Fitbit’s lineup of smartwatches and health trackers is getting bigger simply in time for the vacation season, with the corporate saying the Fitbit Versa 4, Fitbit Sense 2, and Fitbit Encourage 3. The Versa and Sense proceed Fitbit’s smartwatch focus, whereas the Encourage stays one of many go-to selections for anybody who desires to eschew too many good options for a sleeker design and smaller value. They usually’re more likely to be among the many finest Fitbit wearables you should purchase this yr.
Proper off the bat, none of those wearables are vital new additions to Fitbit’s portfolio. They’re all very much like their predecessors, however with just a few minor tweaks right here and there to make them higher than earlier than. And, no, not one of the new smartwatches are operating Put on OS. Fitbit has made some intriguing {hardware} and software program upgrades throughout the board, however this newest launch is clearly centered on evolution slightly than revolution.
Fitbit Versa 4
We’ll begin with the Fitbit Versa 4. The Versa 4 seems to be nearly equivalent to the Versa 3 at first look, however Fitbit has made just a few necessary design modifications that shouldn’t be missed. It’s now thinner and lighter than its predecessor, which is spectacular contemplating how snug the Versa 3 already was. Fitbit has additionally achieved away with the Versa 3’s fake button on the facet and changed it on the Versa 4 with an actual, mechanical button. Mixed with a better placement on the facet of the Versa 4, Fitbit says the brand new button must be a lot simpler to press — even once you’re drained and sweaty after a protracted exercise.
Along with the brand new design, the Fitbit Versa 4 additionally upgrades its exercise monitoring expertise. The place the Versa 3 might monitor 20 totally different workout routines, the Versa 4 can monitor greater than 40. Fitbit hasn’t revealed all the new exercise modes, however a few of the highlights embody HIIT, CrossFit, dance, and weight lifting. It’s not fairly as spectacular because the 90+ train modes provided on the Galaxy Watch 5, however it’s a vital enchancment over the Versa 3.
Past further exercise modes, the remainder of the well being monitoring expertise on the Versa 4 is equivalent to the Versa 3. It has a built-in GPS, Fitbit’s Lively Zone Minutes characteristic, 24/7 coronary heart price monitoring, SpO2 monitoring, sleep monitoring, and many others. You get all of that with the identical promise of six days of battery life, simply outlasting the single-day use of the Apple Watch Collection 7. While you do run out of juice, 12 minutes of charging provides you a full day’s price of battery life.
Fitbit Sense 2
Just like how the unique Fitbit Sense shared loads in widespread with the Versa 3, the identical is true with the connection between the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4. The Sense 2 options the identical tweaked design with a bodily button on the facet. In comparison with the primary Sense, Sense 2 is 10% thinner and 15% lighter. You’re additionally trying on the similar six days of battery life per cost and quick charging speeds.
On the well being monitoring facet of issues, the Sense 2 does every little thing that the Versa 4 does. Nevertheless, it dietary supplements that well being suite with a pores and skin temperature sensor and a cEDA (steady electrodermal exercise) sensor to observe your physique for indicators of stress.
The Fitbit Sense launched stress monitoring in 2020, however the large change for the Sense 2 is that the EDA sensor now affords steady monitoring of your physique’s electrodermal exercise. You possibly can nonetheless take guide scans everytime you’d like, however in contrast to on the primary Sense, the Sense 2 may monitor that information repeatedly all through your day. Additionally, whereas each the Versa 4 and Sense 2 help irregular coronary heart rhythm notifications when you’re sleeping or staying nonetheless, solely the Sense 2 comes with Fitbit’s ECG app for on-demand AFib check-ins.
Fitbit Encourage 3
The final new wearable coming to the Fitbit household is the Fitbit Encourage 3. Just like the Encourage 2, the Encourage 3 is marketed as Fitbit’s go-to health tracker for anybody who desires the Fitbit expertise in a small, light-weight type issue that’s straightforward on the pockets. The design is sleeker and extra rounded than the Encourage 2, however probably the most substantial improve is the show. Not like the Encourage and Encourage 2, which each had monochrome screens, the Encourage 3 introduces a “wealthy shade” AMOLED touchscreen to the lineup for the primary time.
As for the well being monitoring options, it’s similar to what you get on the Versa 4. The Fitbit Encourage 3 helps Lively Zone Minutes, SpO2 monitoring (a primary for the Encourage household), sleep monitoring (together with Fitbit’s new Sleep Profiles program), 24/7 coronary heart price monitoring, and irregular coronary heart price rhythm notifications. The largest distinction is that you just’re restricted to twenty exercise modes, and there’s no built-in GPS. Nevertheless, these lacking options additionally imply that the Encourage 3 can go for as much as 10 days of use per cost.
The Google and Put on OS state of affairs
As anticipated, the Encourage 3 is operating Fitbit’s customized software program designed particularly for its health trackers. However what in regards to the Versa 4 and Sense 2? As famous above, the watches are nonetheless operating FitbitOS and not Put on OS. Nevertheless, Fitbit has modified FitbitOS to imitate a few of Put on OS’s finest qualities.
For starters, there’s a brand new “tiles” system that lets customers add widgets to the fitting of the clock face on the Versa 4 and Sense 2. These tiles offer you glanceable information to your steps, every day exercise, sleep, and extra. Fitbit’s additionally providing some non-health-related tiles, similar to present climate situations and timer shortcuts, however third-party apps can not faucet into the tiles system. For now, it’s restricted to first-party apps and first-party apps solely.
Additionally coming to the Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 are Google Pockets and Google Maps apps. Google Pockets will exchange Fitbit Pay for the watches’ contactless funds, whereas Google Maps will provide turn-by-turn navigation. Sadly, each Google Pockets and Google Maps received’t be obtainable on the Versa 4 or Sense 2 at launch. As a substitute, Fitbit says they’re “coming quickly” with no actual availability date provided.
Worth and availability
All three Fitbit wearables can be found for pre-order beginning right this moment, August 24, and include a free six-month trial to Fitbit Premium as a part of your buy. The Encourage 3 will hit retailer cabinets in September, whereas the Versa 4 and Sense 2 shall be obtainable later this fall. The Encourage 3 is obtainable for $99, the Versa 4 prices $229, and the Sense 2 goes all the way in which as much as $299.
We clearly want to make use of Fitbit’s new devices earlier than making any conclusive ideas, however taking a look at every little thing we all know proper now, Fitbit might discover itself in a clumsy place with this lineup. At $280, the Galaxy Watch 5 affords 24/7 coronary heart price monitoring, a SpO2 sensor, ECG monitoring, built-in GPS, plus a physique composition sensor that appears at your physique fats, basal metabolic price, skeletal mass, and extra. It additionally has Put on OS 3.5 with Samsung’s One UI Watch 4.5 interface, delivering a fully-fledged smartwatch expertise that FitbitOS on the Versa 4 and Sense 2 nonetheless can’t match. And, maybe extra head-scratching, Google’s set to launch the Pixel Watch later this fall. Whereas we don’t know the total particulars on its well being monitoring suite or value, we do know that the Pixel Watch may have a built-in Fitbit app and monitor your entire exercise utilizing Fitbit’s software program — along with operating the newest model of Put on OS.
That competitors doesn’t imply the Versa 4 and Sense 2 shall be unhealthy smartwatches, however to say they’ve obtained their work minimize out for them could be an understatement. Regardless, we’re trying ahead to getting our fingers on them quickly and seeing how they measure up with actual use.
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