The selection of smart watches continues to grow.
For those who want to better track their fitness or just monitor emails, you can find a smartwatch for just about every wrist and budget.
The latest entry in this category is the Fitbit Versa.
The Versa, priced at $199, is designed to compete with the Apple Watch and essentially does exactly that.
The Versa works well as a smartwatch as well as a fitness tracker. It works with Apple, Android and Windows devices.
The watch features Fitbit Today so you can check your daily health stats and compare them to your goals. There are also reminders for guided movements and breathing sessions.
Fitbit fans will notice that the Versa looks different than the older, more expensive Ionic. It has a wider and squarer face with metallic finishes. It’s sleeker and slimmer than the Apple Watch and comes with a standard elastic band with more strap options.
The touchscreen is more responsive than the Ionic. There are three buttons to handle shortcuts for music controls, notifications, exercise start times and alarms. All buttons are customizable to your individualized preferences.
Versa has decent battery life. Fitbit says that you can get four days of running time from the device.
You can wear it to bed, check the time, set alarms and track your sleep. It even has a vibrating smart alarm to wake you up.
The software has been updated. Those with the iPhone and the operating system will notice that the fitness tracking stats include more data. You can scan weekly progress, view recent workouts, and watch your resting heart rate. Unlike other versions of Fitbit, the Versa is waterproof.
Fitbit has created some options for the watch with its own app store called the App Gallery. It can be launched from the Fitbit app.
There are 50 app options available. You can choose to change the watch face, monitor the news and the stock market. Others can control your lights and help you pay the bill at Starbucks.
Some of the watch faces are attractive and some are not. If you like variety, you may be disappointed as you can only store one at a time.
Changing faces also requires some work. The Fitbit app is slow to load. It may require the watch to be connected to Wi-Fi via a manual connection from the app running on whatever phone you’re using.
While it’s cheaper than the Apple Watch Series One, the Versa has some areas where it falls short of the more expensive competition.
Can’t answer phone calls. Replies to text messages can only be made through a compatible Android phone.
Versa only has 2.5GB of built-in music storage. In most cases, the tracks must be downloaded from a computer. This pales in comparison to Apple Watch syncing with Apple Music. Some other brands also do a better job in this area.
Apple Pay is widely known and widely used. Fitbit also has a payment option, but it can be difficult to find compatible banks and institutions.
There is no Siri, no microphone, and no automatic call-to-action assistant. The Find My Phone app on Apple Watch is not included. Maps are missing and there is no GPS on board. Runners and athletes may want to opt for the more comprehensive Ionic app or Apple Watch Series 3.
Still, the Versa has a lot going for it. Most will find it attractive, comfortable and fun to wear.
It provides a good alternative for those who want to forgo the extra features and price of the Apple Watch and other high-end competitors.