FITBIT VERSA 2
Fitbit has made strides in the running watch market – but has it been enough?
he new Fitbit Versa 2 looks to be the most stylish and versatile Fitbit to date. It adds Alexa, a brighter screen, a better battery and a more refined look to the Versa version 1.
Its AMOLED screen looks great – really bright and attractive – and it can be set to ‘always on mode’. You’re finally able to just see your heart rate while working out, without having to flick your wrist to turn on the screen.
Amazon Alexa offers the usual news, music, weather, smart home controls and Fitbit control via an Alexa ‘Skill’ – you can, ‘Tell Fitbit to start a run’ for instance. Interestingly, Alexa is activated with a button-push rather than a wake word, and its responses appear on screen in text form rather than being spoken.
When it comes to the new and improved battery, the Versa 2 boasts what Fitbit calls 5+ day battery life; you could consider that a 25% improvement over its predecessor’s 4+ day battery life.
While we’re predominantly focusing on fitness features, the Versa 2 has decent sleep tracking. Not only does it rate the quality of your sleep out of 100 but, as of February 2020, Fitbit rolled out its ‘Estimated Oxygen Variation Graph’ feature. Generated from data sourced from the red and infrared sensors on the Versa 2, it alerts you to ‘short-term variations in the oxygen levels in your
TRuns, hikes and rides have to be tracked via your phone’s GPS
bloodstream’ which ‘may indicate variations in your breathing during sleep’.
However, those who are more into fitness than wellness or sleepiness are serviced by Fitbit’s usual mix of automatic activity tracking, all-day and exercise heart rate tracking and ‘15+ goal-based exercise modes’. Runs, hikes and rides have to be tracked via your phone’s GPS – there’s no GPS built in to the watch itself.
Alas, just like the original Versa and Versa Lite, Versa 2 is not one for the more large-wristed gent. You don’t have to be Popeye for it to look quite comically small on your arm. But for most women, smaller men and those who like small watches for whatever reason, it’s great. Everything has been refined to look sharper and sexier, with a pleasingly buffed, anodised aluminium finish.
In terms of fit and finish, as long as you are not large of wrist this is easily the most stylish Fitbit to date, and that AMOLED screen really pops. The usual Fitbit suite of features is fine as far as it goes but to unlock its real value, you’ll need a subscription to Fitbit’s premium service.