When it comes to wearables, smartwatches, and fitness trackers, features need to be easy to figure out and the device itself needs to be setup simply and then operate seamlessly. Especially for me, as a fitness writer and editor who tests a lot of wearables, the second I run into a roadblock with one, generally speaking I end up throwing in the towel. If I have to spend too much time trying to get a smartwatch to work correctly, for me, it’s just not worth it — especially when there are other options on the market that work well, like the Fitbit Versa 2.
The Fitbit Versa 2 is the second version in the Versa line of products from the brand. The biggest changes with this new version are the always-on display, built-in Amazon Alexa capabilities, Fitbit Pay, and voice replies to text on Android phones (Full disclosure: I don’t have an Android, so I wasn’t able to use this feature). Sleep mode and sleep score are also new features that enhance the user experience (these features can also be accessed on the first version of the watch with a simple update) and help the user better understand their sleep. All of this, plus the original fitness and activity tracking features make this new watch a perfect workout companion.
Right out of the box, the setup for the Versa 2 is simple by following the steps on the watch and in your Fitbit app. You can personalize the notifications you want to receive and how frequently you want to receive them. The watch also walks you through a quick “what’s what” on swiping features and shortcuts, as well as some cleaning tips to keep the band — and your wrist — tidy.
Tracking activity on the Versa 2 is as easy as a swipe to the left and clicking on the “exercise” icon on the touch-screen display. You’ll have options to choose from: run, bike, swim, treadmill, weights, interval timer, or workout. Once you choose an activity, depending on which you pick, you’ll be able to get real-time feedback on your heart rate, speed, distance, average speed, and more. Then for certain metrics like lengths of the pool swam, because the display is locked when in “swim mode,” you have to go into the Fitbit app. There, you’ll find more insight into all the data collected during an activity.
The watch also gives you the option to set distance, time, or calorie goals, and haptic feedback during the activity will let you know when you’re hitting those benchmarks. One activity that was not initially listed to track was a walk, but it can be added to the list of “exercises” via the app (along with kickboxing, hiking, elliptical, Pilates, golf, and more). To add them onto the watch’s list, you just have to use the Fitbit app and select them under “exercise shortcuts.” This was helpful to learn, and this way, you’re able to customize the watch to track every activity you like to do and personalize the list. I’ve since been able to track walks with no issues!
I’m a data buff, so I love being able to go back and review how I did in a workout. Not only do I want to know how much I burned, but I want to be able to compare my heart rate and work capacity from a Tuesday chest and back lifting session, to a Tuesday chest and back workout the following week. The Fitbit app allows you to do so with ease, as it not only lets you open charts with heart rate and calories burned feedback, as well as total time, but it also displays all your workouts for the week so you can easily get a screenshot into how active you’ve been, and how certain days stack up over others. When listing all your workouts, the app also provides you with a percent of fat burn that the specific workout provided and a cardio percentage. It will even list how many days you worked out that week.
The more you use the device and the more activity you track, the better the watch learns your habits and can give you more guidance and personalized insights.
The watch and app also work together to provide you with total steps taken for the day, the amount of miles that equates to, how many floors you climbed, total calories burned, and the total amount of active minutes. It’s a quick way to check and be sure you’re meeting your daily goals, especially by seeing how far you’ve got to go in order to close your 10,000-step ring, displayed front and center, an “activity goal,” which can also be reset and personalized to whatever your specific goals are. I generally keep mine at 10,000 as studies have found that number to be a good indicator for healthy individuals.
Sleep features on the Versa 2 are also pretty incredible. You don’t even have to let the watch know when you’re going to sleep — it’s able to detect it based on your heart rate, and will even record the time you fell asleep, and when you woke up. Throughout testing, I’ve found it to be extremely accurate.
And now the watch includes new sleep data features. First, you’ll be awarded with a sleep score, which is a sum of your sleep duration, sleep quality, and restlessness — all factors that affect a good night’s sleep. While the app doesn’t precisely break down how each of those stats translates to numbers, it explains the first time you look at the sleep score stat, that these are where the score is derived from.
