The Amazfit Bip S is one of Amazfit’s most popular budget smartwatches due to its elegant design and features. It gives the user so much value and shows how well budget smartwatches have evolved over the past few years.
The Fitbit Versa is a solid fitness watch that does a lot of things really well. The Fitbit Versa has a mixed design from pebble smartwatch, apple watch, and it always looks like a fitness watch and a smartwatch.
Both of these smartwatches offer excellent Fitbit technology in fitness and health tracking.
Table of Contents
Amazfit Brand Overview
Amazfit is a newcomer to the smartwatch industry. They are a US-based company that was only established in 2016. However, they have mostly been getting more attention due to the number of products they produce each year.
They are owned by Huami, who is currently the exclusive partner of Xiaomi. Together, they have become the second-largest wearable manufacturer. This is an impressive feat, given their relatively young age in the industry.
Their current lineup is more diverse and targets a wide range of audiences. They have budget offerings such as the Pace series and more high-end watches such as the Stratos Series. The Amazfit GTS is, of course, part of their midrange series aimed at casual users.
*Please note, Amazfit rebranded their entire product line to “Zepp” in mid-2020, so you may see watches advertised with the new or old branding while some shops list the products with a hybrid naming as Amazfit (Huami) Zepp.
Fitbit Brand Overview
Fitbit is an American fitness and health brand founded in 2007. With their innovative health-focused products, Fitbit spearheaded its way to the top of the wearable competition.
Fitbit’s smartwatches offer similar features to high-end alternatives such as the Apple Watch and the various Wear OS watches. But one edge that they have over their competitors is their background in health and fitness. With their watches, they can bring innovative ideas that help improve the lives of its users.
Amazfit Bip S vs. Specs Fitbit Versa
| Amazfit Bip S | Fitbit Versa | |
| Brand | Amazfit | Fitbit |
| Model | Bip S | Versa |
| Screen Size | 1.28” TFT LCD Display | 1.32” LCD Display |
| Screen Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass, v3 | Corning Gorilla Glass, v3 |
| Screen Resolution | 176 x 176 pixel | 300 x 300 pixel |
| Pixel Density Sharpness | 194 PPI | 316 PPI |
| Touch Type | Multi-touch | Multi-touch |
| Watch Dimensions | 42 x 35.3 x 11.4 mm | 35 x 24.07 x 11.2 mm |
| Weight | 31 grams | 38 grams |
| Watch Case Material | Polycarbonate | Aluminum |
| Bezel Material | Glass(No Bezel) | Aluminum |
| Watch Design | Rectangular, Flat Dial Design | Rectangular, Curved Design |
| Strap Size | 20 mm | 140-178 mm (small) 178-220 mm (large) |
| Watch Colors | Red Orange, White Rock, Warm Pink | Black, Silver, and Rose gold |
| Water Resistance | Waterproof (5ATM) | Waterproof(5ATM) |
| Swim-proof | Yes, recommended | Yes, recommended |
| NFC | Not Supported | Supported |
| GPS | With GLONASS | No(Connected GPS) |
| CONNECTIVITY Wi-fi |
Not Supported | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| SENSORS Accelerometer |
Yes | Yes |
| Heart Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Compass | Yes | Yes |
| Gyroscope | No | Yes |
| Altimeter | No | Yes |
| SPO2 | No | Yes |
| Elevation | Yes | Yes |
| Ambient Light | Yes | Yes |
| FITNESS TRACKING Sleep tracking |
Yes | Yes |
| Sleeps | Yes | Yes |
| Floors Climbed | No | Yes |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Distance | No | Yes |
| Stress | No | Yes |
| VO2 Max | No | Yes |
| Blood Oxygen | No | Yes |
| Blood Pressure | No | No |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Swim tracking | No | Yes |
| Underwater heart rate tracking |
No | Yes |
| On-screen workout modes | No | Yes |
| Triathlon mode | No | No |
| ECG tracking | No | No |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes(10) | Yes |
| Safety tracking | No | No |
| Battery Technology | Lithium-Polymer | Lithium-Polymer |
| Battery Life | Basic Usage-40 days Typical usage – 15 days Standby mode – 90 days GPS continuous working time 22 hours |
Up to 4 days mixed usage |
| Charging Time | 2.5 Hours | About 2 Hours |
| Battery Technology | Lithium-ion | Lithium-Polymer |
| Charging Type | 2-pins POGO pin | USB based charging dock |
| Compatible OS | Android 5.0 iOS 10.0+ – |
Android v4.3+ iOS 9.0+ Windows OS |
| NOTIFICATIONS Email Alert |
Yes | Yes |
| SMS Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Calls Alert | Yes | Yes |
| Event Reminder | Yes | Yes |
| Weather | Yes | Yes |
| Third-party Apps | Yes | Yes |
| MEDIA Audio |
Not Supported | mp3/mp4 |
| Music Streaming | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Music | No | Yes |
| Radio | No | No |
| Loud Speaker | No | No |
| Microphone | No | No |
| CLOCK FEATURES Time/Date |
Yes | Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes | Yes |
| OTHER FUNCTIONS Control camera | No | No |
| Music Control | Yes | Yes |
| Text Response | No | Yes(Android Only) |
| Answer Call | No | No |
| MISC Payment System |
None | Fitbit Pay |
| Companion App | Mi Fit App | Fitbit App |
| Customizable watch face | Yes | Yes |
| Interchangeable band | Yes, 20 mm | Yes |
| Voice command | No | No |
| Internal Storage | Not Specified | 4GB (2.5GB available, 300+ Songs) |
| Operating system | Proprietary OS | Fitbit OS 2.0 |
Design and Build Quality
Design Language
The Bip S has a more modern and clean look similar to the likes of the Apple Watch. On the other hand, the Fitbit Versa has a similar boxy design that seems to be inspired by the designs of the Pebble Smartwatch and Apple watch.
