๐Plus, there's an entire wasted section to the left of the home screen that doesn't display any information. An all-new display for Versa 2 The original Fitbit Versa has an impressive display, with good depth of colour and clear readability. Thank you for sharing that the Versa 2 you purchased needs to be unlocked by phone. Another Versa 3 feature that isn't supported on the Versa 2 is the ability to take calls on the watch when connected to Bluetooth. A Fitbit spokesperson said that 50 percent of the score is based on the duration of sleep, 25 percent is determined by the amount of time spent in restorative rest and the final quarter is calculated from the length of time in deep and REM sleep stages. The newer watch packs a small microphone hole on its side, to allow you to talk to Alexa โ activated by holding down the button to the side of the display. That means something that works with iPhones and Android phones giving you the ability to view phone notifications, store music and download offline playlists from the likes of Deezer and Pandora. It's also easier to gauge my "performance" when it's a number rather than trying to decipher a chart. GPS is a biggie if you want more in the way of sports tracking while Fitbit has now shown it can put a smart assistant on a smartwatch and make it work. Those treating themselves to the Special Edition Versa 2 will, however, get a 90-day free trial of Fitbit Premium more on this feature later. In our view, the improvements brought to the table by the Versa 2 are worth the small bump in cost, and we'd ultimately recommend the newer model to most people. As always with comparisons between devices, which is better for you depends slightly on your priorities. Fitbit Versa 2 or Fitbit Versa: Which smartwatch is best? 34-inches Heart rate sensor PPG Optical sensor PPG Optical sensor GPS No GPS No GPS Waterproof Yes, up to 50 metres Yes, up to 50 metres Payments Fitbit Pay on all models Fitbit Pay on Special Edition only Built-in microphone Yes No Battery life Five days Four days Smart assistant Alexa None Always-on display? Before I touched any of them, though, my only option was to hazard a guess as to what they meant. Long press it, and you can either summon Alexa or enable Fitbit Pay which then makes the dedicated button in the settings shade redundant. But if you can live without GPS for running, then absolutely jump on any Versa 2 discounts you can find. Release the button briefly for less than 2 seconds. The new Versa 2 has the looks to rival any premium smartwatch Image credit: Future Fitbit Versa 2 price and release dateโข Always-on screen As far as features are concerned, the Versa 2 packs a first for Fitbit. The big things here are built-in GPS, an extra smart assistant in the form of Google Assistant, a built-in speaker and a pretty impressive fast charging mode. Like the original Versa and the Versa Lite before it, this new watch has a comfortable, lightweight design that looks and feels classy. The good news is, the Versa 2 finally has an AMOLED panel that makes outdoor viewability easier. Fitbit announced it's adding Google Assistant and the software update for that has just begun to arrive. Alexa makes Fitbit OS more powerful The Versa 2's most intriguing feature is its Alexa integration, because it makes the previously limited Fitbit OS a bit more functional. Sure, Mat may have made some dumb guesses he had no idea that the sun icon was for brightness , but I'm a seasoned Fitbit user and I was still confused. And, with a screen size of 40mm, it should fit most wrists. While health and activity tracking takes center stage, the Versa 2 bridges the gap between phone and wrist by offering message and calendar notifications, ways to control your smart home setup and play music from your phone while on a run or workout session. The Versa 3 gets all of those same features, but it also makes use of Fitbit's new Pure Pulse 2. They're available on the companion app, although most of them are paid options, with only a few free watch faces available. Hold down the Versa 2's button to summon Alexa, and you can tell it to find nearby gyms or for the weather report. It sounds like the Versa 3 makes some pretty significant changes that should make it the smartwatch worth paying a little extra for if you have the choice. Plus, the failure to sync happened multiple times during my testing. Rest assured, there are significant changes to be aware of before you potentially buy one of these smartwatches, you just have to fig a little deeper. It also promises to last up to five days on a charge, and provides insights from Fitbit's vast database of information gleaned from its decade of tracking people's data. Display: 300 x 300 pixel touchscreen AMOLED Materials: Aluminum watch case Connectivity: Bluetooth 4. Like Fitbit did with Charge 3, it's made the Versa 2 more curved and less sharp on corners. That's a pretty desirable feature. I've mostly had the display set to medium brightness and have only tracked one workout, plus my notifications sometimes stopped showing