Fitbit Versa 4 review: Fitness tracker disguised as a smartwatch

The Fitbit Versa 4 in a nutshell

The fourth era of Fitbit’s Versa collection prompted combined emotions within the assessment. Hardware and workmanship in addition to its clean operation and companion app are nice. The monitoring characteristic additionally labored very reliably each time I used it. Thus, the Versa 4 is an efficient health tracker, albeit being held again by its subscription mannequin.

However, the $230 wearable does with out music management, has no app retailer to talk of, and has a restricted vary of features that ensures it will possibly by no means enter the smartwatch territory. If that does not scare you away, it can save you somewhat in your buy of the Versa 4 just a few months after its launch.

Design and operation

Tipping the scales at 25 grams and measuring simply 11.2 millimeters skinny, the Versa 4 is a very slim smartwatch. It relies on the rounder design of Fitbit’s newer wearables. Unlike its predecessor, the smartwatch is operated through a button on the left aspect and the OLED touchscreen. If you like swimming, it’s good to know that the Versa 4 is protected in opposition to water and submersion with a 5 ATM ranking.

What I appreciated:

• Finally incorporates a bodily button once more.
• Simple design with high-quality workmanship.
• Crisp vibration motor.

What I disliked:

• Always-on Display is simply too vibrant when sleeping.

Fun Fact: One of my first critiques as a NextPit volunteer was the primary Fitbit Versa! In comparability, so much has modified within the design of the smartwatch over the course of 4 years. Fitbit has considerably moved towards a rounder design for its entry-level mannequin, depends on higher-quality supplies with extra exact manufacturing, and makes use of a vibrant OLED display. Thus, the smartwatch, which prices simply $230, can undoubtedly be known as a wrist-flatterer.

Thanks to the light-weight nature of this timepiece, you’ll not really feel as if you might be sporting it after a while. At least, till the crisp vibration motor alerts you of incoming notifications or reminds you to maneuver round after being seated for too lengthy at your desk. If you’ll wish to scroll by the menus after that, you may activate the smartwatch through a button on the left fringe of the case and through the responsive contact show.

It is vibrant sufficient to be legible in vibrant environments. At the identical time, you’ll profit from the superb black ranges that solely OLED shows can obtain. The expertise additionally lastly permits Fitbit to combine an Always-on Display into the Versa 4. While I believe the characteristic is great in idea, I discovered the Versa 4’s AoD to be too vibrant. In order to not be disturbed by it, I needed to disable the characteristic each night and switch it again on each morning. A timer operate could be fascinating to have within the subsequent mannequin.

It must be emphasised very positively that Fitbit listens to the suggestions of the customers. Because within the review of the Versa 3, Stefan knowledgeable you that the “squeeze gesture” causes inaccurate entries in on a regular basis life. Both the Fitbit Sense 2 (hands-on) and the newest Versa mannequin have an actual, bodily button as soon as once more to keep away from such a connundrum.

Overall, each the design and the working idea of the Versa 4 are convincing and there may be not a lot to complain about.

Operating system & app

The acquisition by Google bears additional fruit within the Versa 4. Both Google Wallet and turn-by-turn navigation through Google Maps have been deliberate to be included sooner or later. However, the working system stays a proprietary one, and the Fitbit app additionally stays unchanged. Unfortunately, nonetheless, each Fitbit and Google depend on a premium subscription mannequin for this system.

What I appreciated:

• Google acquisition offers just a few benefits.
• Simple operation.

What I disliked:

• Full characteristic set is barely accessible through subscription.
• Google options are unavailable even lengthy after its launch.

As within the assessment of the Inspire 3, the Versa 4 left me somewhat bit indignant. That’s as a result of, as soon as once more, the producer locked many options behind a premium subscription, together with your day by day kind index, detailed well being and health stats, mindfulness workouts, and detailed sleep monitoring. An in depth listing of Premium-exclusive options might be seen under:

Fitbit Premium characteristic comparability

Function	Fitbit App	Fitbit Premium
Daily Form Index	➖	✔️
Blood glucose monitoring (with exterior meter)	➖	✔️
Premium competitions	➖	✔️
Stress administration index breakdown	➖	✔️
Health and health statistics	✔️	✔️
90-day tendencies of well being values	➖	✔️
Basic analyses	✔️	✔️
Health Report	➖	✔️
Workouts	➖	✔️
Mindfulness	➖	✔️
Breakdown of the sleep index	➖	✔️
Source: Fitbit.com

It’s additionally potential that these limitations hassle me a lot as a result of Fitbit’s companion app and in addition the Versa 4’s software program are so intuitive and fairly. In truth, I discovered it enjoyable to set a timer on the Versa 4 due to its intuitive operation, snazzy menus, and due to the crisp vibration motor. The Fitbit app as an data hub on your health information can be intuitive and fairly, although it lags far behind Garmin when it comes to data content material.

At the launch of the Versa 4, Fitbit promised that it could lastly provide advantages from its acquisition by Google in 2019. Thus, Google Wallet, turn-by-turn navigation through Google Maps in addition to calendar synchronization and app notifications would discover their approach onto the smartwatch. However, about two months after the discharge of the wearable, none of these aforementioned options might be discovered. Overpromising and underdelivering but once more! This actually will get my goat.

