Reviews on the Fitbit Versa, the company's latest attempt at a device that will challenge the Apple Watch, have started coming in, providing potential customers a clearer picture of what they can expect from the Fitbit Ionic successor.
The Fitbit Versa, with its $200 price tag, is being described as an Apple Watch competitor. Does the smartwatch have what it takes to live up to the hype?
Fitbit Versa: Design And Features
When the Fitbit Versa was announced earlier this month alongside the child-focused Fitbit Ace, the most apparent change for the device compared to the Fitbit Ionic was the new design.
Consumer Reports applauded the new look of the Fitbit Versa, which it said was "light without feeling chintzy," especially compared to the "clunky and cheap" look of the Fitbit Ionic. There are also a multitude of band choices to fit a wide range of customer preferences.
The Fitbit Versa is not just a good-looking device, though. The smartwatch features a long list of the health-tracking features that Fitbit is known for, plus a promised four-day battery life. Business Insider's Avery Hartmans, meanwhile, claimed that the device even lasted up to five days, though warned that the charger is a bit on the bulky side.
One of the major knocks against the Fitbit Versa, meanwhile, is how it handles notifications, according to The Verge's Lauren Goode. This will be a problem for users who use their smartwatches more as a connection to their smartphones rather than as a fitness tracker.
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch
The $200 price tag of the Fitbit Versa is one of its biggest selling points over the Apple Watch, but to get there, the device needed to make sacrifices. The smartwatch does not come with GPS and NFC functions, which limit its applications.
Another major advantage that the Apple Watch has over the Fitbit Versa is its selection of apps, according to Gizmodo's Patrick Lucas Austin. The only big names that Fitbit Versa supports are the apps from Starbucks, The New York Times, Flipboard, and Strava.
The Verdict: Should You Buy The Fitbit Versa?
"I think the $200 Versa has a good chance of appealing to lots of people — but it's still not perfect," wrote The Verge's Goode.
"The Fitbit Versa is the best fusion of smartwatch and general fitness tracker under $200, if you can live with its limitations," wrote CNET's Scott Stein for the bottom line of the device, and we could not agree more.
The Fitbit Versa is certainly a very good buy for $200, and according to TechCrunch's Brian Heater, "a step in the right direction" after the Fitbit Ionic. It is simply up to customers whether the features of the smartwatch are enough or if they are willing to spend more for the additional functions offered by the Apple Watch.
