Since the launch of its first entry to the smartwatch market, Fitbit has been continuously developing new exciting wearable products with fitness at the core, powered with connectivity features and more.
Following the success of the Versa smartwatch, the company has rolled out its improved version—Versa 2—the smartwatch designed to be worn while on the move and while sleeping.
Fitbit has taken the features that made the first edition of Versa a bestseller: lightweight and simple interface, then simplified it even further while adding new functions.
Unlike its older sister with a multi-button set-up, Versa 2 only has one button through which all interactions are controlled. It also sports a much pleasant OLED screen, a few notches of update from the previous LCD panel, which results in a brighter and more colorful display. It also features a relatively larger screen—no more Fitbit brand below the screen.
Louis Lye, Fitbit regional lead for Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan told Manila Standard Versa 2’s battery can last up to more than six days, but with a caveat: “Don’t use the always-on display feature.”
Always-on basically allows the wearers to see the clock at all times without having to tap the screen or push the button to wake the smartwatch. But should the wearer opt to enable the always-on feature, Lye said Versa 2’s battery will only last two days.
A new and exclusive battery- and sleep-friendly feature of the new smartwatch is the Sleep Mode, which disables screen display and silence notifications for a night free of disturbances. It’s also helpful at times when interruptions can be the bane of productivity.
In keeping with the innovative sleep features, Versa 2 also comes with Smart Wake. This feature, which officials said will be available to all Fitbit smartwatches, uses machine learning to wake the wearer during an optimal time while in light or REM sleep based on a pre-selected 30-minute interval.
For example, when the wearer sets their alarm at 7:00 a.m. it starts to monitor their sleep stage 30 minutes before it goes off. “When it sees you in light sleep at 6:47 a.m., it starts to wake you up,” explained Lye.
Versa 2 also comes with Sleep Score, which sends a nightly score or insights in the Fitbit app to help wearers determine their sleep quality based on heart rate (sleeping and resting), restlessness, time awake, and sleep stages.
Another added smart feature in Versa 2 is the voice-enabled quick reply. Enabled by Fitbit’s first on-device microphone, users can send out replies by pressing the button and speaking into the microphone.
Lye said the voice reply has no word or time limit (“as long as the microphone is turned on”), but clarified that the feature is made for quick replies.
Spotify is also—finally—in Fitbit.
“This is the most often requested feature from our customers when we launched Versa,” shared Lye. However, at the moment, it can only be used online.
The Spotify app lets wearers control playback on-the-go, as long as the smartwatch is connected to their phone via Bluetooth.
Versa 2 is available for P12,890 in black with a carbon case, petal with a copper rose aluminum case, and stone with a mist gray case. The Special Edition retails at P14,590 and comes in navy and pink with a copper rose aluminum case, and smoke with a mist gray case.
Fitbit has also launched Fitbit Premium, a paid subscription service in the app that utilizes users’ data to provide quality health and fitness tools, and personalized guidance and coaching. It is designed for those looking for extra motivation and support.