up, so that might explain the long runtime. Fitbit OS needs work Fitbit also continues to update its OS, which debuted after the company bought smartwatch pioneer Pebble three years ago. This generally worked during my testing, and I was surprised that Alexa was able to return a list of yoga studios around my hotel in Berlin. The display is also slightly bigger, and every little bit counts when it comes to wrist real estate. Since you're unable to do that, I recommend doing a factory reset:โข In terms of dimensions, the Versa 3 measures in at in at 40. Fitbit Versa 3 v Versa 2: Smartwatch features Fitbit Versa 3 Every smartwatch feature you'll find on the Versa 2 is sticking around for the Versa 3. Both watches share a range of other features, including Fitbit Pay, and the full range of fitness tracking abilities. The addition of a speaker makes it more useful for communication and that charging tech seems pretty impressive too. Yes No Fitbit Versa 2 or Fitbit Versa: What are the differences? The fact that you need to tap one more time to get to more switches is even more frustrating. Press this once, and you go back one page. The deeper blacks translate to sharper contrast, especially for brightly colored words and graphics. I generally had no issue seeing the time and my notifications, even under direct sunlight. For the Versa 2, this estimate has been upped to five days or more, meaning you could get through a whole work week before you have to pop it on its charging cradle. But the Versa 2's inconsistent connectivity ultimately keeps it from being truly reliable. Despite many attempts, my device still fail to restart as I cannot access it without keying in the 4-digit code. I'm all for some , but I'm perplexed by Fitbit's decision here. It uses a new magnetic charger that will get you 24 hours of battery off just 12 minutes of charge. You can follow the steps to set up the device after that: I'll be around if you need further assistance. I asked my Apple Watch-wearing colleague to guess what the five icons on the Versa 2 were for and he guessed only one of the five correctly. My device has been working as usual for about 2-3 weeks. The Versa 2 comes with Alexa, Amazon's smart assistant, built in. I appreciate Fitbit simplifying its navigation system, but I really hate that reaching across the screen to push this physical button is the only way to go back a page. Fitbit Versa 3 v Versa 2: Design Fitbit Versa 3 The Versa became known as Fitbit's 'mass appeal smartwatch' because it boasted a more everyday, unisex style than the Fitbit Ionic. Firstly, it's now using an AMOLED display, which offers deeper blacks and even sharper details. Initial verdict There's no doubt that the Fitbit Versa 3 is a better all-round smartwatch. You'll also be able to adjust call volume and send calls to voicemail. This means they can track your workouts, detect activity and monitor your heart rate with their optical sensors. This year's Versa offers Alexa integration, making the watch a bit more helpful. It features a bigger, better display, useful Alexa integration and refined software. New always-on AMOLED displayโข If you prefer using the always-on display โ after all, it's nice to be able to see the watch face without having to move your arm โ you'll find that it cuts the battery life to about half. Those features remain on the Versa 3 including tracking steps, distance, calories burned, active minutes, hourly activity and stationary time. Unlike the LCD display on the Versa, the second-generation Fitbit smartwatch has steps into the age of the bright AMOLED touchscreen, which is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The original Versa could be expected to last around four days or more before a charge was needed. You'll get sleep monitoring including the heart rate based Sleep Scores. Performance, battery and again, connectivity The good news is, thanks to the upgraded processor, the Versa 2 felt more responsive than its predecessor. They're also both swim-proof to a depth of 50 metres. However, thankfully, that's about all that's changed. Hi, Yes I had to do the factory reset steps and that did it for me. Fitbit tweaked the sensor hub on the underside to make it softer against the skin. Battery life has been improved The Versa 2 scores another win against its predecessor when it comes to battery life - always an important consideration when choosing a smartwatch. When I enabled Always On Display, the Versa 2's battery life plummeted to barely two days. It's also introduced partnerships with designers Pendleton and Victor Glemaud to make bands for the newest Versa. The Versa 3 gives you all of the Versa 2 features including 20 goal based exercise modes, such as pool swimming, automatic exercise recognition and working out in heart rate zones. It's an LCD display with a pixel resolution of 300 x 300, and no slouch at all. I'm pretty annoyed at Fitbit for its bad connectivity, but at least the company delivers on its battery life promises. With the Versa 2, we got that same square case with soft