Fitbit Versa 2 vs. Fitbit Versa

Fitbit has a commanding share of the pricier end of the fitness wearables market with some of the best fitness trackers you can buy. The original Fitbit Versa marked a move into smartwatch territory, with a much larger, squared-off screen and a few extra features beyond health and fitness tracking. The Fitbit Versa 2 improved on its predecessor with a raft of new features including Alexa support, better sleep tracking, and Fitbit Pay in all models. Let’s take a closer look at how these smartwatches compare.

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Specs

While Fitbit doesn’t go into details on the hardware inside its devices, the Versa 2 does have a more powerful processor and redesigned software that should ensure slicker, faster performance compared to the original Versa. We did notice some occasional stuttering when navigating the first Versa so this is a welcome improvement.

Winner: Fitbit Versa 2

Design and display

The Fitbit Versa 2 looks a lot like the original Fitbit Versa with the same square face and rounded, chamfered edges in anodized aluminum. The Versa 2 has just a single button on the left, with a polished finish. These smartwatches are designed to be worn all the time, so they have a style that could fit comfortably with most outfits. Fitbit offers a wide range of different bands to enable you to change the look.

A more tangible improvement in the Fitbit Versa 2 is the screen. Fitbit has gone from LCD to AMOLED and that translates to deeper blacks and more vibrant colors. Both the Versa watches are also water-resistant, up to a depth of 50 meters, so you can swim with them on.

Winner: Fitbit Versa 2

Fitness and health-tracking features

You’ll find the same comprehensive fitness tracking options from the Versa on the Versa 2. There are more than 15 goal-based exercise modes, you can track workouts, there’s 24/7 heart rate tracking, and you can review your stats right on the Versa’s screen. You can delve into time, distance, calories, and steps with basic information accessible on the watch and the option to dive deeper via the smartphone app. One potential disappointment is that Fitbit stuck with connected GPS in the Versa 2, which means the watch relies on your phone for GPS tracking.

Fitbit also offers female health-tracking, guided breathing, motivation on your wrist, and educational insights about your activity and nutrition, but the headline it pushed with the Versa 2 is more in-depth sleep tracking with a smart wake mode that’s supposed to pick the right time to wake you in the morning, plus a sleep score and more detailed insights into your sleep stages and overall quality.

For guidance on better sleep hygiene, dynamic workouts, health coaching, and deeper insights, you can subscribe to Fitbit Premium, which costs $10 per month or $80 per year.

The existing features are the same on both models, and the new features should be rolling out to the original Versa, too, so there’s nothing to set them apart here.

Winner: Tie

Battery life

The Fitbit Versa 2 offers longer battery life than the original. Fitbit suggests you should expect five days and up from a single charge, which is a significant boost over the original Versa’s four-days-and-up estimate. We were able to get four days out of the original Versa’s battery, even with heavy use. There is an updated always-on display option, but you can expect it to drain your battery faster if you decide to use it.

Winner: Fitbit Versa 2

Special features

The big addition with the Versa 2 was a microphone and Amazon Alexa support. You can ask Alexa questions and get on-screen text replies allowing you to check the weather, start recording a workout, get nutritional information, or find the nearest gym simply by asking. It could also prove handy to set reminders, timers during workouts, or even to compile shopping lists while you work out. If you have an Android phone you can also use the microphone to reply to texts and notifications with custom voice replies.

If you opt for the pricer, exclusive version of the standard Fitbit Versa, then you would have had the opportunity to utilize the convenient Fitbit Pay system to pay with your watch. Fitbit has offered Fitbit Pay in all of its Fitbit Versa 2 models. Both versions can support a variety of applications, such as Spotify, and can even conveniently deliver cell phone notifications to your watch. 

Winner: Fitbit Versa 2

Price and availability

The Fitbit Versa 2 has a starting price of $200, even though it has since been usurped by the new Versa 3 model. Fortunately, you also may be able to find a more affordable price for the product online. The special edition is available at $230 (which is the exact price of the original Fitbit Versa) and includes two bands as well as a 90-day Premium trial. You’ll most likely be able to find the Fitbit Versa 2 in retail stores at lower prices than online outlets; the price will keep decreasing since there’s more of a demand for the upgraded models.

Overall winner: Fitbit Versa 2

We predict that the Fitbit Versa 2 will outperform the older Versa, and it has exceeded our expectations thus far. The Fitbit Versa 2 is an upgrade compared to the original because the developers added a larger screen, more responsive internal system, and longer battery life. While most wearable fitness technologies have similar features and differ mostly in design, Fitbit is taking things a step further by partnering with Amazon’s Alexa. This means your technology will now go above and beyond the standard smartphone connectivity to give you a chance to use voice commands. The costs are the same for both the Versa 2 and standard Versa. So, when you’re picking between the two models, it’s most logical to select the Versa 2. But if you happen to find a Versa at a super low price, you may want to go for that.