Apple Watch 11 Beats Fitbit Air in 5,000-Step Test as $399 Watch Tops $99 Rival

Q: Is the Apple Watch's $300 premium for accuracy worth it when the Fitbit's step count is nearly identical?

For most buyers, no—the Apple Watch’s extra $300 is not justified if step counting is the main goal. In Dan Bracaglia’s 5,000-step Seattle walk test, the Apple Watch Series 11 logged 5,053 steps and the Fitbit Air logged 5,108. Both were very close to the manual count, and the difference between them was small enough that most users would not notice it in daily use. Heart-rate results were also identical in that test. Where the Apple Watch earned its win was not basic step tracking, but richer and more reliable workout data. Its elevation reading was far better on a hill-heavy route, helped by onboard GPS and an altimeter, while the Fitbit Air’s climb data was described as concerningly inaccurate. The Apple Watch also offers a screen, cellular options, advanced health and safety tools, deeper workout metrics, and stronger iPhone integration. The Fitbit Air, however, makes a strong value case. It costs $99, lasted far longer on battery, and delivered nearly the same step and heart-rate accuracy in this test. For people who want simple activity tracking, sleep, heart rate, and long battery life, it is the more rational buy. The Apple Watch premium is worth it mainly for iPhone users who want advanced fitness metrics, accurate elevation and route data, smartwatch features, and broader health tools. If your priority is counting steps accurately at the lowest price, the Fitbit Air is enough.

1 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Jul 8

5,053 steps on Apple Watch 11 versus 5,108 on Fitbit Air gave Apple’s device the edge against a manually counted 5,000-step Seattle walk.
372 feet of climb on the Apple Watch came closer to Strava’s 328 feet than Fitbit Air’s 205 feet, highlighting weaker elevation tracking on the screen-free tracker.
119 bpm average and 153 bpm max heart rate matched exactly on both devices, while Fitbit logged 373 calories versus Apple’s 312 and used just 1% battery against 6%.
Strava also showed a recording hiccup—logging only 4,506 steps—so its distance, pace and climb figures were treated cautiously, leaving step count and elevation as the key differentiators.