Fitbit announced the new Versa 2 recently, a new member of the Versa lineup that follows the well-received original and the less successful Lite.
Amazingly, the new wearable appears poised to challenge the Apple Watch, especially with its cheaper price tag. Now, how do the two smartwatches match up against each other?
Fitbit Versa 2 Features That Apple Watch Doesn't Have
Among a slew of other features, Fitbit Versa 2 flaunts an upgraded AMOLED display that's not only sharper and more vibrant, but also offers an always-on display. With this feature, the wearable can function better as an actual wristwatch as users can simply look down to see the time along with other information such as the date, battery life, and even real-time exercise data.
In contrast, the display of the Apple Watch needs to be activated by tapping the screen or raising the wrist. After waking it up, the display stays on for either 15 or 70 seconds before shutting back down.
One downside of the always-on screen is that it often leads to a significant drain on the battery, but Fitbit says the Versa 2 boasts a five-day battery life. If this proves accurate, the longer battery life is another advantage the new smartwatch has over Apple Watch, which users usually charge every one or two days.
Fitbit is also well-known for its basic sleep tracking, which the Versa 2 naturally has as well. A new feature that the smartwatch offers is the Sleep Score, which is a personalized score that's based on sleep time, heart rate, breathing, and restlessness.
To track sleep with the Apple Watch, a user would have to download a third-party app.
Gizmodo also noted that the Fitbit app is generally much better at relaying the data to users than the Apple Watch. Additionally, the Fitbit Versa 2 is a more budget-friendly option at just $230 compared to the Apple Watch, which starts at $399.
The Verdict
Despite that Fitbit is offering several things they don't have, the Apple Watch is still unquestionably formidable with a host of other features such as electrocardiogram tracking and a big App Store.
Ultimately, the Apple Watch and the upcoming Fitbit Versa 2 are both good smartwatches, but it depends on an individual's priority. Apple offers an established ecosystem with plenty of choices at a premium price point, while the more affordable Versa 2 continues to develop with new additions including Amazon's Alexa.