edges like the first Versa, with the addition of a new curved display to give it more high grade feel. Fitbit Versa 2 The Versa 3 colors that will be available include a pink band with a soft gold case, a navy band with a soft gold case, and a black band with a black case. So, instead of the boxy design of the original, we now have something that looks more like a smaller Apple Watch. Hold the back button for about 8 seconds. Added to that onboard mic is a built-in speaker, though it's not used to to hear Alexa, or Google's Assistant when it arrives. Either way, the Versa 2 is a compelling device, at least on paper. They were actually for Sleep Mode silence notification and lock screen, not tracking your slumber , Always On Display and Wrist Wake, respectively. You'll have to keep re-trying to connect your devices when you disable the Bluetooth connection. The Versa 2 brings some nice upgrades over the Versa, especially if you're either a practised user of Alexa or are happy to get to know the smart assistant. This time around, the company updated the interface to feature a tidied-up Quick Settings panel. Fitbit Versa 3 v Versa 2: Price The arrival of the Versa 3 is likely to see the Versa 2 eventually slip off from Fitbit's own site. The only reason I knew what these were for is that an explainer appears after you tap each button. In Wear OS or Tizen, you can swipe right to go to the previous page, which is a more intuitive way to interact with a swipe-heavy OS. The nicer display and boosted battery life are also worthwhile improvements. The Versa 2 featured a smaller 1. The Versa 3 also gets Active Zone Minutes โ Fitbit's new metric based on heart rate zones โ and workout intensity maps, which will show where your heart was really working its hardest on a map of your run. 95, which includes three months of. The always-on display doesn't have too many customization options Image credit: Future Another important feature Fitbit has added to the Versa 2 is an always-on option. As a warning, when your Fitbit loses its connection to your phone, as it did a few times during my trip, you won't be able to use Alexa. Both smartwatches have a similar software experience - both running FitbitOS and syncing through the Fitbit app - and most of the app updates and compatibility brought first to the Versa 2 should also arrive for the Versa in due course. It still lasts days longer than Samsung and Wear OS watches and looks pretty, to boot. However, Fitbit has given it a proper upgrade for the Versa 2. Most of this is because I simply haven't slept much, as I get to bed late after days of briefings and late-night writing. What is befuddling is that Fitbit uses ambiguous icons for its quick settings control panel. It may sound like I'm nit-picking about connectivity, but if you're considering upgrading from an old Fitbit or travel frequently enough that you activate your phone's airplane mode a lot, this will be an issue for you too. I just wish Fitbit would get its Bluetooth act together already, and give me a better OS. With the Versa 2 you can monitor resting heart rate, access menstrual health tracking features and there's the SpO2 sensor, which can now be used for feature. You'll be able to ask the assistant to set reminders, answer queries, or obey commands โ for instance, if you've got a smart home set-up, to turn the lights on. The scoring system has been strangely effective at motivating me to go to bed earlier, probably because it appeals to the overachiever in me. All this info is displayed neatly in the Today dashboard, which you can find by swiping up on the home screen. It was my fourth day of reviewing the , and I'd been having connectivity issues since the day after I received it. At launch, there were no customization options for the always-on watch face and, until now, was limited to a single default analog or digital option. When the Fitbit logo disappears:โข Fitbit has officially unveiled its Versa 3 smartwatch, the successor to the Versa 2 which launched almost a year ago. Fitbit Versa 2 The bigger disparities lie in what can be tracked when you're ready to get a good sweat on. Hand-on reviews: After all, they still look very similar - and still do a lot of the same things. Apps like Relax and Weather loaded faster this time around, but anything reliant on a phone connection, like GPS or Alexa, still had a tendency to crawl. Our Verdict With the Versa 2, Fitbit proves that less is more. Jetlag has also contributed to the poor quality of sleep, so I get why Fitbit penalized me. Fitbit also offers period tracking, which is surprisingly accurate, though the interface hasn't improved much since my. You can also access apps and watch faces from Fitbit's App Gallery storefront and make use of Fitbit Pay. Hold the button again until you feel a second, longer vibration, which indicates you initiated the factory reset. Do Not Disturb, with its "no-entry" symbol, is obvious enough. 