MAY 2020 T3 53Fitness watches
FITBIT VERSA 2
As with the original Versa, it’s swim-proof and water resistant to 50m,
GHVSLWHbWKHDGGLWLRQRIDPLFIRU$OH[DDFWLYDWLRQ
he new Fitbit Versa 2 looks to be the most
stylish and versatile Fitbit to date. It adds
Alexa, a brighter screen, a better battery and a
more refined look to the Versa version 1.
Its AMOLED screen looks great – really bright and
attractive – and it can be set to ‘always on mode’. You’re
finally able to just see your heart rate while working out,
without having to flick your wrist to turn on the screen.
Amazon Alexa offers the usual news, music, weather,
smart home controls and Fitbit control via an Alexa ‘Skill’- you can, ‘Tell Fitbit to start a run’ for instance.
Interestingly, Alexa is activated with a button-push rather
than a wake word, and its responses appear on screen in
text form rather than being spoken.
When it comes to the new and improved battery, the
Versa 2 boasts what Fitbit calls 5+ day battery life; you
could consider that a 25% improvement over its
predecessor’s 4+ day battery life.
While we’re predominantly focusing on fitness
features, the Versa 2 has decent sleep tracking. Not only
does it rate the quality of your sleep out of 100 but, as of
February 2020, Fitbit rolled out its ‘Estimated Oxygen
Variation Graph’ feature. Generated from data sourced
from the red and infrared sensors on the Versa 2, it alerts
you to ‘short-term variations in the oxygen levels in your
T
Runs, hikes and rides
have to be tracked via
your phone’s GPS
bloodstream’ which ‘may indicate variations in your
breathing during sleep’.
However, those who are more into fitness than
wellness or sleepiness are serviced by Fitbit’s usual mix of
automatic activity tracking, all-day and exercise heart
rate tracking and ‘15+ goal-based exercise modes’. Runs,
hikes and rides have to be tracked via your phone’s GPS- there’s no GPS built in to the watch itself.
Alas, just like the original Versa and Versa Lite, Versa 2
is not one for the more large-wristed gent. You don’t have
to be Popeye for it to look quite comically small on your
arm. But for most women, smaller men and those who
like small watches for whatever reason, it’s great.
Everything has been refined to look sharper and sexier,
with a pleasingly buffed, anodised aluminium finish.
In terms of fit and finish, as long as you are not large of
wrist this is easily the most stylish Fitbit to date, and that
AMOLED screen really pops. The usual Fitbit suite of
features is fine as far as it goes but to unlock its real value,
you’ll need a subscription to Fitbit’s premium service.
FITBIT
9(56$
PRODUCT 01:
)LWELWKDVPDGHVWULGHVLQWKHUXQQLQJ
ZDWFKPDUNHWåEXWKDVLWEHHQHQRXJK"