After I lost my Garmin Vivosmart a few weeks ago, I dug out my old Jawbone UP and started using that to remind me to MOVE during the work day. When my husband found my Vivosmart (yay!) I decided to keep wearing both devices and do some activity tracker comparisons.
Yes, I walked around like this for two weeks.
To be fair to Jawone, I have to explain that I have the original UP, not the UP24 that synchs via Bluetooth, not the UP3 that includes a wrist-based heart rate monitor, and not the UP4 that will let you pay for certain purchases with a linked American Express card. That said, the main reason I decided to replace my UP still holds true for all of the new models–the lack of any on-device display.
If and when Jawbone comes up with a device that displays at least basic data (time, steps, heart rate?) I would be very tempted to try it because I think Jawbone has a better algorithm for tracking activity and provides better data analysis.
Step Counting — UP beats Vivosmart
As for activity tracking, the Vivosmart consistently gave me credit for at least 1000 (and often 2000) more steps per day than the UP. Since I can see my steps on my Vivosmart, I know it gives me credit for things like stirring brownie batter and gesticulating during excited conversations. While I didn’t do too much of that during these two weeks, it must have counted other arm motions that the UP filtered out. Or, maybe the UP didn’t count all of my steps … On the other hand, I know the Vivosmart does not give me any credit for grocery shopping (apparently because my arms are relatively still pushing the cart) or cycling–the idle alarm will go off while I’m doing either activity! The UP gives me some credit for outdoor cycling–it must sense and track that movement–but does not count indoor cycling, when only my legs are moving. I noticed that there is a new “disclaimer” on the Garmin Connect website explaining that the data “is intended to be a close estimation of your activity, but may not be completely accurate”–no kidding!
Sleep Monitoring – UP barely beats Vivosmart
Both the Jawbone UP and the Garmin Vivosmart include sleep monitoring functions that monitor and analyze sleep based on activity level. They both provide similar data, but I like the UP display better because it’s easier to see the exact time corresponding to the sleep data.
Here I touched the screen at the second bar to reveal the time interval.
The Vivosmart shows similar data, but you have to estimate what time it was.
It’s interesting to see how the different apps rated the same hours of sleep differently. The Vivosmart seems much more sensitive to movement (more light sleep). (These reports show different bedtimes because I edited my sleep time sleep while playing with the Garmin Connect app –both the Vivosmart and the UP starting tracking “sleep” while I was watching TV.)
The reason the Vivosmart is a close second on sleep monitoring is because it monitors and records sleep automatically. The UP will monitor sleep automatically, but unless I manually confirm my sleep time via the app, it won’t show me the sleep data. The reason the UP still wins is because if I cared about my sleep data I would take that step and then have access to the more specific data the UP provides.
Activity Summary — UP beats Vivosmart
Keeping with my view that the Jawbone UP provides better data analysis than the Garmin Vivosmart, is my preference for the UP activity summary over the Vivosmart activity summary.
The UP reports the “longest idle” time, which is something I would like to focus on, since it probably reflects time I was sitting too long at work. On the other hand, I question that “longest active” time–I guess it didn’t think much of my 45 minute strength routine!
The Vivosmart summary is pretty basic, although another screen shows “active calories”. It shows 150 active calories burned on this date compared with the UP’s 268, but the Vivosmart must use a higher resting calories number, since it reported 1450 total calories burned versus the 1413 reported by the UP.
Summary Of Activity Tracker Comparisons — Vivosmart Beats UP
So, after picking the UP for each of my specific comparisons, why am I going to put it back in its box and stick with the Vivosmart? Unless I’m writing a post like this, I don’t spend much time looking at the apps, or drilling down into all of the details they provide. I still mostly rely on the activity trackers to remind me to MOVE and the Vivosmart does a better job of doing that.
Proof of a particularly grueling day at work!
Not only does the Vivosmart idle alarm go off after an hour, it keeps going off if I don’t “reset” it by moving (and fills up more and more of the segments on that display), and requires more steps the longer I wait. This is exactly the kind of reminder and motivation I need to step away from my computer–whether I’m working, blogging, or surfing Facebook.
[Tweet “Garmin Vivosmart vs Jawbone UP #fitness #wearables”]
Do you track your steps? sleep? calories?
Do you have an activity tracker that you love or hate?
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I swear I want one of every variety every color every feature 🙂
My POLAR LOOP is no longer holding a charge so it’s time for something different.
I love my MIRA but want more of a casual sporty bracelet type…
Everyone has their pros and cons. And of course each of us wants something different too!
Thanks. I am debating which one to get.
It’s so hard to decide!
I’ve been thinking about buying a fitbit for a very long time but still haven’t push the buy button. I don’t feel like its something I necessarily need!
Great evaluation and information! I still do not have a tracker. I use my Garmin 110 for all my work outs, so my sleep data and activity is still a mystery lol My phone has a step app but I don’t always have it with me, maybe one of these days I will get one.
I will admit to data overload. I’m sure you can live a full life without it. 😉
I thought it would be fun to track all of that in theory but once I started to do it I found it annoying and quickly lost interest. You don’t sleep a lot! Nice review
Yes, the data is fun to look at once in a while, but … and yeah, I don’t get enough sleep!
I have a fitbit and I like to use it for the same reason you said, I end up sitting too long at my desk at work otherwise. I try to remember to get up and walk around at least once per hour. It doesn’t have the automatic alarms like the vivofit though. Those sounds really useful!
The reason I don’t have a Fit Bit (or any variation) is because they don’t have the idle alarm. Time flies when I’m sitting at the computer so I need that reminder to move.
I don’t have a step tracker. Just a Garmin for when I run.
Your job is so active, you probably don’t need motivation to move more.
I need these companies to make their devices look more like fancy jewelry for the wrist. Then I’m in!
Sounds like you should check out the Mira or the new UP3 – it is very bracelet-y and doesn’t try to read your mind. 😉
Nice comparison! I use my fitbit but the charging feature annoys me! I am super tempted to buy something new or a newer Fitbit model but I have not decided.
There are so many options, it is really hard to choose. I think you have to figure out which features you want and eliminate from there.
Thanks for sharing this! I’m in the process of picking which fitness tracker I want – so this info is super helpful!
Can’t wait to see which one you pick!
Very interesting and thorough review! I just love data trackers 🙂
I have the Fibit Charge HR. It has all the bells and whistles. I really like it, but admit I’ve worn no other tracker to compare it to.
I think I’d like that one if it had an idle alarm. I came very close to buying one!
I have been debating getting a Fitbit Charge HR but haven’t hit the order button yet. It’s interesting how many different activity trackers there are on the market now.
I would love that one if it had an idle alarm. I love the HR feature.
It’s amazing to me how prolific all these trackers are. I’ll bet in a decade (or less) we’ll look back and laugh at the trend. I did a similar comparison with Fitbit vs Runtastic Orbit. Each had their advantages.
I do find the sleep tracking fascinating.
Interesting comparison. I was turned off from the UP because of the lack on info visible on the band. I never bought one, but that is a feature I would want.