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Best Fitbit Smartwatches
Fitbit is one of the few brands that manages to nail both fitness enthusiast features and consumer-oriented features in a single smartwatch. They manage to do this while introducing revolutionary features making it unique from its smartwatch competitors. And with the acquisition of Google in 2020, Fitbit does not seem to be losing its touch in the smartwatch game.
Unlike other smartwatch brands, Fitbit does not have the biggest smartwatch and smart wearable product lineup. However, Fitbit is well known to focus on quality rather than quality. And in this article, we will be tackling the best out of Fitbit’s smart wearable lineup.
Our top recommendations for those looking to get into Fitbit’s devices are the Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3. But, of course, Fitbit has products that accommodate other use cases and budgets as well. Keep on scrolling to learn about their other watches.
Best Overall: Fitbit Sense
Fitbit’s best offering is without a doubt their latest smartwatch, the Fitbit Sense. This watch has the most advanced feature offering from the brand. It takes several cues from their best-selling Versa series but makes major improvements to better compete with well-known watches such as the Apple Watch.
Compared to the Versa Series, the Sense offers an even more premium look. It has a stainless steel frame and aluminum body. The screen is protected with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, which makes the watch very safe to use for more extreme activities. Fitbit also offers several color options for the Sense to fit your style.
But what makes the Fitbit Sense an upgrade to the Versa series is the number of health tracking options available. It features an EDA scan for stress management. This is done by measuring the sweat on your skin. Additionally, the whole process is kept simple and can be done by just placing your palm on top of the smartwatch.
The Fitbit Sense is also the first Fitbit also to include an onboard ECG application, which can be read within 30 seconds after generating a single-lead ECG. The Fitbit Sense also supports temperature tracking, which is performed at night.
Also, just like the Versa 3, the Fitbit Sense has a built-in GPS. This means that you can now go for runs without the need for your smartphone. It can accurately track the route you take, pace, distance traveled, and the time it took you to complete your route.
Responding to messages is also faster and more convenient using the speech-to-text feature, making it a good smartwatch for texting.
Additionally, the Sense supports both Alexa and Google Assistant, making it compatible with a wide range of equipment. Having both assistants also means that Android users who are more used to using the Google Assistant won’t feel out of place.
And lastly, all of this is made possible thanks to Fitbit Sense’s faster processor. You can expect a smooth and lag-free user experience. Overall, if you are looking at the best smartwatch that Fitbit has to offer, the Fitbit Sense should be on top of your list.
Runner Up: Fitbit Versa 3
Alternatively, if you do not need all of the Fitbit Sense’s high-end fitness tracking features, the Fitbit Versa 3 is just as good as the Fitbit Sense in all other areas. This watch is the upgrade to the Fitbit Versa 2, which is arguably Fitbit’s most recognizable smartwatch series. It carries everything that made the Versa 2 a very compelling choice in its price range. But now, the Fitbit Versa 3 has a built-in GPS. This means that you can now get accurate results without needing to carry your smartphone during runs.
The Fitbit Versa 3 has a 1.58 inch AMOLED display with a screen resolution of 336 x 336 pixels. It also has an always-on display, blood oxygen, temperature tracking during sleep, and a battery that lasts up to six days.
Aside from its fancy looks, the Versa 3 is an extremely capable tool for fitness-tracking. It can measure steps, distance, calories burned, and heart rate. The Versa 3 covers the basics well and has the same fitness features as the more expensive Sense.
It also has 20 different activities under sports mode, including indoor and outdoor swimming. It is also well optimized to detect movements that can trigger the watch to start sessions automatically.
Additionally, like the Fitbit Sense, the Versa 3 now features the Google Assistant. Previous iterations only included Amazon’s Alexa. This makes the Versa 3 a more versatile device since you can potentially connect it to more devices. This also means that Android users can now answer calls directly from the watch.
With the number of features and the battery life of the Versa 3, it is one of the most compelling options in its price range. If you are looking for a feature-packed square watch with great build quality, software, and battery life, make sure to check out the Versa 3.
Best Value: Versa 2
If you are willing to make some sacrifices in terms of functionality, the Fitbit Versa 2 is the best value smartwatch that you will get from Fitbit. The Versa 2 is the embodiment of a modern fitness smartwatch. It has an appealing design, a gorgeous OLED display, 5-day battery life, and an onboard virtual assistant (Alexa).
This watch has a rectangular design similar to higher-end models such as the Apple Watch. It also offers a great-looking screen and an overall cleaner design. Its band is made of flexible, durable materials that provide a comfortable experience.
This watch has a 1.4 inch AMOLED screen that gives a clear, bright, and vibrant display. It also uses Corning Gorilla Glass for maximum protection from accidental bumps and drops.
However, this watch is not only aesthetically pleasing. It also has a superb sleep and health tracking features. The Fitbit Versa 2 comes with sensors such as a 3-axis accelerometer, optical heart rate monitor, altimeter, ambient light sensor, vibration motor, relative SpO2 sensor, and it has a built-in microphone.
