The 2nd Fitbit smartwatch Fitbit Versa for low weight loss

Fitbit, the king of smart health trackers, launched its second smart health connected watch, the Versa. It has been available since April 23 . The Fitbit Versa therefore follows on from the Fitbit Ionic. Sold at 199 euros, the tocante seems to have everything to please. As much for big sports as for experienced city dwellers.

  • Mark : Fitbit Versa

  • Category: smart health connected watch

  • Connection: WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS

  • Compatibility: Android 5.0 and +, iOS, Microsoft

  • Fitbit Ionic Price: $ 199

  • Fitbit Ionic Availability: Available. Release date April 23, 2017

  • Tested with: iPhone X

  • Autonomy: 4 days

  • Watertightness: 50m

$145.24  $169.95   in stock  

Last update was on: March 15, 2023 12:25 pm

  • Includes all Versa Lite Edition features plus: store and play 300 plus songs, utilize on screen workouts that play on your wrist and coach you through every move and track swim laps and floors climbed

  • Track your all day activity, 24/7 heart rate, & sleep stages, all with a 4 plus day battery life (varies with use and other factors), charge time (0 to 100 percent): two hours. Slim, comfortable design with a lightweight, anodized aluminum watch body

Fitbit Versa Unboxing

No surprise when the box was unpacked. The setting is identical to that of the Fitbit Ionic that we tested at the end of last year. It consists of two parts. The first includes the watch. The second, a small pocket containing the documentation with the warranty and advice on use. A bracelet of the same color (here gray) of a larger size is also present for the larger handles.

A brochure presents the application and invites you to download it to configure your new smart health connected watch. As for the Fitbit Ionic, we regret the lack of a power supply.

fitbit versa indoor unboxing

The box is very practical for storing the power cable and especially not to lose the warranty. Small, with a magnetic opening, Fitbit certainly didn’t do in the original, but at least it’s effective.

Design and ergonomics of the Fitbit Versa: a city watch and sporty at the same time.

The first thing you notice when you put the watch on the handles is the thinness of the dial, unlike many watches. Very light, it only weighs 23 grams which is handy for sports. However the plastic bracelet denotes with general quality of the product. The front screen is very pleasant to read. The screen is touchscreen with dimensions of 2.4 x 2.4 cm. When lit, the icons are sharp and the blacks deep.

The buttons are thus arranged around the dial: two on the right and one on the left. They come out of the watch enough to be able to press down on them, even in the dark of the night. On the back of the Fitbit Versa, there is the heart rate sensor and the magnetic charge connector. The button at the top right launches the list of sports apps or monitoring your heart rate in real time. At the bottom right you access the alarm and timer function. Finally, on the left, we access to his digital wallet (because yes you can pay at your bakery with your watch).

In short

The Fitbit Versa has both an urban and sporty style that is not to displease us. The watch has its own and remarkable identity from others smartwatchs. A good point for the brand which manages to depart from the leader Apple and its Apple Watch. We regret however the choice of the bracelet which does not correspond at all to the clean line and design of the dial of the watch. We had a good “feeling” about the weight distribution of the watch. It is less bulky than Apple Watch Serie 3 but has a lot more outline around the screen than the latter. Which is not to displease us.

Using the Fitbit Versa: quick and pleasant handling

Installation and first use

When using the watch for the first time, charge the battery of the Fitbit Versa at 50%. To do this, the magnetic charging cable attaches to the back of the case. You can connect everything via USB to your computer or to a power supply. Then just download the Fitbit app on your phone and use the smartwatch.

Next step, bluetooth pairing. Once the product is smart health connected, the latter will ask you for an activation code which will be displayed directly on the screen of your smartphone. Unlike the Fitbit Ionic, everything went smoothly, simply and quickly. A code appears on your phone. Then just rewrite it on your watch screen. The Versa then updates in just a few minutes.

the fitbit versa recharges via a magnetic grip

The Fitbit Versa: a “Swiss knife” smart health connected watch

Contrary to popular belief, the use of a smartwatch is within everyone’s reach. To move from one menu to the other, just swipe your finger up, down or from left to right. With a gesture from top to bottom, you launch your music library. The opposite gesture will display the notifications menu. Swiper to the right to navigate in “health coaching” menus. Fitness exercises are offered with objectives to be achieved every day. You can also monitoring your heart rate or the number of steps and kilometers traveled during the day.

The button on the left of the watch allows you to launch the application Fitbit Pay. Convenient to pay without having to take out your credit card. We tested it to buy Chocolate bread at the bakery as well as a cable USB-C at ehealth. Fast and efficient, you quickly get hooked on this new way of paying.

fitbit versa menu

With regard to autonomy, the Fitbit Versa promises record autonomy of four days. In our tests, the watch even lasted for four and a half days before going out.

Fitbit Ionic features: a watch suitable for running and swimming

Note that the watch is water resistant to 50 meters, can be worn in the pool or in the rain. Length tracking, calories burned and the duration of your swimming sessions.

cardiac sensor fitibit versa

When it comes to tracking your daily activities, the Fitbit Versa will satisfy you. You will be able to follow your number of steps, your heart rate, the distance traveled, your caloric expenditure, the climbs, your number of active minutes, your activity hour by hour and your immobility time.

Fitbit Ionic application: simple and intuitive use

Intuitive is the watchword of the Fitbit app. a main dashboard gives you access to all your data. Number of liters to drink per day, track calories burned, the number of steps, as well as sleep monitoring thanks to the cardiac sensor.

Notifications reward you throughout your sporting “exploits”. It is also possible to see videos directly on the watch to learn how to do yoga or push-ups, for example.

The Fitbit Ionic facing the competition

fitbit versa dial and charger top view

Impossible not to compare the Fitbit Ionic to the Fitbit Versa. If the design of the Versa seems more refined, more careful, more urban than that of the Ionic, it remains very subjective. However, the Fitbit Versa costs 150 euros less and offers almost the same functionality. Almost, because the Fitbit Versa has a big gap. It does not have a built-in GPS. This greatly limits the usefulness of the latter.

You can also choose to Samsung Gear Sport. An excellent smart health connected sports watch, a little more expensive, however. 349 euros instead of 200 for the Versa. According to feedback from testers, the Samsung Gear Sport has a less accurate heart sensor than its counterpart. However, it remains an excellent choice for android users.

Conclusion

Fitbit has successfully learned from the mistakes of launching the Fitbit Ionic. All the functionalities responded present during the tests, the application did not bug, and Bluetooth pairing worked perfectly, without any disconnection. Impossible not to recommend this product. Please note, the watch does not have a built-in GPS. This implies that the functionality that requires GPS will not work or much less effectively.

PROS:

  • Good points

  • Full of sports apps

  • Autonomy of more than 4 days in normal use

  • Water resistance up to 50 meters

  • An attractive price of 200 euros

CONS:

  • Lack of GPS

  • A little too “gadget” use

  • “Cheap” plastic bracelets

Design and Ergonomics : With a style very different from the first generation, the smartwatch is likely to appeal to city dwellers as well as athletes.

Application : The Fitbit Ionic app brings together everything an athlete may need.

Features : It is a product that is only recommended for athletes. For others, its features remain gadgets.

Getting started : The installation is quick and the handling intuitive.

Quality / Price ratio : Much cheaper than the Fitbit Ionic for the same functionality. Please note, it does not have a built-in GPS