Sensors & Fitness

Fitbit geared up its Versa 4 with quite a lot of sensors to trace your day by day sports activities routine. In addition to GPS for positioning, there’s a coronary heart price monitor, a pulse oximeter, and a gyrometer, and accelerometer for recording steps and swimming strokes. Data is logged into the inner reminiscence for seven days even with out a smartphone.

What I appreciated:

• Precise GPS makes you unbiased of the smartphone.
• Reliable auto-recording of exercises or walks.

What I appreciated:

• Pulse oximeter information can’t be seen.
• No ECG operate.

Fitbit’s strategy to analyzing very important information is kind of attention-grabbing. I’ve the impression that the corporate doesn’t wish to annoy you with actual data, however somewhat push you in the precise path with processed data. For instance, information from the heart beat oximeter and the temperature sensor usually are not immediately accessible. Instead, they’re used to offer you details about the day by day form in addition to for sleep evaluation. You also can see deviations in temperature, which might be helpful for early detection of illnesses.

The incontrovertible fact that you do not have to fret a lot concerning the smartwatch in on a regular basis life works out properly. This is supported by a dependable auto-recording of exercises or walks. Of all of the smartwatches I’ve reviewed in recent times, the Versa 4 has essentially the most standalone exercises proper from the get go. Whether that is smart or not is definitely a matter of style – however I discovered it to be fairly sensible when walks and bike rides are logged as properly.

Whether it’s on auto-recording or handbook enabling, the Versa 4 is provided with exact GPS to find out the place. The distance coated was equivalent to what my iPhone 13 mini recorded. This offers you extra independence if you happen to wish to get pleasure from sports activities with out a smartphone in your pocket.

Compared to different smartwatches, nonetheless, I really feel the Versa 4 is underpowered. The producer saved on built-in electrodes for recording your ECG studying for the premium mannequin, the Fitbit Sense 2, so as to use that as a singular promoting level. Other fashions even include choices to measure your blood strain, such because the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro (review). Fitbit thus determined to pay attention on the necessities with the Versa 4.

Smart options

In the title of my assessment, I known as the Versa 4 a “health tracker” as a result of most of the smartwatch features are nowhere to be discovered in November 2022. Apart from the promise to ship some Google apps and Bluetooth telephony, music can’t be saved or managed on the smartwatch. Here, even the primary Versa from 2018 was extra succesful.

What I appreciated:

• Some smartwatch options will likely be subsequently delivered.

What I disliked:

• No music playback or music management.
• No response choices for notifications.
• No third-party apps to increase its characteristic set.

While producers are getting increasingly inventive with regards to smartwatch options, Fitbit left this subject unaddressed. The Versa 4 will present you notifications on demand, however you can not reply to them. To take heed to music or podcasts whereas jogging, you must take your smartphone with you. And there is no such thing as a app retailer to supply a lot of apps, too.

Here, the Versa collection itself takes a step backward in comparison with the primary era from 2018. Even when in comparison with different fashions, the Versa 4 doesn’t fairly appear to be a smartwatch. A weather app, a sleep zone alarm, and mindfulness workouts which are solely accessible within the premium subscription are merely insufficient in 2022.

If Fitbit and Google add just a few extra features, I’ll gladly rephrase this paragraph once more. However, navigation directions through Google Maps, the addition of Google Wallet, and some prolonged options for synchronization do not likely handle to put it aside from its predicament.

Battery & Charging

Fitbit acknowledged that the battery lifetime of the Versa 4 will final for no less than six days. This is a worth that I can not fairly affirm in on a regular basis use with out utilizing the power-hungry Always-on Display. The Versa 4 is recharged through a proprietary charging cable that ends in USB-A. Quick-charging will get you 24 hours of use in twelve minutes, whereas a full cost takes two hours.

What I appreciated:

• Great battery life for a smartwatch.
• Magnetic charging cable.
• Quick-Charging functionality.

What I disliked:

• Long charging time to hit 100%.
• USB-A cable.

The battery lifetime of the Versa 4 is actually excellent contemplating its dimension. While Apple presents a most of 36 hours in a comparable format with energy-saving modes, Fitbit is wanting about no less than six days. However, after just a few days of reviewing it, I don’t think about this declare to be completely life like. Without the Always-on Display, a recognized power-hungry characteristic, I managed to realize roughly 4 days on a full battery cost.

Throughout the method, I used the watch to trace my sleep day by day and I additionally went biking or strolling no less than as soon as a day. Active exercises included two one-hour jogs with GPS monitoring enabled. Thus, those that lead an energetic life-style and wish to use all options ought to somewhat anticipate a battery lifetime of three to 4 days. This continues to be an excellent worth for a whole file of your day by day routine.

I don’t just like the charging time of the smartwatch as a lot, although. Fitbit specified a charging time of two hours, and I can affirm this worth from my day by day routine. If you wish to shortly recharge your batteries earlier than a exercise, you should utilize the quick-charge operate. Within twelve minutes, you may get a day’s value of utilization time. That is tremendous handy, however it will likely be a part of the usual repertoire of a smartwatch in 2022.

Final verdict