The Fitbit Versa is the best fitness tracker and wearable you can buy right now

Do y'all want a smartwatch that can count your footsteps, or do you desire a fettle device that tin can perform smartwatch-y things? In theory, you shouldn't have to decide, just the reality is you practice. At least correct now.

The Fitbit Versa for 2022 falls into the latter category, but information technology is the best blurring so far between a smartwatch and fitness clothing that I have used. The asking toll of $200 is not inexpensive, but it'due south priced right where it should be with this feature set.

I've been using the Versa for the last week and hither is why I call up it's the all-time wearable around.

• Come across at Amazon
• Come across at Fitbit

Fitbit Versa design and features

The Versa is all-time thought of as a sequel to the Fitbit Blaze rather than a revamp of concluding twelvemonth'southward Ionic, which itself was a sequel to the Fitbit Surge. That distinction is important because the Ionic and Versa serve different markets. Specifically, the Versa lacks dedicated GPS and instead relies on your phone to rail a run or a bicycle ride. For hardcore joggers, the lack of stand-alone GPS is a deal killer with the Versa.

For those like me who are gym rats or get on twenty-mile bike rides (and therefore always have their phone), the Versa is perfect. Because of the connected GPS, the Versa is significantly smaller and lighter than the Ionic. It'southward also more comfy to wear.

Fitbit Versa (left) is a tertiary the weight of the Apple tree Picket v2 (right).

Many novices suggest the Versa'southward square and rounded blueprint is a copy of the Apple Watch, but Pebble geeks rightly cite the Pebble Steel and Fourth dimension as the appropriate linage. That makes sense too as Fitbit bought Pebble a few years back (along with Vector) and that deal is now paying off in blueprint and features similar Fitbit OS and customizable watch faces.

Weighing just 31 grams (literally one-third the weight of a beefy Apple tree Scout), the Versa is so lite your first thought is that it feels cheap. The materials used, all the same, betray that, with a aluminum frame (bachelor in black, silver, and rose gilt) and 300 x 300 Gorilla Glass bear upon brandish with 1,000 nits of brightness. The Versa's display is higher resolution than the Ionic's 348 x 250 and with a square aspect (versus rectangle) and y'all notice it.

Fitbit Versa (left) versus Fitbit Ionic (right).

There is likewise the usual 50-meter water resistance for pond, 24/7 center-rate tracking sensor, Bluetooth 4.0, and previously mentioned connected GPS. Like the Ionic, in that location is even a Relative SpO2 sensor for tracking blood oxygen levels – and potentially to help diagnose sleep apnea – merely so far, that sensor is inactive pending Fitbit's machine learning algorithm existence turned on at a later date.

Also, like the Ionic, the Versa can shop up to 300 of your favorite songs locally, or yous tin can sync with Pandora or Deezer (both need to be paid accounts). The method of adding music to your Versa is washed easily through the Windows ten app for PC, merely it can accept time. For 140 songs, it was nearly a forty-infinitesimal expect to transfer them via Wi-fi to the Versa, so don't program to add together music routinely.

One the music is onboard you can connect your favorite Bluetooth headphones to the Versa for a complete wire- and telephone-free setup. To claim this is a liberating feel is an understatement. Being able to lift weights or get for a run with no phone or wires is a much less cumbersome experience.

Adding my own playlist to the Fitbit Versa using the Windows 10 app.

Audiophiles may want to stick to their phone for music though. The audio quality is but OK due to the lower bitstream rate when compared to your high-stop Android device, but information technology gets the job done.

For an extra $30 ($229.95), Fitbit will sell y'all the Special Edition of the Versa available in graphite aluminum or rose golden with matching nylon ("woven") bands (in addition to the regular classic ring). That edition also gets you lot NFC needed for Fitbit Pay in the Usa.

The woven band of the Special Edition Versa is excellent.

I bought the Special Edition Versa in graphite aluminum, and I recall it'southward worth it. The woven ring not only matches everything, but it'due south ultra-calorie-free and thin too. Wearing information technology at the gym is not an issue either as it is very breathable. I encounter no reason to use the default archetype band. Luckily, you tin can besides buy a ton of third-party bands from Amazon if you want to bandy them out on the cheap.

Go your very own Windows Central-themed clock for the Fitbit Versa or Ionic!

Speaking of, changing bands on the Versa is merely OK. There's a pin/spring organization, just it's a bit tedious especially compared to the button-system of the Ionic. The Ionic'south machinery though required a much larger band adapter that would not work with the Versa, and then that'due south understandable.

