Just a couple of months ago, Fitbit launched its follow up to the Fitbit Versa. They aptly called it Fitbit Versa 2. Apart from adding the number 2 to the title, the latest version of Fitbit’s “smartwatch for all” brings a whole lot more to the table.
More than half of the company’s 2018 revenue came from the Fitbit Versa, as well as the Fitbit Charge and Fitbit Ace.
As for the Versa 2, the verdict is still out there. Will it live up to the expectations? Hence, we give you a full Fitbit 2 review.
Continue reading below as we break down the essentials of this smartwatch and determine if it is a good buy or not.
The Idea Behind Fitbit Versa
The Versa is Fitbit’s attempt to rival smartwatches from other companies. These include the likes of Apple, Samsung, and Pebble.
The Fitbit Versa of 2018 did not look anything like its predecessors. The Fitbit Charge 3, Ionic, Blaze, and Surge resembled an activity tracker. Instead, the Versa carried the appearance and likeness of a digital watch.
This shift in aesthetics helped Fitbit create a connection to a bigger market. Instead of appealing only to fitness buffs, they were able to reach out to others as well.
But with the fitness features of the Versa, Fitbit is also attracting an unexpected market – the older people. One key feature, for example, is the smartwatch’s ability to track your sleep. People with sleep apnea found this very useful.
As for the Versa 2, it is no doubt an upgrade to the first Versa. Essentially, it makes the Versa a first-gen iteration. Though the Versa 2 retains the basic elements of its predecessor, it can refine the final product in different aspects.
Fitbit 2 Review: What Makes Versa 2 Special
In this Fitbit 2 review, we will attempt to give you an extensive analysis of the Versa 2. We will look into its key features. We will zoom in on its design elements and notable improvements.
We will give you the information that will help you decide if it is worth purchasing or not.
Design
First and foremost, let us look closely into Versa 2’s design. If you will see the product from afar, you may mistake it for the Apple Watch. This is due to the shiny and squarish-circle-like shape of the Versa.
The build is no doubt a solid one. Despite this, it is lightweight and doesn’t come short in terms of comfort. It features a silicone band that may seem a bit tight at first.
But the stiffness disappears after a few weeks of wearing. Overall, the Versa 2’s fit will not give you any nagging problems in terms of fit.
In case it doesn’t fit you well, you can use two other Fitbit replacement straps. There is a perforated rubber sports band. There is also the Horween suede wrap bracelet that will cost you a bit.
Though it uses a 12mm-thick aluminum case, the Versa 2 made sure its tapered edges minimise the case’s impact.
If the original Versa featured three physical buttons, the Versa 2 reduced it to only a single button. This button on the left-hand side of the watch allows you to return to previous screens or wake the device.
You can also give it a long press to launch payments of Alexa (more on this later).
Overall, the design is one of the most comfortable among smartwatches available today.
Display
The display is perhaps the highlight of the Versa 2. The smartwatch features a new Square 1.4-inch AMOLED display. This is in contrast to the LCD of the first Versa.
It comes with a 300 x 300 resolution and brings about sharp and vibrant colours.
Much like the Apple Watch Series 5, the Versa 2 now comes with an always-on display.
This allows you to check the time and your activities’ progress with much ease. If you choose to enable the always-on display feature, you will need to tap the screen or the single button to wake up your Versa 2.
If ever there is a minor downside to the always-on display feature, it reduces the device’s battery life. We’ll discuss the battery life later on.
When it comes to looking at the display under direct sunlight, you will have no problems whatsoever. Furthermore, the Versa 2’s AMOLED panel fades the bezels surrounding the screen. This gives the product a sleeker look.
Moreover, the bezels are similar to their predecessor’s upon first glance. But if you look closely, you will notice that they are smoother and more rounded. The same thing goes for the optical heart rate monitor in the back of the device.
Performance and Usability
When it comes to usability and performance, the Versa 2 is one that will not lag behind the competition. The product is fast and noticeably smoother compared to its predecessor’s performance. This is mainly due to its faster processor.
This allows you to navigate and switch between pages quicker. You can also launch and close apps faster than with the original Versa. Moreover, you can access your latest health data faster by swiping the screen upward.
You can see your data on the Fitbit Today pane. The pane can display your total number of steps, as well as your food and water intake. You can also check your heart rate and sleep stats too.
If you wish to access the app launcher, simply swipe from left to right. Each app page contains four app shortcuts. You can arrange these shortcuts by pressing and holding them down lightly.
You will feel haptic feedback every time you perform the step.
To read your notifications, simply swipe down. It will also give you access to your music controls, the Quick Settings, and the Fitbit Pay.
By selecting Quick Settings, you can toggle the always-on display, the Sleep Mode, and the Do Not Disturb mode. You may also do the same for the screen brightness and screen wake.