In terms of its battery life, the watch can last up to three days. This is quite the feat given its features. You will be able to use the watch with different activities for a longer time than similarly priced options.
The only major feature that separates the Versa 2 and the Versa 3 is the Versa 3’s built-in GPS. With the Versa 2, you’d need to carry your smartphone if you wish to go for outdoor runs. This is a small price to pay, considering the rest of the Versa 2’s feature set is excellent.
Overall, if you are looking for an aesthetically pleasing watch with advanced health and activity tracking features, then the Fitbit Versa 2 is a great choice.
Best Budget Smartwatch: Fitbit Ionic
Despite its age, the Fitbit Ionic is still one of Fitbit’s most popular offerings. Like the Versa series, the Ionic is a fitness-focused smartwatch that does not compromise the overall user experience. It has all the essential features such as Fitbit Coach as well as modern streaming services such as Pandora.
The Ionic is a bit dated when it comes to its aesthetics. Unlike the clean-looking Versa 3 and Sense, the Ionic has boxy, sharp edges and a bulky design. While it is built well, it looks out of place when sitting next to modern smartwatch offerings.
One design element that Fitbit has done with the ionic is the use of both plastic and metal in its casing. This allows more accuracy in its sensors and antennas while maintaining its solid build quality. The Ionic’s strap is made of a flexible and durable elastomer material.
The Ionic’s LCD screen isn’t bad given its age. It is still capable of displaying a clear and sharp image. It won’t wow you like AMOLED displays, but it is a lot better compared to the LCD display on most entry-level smartwatches.
Like other expensive smartwatches, the Ionic smart notifications can receive emails, texts, calls, weather forecasts, calendar reminders, and more. On the fitness side, it can track activities like distance, steps, and sleep. Some of the available activities in multi-sport mode include cycling, running, and swimming; a heart rate monitor is also available.
Additionally, the Fitbit Ionic has the Fitbit Pay feature that lets you pay cashless. This is a great feature when performing outdoor activities.
The Fitbit Ionic has a battery life of up to 4 days on regular use and up to10 hours on GPS mode. Overall, if you are looking for a low-cost smartwatch that still has the features of today’s modern watches, the Fitbit Ionic is still worth a look.
Best Budget Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Charge 4
The Fitbit Charge 4 is one of the best simple-looking fitness tracker devices. Its predecessors are one of the favorites in the fitness market. Now with its upgrade of having additional features, it has become a really great watch for fitness tracking.
The additional features of the Charge 4 include a GPS, Fitbit pay, Spotify support, and an Active Zone Minutes metric. The Active Zone Minutes measures the intensity of exercises. These additional features give convenience to every user. You will no longer need to carry or bring out your mobile phone during activity sessions outdoors.
This watch has a very simple and minimalist design. It is small and comfortable to wear. The Charge 4 comes with a special edition version where you can get a woven band or a reflective granite and an additional plastic band for workouts. However, you will need to pay more to get the special edition version.
You will be missing out on a colored screen on this watch. But if your only concern is a device for fitness tracking, then this is the watch for you. This watch has almost all the features you need for tracking your activities. And some extra features like Spotify support to control your music when doing workouts without needing to bring out your phone.
The Fitbit pay feature also gives the convenience of paying cashless. Additionally, it is waterproof up to 164 feet. You can wear your watch in the shower or during a swim.
The battery life of the Fitbit Charge 4 lasts up to 7 days. On GPS mode, it will only last for 5 hours. It is compatible with Android and IOS.
Best for Battery Life: Fitbit Inspire 2
The Fitbit Inspire 2 is an entry-level fitness tracker from Fitbit. It has the longest battery life in the Fitbit brand. It is also one of the most affordable fitness trackers.
The Inspire 2 is a great alternative to the Fitbit Charge 4 as a fitness tracker. A Lot of great features are already on this watch, and you can get it without needing to spend much.
This watch has an OLED touch screen, which is responsive enough. However, texts on the display are quite small since this watch is smaller compared to other smartwatches.
Around 20 workout modes are available on this watch. It also features some sensors to help in the activity tracking. The sensors included are a heart rate tracker and an accelerometer. However, the GPS is missing on this device, but with your mobile phones with you, you can use GPS through it.
This watch is small, slim, and lightweight, so it would be comfortable to wear and use during activity sessions or even during the night when you are tracking the number of hours of your sleep.
This watch is also waterproof up to 164 feet, so you can safely wear it during a swim or even in the shower. Not needing to take on and off your watch is a great convenience to any user.
Recorded data can be uploaded to the Fitbit app to easily monitor activities and set goals.
The Inspire 2 has a battery life of up to 10 days. This gives the convenience of not having to charge your watch every day. It is also compatible with Android and IOS devices.
Fitbit Brand Overview
Fitbit is an American fitness and health brand founded in 2007. With its 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.
Check out our full Fitbit Brand Overview to learn more.