Works everywhere: Windows 10, Xbox, (and Mobile)

One of the reasons I am such a huge fan of Fitbit is the company has always embraced Windows x. That's no different today with the Versa working well with Windows 10 for PC including Bluetooth syncing and fifty-fifty Windows 10 Mobile. Users can fifty-fifty install it on the Xbox One.

The Fitbit app constitute in the Microsoft Store is routinely updated, and information technology does everything that the apps on iOS and Android practise too. Users can even opt for the new Fitbit Coach app, which can too work on the Xbox I, for guided workouts..

Fitbit Versa and Fitbit Double-decker on the Xbox One piece of work well togther.

Notifications can work with Windows 10 Mobile too though they are read-just with no power to respond. That's the same on iOS and Android though the latter is getting an update this spring that volition finally allow quick-responses to messages.

Finally, you'll also want to use the Windows 10 Fitbit app to transfer your music to the Versa. The process is a flake clunky, but information technology gets the job done.

Fitbit Versa – balancing the best

Compared to the Ionic I adopt the Versa for comfort and manner. Information technology looks significantly improve, and the lower profile and smaller size go far more comfortable to article of clothing. The Versa heart-charge per unit tracking was also more authentic than the Ionic which I attribute to the smaller design (less sliding).

I'm too excited to encounter members of the ex-Pebble blueprint community flood the Fitbit app with hundreds of stellar watch faces. It'due south amazing to see the amount and latitude of pattern for this sentinel, which stands in contrast to Apple's airtight-off system.

Y'all will likely spend a good xxx minutes trying all the diverse faces, which is a fun problem to have. There are still quirks with Fitbit Os, but Fitbit has worked out the major kinks. Fitbit Bone 2.0 is much zippier and better than its i.0 counterpart.

Notifications for Android includes whatever and all your apps - your pick though.

For battery life, the Versa does well, but not nearly as skillful equally the Ionic. Fitbit claims four days of regular usage, and that's accurate.

In my experience, a two-hour gym session while streaming Bluetooth music the entire time will knocked around 25% off the battery — though that is pushing the Versa quite hard. A normal night'due south sleep of around vii hours nicks the battery virtually five percent.

Although Fitbit – again – changed the charging mechanism for its latest wearable, this new ane is a winner. It's a full-on cradle that pinches to hold the Versa. Information technology'due south like a full base station versus the crummy magnetic cable of the Ionic. This charger is finally the accessory your Fitbit deserves. Charging was rapid, picking upwardly a ten percent accuse in fifteen minutes.

Fitbit changed the charger, over again, only this i is a winner.

As far as smartwatch features, eh. Sure, in that location is Yelp, Philips Hue, and a keen AccuWeather app, and about xxx others," only don't buy this watch for that. Those apps work, merely they're not great and to be honest no smartwatch today has impressed me with its apps.

For me, those smartwatch limitations are fine. I loathe my Apple tree Lookout man series two. Information technology's terrible at fitness, doesn't do any slumber assay (because the battery is atrocious), has few lookout man faces, and weighs 91 grams. I too don't desire a second telephone on my wrist.

The data and fettle analysis by Fitbit is unparalleled.

Where the Versa excels is fitness, eye-rate tracking, excellent slumber analysis, community, and but being fun. Alerts and notifications (which tin be smartly auto-disabled when exercising) are too very expert and serve every bit the smartphone extensions here. But don't look to the Versa to be a second telephone like the Apple Sentinel. If you want that, get yourself a Wear OS or something from Apple, simply don't expect the same level of health and fitness data.

If you're a hardcore runner go for the Fitbit Ionic with its defended GPS, or have a look at Garmin, which is popular with that community.

My four favorite fitness gadgets for the 2022 summertime

I highly recommend the Fitbit Versa for gym rats like myself, casual fettle fans, or those looking to get back into exercising. Even for Microsoft Band owners looking for something new the Versa is a proficient choice. While there is no Cortana support (no microphone, after all) the excellent design, bully bombardment life, support for Windows 10, and cleverness of the Versa do something that well-nigh wearables fail to achieve: beingness delightful.

• Run into at Amazon
• Run into at Fitbit

Pros

• Design is slim, light, and modern.
• Solid battery life.
• Excellent health and fettle tracking features.
• Gorgeous, vivid brandish.

Cons

• NFC is extra in the U.S.
• Syncing music is a bit clunky.
• More fettle vesture than a smartwatch.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/fitbit-versa-review

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