39-inch display with a 300 x 300 resolution screen. When you swipe down from the home screen, you'll see all your collected notifications, and a panel that slides down, displaying icons for music controls, Fitbit Pay and more settings. I'm a fan of the rose gold case, though I wish the strap were a little slimmer. 0 heart rate sensor, which the company claims will improve accuracy and features. One big addition the Versa 3 gets over the Versa 2 is new fast charging technology. It can be used to take calls on your Versa 3. When we put the always-on display mode into action on the Versa 2, we typically got 3-4 days. Smart assistants are also in play here on both watches, except on the Versa 3 you're getting an extra assistant to tap into. So, below, we've outlined the biggest distinctions to help you pick the right device for your wrist. But it struggles too much with connectivity to be a reliable daily smartwatch. This could be used for notifications, freeing up room from the quick settings shade for more buttons. The settings shade is like a pop-up ad when it slides down, blocking a third of the notifications screen. This obviously hits battery life pretty hard, shortening it from five days to more like two or three, but it's still a pretty attractive feature that the original Versa can't match. Again, this isn't present on the original Versa, so, if you're keen to step up your interaction with Alexa, the newer model has a clear advantage. As mentioned, this will decrease a lot if you use the always-on display, but using similar features to the original Versa will underscore the increased life. Wrap-up If not for its connectivity problems, the Versa 2 would be an excellent smartwatch. You may want to do the same and get in touch with their support team to see how best they can assist you. For no real reason, the Versa 2 would be unable to sync with my phone. Maybe you're a first-time fitness watch buyer, or maybe you're considering an upgrade from an existing Fitbit. When testing for our , the new smartwatch tended to last us 5-6 days without always on-display mode and having notifications enabled and using the GPS 2-3 times a week. New features like the Smart Alarm and additional always-on watch faces didn't seem enough for the company, so the latest update brings an oxygen level monitor that monitors blood oxygen levels while you sleep. Just don't expect it to be able to do everything the smart speaker can do -- calling another Alexa device, for example, isn't supported. You can't really go wrong either way here, given the amount of customization options Fitbit offers, though we would say the Versa 2 is a slightly more comfortable watch to wear. It carries the same 5ATM waterproof rating to make it safe for a shower and a pool swim up to 50 meters' depth. Update: We updated this guide in November 2020 to reflect us testing and reviewing the Versa 3. Good hardware While Fitbit has an advantage over the competition thanks to years of experience in the fitness wearable space, it's also historically lagged its rivals on screen technology and software. I usually don't like wearing a watch to sleep, but I barely felt the Versa 2 on my wrist at all as I plunged deep into lalaland during an exhausting week covering. You'll still get the Relax app to guide you through breathing exercises when you're stressed; movement reminders when you've been idle for an hour; and step counting, which came in handy during IFA. Worse, notifications from my stopped showing up on the watch, which lulled me into a false belief that no one was looking for me when I stepped away from my phone. Fitbit says its machine learning algorithms can map multiple heart rate signals and build them into a better picture of your heart rate. In a more subtle tweak the Fitbit logo which you can see above on the original model has also been removed for the Versa 2. You can use this to control your smart home devices, create reminders, set alarms or for calorie count of foods. The new brings new health, fitness and sports tracking features that make the new version a great upgrade, and solve some of our biggest bugbears with the. But Mat guessed the crescent moon was for Sleep mode to activate sleep-tracking; the clock-face graphic was for stopwatch, and a watch silhouette with action lines behind it was for vibration. The Versa 2's design should suit most wrists Image credit: Future Design and displayโข That doesn't mean it will disappear from third party retail sites like Amazon so it's likely to still be up for grabs for a while yet. However, for those trying to decide between the pair, the key differences might not immediately be clear. I've understandably been getting terrible scores in the 70s and 60s out of 100. The watch doesn't have a speaker, so responses will only be viewable on the screen. A new Sleep Score feature launched around the same time as Versa 2, and so far it seems accurate. I preferred not having to charge the Versa 2 every other day so I left the feature disabled. If you care about sports smarts, it looks the Versa 3 will have the upper hand. It's also one of the longest-lasting smartwatches around, while the Alexa integration