For screen brightness, you can choose from dim, normal, and max. As for screen awake, you can opt for auto or manual.
Fitness Tracking
Now we head on to the Versa 2’s fitness tracking prowess. It is important to consider that one in five Australians use wearables like smartwatches. With Fitbit’s health tracking features, it will likely create a huge following in the country.
As we mentioned earlier, the Versa 2 is comfortable. This comfort is crucial especially when you’re running, doing Pilates, or riding a bike.
With only one physical button to deal with, you can begin and end your workouts without much hassle. As far as your workouts go, there are 15 goal-oriented exercises to choose from. Each of these exercises allows you to pick your target in terms of distance and calories to burn.
Whenever you hit your targets, the Versa 2 will send you an alert. However, there are no pace alerts that tell you if you are going over or lagging behind your target pace. Nevertheless, you can simply glance over the screen to see your current pace while running.
Furthermore, Versa 2 allows you to customize the screen. You can set the screen to show only the metrics that you wish to see.
As for the heart rate tracker, Versa 2 shows the current heart rate zone you are in while working out. Moreover, you can expect accurate readings that are also consistent with other fitness trackers.
It is important to note that Versa 2 does not have GPS. This means it relies on its connection to your phone to track your exercises.
Extra Features
Other key features make Versa 2 stand out. First, let us discuss its sleep tracking capabilities. This feature helps you monitor your sleep and wake time.
It helps you ensure that you are getting enough quality sleep.
With the screen shining bright at night, you may want to set a schedule for the night mode before sleeping. Simply head to Settings and go to Sleep Mode. From there, select Schedule and go to Customize to schedule night mode.
Another great thing about Versa 2 is that it’s comfortable to wear during sleep.
Though sleep tracking is awesome and all, Alexa integration is still the biggest addition to the latest Versa iteration. With this feature, you can ask basic questions to the Versa 2.
Moreover, you can control your smart home gadgets with ease. But since you are using a smartwatch, you cannot expect the integration to be perfect.
The Versa 2 doesn’t come with any built-in speakers. Thus, you need to look at the screen to read the responses to your inquiries. Moreover, you send SMS using your voice through Alexa.
But the smartwatch allows you to respond to Android text messages using your voice.
The Fitbit App
We mentioned earlier that you can maximize some of Versa 2’s key features by using the Fitbit App. The app provides additional data that you can use when tracking your fitness and sleep goals. You can also use the app when using the Fitbit Pay feature.
Through the Fitbit app, you can see your sleep score at the end of each night. The score gives you a lowdown of the quality of your sleep. It uses the time that you spent in various sleep stages like REM to determine the quality.
The Fitbit app can also give you recommendations on how to increase your sleep score. It also provides suggestions to help reduce your restlessness at night. The app uses a 0 to 100 scoring system.
The Versa 2 shows the score in simple terms like “77, Fair” or “85, Good.”
If you subscribe to Fitbit Premium, you will receive additional data concerning your sleeping heart rate and restoration. But you will have to pay additional for the monthly subscription.
Moreover, the Fitbit App can help track the monthly menstrual cycle of women. This is useful as long as you have a regular cycle.
Other notable features of the Fitbit Premium are the nutrition programs. The Understanding Calories program, for example, logs your meals. It helps monitor your food intake and develop healthier eating habits.
Pricing
Our review will not be complete without discussing the price. The Versa 2 costs $329 AUD. This is way cheaper compared to the Apple Watch Series 5 ($649 AUD).
This is also lower than the Galaxy Watch Active 2 ($749 AUD).
Battery Life
Last but not least, we need to touch on the Versa 2’s battery life. This is one of the main highlights of the product that Fitbit proudly bannered leading up to its launch date. Compared to its competitors, the Versa 2’s battery life is one of the best.
If you disable the always-on display, you can enjoy around five-and-a-half days in one full charging cycle. If you enable the feature, expect the battery to last you three days before charging.
Despite this, you can expect the Versa 2 to perform remarkably well. You can enjoy all its full smartwatch functionality. You can receive all the notifications for all the apps that you open.
If there is ever a downside, it is in the charger. The charger is not backwards-compatible. This means you cannot use the charger of the original Versa if you have one.
Still, the battery packs a punch and that is all that matters.
Our Verdict
After our comprehensive Fitbit 2 review, we need to hand out our verdict. Is the Versa 2 a good buy? The answer is a solid “yes.”
Though the Versa 2 has its limitations, its key features and advantages far outweigh them. For a price tag that is lower than its direct competitors, the Versa 2 is an excellent alternative. It is a great choice for people who are looking to experience their very first smartwatch.
If you wish to learn more about the Versa 2 or any other device, feel free to get in touch with us. You may also order products from Fitbit and other tech providers.