5 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU FORK OUT FOR THE NEW FITBIT

FITBIT jumped from the fitness tracker market into the realm of smartwatches with the Ionic, and now the health tech giant is upping the stakes with the pretty new Versa. The best part? It’s way less expensive*. Here’s the low-down.

1 IT’S NOT (JUST) A TRACKER

If you’re looking for something to track your steps you’re better off with something simpler – and cheaper.

The Versa does track steps but it’s also packed with more detailed features. It automatically picks up when you’re working out and tracks your heart rate and carbs burnt, syncs to your phone so you get your notifications, stores and plays your music via Bluetooth headphones, and works with third-party apps such as The New York Times. It even tracks a woman’s menstrual cycle.

A great feature for exercise fans is the builtin Coach app. With it, the device guides you through sequences such as “10-minute abs” or “treasure chest”, complete with videos showing you exactly how to perform each move.

2 YOU CAN WEAR IT IN THE SHOWER

Stepping under a stream of water might seem like a terrible idea with the smartwatch on your wrist, but really, it will survive!

In fact, the Versa is water-resistant for up to 50m, so you can even use it to track your swims.

3 THE STRAPS ARE REALLY FINICKY

While the Versa’s straps are interchangeable so users can customise their look, they’re tricky to swop. The finicky mechanism can become frustrating, so if you plan on buying several straps to match your outfits, be warned: after going through the hassle once, you likely won’t want to do it again.

4 IT CAN’T TRACK A ROUTE

The Versa doesn’t have a built-in GPS, so if you’re a road or trail runner you need your phone with you if you want to track how far and fast you’ve gone.

5 IT’S COMPARABLE TO THE APPLE WATCH

Apple fans were quick to make the comparison when the device hit SA recently – but the Versa’s rounded face is likely just Fitbit’s reaction to the criticism of the Ionic’s harsh, square edges.

In terms of design, look and feel, the Versa is streaks ahead of the awkwardly geometric Fitbits of the past. You could even argue the Versa is prettier than the Apple Watch. As for ease of use, the Versa comes out on top with its simple interface and three buttons.

Apple’s system is less intuitive, and the one button has to be pressed or turned several ways to bring up various features, which can be confusing. On the flipside, Apple’s smartwatch has a ton more third-party apps on offer (although you can use the watch only with an iPhone). Fitbit’s Versa syncs with iOS and Android. * At the time of going to print the Versa cost R3 000.