Fitbit Versa 2 Special Edition Test

Cons

No built-in GPS

No offline Spotify playback

At the time of its launch, the Fitbit Versa proved to be a large money-spinner for a visitor that was struggling to go on up with the mod globe of wearables. Fitbit was a company being squeezed from iii directions: the expensive Apple tree Watch, inexpensive Chinese fettle bands like the Xiaomi Mi Band, and past dedicated running watches from Garmin and Polar.

Information technology pretty much single-handedly turned around the visitor'southward fortunes, giving information technology its starting time quarter of turn a profit in ages. It'south perhaps no wonder that information technology'southward hoping to repeat the trick with a sequel: the Fitbit Versa 2.

Fitbit Versa 2 review: What you need to know

If it ain't bankrupt, don't ready information technology seems to be Fitbit's main mantra with the Versa 2, as the company tries hard to make small improvements that won't upset the device's popularity.

That means you're even so looking at a device that attempts to bridge the gap between smartwatch and fitness tracker. Steps and activities accept front and heart, and it all ties in nicely with the excellent Fitbit app, but it as well has notifications and acts as a bridge from phone to wrist.

So what'south new? Three things stand out. Firstly, the screen is now OLED, rather than the LCD of erstwhile. This means deeper black and more vibrant colours but also likely contributes to the second comeback: improved bombardment life. Fitbit says the new model volition last at to the lowest degree five days, rather than the four days plus of the older model.

Finally, the Fitbit Versa 2 has a built-in microphone for chatting with Alexa. Yes, Amazon'southward virtual assistant is at present part of the package, letting you find out things with the power of your voice.

Still missing in action: GPS. Instead, the Fitbit Versa 2 piggybacks off your phone. If you want a Fitbit with a GPS, you demand the Ionic or the long-discontinued, and chunky, Surge.

Fitbit Versa 2 review: Price and competition

The Fitbit Versa 2 retails for £200. That's £100 less than the GPS-toting Fitbit Ionic, although realistically it can commonly be plant for less. Here it is for £211 at Amazon. Elsewhere, there's the Fitbit Versa Low-cal: a modestly cutting-down version of the original Versa which retails for £150 but, again, can normally be bought cheaper.

The £200 price point of the Fitbit Versa 2 does give information technology some strong competition, though – chiefly from running watches, which usually manage to parcel GPS for the price. There's the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music, which is a great buy at £180. The Polar Ignite chases later the Versa feel, too, but narrowly misses the mark. Nonetheless, it's yours for £180.Finally, there's the Apple tree Watch, the third generation of which can behad for the deal toll of £200.

Fitbit Versa 2 review: Design

The Fitbit Versa'southward design was one of its strongest suits, and the new one is every chip as attractive – in fact, I think information technology's equally stylish as the Apple Picket, with its sleek square face, gentle rounded edges and single, unobtrusive button.

It's actually quite remarkable how fashionable it looks on the wrist, considering to some extent its good looks are an optical illusion. First of all, it's 12mm thick, which doesn't sound like a lot, only that's actually near 50% more than your average smartphone. Because of the way it tapers in, though, information technology looks a lot thinner than it is and you'd be none the wiser if you didn't take a tape measure to it.

Second, if y'all await closely y'all'll see the Versa ii has a pretty thick bezel all the way around the screen – but because the background is black on every carte du jour, you only really spot this in bright sunlight. In brusk, Fitbit has washed a masterful job of hiding aesthetic imperfections in such a style that only a killjoy similar me will go out of his manner to find. Bravo, Fitbit.

It'due south comfortable, as well, with straps that can be replaced should you lot want to mix things upwardly a chip. I've been wearing the salmon pink and rose gilded number Fitbit sent usa, which has raised a few eyebrows from friends and family as information technology's somewhat out of footstep with my usual colour palette, simply I could have swapped things out hands enough.

Finally, it's worth proverb something about the new screen technology. The move to OLED is a masterstroke as it adds ii important things. First is an always-on display which means you don't need to move your wrist to read the fourth dimension or see your steps at a glance. It's not on by default, because Fitbit says it reduces battery life past a day but that brings me to the second bespeak: OLED means the bombardment lasts longer anyway, going from 'iv days and upwards' on the previous model to 'v days plus' on this version.

And it's a adept screen, also. The 300 x 300 resolution is more than than sharp enough to show off the watch's vivid and breezy array of icons and y'all tin ever see what's on the screen at a glance.

Fitbit Versa 2 review: Performance

Those good vibes continue into performance, with the Versa 2 diligently tracking your activeness as you lot go along. Steps are counted, notifications buzz through and if you desire to interact more with information technology, and then music, exercises, breathing and other apps are but a swipe away. The Fitbit Versa 2 is by and large seen and not heard, and that's absolutely fine.

It even finds room to package Amazon'southward virtual assistant Alexa in this time, too, with a microphone on the side of the lookout man. Hold down the button and the Alexa logo volition popular upwardly to show it's listening. Ask a question and and so, subsequently a brusque "thinking…" message, the reply to your question will be written on the screen for yous to read.

