Fitbit Versa 3 Review - Now with GPS and many improvements
We took some time before writing this review, although the product we test is a super preview from TechToday, but products like this Fitbit Versa 3 must be lived. Given that I am not a super sportsman, but perhaps this is not even the target to which this smartwatch is aimed, which attracts users from its thanks to the presence of NFC, Alexa, GPS and much more that I now tell you in this complete review .
On offer on Amazon
The watch is available in 3 different colors, which each include a second strap (only part with slots) of large size (suitable for a wrist circumference between 180 and 220 mm), to better adhere to very large wrists. I am not a featherweight, but I can tell you that the small size (suitable for a wrist circumference between 140 mm-180 mm) contained in the package still wrapped my wrist well without problems. However, the 3 different color combinations of the watch are:
- Black bezel with black strap.
- Rose gold colored bezel with pink strap.
- Golden bezel with blue strap.
The closure system is definitely not the most comfortable but I can guarantee that once worn, the watch is firmly in place and not at all annoying, as it is made with skin friendly material, even during the most intense phases of sweating, also thanks to a weight overall reduced by only 42 grams. In any case, online or directly on the company store, you will find many other strap solutions, which can easily be changed, thanks to the quick release system integrated directly into the watch case.
Fitbit Versa 3 offers on the front a 1,58-inch color touch screen with 336 x 336 pixel resolution and AMOLED technology, with 2.5D processing and Corning Gorilla Glass protection. The readability of the information provided is really excellent in all light conditions, even under direct sunlight (ambient light sensor present), visibility that in this condition is lost if the Always On Display function is activated. This function also significantly affects the battery life which basically allows about 6 full days of continuous use, i.e. recording the activities of the whole day. On the other hand, 2 days are guaranteed if we enable the functionality of the AOD.
But Fitbit has thought of everything and has integrated fast charging for this Versa 3, which in just 12 minutes will offer full autonomy for a whole day, while you reach 80% recharge in just 40 minutes. The complete recharge instead takes place in about 2 hours. As for the charger, it's the same that all the latest Fitbit devices have.
In any case, the display can be activated by placing the palm of the hand on the display, by rotating the wrist, by means of a physical "button" or by tapping on the screen. The color rendering is decidedly optimal, emphasized by the many watchfaces available from the Fitbit app. Just pay attention to the fact that many skins for the dial are paid, available for testing only for a few hours.
The general construction of the watch is really of great value, thanks to the use of reinforced aluminum on the whole frame of the case, where on the right side we find the speaker and the microphone while on the mirror side we have the altimeter sensor and a small recess. which actually conceals the physical button, which can be operated by pressing: lightly to turn on / off the display or go back to the home, long press to perform a quick action, such as calling up the Alexa voice assistant or double pressing to access 4 quick connections, which can be set via the clock settings.
It must be said that this button was not at all comfortable in everyday use, sometimes even being inaccurate. One choice poco apt although it is undeniable that the smooth design of Fitbit Versa 3 appears elegant and appreciable. Moving on to the rear, we find the magnetic pogo pins for charging and the new PurePulse 2.0 sensor, a renewed biometric sensor that increases the number of reading points on the wrist and uses "machine learning" algorithms to improve each reading and increase the accuracy of the data it provides. Now, it can also analyze changes in heart rate to determine the stress levels we are subjected to and shows us all in complete graphics to consult through the app.
Without going into too much technicalities, I can say that the heartbeat detection was decidedly accurate by providing a set of data that helps to better analyze your health, both at rest and during training sessions. Monitoring takes place H24, 7 days a week and the classic heart rate value can also be accompanied by that of SpO7, or oxygenation of the blood, but unfortunately this data is collected only at night and with dedicated watchfaces and specifically to currently only one is available.
Fitbit Versa 3 offers water resistance up to 50 meters, allowing you to wear it in the pool, in the shower and even in the sea so much so that in trackable sports we also have swimming. But the real novelty of this smartwatch with a sporty soul is characterized by the presence of an integrated GPS with GLONASS positioning system, to view pace and distance without a phone during running, trekking and outdoor cycling workouts, then view a map of the your route in the Fitbit app.
The presence of an integrated GPS certainly gives an edge to this Fitbit Versa 3 and above all the notification system relating to physical activity, often motivational, such as those of achieving a goal or those that remind us to do activities physics, on the whole they represent the plus that many watches in the same price range and category lack. And from the point of view of sports activities, we can choose from over 20 training modes, viewing the various statistics in real time or we can rely on the integrated function, Smart Track which automatically recognizes and records the exercises carried out during the day. The recognition takes place automatically after a minimum of minutes, at least 10, in which we are carrying out the activity.