makes it more useful than its predecessor. However, side-by-side, the changes do become more noticeable. Summary On paper, the Fitbit Versa 2 is a compelling upgrade over its predecessor. The watch with my phone after initially pairing with no issue. Fitbit Versa 3 v Versa 2: Health tracking Fitbit Versa 3 While Fitbit's new Sense health watch has now arrived on the scene, that doesn't mean the Versa can't be used to closely monitor your health too. The fitness brand has taken everything that made the original a compelling budget smartwatch, improves on those features, adds a somewhat fiddly voice assistant, and spits out a near-perfect fitness tracker that comes with some smartwatch perks. At first glance, the new fitness watch does look strikingly similar to its predecessor, but closer inspection reveals a few small tweaks giving the Versa 2 a very stylish look indeed. If you're keen to make sure you've got the best display possible, the Versa 2 is the choice for you. We've surveyed the specs sheets to see how the Versa 3 and Versa 2 match up. You still have all-day calorie burn and access to guided breathing exercises. I wasn't surprised -- this with pretty much every one of the. I'm reviewer with this issue either, and I haven't had major connectivity troubles with any other wearable I've tested. Hell is sitting in a hot yoga class waiting for your Fitbit to sync. The tapered chassis makes it look thinner than it actually is Image credit: Future Thankfully Fitbit has removed its branding from the bottom bezel of the Versa, meaning the bezels on the Versa 2 are slightly thinner, giving you a tad more screen real estate than before. However, a new firmware update has now added plenty of third-party always-on faces, some of which can be customized. 58-inch display and a 336 x 336 resolution. Specs Fitbit Versa 2 Fitbit Versa Display 300 x 300 pixels; AMOLED 300 x 300 pixels; LCD Thickness 12mm 11. Alexa support Another big difference between the Versa 2 and Versa serves to emphasise the "smart" bit of their smartwatch status. Fitbit Versa 3 v Versa 2: Battery life Fitbit Versa 3 These two watches match up when it comes to battery life. You can find our detailed testing of each smartwatch in our full reviews, but here you'll find some direct comparisons of the two - and particularly how the Versa 2 has been upgraded. But there's now set to be some great Versa 2 deals, and many people will find the older version great value. But that makes it all the more frustrating. Fitbit has continued to update the Versa 2 with new features ever since its launch in 2019. This means that regardless of which Versa model you choose, you'll get access to impressive and comprehensive fitness tracking. The new model boasts the first ever Fitbit display that can be always-on, needing no wrist-raising or button-pressing to be viewed. In its attempt to clean up the Versa 2's design, Fitbit also got rid of two physical buttons on the watch's right side, leaving behind a single one on the left. Welcome to the Fitbit Community,. Tap that last one, and another page appears with toggles for Do Not Disturb, Night Mode, Always On Display, brightness and Screen Wake when you flip your wrist. It offers accurate, comprehensive fitness features and a nice design for a reasonable price. Fitbit has offered up largely the same look on the Versa 3, though it takes some design cues from its new Sense health watch, with softer lines and increased comfort. Samsung watches in particular connect quickly to my Android phones, as do most Wear OS devices. I unplugged the Versa 2 on Sunday before I left for Germany, and by Friday evening it was still showing a respectable 23 percent of juice remaining. 0 heart rate sensor technology, which leads to an improvement in data accuracy for those health monitoring features. But the Versa 3 also now has built-in GPS, so there's no need to borrow the GPS signal off your phone to track outdoor activities. More curves, less boxy As we mentioned up top, there's still very little difference in how these two watches look. In typical Fitbit fashion, it also rolled out new bands that include its new Infinity band as well as Horween leather, woven and knitted bands. Expect that to drop even further in holiday sales, too. The Versa 2 is available to buy now, and you can pick it up from or from major retailers either in-store or online. The Fitbit Versa 2 is the tracking giant's latest smartwatch, launching back in September and replacing the original Fitbit Versa. The sheer number of steps needed to, say, toggle Do Not Disturb mode or adjust the brightness is annoying, but the process is straightforward. The rest of the Versa 2's activity-tracking features, particularly its workout tools, are the same as its predecessor. The latest Versa uses Fitbit's new PurePulse 2. Capable health-tracking Speaking of bedtime, Fitbit's sleep-tracking tool continues to use the heart rate monitor to detect how deeply you're resting. The Versa 3 is slightly larger with a 1.ใ ใ
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