The Amazfit Bip S is light and comfortable to wear. This is mainly due to the polycarbonate construction and silicone straps. There is a digital crown on the right side that can be used to wake up the watch and also as a back button while you’re in the interface.
The Bip S has four Color options available; carbon black, white rock, red-orange, and warm pink. The Bip S’ strap material is made of silicone and is detachable. They can be easily replaced with Amazfit’s straps or any other third-party strap of the same size.
The Versa, on the other hand, has nice aesthetics, especially if you partner it with premium straps. The Versa also has an interchangeable strap with 20 mm strap size, and also strap material used are Silicone, leather, steel link, Milanese mesh-style, woven, or knit. The Versa also has different color options such as Black, Silver, and Rose gold.
Weight and Dimensions
Both smartwatches are lightweight. The Amazfit Bip S weighs 31 grams while the Fitbit Versa weighs 38 grams. Both smartwatches are also relatively compact. The Bip S has the following dimensions 42 x 35.3 x 11.4mm. On the other hand, the Versa has a dimension of 35 x 24.07 x 11.2 mm.
Given their weight and size, both watches should be comfortable to wear and should not cause any discomfort throughout the day. The straps on both models are replaceable in case you want different aesthetics or different materials.
Screen Quality
In terms of the screen’s size, the Fitbit Versa’s screen is a little larger than the Amazfit Bip S. The Versa has a 1.32″ LCD display with a screen resolution of 300x 300 pixels and a pixel density of 316 PPI.
The Amazfit Bip S, on the other hand, has a 1.28″ display with a screen resolution of 176 x 176 pixels and a pixel density of 194 PPI. The Amazfit Bip S has a transflective (TFT) LCD display.
Both watches are utilizing an LCD display, unlike their higher-end counterparts that use OLED and AMOLED panels. However, that does not seem to detract from the experience as both smartwatches have vibrant and sharp displays that remain visible regardless of the lighting condition.
The Versa does not have an always-on display, unlike the Bip S. This means that you have to manually turn on the screen every time you want to check the time.
There are three buttons on the Versa. The left button acts as a Back button when viewing an app. The left button’s long-press also opens the quick settings screen where you’ll find music controls, Fitbit Pay on the special edition Versa and quick toggles for auto-wake and notifications.
The Bip S, on the other hand, has one physical button that can be used to wake up the screen, go back, or jump to the home screen, etc.
Build Quality
Both smartwatches are dust-proof and water-resistant up to 5ATM. Additionally, both smartwatches are sweat-resistant, meaning you can confidently use them for sports and other outdoor activities. The square design of both smartwatches also means that they won’t get in the way while doing your workouts. Both smartwatches are protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3 that protects the screens from scratches, and also they are both touch screen.
Features
Both the Amazfit Bip S and Fitbit Versa have the same basic features typically found on smartwatches at this price range. Both of these watches give various alerts and notifications, such as phone calls. You can also interact with these notifications in different ways. Incoming phone calls, for example, can be muted or rejected by the user.
Both smartwatches give a fairly strong and noticeable vibration whenever you receive a notification. However, you have to take note that both the Bip S does not give you the option to reply to chats and text messages.
Additionally, both watches have clock features such as time/date, alarm clock, and stopwatch. Fitbit Pay makes a return to the Versa, but only for certain models. In the U.S., only the Special Edition Versa comes with NFC to support Fitbit Pay. However, if you live in Asia or Europe, NFC/Fitbit Pay will be available on all models.
The Bip S and Versa feature inactivity alerts. Whenever you are idle for a long time, it will alert you and encourage you to stay active. The Versa watch has a unique way of alerting for inactivity.
Both watches also include access to the online portal. Your tracking data is uploaded via your smartphone or computer and is available to view in the form of reports and graphs. Both watches have a phone finder feature that is especially useful if you misplace your smartphone.
For Versa, one unique feature is the integration of a friends list on the Fitbit App. You can compete with friends who are using the Fitbit App and Fitbit smartwatches and compete with their workout records and statistics. This clever integration encourages users to work out more or encourages friends and family to purchase similar Fitbit smartwatches.
