The Fitbit Versa is the fitness tracking brand’s most recent attempt at a “smartwatch for all”, with a modern design and affordable price tag, as well as a few new software tricks designed to tempt users away from the Apple Watch.
The Versa is designed to be comfortable enough to wear all day and night. Fitbit promises it’s also durable and versatile, with a thin anodised aluminium case and a variety of stylish accessories.
These include Horween leather, stainless steel, woven, or ‘Classic’ straps, which can be quickly changed to match your outfit or activity. You can see most of the options in the image below.
We think it’s a big improvement over the angular Ionic smartwatch.
There’s also a host of smartwatch features onboard, such as smartphone notifications, Deezer music streaming, Fitbit Pay contactless payment, apps, and downloadable clock faces.
Fitbit will soon be introducing ‘Quick Replies’, which let you send quick pre-populated or customisable replies to text messages and instant messenger apps (Android only).
Fitbit boasts “more than 550 apps”, which doesn’t quite compete with the likes of the Apple Watch, but it does include big names, like Flipboard, Hue Lights, Strava, Weather, etc.
Of course, Fitbit hasn’t forgotten about fitness, and the Versa is the first device to launch with Fitbit OS 2.0.
This includes a new personalised dashboard that provides a more simplified, intuitive and holistic view of your health and fitness data.
You’ll be able to see your daily and weekly health and fitness stats, historical activity, heart rate, and exercise summaries, action-oriented motivational messages, tips and tricks, and daily guidance.
You’ll also receive more personalised fitness guidance, with 24/7 heart rate tracking, on-screen workouts, and more exercise modes. This is designed to become more personalised over time, sending reminders and providing insights based on your previous data (coming later in 2018).
Sleep tracking is, of course, also back.
The biggest addition to Fitbit’s software is the introduction is “female health tracking”, allowing you to track your menstrual cycle, and see how it connects to your overall health.
It’ll let you log your menstrual cycle data, recording symptoms like headaches and cramp. Once it has enough data, it’ll also make cycle predictions.
Fitbit claims this will give users a holistic view of data all in one place “to reveal connections between your cycle and other stats in the Fitbit app, such as activity, sleep and weight trends to better manage your activity and sleep needs during certain times of the month.”
These software updates will debut on the new Versa, but will also be available for Ionic users via a software update.
The Versa has a 4+ days battery life, but doesn’t include GPS, like the more fitness-focused Ionic.
Fitbit Versa will be available in Q2 in black with a black aluminum case, gray with a silver aluminum case, or peach with a rose gold aluminum case for Rs. 19,999. Fitbit Versa Special Edition will also retail for Rs. 21,999 and accessories range from Rs. 2,499 to Rs. 8,999.