Fitness trackers have exploded in popularity in recent years as people seek ways to better monitor their health and fitness activities. With so many options on the market, it can get overwhelming determining which brand and model best suits your needs and budget.
Two of the most prominent players in the activity tracker sphere are iTouch and Fitbit.
Both companies offer a range of trackers from basic step counters to advanced smartwatches with all the bells and whistles. This comprehensive comparison guide walks you through the key strengths and limitations of both brands across various factors to assist your buying decision.
We’ll also provide specific recommendations based on use case and budget.
At A Glance Comparison
Before diving into an in-depth feature analysis, here’s a high-level overview of how iTouch and Fitbit offerings stack up across several core comparison points:
| Aspects | iTouch | Fitbit |
| Price Range | $100 – $300 | $60 – $250 |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 days | Up to 7 days |
| Waterproof Options? | No | Most models |
| Built-in GPS? | No | Some models |
| Heart Rate Tracking? | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Tracking? | Yes | Yes |
| Smart Notifications? | Yes | Most models |
| Touchscreen Display? | Yes | Some models |
Now let’s explore the key strengths and limitations of each brand in greater depth.
iTouch Overview
iTouch fitness trackers encompass a range of stylish wristbands and smartwatches focused on harmonizing technology with elegant design.
Their trackers motivate you to stay active by setting step goals, monitoring sleep, providing reminders to move and allowing you to log workouts and meals.
The higher end iTouch smartwatches also offer text/call notifications and access to apps.
Key Strengths
- Attractive, sleek and customizable design with changeable bands
- User-friendly app and interface
- Accurate activity, sleep and heart rate tracking
- Smartwatch capabilities like notifications and music control
- Can sync activity data with Apple Health and Google Fit
- Goodmid-range price point appeal
Limitations
- Battery life capped at around 5 days (less on smartwatches)
- Not waterproof
- No built-in GPS tracking on any models
- Fewer advanced metrics versus high-end Fitbits
- Occasional bluetooth connectivity issues reported
If style and elegance matter just as much as activity tracking functionality, iTouch presents a compelling mid-priced option to consider.
Fitbit Line Overview
Fitbit fitness trackers and smartwatches run the gamut from basic activity counters to advanced watches overflowing with performance metrics and health tracking perks.
Their user-friendly mobile app and intuitive interface makes tracking activity, nutrition, sleep and more simple for beginners and athletes alike. Their high-end smartwatches add integrated GPS, contactless payments, music storage and much more.
Key Strengths
- Excellent battery life on most models – up to 7 days
- Many models feature swim/waterproof tracking
- Advanced models offer built-in GPS tracking without phone
- Tracks floors climbed, heart rate variability and more
- Syncs activity metrics across MyFitnessPal, Strava, Apple Health etc.
- Customizable watch faces on smartwatch models
- Motivational reminders to move and exercise challenges
Limitations
- Bulky, utilitarian watch design on some models
- No offline Spotify support on lower-end devices
- Advanced metric tracking overkill for casual users
- Accuracy challenges on heart rate & sleep stages at times
- Pricier investment on high-end models
For those wanting maximum features and deep fitness tracking capabilities all-in-one, Fitbit leads the field across the widest range of devices. Their mid-tier and high-end options bring the most potential utility if you’ll actually leverage the expansive metrics and modes available.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Now that you have the lay of the land for both product lines, let’s get into the weeds on how core features stack up side-by-side to guide your personalized priorities.
- Aesthetic Design Variety
Beauty resides in the eye of beholder, but iTouch trackers tend to shine when it comes to sleek, stylish industrial design. Their products exude a minimalist elegance accentuated by stainless steel and aluminum watches cases paired to interchangeable elastomer and leather straps.
While improving in recent iterations, wearable style remains a secondary focus for Fitbit with priority placed instead on packing devices with more performance tracking and smart notification functions. So iTouch hits the mark for those who care about fashion accessory appeal in their wearables.
- Tracking Accuracy
When assessing step counts, floors climbed, distance traveled and active calorie burn – both Fitbit and iTouch deliver roughly comparable accuracy with today’s latest models.
Independent testing indicates overall steady improvements, bringing most devices to around 95% accuracy or better versus manual counts for daily movement measurements. Where the largest variation emerges is with heart rate tracking consistency and sleep stage monitoring precision throughout the night.
Fitbit accuracy seems modestly more reliable across more of its product line based on internal testing data. But some independent assessments give slight edge to iTouch on resting heart rate accuracy specifically.
- Battery Life & Charging Frequency
Battery longevity favors Fitbit trackers decisively, but often as a calculated trade-off from their denser device feature sets requiring more power draw.
Even entry-level Fitbit bands will operate 5-7 days between charges, while mid-tier smartwatches last around 4-5 days per cycle.
The longest charge cycles for iTouch watches tend to cap out at about 5 days max, with most of their trackers running 2-4 days before needing a recharge.
Both Fitbit and iTouch utilize simple proprietary magnetic charger cables that clip easily onto contacts located on the backside of their various trackers.
