Hi, this is Wayne again with a topic “Fitbit Versa 2 Review: Mild Gains”.
[ Narrator ], When the first Fitbit Versa came out. Last year I told you how well it worked as a fitness tracker in the gym and how much promise I thought it had as a smart watch. If only Fitbit would make a few changes. Enter the Fitbit Versa, 2, a sequel with a better screen, fewer buttons and more features., But does any of that make it a better smart watch, ( upbeat, music ). The reason I phrase it that way.
Thanks to a conversation I had at IFA 2019 in Berlin with Windows, Central’s Zac Bowden., Look, I know. “ fit” is right in the brand name, but some people like Zac and me buy Fitbits to use mainly as smart watches.. So this video is really for them or for folks who want to know about the smart watch side of this wearable.. Let’S start by callings out the bits of this fit that are objective: great improvements., Switching the display technology to Amoled from last years. Lcd means the colors are more vibrant and black pixels are truly black..
That means graphics, really pop beneath the Gorilla glass. As you can see, with this Nixie Tube watch face. Somewhere under that Amoled panel, sits a more powerful processor than last year, too., Which matters to more than just spec geeks.. It means the interface really zips along now., That’s impressive, because the Versa 2 also has more features. NFC for Wallet payments which work well and Amazon. Alexa. Just hold down that side. Button and use the built in microphone to set reminders, ask questions and dictate messages.. In other big names, Spotify is here too, alongside Uber Starbucks and a handful of others in the Fitbit App store..
For me, the best bit about the Versa 2 is that it improves on something Versa. 1 was already great at battery life., Where a typical Apple or Galaxy watch needs to be charged every other night at best. The Versa 2 got me through six full days on a single charge.
And that’s not vacation days. But trade show days where my wrist never stopped buzzing from notifications., And then it didn’t even get a break over night because it was tracking my sleep too I’ll. Come back to that in a second for now, let’s just give Fitbit props for all work week, endurance well done., But it was Allen Watts who said “ That doing things you don’t like doing in order to go on doing things you don’t like doing is stupid.” In other words, it doesn’t matter if something lasts a long time if you don’t enjoy using it and as a smart watch.
The Versa 2 doesn’t address a lot of my complaints from last year.. First, you still need to manage an awful lot through the app I’m talking basic things.. If you want to change the watch face that happens on the phone. And pushing a new one to the Versa, 2 takes roughly a decade.
I’ll leave this real time. Footage up to prove my point as I complain about another thing. As a frequent traveler. I like to be able to change the clock manually on the plane when I’m flying through time zones, but you need to do that on the app., Which means you need to take your phone out of airplane mode and you can only change the time zone. Not the time. Watch face still not done yet.. So, okay, let’s just move on you get the point.. There are other limitations.
One while Alexa is pretty good at the basics. Like reminders, the voice reply feature when your sending a message is hit or miss. And thanks to the iPhone lockdown eco-system, it only works on Android. Two, as I always say on my Wear.
Os reviews watches should force you onto those tiny touch screens less often not more.. I don’t like the Fitbit removed the two additional side buttons from the Versa 1., Whether you’re running or just trying to get through life. It’S a lot easier to feel out a button than to focus on a touch screen. Three. While I’m glad that the interior space is filled up with more battery., It seems weird that something with a fitness focus doesn’t have GPS on board..
You still need to carry your phone if you want to map your runs. Four ditto. If you want to bring your Spotify play, lists along., You can control it from your wrist, but you can’t actually put your playlists on there and you need a premium account to do even that..
Yes, you can manually move Mp3’s over, but that is not fun. And five. There’S an Always-On Display, now. Great, but using it locks you into just two ugly options and cuts your battery life in half..
Finally, lets talk about the two things I think most people will use this for steps and sleep. For the former. Well, it still gives me credit all the time for steps it thinks I’m taking while riding in a car or typing at a keyboard..
It feels like to dumb of a problem to still be dealing with in 2019, but as Russell Holly points out in an editorial. I agree with that. It’S not unique to Fitbit that happens to most fitness trackers. And with the possible exception of the Apple watch. Fitbit has the most friendly breakdown of health data out there.
With an app that sorts, the information, so it’s accessible and a huge community of users. If the thing that gets you to go to, the gym is competing against your friends or strangers., And Fitbits new premium service only adds to those advantages.. As for sleep tracking, well, here’s an editorial from Russell Holly. I don’t agree with., I think sleep tracking is actually pretty useful as long as you understand that he’s right.
The data isn’t perfect, but being able to breakdown results over days and weeks and see the amount of rest, you get effects. How you feel it’s compelling stuff.. I visited my family right after EFA and my Aunt worried that her guest bed wouldn’t be comfortable enough for me to crash on., But according to my sleep score, it was just delightful.. The Fitbit Versa. 2 is available September 15th for the starting price of $ 199..
It’S still not a great smart watch, so if you’re looking for right messaging and plentiful, apps check out the Apple watch, if you have an iPhone or the Galaxy watch from Samsung or the Wear OS devices. From the Fossil group. – If, instead, you want to health focused wearable, that does a little more and looks a little better than you typical fitness band. Well then, the Versa 2 just might be for you. Fitbit owners and wearable wearers in general.
I want to hear from you. What are you wearing on your wrist or what are you wanting to put there Sound off in the comments below and subscribe to THEMRMOBILE on YouTube? So you don’t miss a bunch of wrist watch reviews coming very soon. And follow me on the same handle on Instagram. If you want to see those new Fossil group watches announced, while I was in Berlin., This review made possible by a Fitbit Versa, 2 sample from Fitbit. – I don’t take money for reviews and Fitbit was not offered copy approval. That means that they’re seeing this video at the same time, you are. Until next time, thanks for watching and stay mobile. My friends .