I must say that from the sporting point of view and the data collected and offered by the various sensors, this Fitbit Versa 3 amazed and satisfied me while I would have expected something more from the point of view of the reliability of step counting and heart rate detection. . In fact, for the steps I could see a value of 10% offset from reality, this is because fake steps are recorded for example while driving, while for what concerns the heartbeat I do not have much to complain, but the collected value is completely similar to what for example I was able to record with Amazfit Verge Lite, only this device costs at least 3 times less.
Ok, let's get to the decidedly positive and beautiful things about this smartwatch. Always remaining on the sports theme, we have the Coach function available, dedicated to those who want to keep fit but have poco time available, offering 3 workouts consisting of many small exercises, lasting from 7 to 15 minutes maximum. On the display of the Fitbit Versa 3, however, a small animated preview of how to perform the exercise will be shown. The sensors are also completed by the presence of Gyroscope, Altimeter, 3-axis accelerometer, 2.4 Ghz Wifi, Vibration motor for notifications and integrated temperature sensor (skin temperature variation available only through Premium).
We have integrated the virtual assistant Alexa, through which we can perform a series of functions that we never expected to do directly from our wrist. For example, we can control the devices of our home automation, lights, robots, etc., we can add items to our shopping list, set up memoranda, ask Alexa about weather forecasts and other information. Theoretically Fitbit Versa 3 is also compatible with the Google assistant, but this is a function that will arrive at the end of 2020. Another gem is the presence of the NFC sensor to pay on the go directly from the Fitbit Versa 3, using the Fitbit payment system as a bridge Pay, moreover in total safety given the presence of a PIN code to unlock the functionality.
Of course, among the many data collected by Fitbit Versa 3 we also have those relating to sleep (light, deep and REM sleep) to which it is possible to associate the Sleep function, which will silence smartphone notifications and turn off the ignition of the display, a it can also be set automatically or at a certain time.
But surely what will appeal to users interested in this device is the notification management system. In fact, in addition to being able to view emoticons, we can also respond to certain applications, using pre-set quick responses that can be customized from the companion app, use emojis or directly respond in a voice way. But we will not send a real voice, but a text message, as the system will convert our voice to text and I must say that the recognition accuracy is really excellent. If instead we receive vocals or images / videos, we will not be able to view or listen to them.
The notifications are also always synchronized with the smartphone so by marking these as read on the watch, they will automatically be deleted also from the smartphone. And always regarding the notifications, we can also receive those relating to calls, having the ability to reject the call or answer it. Too bad that this possibility is only fictitious, as once the answer button is pressed, we should still move to the smartphone to talk. And here the pains begin, because although Fitbit Versa 3 has a speaker and microphone, these are not exploited properly. Not to mention the possibility of listening to music from the watch: you must have a Premium subscription to services such as Spotify or Deezer but theoretically we could transfer the music locally, considering the more than 2,5 GB of internal memory made available by the smartwatch. Instead, there was no way to transfer music to the watch, thus also losing the possibility of listening to music perhaps with TWS headphones, given the possibility of pairing Bluetooth devices. And even the control of the music played on the smartphone is not the best, since often in this mode the touch does not take commands well.
Other functions available directly on this Fitbit Versa 3 are the ability to set different alarms directly from the watch, take advantage of the relaxation function through which we will be "educated" on guided breathing in order to decrease the stress level, we have the ability to view the weather, start a timer or stopwatch, view the appointments in the diary, search for the smartphone in the Bluetooth range of action but we can also install some applications directly from the Fitbit store, however many are paid and especially in English.
The software interface is apparently simple and clean but personally I have not particularly appreciated it, finding it sometimes confusing, losing the guarantee of quick access to all the features. Remaining on the face of the smartwatch, a swipe downwards allows you to access notifications while with a swipe upwards you access the display of quick widgets such as weather and statistics. With the same movement, to the right, we access the quick toggles while to the left we access all the functions of the smartwatch.
The management and customization of Fitbit Versa 3 features are managed through the excellent Fitbit app, available for both Android and iOS systems, from the home you can view the statistics collected during the day as well as set custom goals, install new apps on the smartwatch, change watchfaces, set movement reminders and customize watch parameters. Overall, a well-made app well devoted to data, also considering the possibility of recording the water drunk during the day and meals, in order to have a more realistic data on calories etc ..
On offer on Amazon
Fitbit Versa 3 is available on the Amazon store at a price of about 229 euros, certainly not pennies but overall they are or would be justified by all the possibilities of use that this smartwatch offers. Unfortunately, net of what we have told ourselves, this device is "lame", making the choice almost converge on the analogues of the sector that mount the Wear OS operating system. Overall Fitbit Versa 3 is one of the most complete wearables in the category: a purchase certainly recommended for fans of the brand or anyone who has patience and confidence in future updates that will complete the picture of the features of this smartwatch.
