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Fitbit Blaze vs. Fitbit Surge – 5 Differences
Looking for the right Fitbit device? Confused about the differences between a “Performance” device like the Fitbit Surge or the “Active” device like the Fitbit Blaze?
We’ve used both the Fitbit Blaze and Fitbit Surge extensively (two full reviews and dozens of worksouts) and have discovered that there are a few differences between the two devices. Answering the following questions will help you decide which device to get:
- Are you an endurance athlete or a weight lifter?
- Do you prefer to keep your smartphone on you at all times?
The answer to these two questions will help you choose the best Fitbit for you. We’ve included a dealbreaker at the end that will push you away from both devices depending on the type of exercises that you do.
Click here if you want to see the comparison tables that we’ve created for both devices. If you’ve found this comparison to be useful, consider getting your device through our site to show your support!
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Difference #1 – GPS doodles?
The Fitbit Blaze doesn’t have a built-in GPS like the Fitbit Surge. The Blaze has a feature called “Connected-GPS” which uses the GPS in your device. “Connected-GPS” might not be a practical idea for runners who don’t like to have a device in their shorts flailing around while they run or have their devices mounted on their arms.
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Difference #2 – Living in color!
The Fitbit Blaze comes with a color screen whereas the Fitbit Surge has a monochrome screen. Before you get too excited about the color screen, we will note that since you can’t load any apps onto any Fitbit device, the color screen is an aesthetic feature.
Unless you hit your step goal which is when your Blaze blesses you with a tiny show of flashing colors.
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Difference #3 – Are timer’s important?
Another difference related to the touchscreens of each device. The Fitbit Surge’s screen is always on which means that you can quickly glance at the device regardless of what position your hand is in.
The Fitbit Blaze’s screen will turn off after a bit of activity which is frustrating for exercises that require a bit of timing. This is a minor annoyance when you are resting between sets but for exercises like the plank where a rep is based on a minute (as a generality) having the screen of the Blaze turn off is an annoyance as you need to break your plank a bit to re-activate the screen for a few seconds.
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Difference #4 – One is definitely more “stylish”
The Fitbit Blaze looks better. In our review video, we noted that the Fitbit Surge was the stylish equivalent of wearing a pair of flip flops with a tailored suit.
The Blaze has been designed to utilize other straps which included leather and metallic versions. This does make the Blaze a little more stylish than walking around with a giant piece of rubber called the Surge.
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Difference #5 – Go long or REALLY long?
Both devices have decent battery life, especially when compared to other devices like the Apple Watch and Microsoft Band 2. Our Fitbit blaze lasted approx. Five days before a charge (which included sleep tracking and a couple of workouts) and the Surge will go almost seven days before needing a charge.
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The Dealbreaker – The Blaze and Surge thinks you’re lazy…
Heart rate monitoring is the focus of this deal breaker. It works well for exercises where you can keep the device is the same place on your arm but performs poorly if the device slides around. Running and biking are good examples of activities that allow you to keep your Fitbit stationary.
If you’re a weightlifter, the constant ups and downs of your arms will cause inconsistent heart rate tracking. From our experience, both Fitbit devices will underestimate your peak heart rates by approx. 25% which is quite significant. The only way around this is to use a different device such as a chest strap or a LifeBeam hat to track your heart rate.
Have questions about the our “Fitbit Blaze vs. Fitbit Surge – 5 Differences” post? Ask them below or on our Google+ page or our Facebook page or our About Us page.
