After three years, Apple Watch lastly has some competitors. Fitbit’s new Versa is on sale immediately, and in case you’re available in the market for a smartwatch that prices lower than $300 and up, it is value contemplating, even in case you’re a staunch Apple person. Let’s check out the way it stacks up in opposition to Apple’s Sequence 1 Watch.
Fitbit Versa vs. Apple Watch Sequence 1: Design
Versa has decidedly softer aesthetic than Ionic, which ought to attraction to a broader vary of patrons.
With a sq., aluminum physique, Fitbit’s Versa is inevitably going to be branded as a rip-off of Apple Watch’s design. But it surely’s straightforward to neglect that Apple Watch wasn’t the originator of the sq. smartwatch design—Pebble was. And Fitbit simply so occurs to personal Pebble. However irrespective of who can declare possession of the rights to pioneering the sq., the actual fact of the matter is it is the one form that is sensible for a smartwatch and it really works nice on each watches.
Form apart, the Versa is a properly designed watch, with an aesthetic that is related however not precisely like Apple Watch. The place Apple’s wristwatch has curved edges, Versa’s sides are chamfered and extra aggressive. There’s additionally no crown on the Versa, with Fitbit choosing a trio of buttons (two on the best and one on the left) as an alternative.
Each Versa and Apple Watch Sequence 1 can be found in silver and black aluminum, whereas Versa provides a rose gold shade.
Winner: Even
Fitbit Versa vs. Apple Watch Sequence 1: Measurement
Michael Simon/IDGVersa is shorter and wider than the 42mm Apple Watch.
Some of the necessary issues to contemplate when shopping for a smartwatch is whether or not it’s going to suit your wrist. Apple makes one of many solely watches that is available in two sizes to accommodate smaller wrists, with 38mm and 42mm varieties. Fitbit’s Versa solely is available in a single mannequin, nevertheless it’s nearer in measurement to the smaller 38mm Apple Watch than the 42mm one, a rarity in linked wearables:
Apple Watch Sequence 1 (38mm): 38.6 x 33.Three x 10.5mm
Apple Watch Sequence 1 (42mm): 42.5 x 36.four x 10.5mm
Fitbit Versa: 39.four x 37.7 x 11.2mm
Fitbit’s Versa strikes a pleasant stability between Apple’s two watches, with a wider body that is solely barely taller than the 38mm Apple Watch and can look good on all however the smallest of wrists. And remember the fact that Apple fees just a few extra for the 42mm watch.
Winner: Versa
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch Sequence 1: Show
Michael Simon/IDGWith out an OLED display, Versa’s boundaries are fairly seen.
All three watches have very related shows, with mere millimeters separating them, however the Versa is the smallest of the lot:
Apple Watch Sequence 1 42mm: 1.65 inches
Apple Watch Sequence 1 38mm: 1.5 inches
Fitbit Versa: 1.34 inches
However whereas the display measurement is not one thing you are prone to discover in common use, the standard of the show is. Whereas each have sufficient pixels to be thought of retina, Apple Watches use OLED tech, so the black background on most display blends into the physique of the watch, giving it an edge-to edge really feel. With the Versa’s LCD display, you possibly can plainly see the place the display ends always, which makes the bezels really feel a lot larger than on Apple Watch.
Winner: Apple Watch Sequence 1
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch Sequence 1: Bands
Michael Simon/IDGVersa’s band-switching mechanism is not as elegant as Apple Watch’s, nevertheless it does the trick.
A model new Apple Watch Sequence 1 is available in simply two flavors: silver with a white sport band and black with a black sport band. Versa additionally pairs its black watch with a black band, however you will get a grey one with the silver mannequin and a peach-colored one with the rose gold shade. There are additionally two particular version fashions with woven bands in charcoal (with a graphite aluminum case) or lavender (which is paired with a rose gold watch).
Like Apple, Fitbit is promoting a wide range of bands for Versa. Whereas there are solely 14 to select from thus far—as in comparison with dozens for Apple Watch—they’re fairly a bit cheaper, ranging in worth from $30 to $99. Apple’s bands begin at $49 and may price as a lot as $450 for a stainless nonetheless hyperlink bracelet.
Swapping out the bands is simple sufficient on Versa, with a fast launch mechanism that pulls the pin again. Nevertheless, if you are going to be swapping out bands usually, Apple’s press-and-slide methodology is much superior.
Winner: Apple Watch Sequence 1
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch Sequence 1: Apps and clock faces
Michael Simon/IDGThere are many clock faces within the Fitbit retailer, together with this one impressed by Thor: Ragnarok.
Apple has slowly expanded its watch face choices, however there’s nonetheless solely a handful to select from and builders can solely create problems, not full customized faces.