Additionally, the Fitbit Versa can be used with Fitbit Coach. This is an application that can recommend workouts depending on the activities tracked by your Fitbit smartwatch.
The Fitbit Versa can control the media being played on your smartphone. It can also store up to 300 hundred songs on your smartwatch. The Bip S, on the other hand, can only control music on your smartphone.
Software
The Amazfit Bip S is running the proprietary Amazfit OS. Although it is not as powerful or interactive as Google’s Wear OS or Apple’s Watch OS, the watch gets most of the basics right. The watch comes with a companion app that keeps track of all the data on stats. Most of the settings can be tweaked in the app.
However, Fitbit didn’t change much in its Fitbit OS software platform, which launched on the Ionic. There are a variety of apps and clock faces to choose from, some designed by Fitbit and some from high-profile third parties. Fitbit’s App Gallery currently has over 550 apps and clock faces.
But the Versa ships with Fitbit OS 2.0. During setup, you’ll be asked to input your height and weight, which is used to help calculate various tracking results and select your fitness goals.
Fitbit OS 2.0 includes a personalized dashboard that lives on the smartwatch itself. The dashboard lets you see your daily and weekly health and fitness stats, historical activity, heart rate, exercise summaries, motivational messages, tips and tricks, and daily guidance on your wrist.
The software even remembers your last few workout sessions, so you don’t have to check your phone to see how you did. That said, what you can do on your wrist is still very limited compared to the Fitbit mobile app; for example, you can’t log water intake on your wrist without downloading a separate smartwatch app.
Fitness and Health Tracker
The Amazfit Bip S features several sensors, such as the BioTracker TMPPG Bio-Tracking Optical Sensor, 3-axis acceleration sensor, 3-axis geomagnetic sensor, and ambient light sensor. The Bip S can track activities such as distance, steps, sleep, and pace. Additionally, it can provide activity reports and sleep reports. It can also count calories and calorie burn.
On the other hand, Versa features an accelerometer to track steps and movement and a heart rate monitor on the rear to keep tabs on your heart. There’s also the relative SpO2 sensor to track blood oxygen.
Another significant feature difference is that the Bip S has a built-in GPS with Glonass satellite support too. It’s had an upgrade in the heart rate sensor department, with the new BioTracker sensor now on board, while the Fitbit Versa does not have a built-in GPS. You can only use a connected GPS, meaning you have to connect it to your smartphone to use the GPS for outdoor workouts if you want to track route and distance.
The Fitbit Versa detects activities automatically, can track elevation, has a goal-setting, has a multi-sport mode, has exercise tagging, and has a stroke counter swimming. Both watches can monitor cycling, running, and swimming, and both watches can monitor heart rate on the wrist.
Additionally, several other features are not present in the Bip S that is present with the Versa. Some of these are the Gyroscope, Altimeter, VO2 max, and weight tracking. On the other hand, some features present with the Bip S that are absent with Versa are exercise tagging and stroke recognition.
The Bip S can automatically detect which type of swimming stroke you are performing during your workout. This is better for serious swimmers and saves you having to manually adjust your data later.
Given these two watches’ price points, some notable missing features include cadence sensor, temperature sensor, perspiration, and 3D compass. Both watches have a stroke counter for swimming, multi-sports mode, and goal setting.
Given Fitbit’s specialty in fitness tracking, the experience you get with the Versa is more similar to a personal trainer than the Bip S. Aside from tracking activities; it can also interpret your data and make recommendations.
Connectivity
Both watches are compatible with Android and iOS devices via Bluetooth. The Amazfit Bip S uses the newer Bluetooth 5.0 chip, while the Fitbit Versa uses Bluetooth 4.0. The Fitbit Versa can also connect to devices running Windows.
One edge that the Fitbit Versa has over the Amazfit Bip S is its Wi-Fi connectivity. This allows for more applications such as streaming services. Additionally, The Fitbit Versa also has NFC, which can be used for Fitbit Pay.
Both watches sync wirelessly, but the Fitbit Versa automatically syncs while the Bip S does not. Both watches don’t have cellular modules and ANT+.
Battery Life
The Amazfit Bip S is better than the Fitbit Versa in terms of its battery life. The Bip S can last up to 40 days with regular use, which is very impressive. If you use most of its features, it will only last up to 15 days. And when using the GPS, the watch will only last up to 22 hours. The Fitbit Versa, on the other hand, can last up to four days with mixed usage.
Both watches have a battery indicator that shows when the device has a low battery level. The charging time of the Bip S is slightly longer than the Versa. The Bip S requires 2.5 hours to fully charge, while the Versa only takes 2 hours.
Both watches feature a non-removable battery. They also do not feature any form of wireless charging. The charging type in Amazfit Bip S has a 2-pins POGO pin while the Fitbit Versa has a USB based charging dock.
Comparison Winner
Amazfit Bip S
