Time to try the Fitbit Versa

The selection of smart watches continues to grow.

For those who want to improve their fitness tracking or simply monitor emails, they can find a smartwatch to fit almost every wrist and budget.

The latest entry in this category is the Fitbit Versa.

The Versa, priced at $199, is designed to compete with the Apple Watch, and essentially does exactly that.

The Versa works well as a smartwatch as well as a fitness tracker. It works with Apple, Android and Windows devices.

The watch features Fitbit Today so you can check your daily health stats and compare them to your goals. There are also reminders for guided movements and breathing sessions.

Fitbit fans will notice that the Versa has a different look than the older and more expensive Ionic. It has a wider and squarer face with metallic finishes. It’s sleeker and slimmer than the Apple Watch and comes with a standard elastic band with more strap options.

The touch screen is more responsive than the Ionic. There are three buttons to handle shortcuts for music controls, notifications, exercise start times, and alarms. All buttons are customizable to your individualized preferences.

Versa has a decent battery life. Fitbit says you can get four days of running time from the device.

You can wear it to bed, check the time, set alarms, and track your sleep. It even has a vibrating smart alarm to wake you up.

The software has been updated. Those with the iPhone and the operating system will notice that the fitness tracking statistics include more data. You can scan weekly progress, view recent workouts, and watch your resting heart rate. Unlike other versions of the Fitbit, the Versa is waterproof.

Fitbit has created some options for the watch with its own app store called the App Gallery. It can be launched from the Fitbit app.

There are 50 app options available. You can choose to change the watch face, monitor the news and the stock market. Others can control your lights and help you pay the bill at Starbucks.

Some of the watch faces are attractive and some are not. If you like variety, you may be disappointed as you can only store one at a time.

Changing faces also requires some work. The Fitbit app is slow to load. You can require the watch to be connected to Wi-Fi via a manual connection from the app running on whatever phone you’re using.

While it’s cheaper than the Apple Watch Series One, the Versa has some areas where it falls short of the more expensive competition.

You cannot answer phone calls. Replies to text messages can only be done through a compatible Android phone.

Versa only has 2.5 GB of built-in music storage. In most cases, the tracks must be downloaded from a computer. This pales in comparison to syncing Apple Watch with Apple Music. Some other brands do a better job in this area as well.

Apple Pay is widely known and widely used. Fitbit also has a payment option, but it can be difficult to find compatible banks and institutions.

There’s no Siri, no microphone, and no automatic call-to-action assistant. The Find My Phone app on Apple Watch is not included. Maps are missing and there is no GPS on board. Runners and athletes may want to opt for the more comprehensive Ionic app or Apple Watch Series 3.

Still, the Versa has a lot on the bright side. Most will find it attractive, comfortable, and fun to wear.

It provides a good alternative for those who want to forego the extra features and price of the Apple Watch and other high-end competitors.

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