On Versa, anybody can create a customized clockface and there are dozens of principally free ones to select from within the retailer. And Fitbit says many extra are on the best way, so a Pebble-sized library is unquestionably within the making. If customization is your essential purpose for wanting a smartwatch, Versa is the best way to go.
Apps are one other story. Whereas Apple’s retailer has many to select from, among the larger names—Twitter, Instagram, eBay, and many others.—have stopped making Apple Watch apps for numerous causes. Fitbit’s retailer is much much less populated than Apple’s, however there are some good ones out there, together with The New York Occasions, Philips Hue, and Starbucks. Nevertheless, with both watch, you are in all probability going to be spending extra time with the watch face than the apps.
Winner: Versa
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch Sequence 1: Battery
Michael Simon/IDGVersa’s matches an enormous battery in its small body.
Should you do not thoughts charging your smartwatch each night time, both watch will do, however in case you’re searching for multi-day use on a single cost, Versa is the clear winner. Whereas Apple Watch Sequence 1 will comfortably get you thru a day of use, Fitbit guarantees as much as 4 days of use with Versa, and in our testing, these estimates had been correct. Which means you possibly can sleep, bathe, and run with it for the higher a part of every week earlier than you will have to take it off for charging.
Winner: Versa
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch Sequence 1: Water resistance
Michael Simon/IDGEven with a metallic band, Versa can face up to a dunking.
For swimmers, there is not any competitors right here. Apple Watch Sequence 1 is merely “splash resistant,” with an IPX7 ranking for as much as 1 meter of submersion, whereas Fitbit Versa is waterproof as much as 50 meters for monitoring laps in a pool. In brief, you need not fear about it except you are going deep-sea diving.
Winner: Versa
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch Sequence 1: Health monitoring
Michael Simon/IDGFitbit Versa continues to be a health tracker at coronary heart.
With the Fitbit identify, Versa is clearly a top-notch health tracker, however Apple Watch Sequence 1 is not any slouch. Each watches characteristic an array of sensors to maintain monitor of your actions, together with:
- Three-axis accelerometer
- Three-axis gyroscope
- Optical coronary heart fee sensor
Versa additionally consists of an altimeter for monitoring elevation, a sensor that’s restricted to Apple Watch Sequence Three. Neither Apple Watch Sequence 1 nor Versa features a devoted GPS chip, so each depend on a cellphone connection for monitoring distance. Nevertheless, Fitbit has a higher choice of apps for health, with on-screen exercises, teaching, and quite a few train modes. You too can test your each day stats simply by swiping up from the underside of the display.
Winner: Versa
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch Sequence 1: Compatibility and connectivity
Michael Simon/IDGVersa pulls its data from the Fitbit app on iOS, Android, or Home windows.
Like Fitbit’s different gadgets, Versa works with iOS, Android, and Home windows Telephones, whereas Apple Watch requires an iPhone 5s or newer. Apple additionally consists of help for Siri on Apple Watch, whereas Fitbit has no AI assistant or voice management.
Each watches will warn you to incoming calls and notifications, however Apple Watch’s integration with iPhone is way stronger than Versa’s, permitting you to reply to messages and texts, and reply calls. Versa will solely inform you that you’ve an alert. You will have to go to your cellphone to reply it. Nevertheless, Fitbit is promising help for Android fast replies in a future replace.
Each Apple Watch and Versa have NFC chips for making funds by way of Apple Pay and Fitbit Pay, however you will have to spend an additional $30 on the higher-priced special-edition Versa fashions to get it. Each watches embrace help for 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and neither has an LTE chip.
Winner: Apple Watch Sequence 1 for iPhone customers, Versa for everybody else
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch Sequence 1: Worth
Michael Simon/IDGVersa is an entire lot cheaper than it seems to be.
If not one of the above classes are a deal-breaker for both watch, worth will in all probability push you into shopping for Versa:
Apple Watch Sequence 1 38mm: $250
Apple Watch Sequence 1 42mm: $279
Fitbit Versa: $200
Fitbit Versa Particular Version: $230
Even in case you go for the particular version mannequin with NFC, you are still paying much less for Versa than the 38mm Apple Watch Sequence 1. Granted this is not taking deal into consideration—earlier this month Walmart was promoting each sizes of Apple Watch Sequence 1 for $100 off—however all issues being equal, Versa is the higher deal.
Winner: Versa
Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch Sequence 1: Verdict
It isn’t a clear sweep, however for most individuals, Fitbit’s Versa makes extra sense than Apple Watch Sequence 1. It has a greater assortment of watch faces, is sufficiently small to suit on most wrists, works with an array of telephones and OSes, and has wonderful battery life. To not point out it is cheaper.