What To Know
- The Fitbit Alta boasts a sleek and stylish design, available in a variety of colors and materials to suit your personal preferences.
- The Garmin Vivofit 4 Large boasts an impressive battery life of up to one year, thanks to its use of a coin cell battery.
- While both offer valuable features, the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large provides a more comprehensive set of functionalities and a significantly longer battery life, making it a more expensive but potentially more valuable option.
Choosing the right fitness tracker can be a daunting task, especially when faced with a plethora of options available. Two popular contenders that often come up in discussions are the Fitbit Alta and the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large. Both devices offer a range of features designed to help you track your activity, sleep, and overall well-being. But which one emerges as the champion in the Fitbit Alta vs Garmin Vivofit 4 Large showdown? Let’s delve into a comprehensive comparison to help you make an informed decision.
Design and Comfort
The Fitbit Alta boasts a sleek and stylish design, available in a variety of colors and materials to suit your personal preferences. Its slim profile makes it comfortable to wear throughout the day, even during sleep. The Garmin Vivofit 4 Large, on the other hand, comes with a larger display and a more robust build. While it might feel slightly bulkier, it’s still comfortable to wear, especially for those who prefer a larger screen. Both devices offer interchangeable bands, allowing you to customize your look.
Display and Features
The Fitbit Alta features a small, OLED touchscreen display that shows your steps, distance, calories burned, and time. It also offers basic call and text notifications. The Garmin Vivofit 4 Large sports a larger, monochrome LCD display that is always-on, providing constant visibility of your stats. It offers a wider range of features, including advanced sleep monitoring, Move IQ activity detection, and customizable data fields.
Activity Tracking and Accuracy
Both the Fitbit Alta and the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large are capable of accurately tracking your steps, distance, and calories burned. However, the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large excels in its ability to automatically detect and record various activities like walking, running, and swimming, thanks to its Move IQ technology. The Fitbit Alta requires manual activity tracking, which might be less convenient for some users.
Sleep Tracking
Both devices offer sleep tracking features, but the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large provides more in-depth insights into your sleep patterns. It monitors your sleep stages (light, deep, and REM) and offers a sleep score to assess your sleep quality. The Fitbit Alta provides basic sleep duration and wake-up time data.
Battery Life
The Garmin Vivofit 4 Large boasts an impressive battery life of up to one year, thanks to its use of a coin cell battery. This eliminates the need for frequent charging and makes it an ideal choice for long-term use. The Fitbit Alta, on the other hand, offers a battery life of up to 5 days, requiring regular charging.
Water Resistance
The Fitbit Alta is splash-proof, making it suitable for everyday wear but not for swimming. The Garmin Vivofit 4 Large is water-resistant up to 50 meters, allowing you to wear it while swimming or showering.
Price and Value
The Fitbit Alta is typically priced lower than the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large. While both offer valuable features, the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large provides a more comprehensive set of functionalities and a significantly longer battery life, making it a more expensive but potentially more valuable option.
Which One Should You Choose?
The choice between the Fitbit Alta and the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large ultimately depends on your individual needs and preferences.
Choose the Fitbit Alta if:
- You prioritize a sleek and stylish design.
- You prefer a smaller, more compact device.
- You’re on a tight budget.
- You’re primarily looking for basic activity tracking and sleep monitoring.
Choose the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large if:
- You value a larger, always-on display.
- You need advanced activity tracking features like Move IQ.
- You want in-depth sleep analysis.
- You prefer a device with a long battery life.
Final Thoughts – The Winner Is…
Both the Fitbit Alta and the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large offer compelling features for fitness enthusiasts. The Fitbit Alta shines with its stylish design and affordability, while the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large excels in its comprehensive tracking features and exceptional battery life. Ultimately, the “winner” depends on your individual needs and priorities.
What You Need to Learn
Q: Can I use the Fitbit Alta or Garmin Vivofit 4 Large for swimming?
A: The Fitbit Alta is splash-proof but not waterproof, so it’s not recommended for swimming. The Garmin Vivofit 4 Large is water-resistant up to 50 meters, making it suitable for swimming.
Q: Which device has better GPS tracking?
A: Neither the Fitbit Alta nor the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large has built-in GPS. However, the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large can pair with a compatible smartphone to utilize GPS for more accurate distance and pace tracking during outdoor activities.
Q: Can I receive notifications on my Fitbit Alta or Garmin Vivofit 4 Large?
A: The Fitbit Alta offers basic call and text notifications, while the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large provides a wider range of notifications, including calendar events, social media alerts, and more.
Q: Do these devices offer heart rate monitoring?
A: Neither the Fitbit Alta nor the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large has built-in heart rate monitoring. However, both devices can be paired with a compatible heart rate monitor accessory for more detailed heart rate data.
Q: Which device is better for casual fitness tracking?
A: For casual fitness tracking, both the Fitbit Alta and the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large are suitable choices. The Fitbit Alta is more affordable and offers a stylish design, while the Garmin Vivofit 4 Large provides a more comprehensive set of features and a longer battery life.