Fitbit versa 2 smartwatch review & Best Price 2020

April 13, 2020

The Fitbit Versa 2 smartwatch marks a big leap for the Fitbit brand in the healthcare industry. If at its launch in September 2019 it was considered a simple fitness tracker, the latest updates have made it a real smartwatch.

The Versa 2 allows you to rediscover the strengths that made the Versa and the Versa Lite so successful, with the added bonus of new features such as sleep tracking, always-on display and the Alexa voice assistant.

Right now, the Fitbit Versa 2 lines up with the Apple Watch Series 3, when it comes to price ($ 199). Its health and fitness tracking features are enough to shake the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, or the Amazfit GTS.

Launched at the end of 2019, does the Versa 2 fill the gaps of its predecessor and bring a real revival?

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The Fitbit Versa 2 vs. the Apple Watch Series 3

To test the performance of the Fitbit Versa 2, nothing better than playing against one of its rivals, in this case the Apple Watch Series 3.

Design

At first glance, the Fitbit Versa 2 and the Apple Watch Series 3 have roughly the same design. We have these very typical square contours of a smartwatch. However, it suffices to observe well to distinguish between the two devices. Indeed, the Versa 2 is part of a transition to rather round contours. Something that James Park, CEO of Fitbit highlighted during the launch.

Another observation: the Fitbit logo has been removed, which brings a definite added value to the rendering. Finally, the Versa 2 swapped the LCD screen for a curved AMOLED display: a gamble in terms of elegance.

Better readability

The Fitbit Versa 2’s screen readability is just as good as the Apple Watch Series 3. A trend that shows itself in sunlight. Three reasons: the Versa 2’s screen is larger (0.05 inches more). There is also a resolution of 300 x 300 pixels, as well as a brightness evaluated at 1000 nits.

Permanent display

The Fitbit Versa 2 is the first Fitbit smartwatch to feature always-on display mode. On this point, the Apple Watch Series 3 is simply out of the game. With the Versa 2, you can therefore have the time, date, battery level, but also other monitoring data, without an express activation of the screen.

Better grip

The Fitbit Versa 2 can also claim to offer a better grip than the Apple Watch Series 3. In fact, its left side section now has only one button, intended to activate and deactivate the screen. This is one of the strengths inherited from the Versa Lite. Users are also offered a microphone, instead of the two deleted buttons.

Better wearing comfort

Just flip the Fitbit Versa 2 and Apple Watch Series 3 over to see another big difference. Indeed, the first brings together the sensors and the charging port in one place. An arrangement that allows better comfort at the wrist.

Location tracking

The Apple Watch Series 3 takes the lead over the Fitbit Versa 2 when it comes to location tracking. Indeed, this second is devoid of GPS. It must therefore be connected to a smartphone for distance measurements. The user must therefore carry his smartphone around during his jogging session to have tracking data. And again, the precision to the meter will not be there.

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An Amoled “Always On” screen

At first glance, nothing looks more like a Versa than a Versa 2 and we won’t complain! The finesse of the case, its lightness, its design (very) inspired by the Apple Watch, its comfortable strap (silicone in the sportiest version) … everything that seduced in the first version has been preserved. On closer inspection, there are even some improvements. Slightly larger thanks to slightly thinner borders, the screen adopts Amoled technology. It is thus easily readable outdoors, even in sunny weather, and now offers the possibility of displaying the time permanently.

Versa 2: waterproof and robust

Despite its lightness, the Versa 2 does not lack robustness. With its aluminum case and Corning Gorilla Glass screen coating, this watch is not afraid of drops and is not too resistant to scratches. After having roughed it up for a few months, it remains very presentable just like its bracelet which seems indestructible. Waterproof, it can be kept on the wrist in all circumstances but we advise you to remove it after an intensive workout to wipe it off. This will allow the heart rate sensor to maintain its effectiveness and it will prevent possible skin irritation (it’s a real experience!). Whether swimming in a pool or taking a shower, it is best to rinse the watch with fresh water and dry it well before putting it back on.

