Apple Watch Series 12 vs Fitbit Edge swim test

Apple Watch Series 12 and Fitbit Edge both launched globally in 2026 — but only one delivered pool-length accuracy in a controlled 1,400-metre swim test. Jane McGuire, Tom’s Guide Fitness Managing Editor, swam the distance wearing both devices and used Speedo iQ Vanisher 3.0 smart goggles as her control. Those goggles record pace, distance, rest time, head position, breath timing, and distance per stroke, though not heart rate.

For that metric, she relied on an Oura Ring 5, which logged an average of 129 beats per minute over the full session. The Apple Watch Series 12 matched the goggles’ distance reading exactly. It asked her to confirm pool length before starting, a step the Fitbit Edge skips entirely, and displayed real-time length count during the swim.

That let her listen to podcasts via Shokz OpenSwim Pro headphones without manually counting laps. She typically switches strokes every 10 lengths, so the live feedback mattered. Post-swim, the Apple Watch broke down how far she swam in each stroke type. The Fitbit Edge did not.