Then there are sleep stages! As long as your watch has enough battery and is worn in the correct position on your wrist, it is able to track the amount of time you spent awake, in light, deep, and REM sleep. A chart is provided that displays which stages correlate to which times during the night and if you click it, it will inform you about the different stages and which is best for in terms of recovery. For example, while light sleep isn’t correlated with a specific type of recovery, it’s where you spend the most time when you’re in bed, so it’s important for this number to be high. REM sleep helps with memory and mood, while deep sleep is for physical recovery (think: a hard workout day prior), memory, and learning, so if you wake up feeling energized and very refreshed, chances are you got a good amount of deep sleep — and you can check your Fitbit app to confirm.
Personally, I really like the “benchmark” feature, which provides ranges of the sleep stages for other users of the same age and sex, and compares your sleep that night to the average ranges. Note: Fitbit needs at least 3 hours to be able to provide you with a score, which I learned when I stayed up late working one night, then had a very early morning and didn’t receive a sleep score. There’s also a sleep mode feature which silences all notifications for uninterrupted sleep, and sleep wake feature that when set, the watch will wake you during an optimal range of time (with the final alarm being one you set) when you’re in light or REM sleep, for an easier wake up.
I’ve found that the sleep info has made me more aware of how I’m sleeping, when I’m going to sleep, and I’ve tried to make it a point to get a full night of recovery before and after extremely physically taxing days. As a stat nerd, I also find it nice to learn more about what my body is doing while I’m sleeping, and getting more insight into how healthy I’m being overall.
Did I mention that the Versa 2 is also the first Alexa-capable smart watch? I use Alexa in my apartment and I’ve come to lean on her for all things reminders, timers for laundry, and even alarms in the morning. To now also have her on my wrist has been even easier — especially when I’m traveling. Not only can I count on her to have me up in time to get in a workout, a simple click of the side button on my watch, she’s been able to help me find a gym address while I’m out, and answered a nutritional question before I put in a food order at a restaurant. While I still speak out loud to her per usual, I very much enjoy that her answers are displayed in text on the screen, so no one around me has to hear what I’m asking, especially when I’m lost trying to get directions.
Another way the Fitbit Versa 2 makes my active life easier is the new Fitbit Pay, where I can connect my credit cards directly to my watch so I don’t need to pull out my wallet at check out. This has been so convenient more times than I can count, namely after the gym when I want to grab a protein shake or snack and I haven’t even taken my wallet with me. It’s actually been a lifesaver (just make sure the store accepts smart pay!).
For music buffs, Spotify is now also available directly on the Versa 2, meaning if you want to leave your phone at home while you work out, you’ll still be able to access and control all of your music directly from your wrist — an extremely nice feature. I generally always take my phone with me, but I love knowing that if I happen to forget it, I won’t be left without jams for my workout!
Lastly — and it’s one of my favorite things about the watch — the battery life is noticeably amazing. I’ve used other smartwatches and fitness trackers in the past that require frequent charging, especially after long workouts, or after tracking multiple activities. Because of that, I’ve gotten into the habit of checking my wrist to see the battery life post-gym session or run, to see if I need to charge up. Even with the always-on display mode in place, I’d still be at 84% when I checked to see if I needed to charge. It’s been really nice not to charge as frequently — and if I turn the always-on display off, I get even more life out of the watch. It’s definitely gotten me out of the, “I’m about to work out but my watch is going to die,” situation on multiple occasions, and as a person who likes to use the watch to track everything, I’ve really come to appreciate it.
As fitness trackers go, the Fitbit Versa 2, along with the Fitbit app that pairs with it, is one I’d recommend to anyone from a beginner just starting out his or her health and fitness journey, to a fitness buff who wants to learn more about his or her workouts and what’s happening to the body during recovery. It’s a reliable, easy-to-use device, with informative features that can help anyone take their active lifestyle to the next level.
The Fitbit Versa 2 is now available for purchase at Adorama for .
