stop pretending that you were considering anything else.

Where to buy the Fitbit Sense 2

The Fitbit Sense 2 is available to purchase at many retailers and is often on sale. At Amazon, you can find this watch for $249.95. It's the same price at Best Buy and Walmart. But keep an eye out for the regular discounts that drop throughout the year.