- Built-in GPS Support
One of the major differentiators (and downsides) for iTouch lies in GPS tracking support. Numerous Fitbit models now incorporate connected GPS sensors allowing for real-time pace, distance and positional mapping data without lugging a phone along.
This allows leaving the phone back while running or cycling without losing the ability to map workout routes. Currently no iTouch trackers offer any integrated GPS hardware. Instead they rely on tapping into a connected phone’s GPS sensors via bluetooth tethering to acquire GPS-derived tracking metrics.
So standalone GPS capability remains a core Fitbit advantage for phone-free movement.
- Swimproof & Water Resistance Rating
Nearly all modern Fitbit devices now deliver at least basic swim workout tracking support, earning the “swimproof” branding with water resistance ratings of 5ATM or higher. Only their most basic Inspire and Ace bands aren’t equipped for water protection presently.
By comparison, no existing iTouch trackers currently provide any sort of waterproofing or swim capabilities. So those desiring pool or open water tracking metrics, in-shower use, or simply not having to worry about forgetting a device during water exposure will prefer Fitbit’s offerings in this regard.
- Smartwatch Features
Higher end offerings from both brands edged into smartwatch territory over the last few years with the addition of call, text and smartphone app notifications alongside touchscreen displays and music controls.
Fitbit’s Sense and Versa lines tend to lead the industry in offering the most polished blending of fitness tracking with touchscreen smartwatch capabilities.
Their latest models allow loading music directly to device memory while also offering apps, custom watch faces and contactless payment options.
Most iTouch models enable touchscreen display of basic notifications from a connected iOS or Android phone. So determining the extent of smart crossover functionality sought in relation to budget and activity tracking wants helps narrow the ideal device match.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For comprehensive 24/7 activity tracking spanning casual users to hardcore athletes, experts widely agree that no singular brand beats Fitbit devices as robust end-to-end platform – from smartphone app UI to advanced activity metric monitoring. The Apple Watch ecosystem comes closest to matching (or besting in select aspects) the full Fitbit lineup. But no competitors provide the breadth of tracking diversity across nearly every imaginable health and fitness attribute at multiple price points seen by Fitbit.
No competitor matches Fitbit pound for pound on delivering a complete tracking solution accessible to all budgets. Some devices edge out Fitbit on specific capabilities liked focused running analysis (Garmin) or stylish form factor appeal (iTouch). But as an integrated activity, sleep and workout tracking ecosystem – nothing touches the versatile utility achieved via Fitbit’s extensive product portfolio. Their lineup features advanced but easy-to-use technology tailored to casual step counters and hard training athletes alike.
The “best” activity tracker varies based on the combination of features holding the highest priority to individual users and their budget ceiling. Here’s a general consensus rundown:
1. Best Overall: Fitbit Sense
2. Best Apple Watch Alternative: Apple Watch Series 8
3. Most Stylish: iTouch Luxe
4. Best Value Under $100: Xiaomi Mi Band 7
5. Best For Serious Athletes: Garmin Fenix 7X
Conduct personal evaluations of brand strengths lined up with your must-have activity tracking wants. Let this guide you in determining today’s best fitness band or smartwatch matched to your needs and budget preferences.
Determining true “worth” always remains somewhat subjective based on personal disposable income and actual feature utility realized. But for most committed to utilizing robust activity tracking as a health improvement tool – Fitbit devices deliver tremendous value even at higher price points based on extensive capability sets. If actually leveraging the wide array of metrics to inform lifestyle and training adaptations, premium Fitbit models bring well-justified value to motivate better movement patterns. Assess how seriously you plan to employ advanced tracking to best evaluate appropriate investment scale.
Final Buying Recommendations
Both companies make excellent fitness bands and smartwatches spanning entry to advanced feature sets. Deciding between them first requires prioritizing the factors holding the most weight for your individual use case and budget. Consider the following preferences before deciding:
Consider iTouch For:
- Attractive lifestyle accessory appeal
- Intuitive app UI and touchscreen control
- Accurate step, sleep & workout logging
- Smartwatch notifications & music control
- Mid-range affordability on core features
Consider Fitbit For:
- Next level performance tracking & monitoring
- Swimproof designs & advanced swim metrics
- Industry leading battery life
- Built-in GPS for phone-free movement tracking
- Premium smartwatch crossover capabilities
While both provide fantastic options, hopefully identifying the core advantages of each product family assists finding your personalized best fit. For most seeking a solid mid-market tracker focused on all-day activity & sleep tracking in a slim form factor, iTouch shines.
If hardcore athletes wanting deep performance data hold the priority, Fitbit leads the field in many aspects according to multiple testing assessments. Let your particular priorities and budget guide you in discovering the right activity tracker or smartwatch to motivate your movement.
Both iTouch and Fitbit deliver fitness tools capable of creating positive lifestyle changes when used consistently. So choose the tracker speaking the strongest to your individual circumstances.