The ideal tool for getting back into shape

Like Charge bracelets, the Versa 2 lets you track a variety of activities. We appreciate the clear and detailed reports generated by the application, whether it is monitoring a running-type exercise or simply the quality of your sleep.

The main items of the day can also be viewed directly from the watch. Thanks in particular to the responsive touchscreen, navigation through the watch menus is quick and smooth, with a simple swipe of the finger vertically or horizontally.

To access the main functions of the watch, just tap on the right icon.Without achieving the professionalism of a Garmin or Suunto watch, the Versa 2 which regularly dispenses warm encouragement (called badges) is a great way to calmly tackle a period of fitness. Of course, we always regret the lack of integrated GPS which requires you to bring your smartphone during a workout outdoors. The Versa 2 uses the smartphone’s GPS to record your routes, then return them to the app.

Fitbit therefore offers the user a wide range of features, but sometimes at the cost of a few concessions. Likewise, if it is possible to install applications like Spotify or Deezer and use them directly from the watch, you will first have to think about transferring your playlists from the smartphone … An operation that is not possible only on condition of charging the watch. This does not leave much room for improvisation! It should be noted in passing that a proprietary charging support is still in the game. Better not to forget it before going on leave.

Comfortable autonomy

Fortunately, the Versa 2 is one of the rechargeable watches endowed with a generous autonomy. As long as you do not adjust the brightness of the screen to the maximum (not very useful), do not abuse the permanent display, or even limit its notifications to calls and SMS only, or even to one or two networks such as Messenger and WhatsApp, it is possible to last a short week at the rate of two GPS sports sessions. This is where the Versa 2 is the most enjoyable to use. A faithful companion that can be worn 24 hours a day, thanks to its elegance and its versatility. Of course, it can do a lot more, especially with the arrival of new functions or the addition of certain services. But at the cost of shortened endurance and a certain amount of time spent setting up your watch. Not sure that the game is worth the candle!

Alexa back up

Good news, you can now respond to your SMS directly from your watch other than through pre-recorded messages such as “yes”, “no” or “very well!” “. For this, Fitbit has chosen to integrate into its Alexa watch, the Amazon assistant, as well as a microphone. It works, as long as the environment isn’t too noisy. The manipulations to be carried out with the fingertip on the small screen of the watch are not all the same the panacea. We miss each other quite often! The assistant can also be called upon to start a timer – quite handy when cooking, as long as your fingers are not too dirty – or even to control the lighting in the house. The most geeks will love it, the others will undoubtedly end up going their way to fall back on the most basic functions.

Because if in its basic functions (very focused on activities), the Versa 2 is rather simple and practical to use, as soon as you try to access more advanced settings, the task gets complicated. The app is a real gas factory with many entry points.

Regular additions of health functions

Beyond Alexa, Fitbit regularly adds new features, through updates, especially focused on health. Since last February, monitoring of the level of oxygen in the blood – made possible thanks to the sensors already present under the watch – has been available for French users. This monitoring, carried out using automatic measurements during the night, should be consulted in the sleep part of the application to detect any respiratory disorders.

Fitbit has also been offering the (paid) application, FibriCheck, for a few weeks now, for all those who need to detect possible heart problems, such as atrial fibrillation. This application allows you to take regular measurements of your heart rate using the heart rate monitor under the watch case. Simple to set up, monitoring can be done from the watch in one or two minutes.

In addition to this, you need to know more about it.

With a discreet and neat design in tempered glass, this compact scale has the advantage of costing only about sixty euros. The perfect opportunity for anyone who wants to lose weight to integrate daily measurements into the Fitbit app. Only downside, Aria Air only ensures the minimum union: display your weight then synchronize it with the app … at least when the connection, limited to Bluetooth, wants to be established. That is not always the case.A body fat index is sometimes calculated in the app, but not systematically. A little annoying. The price is low, but so is the service.

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  • Improved design compared to the Versa

  • Excellent autonomy

  • Precise tracking

  • Alexa

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  • Limited music support

  • No integrated GPS

  • Sometimes awkward heart rate monitor

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