When comparing Microsoft Band 2 vs Apple Watch, the Slant community recommends Apple Watch for most people. In the question“What are the best smartwatches?” Apple Watch is ranked 4th while Microsoft Band 2 is ranked 14th. The most important reason people chose Apple Watch is:
Health apps downloaded on iPhone can be integrated with Apple Watch
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Fits well on virtually any wrist
The Microsoft Band 2 comes in 3 sizes to ensure it fits: Small (145-165mm or 5.7-6.5"), Medium (160-190mm or 6.3-7.5"), or Large (185-215mm or 7.3-8.5").
Pro Natural feeling display
The display is slightly curved, making it more natural to wear and use. You also won't be hitting it off walls and doors as often as other watches because it doesn't stick out as far from your wrist as other fitness trackers.
The OLED display doesn't light up black pixels, meaning the background blends in perfectly with the bezels making for a more pleasing look as well as saving battery life when displaying mostly black colors.
Pro Custom guided workouts
The fitness tracker allows you to ditch the notebook before heading to the gym.
Pro Smartphone connected
The Microsoft Band 2 connects to your Android, Windows Phone, or iPhone to provide notifications on your wrist. Swiping left from the main screen shows notifications that have been synced from the watch. It doesn't show context for these notifications however - just the number of missed notifications and their respective icons.
Pro Works well with iPhone
Health apps downloaded on iPhone can be integrated with Apple Watch
Pro Haptic feedback for notifications
Pro Heart rate sensor
Pro First -rate app support
Pro Digital Crown
The Digital Crown allows you to zoom in and out with various applications and can be used as a button.
Pro Sensitive touch
Allows for taps and presses to be registered as two different types of input.
Pro Standalone phone calls
Series 3 can make and receive phone calls by itself, without the need to connect to a smartphone.
Pro Can unlock your Mac
If you have a Mac with sufficient Bluetooth chip support the Apple Watch can be used in place of your password or touch ID to login/unlock the system when in proximity.
Pro Customizable watch faces
Can customize the watch faces with "complications" such as weather forecast, traffic, meeting schedule, etc… or your own photos.
Pro Great fitness app support
The Apple Watch integrates with virtually every well-known fitness and calorie tracking app out there.
Pro Siri / Digital Assistant Support
You can use Siri directly from the Apple Watch, allowing you to call or text, but also to get directions, and more.
Cons
Con Band 2 is discontinued - no Band 3 on the horizon
Most likely due to the very high incidence of returns (due to charging issues and the straps cracking in half), the Band fitness tracker brand seems to be entirely discontinued.
Con Poor HR sensor + Poor data visualization
The fitness tracker's HR sensor is very inaccurate during HIIT/weight lifting movements, it takes forever to even lock-on, and once locked-on it doesn't stay locked-on. All of this contributes to very poor HR accuracy. To top it off, the app/web site does not display high-frequency data, it will plot a single HR point for every 1 minute of activity which makes it very, very useless.
Con Bulky clasp
Under the clasp is a sensor that determines whether it's being worn or not (so it can save power when not in use), which adds bulk.
Con Poor battery life
Without using the GPS, battery life can be stretched to a day and a half, but if you do use the GPS that time will be reduced to just a day. Either way, you will want to charge it every night.
Con Expensive
Apple Watch is said to cost $349 USD.
Con Works only with iPhones
You need to have an iPhone (5 or later) to pair this smartwatch. It will not work with any other device, and has limited capabilities on its own (and still require the iPhone for the initial setup).