There are limitations to this. You lot can't ask it to play music on Spotify, for instance, even though the app is there on the watch. Only you tin can become information technology to set timers and control smart dwelling stuff – I managed to turn on and off some lights from the wrist. Silly, but it worked.

Overall, it works pretty well, although I'one thousand not certain it's a game changer, as the gap between asking a question and getting a very basic respond is long enough that virtually people would probably dig out their phones by preference anyway. But information technology'due south there, and equally actress features go, information technology's a nice freebie I suppose.

Y'all actually have the choice of making the push trigger Alexa or Fitbit Pay – whichever one yous choose non to employ gets relegated to some awkward swiping when you lot desire to use it. Merely the truth is neither is a killer feature. While the idea of paying for things from the wrist is tried and tested, Fitbit Pay has such weak support in the UK that the chances are you won't be using it (unless of grade yous bank with Santander).

App support is growing and information technology's skillful to see Fitbit bundling both Strava and Spotify aslope its own showtime-party apps, although the latter is a remote command for phone playback, rather than a fully born music actor. Yep, y'all can add MP3s of your own, but in this streaming-first era, that's notwithstanding a bit of a drawback. Though actually, given the lack of GPS y'all'll need to take your phone with yous when you lot run or cycle anyway, so it's not a deal-breaker equally such.

That said, congenital-in GPS is a must for some and I'm completely sympathetic to this viewpoint, especially afterwards the experience of piggybacking off my ain Huawei P20 Pro. To be clear, Huawei'southward aggressive battery-saving tech has known issues with various wearables (pro tip: put the Fitbit widget on your Android abode screen to keep information technology alive) but it'due south worth remembering that you lot're at the mercy of your telephone here and if you know it has weak GPS so this may not exist the watch for you.

A couple of cases in point. At Sutton Coldfield parkrun, where I found myself this weekend, the Versa two measured the course as 5.15km. Weirdly it said 5.25km on the watch, but revised things to 5.15km when it synced to Fitbit'southward app. Both were incorrect, anyway, and plain this volition crusade problems if you use mid-run stats to arrange your pace.

As a second examination, I took it out running on a regular route around my neighbourhood that Mapometre measures equally exactly 5km. Fitbit said I did 4.74km this time, giving me an average step that was slower than I really achieved. The reason for this is pretty articulate when you dig into the mapping data:

Suffice it to say I was strictly sticking to the pavement, notwithstanding the data has me cutting huge corners, running through houses and gardens.

Once more, this isn't necessarily Fitbit's mistake simply it does underline the perils of relying on phone information rather than bundling a defended GPS chip. If you can't trust your telephone's GPS and you're a serious runner, then the Fitbit Versa 2 only isn't for y'all.

Fitbit Versa 2 review: Fitbit Premium

Finally, a fiddling give-and-take on Fitbit Premium: an optional service that unlocks a bunch of additional goodies within the splendid Fitbit app, for £7.99 per calendar month or £79.99 for a year if you pay in i get. This might audio similar a lot, only it does make the app considerably more than compelling, giving you: guided video and audio workouts; personalised insights into your lifestyle picked upwards from the picket; and improve insights into how each night's sleep breaks downwards.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the guided workouts, which provide a personal trainer showing you how to practice various exercises and guiding you through them. There are a boundless number of these, each one showing how long it'll have and how many calories y'all can wait to burn. The gym and dwelling house-based ones offer video (which tin can be cast to a large screen) while running and walking ones provide music and words to keep you motivated and guide yous through the experience. It actually is pretty impressive.

It's non just practise, though. Fitbit Premium too offers guided programs to help you sleep amend, and even to kick common salt or carbohydrate with advice on what to eat at domicile and outside the house to see your goals.

That's all very welcome, merely is information technology worth £79.99? Much of the experience seems disconnected from the watch itself, so it's difficult to say. You may decide that other apps can offer the parts you like at a more competitive price, simply in that location'southward certainly cipher to lose in signing upward for the seven-24-hour interval free trial. Only make sure you recollect to cancel before yous're charged if it's not for you

Fitbit Versa 2: Verdict

For me, the Fitbit Versa is frustratingly close to being amazing, but I couldn't make information technology my chief watch without a GPS chip. Information technology'south a shame the visitor doesn't make a Versa ii Pro with GPS built in, because it'south far nicer to look at and use than the Fitbit Ionic.

Equally information technology stands, it may nonetheless be perfect for you. If your phone's GPS is up to the job, so this is a wonderfully sporty smartwatch. Information technology looks great, it lasts for days and it benefits from the superb Fitbit app. Although I question the need for Alexa on your wrist, the OLED screen makes it a worthy successor to the smartwatch that put Fitbit back on the map.

Source: https://www.expertreviews.co.uk/wearable-technology/1410340/fitbit-versa-2-review

Posted by: lewinsuld1976.blogspot.com

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