Fitbit just unveiled its $199 answer to the Apple Watch -Fitbit Versa

by minfa zhang
With its new smartwatch, Fitbit is keeping women in mind.

 

The $199 Fitbit Versa, announced on Tuesday, is Fitbit's second true smartwatch and the first geared toward a more mainstream audience — and smaller wrists.

Fitbit Versa looks a lot like an Apple Watch — although it's a bit smaller — and is less fitness-focused than the watch Fitbit debuted last year, called Fitbit Ionic.

The new Fitbit Versa still has plenty of fitness tracking capabilities built in, including on-watch workouts, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and personalized fitness tips. But the Versa watch can also answer texts, download apps, and store music. And it also has several new features specifically dedicated to women's health.

Fitbit Versa is available for preorder starting Tuesday, and will go on sale in April. Here's what it can do:

Fitbit Versa comes in three colors: black, silver, and rose gold.

Fitbit Versa comes in three colors: black, silver, and rose gold.Fitbit

The watch looks pretty similar to an Apple Watch.

The watch looks pretty similar to an Apple Watch.Fitbit

It features the same rounded-yet-squarish design and full touchscreen face, and it's about the same dimensions — the Fitbit measures a few millimeters smaller, though.

While the Fitbit Versa only comes in three colors, there are plenty of bands to go with it.

While the Fitbit Versa only comes in three colors, there are plenty of bands to go with it.Fitbit

The sport bands are sweat- and water-resistant, and come in peach, gray, black, periwinkle, and white.

The sport bands are sweat- and water-resistant, and come in peach, gray, black, periwinkle, and white.

Fitbit also offers stainless steel and metal-mesh bands in black and silver.

Fitbit also offers stainless steel and metal-mesh bands in black and silver.Fitbit

If you buy the special-edition Fitbit Versa, you'll get one of these athleisure-inspired bands.

The special-edition Versa watch comes with one other cool feature: an NFC chip that lets you use Fitbit's contactless payments system, Fitbit Pay.

The special-edition Versa watch comes with one other cool feature: an NFC chip that lets you use Fitbit's contactless payments system, Fitbit Pay.Fitbit

This comes standard in Fitbit's other smartwatch, the Fitbit Ionic, but it's not available on every Fitbit Versa.

Fitbit says the Versa watch has more than four days of battery life.

Fitbit says the Versa watch has more than four days of battery life.Fitbit

Fitbit Versa is waterproof up to 50 meters, so you can wear it for swimming or surfing — but you should take it off before going in a hot tub or sauna.

Fitbit Versa is waterproof up to 50 meters, so you can wear it for swimming or surfing — but you should take it off before going in a hot tub or sauna.Fitbit

Fitbit Versa can store more than 300 songs, or play your Pandora stations. It pairs with Bluetooth headphones too, so you can leave your phone at home while exercising.

Fitbit Versa can store more than 300 songs, or play your Pandora stations. It pairs with Bluetooth headphones too, so you can leave your phone at home while exercising.Fitbit

If you have an Android phone, Fitbit says the watch can send quick, pre-loaded replies to text messages or messages from other apps.

If you have an Android phone, Fitbit says the watch can send quick, pre-loaded replies to text messages or messages from other apps.Fitbit

You can add apps and customizable watch faces to the Fitbit Versa.

You can add apps and customizable watch faces to the Fitbit Versa.Fitbit

Fitbit Versa has a wider array of apps to start off with than the Fitbit Ionic. Here are some of the apps you can add to your watch:

- E*Trade

- Flipboard

- Hue Lights

- Nest

- Starbucks

- Strava

- Surfline

- United Airlines

- Weather

- Yelp

Fitbit Versa is intended to be a more well-rounded smartwatch, but it still has a fitness focus.

Fitbit Versa is intended to be a more well-rounded smartwatch, but it still has a fitness focus.Fitbit

Fitbit Versa runs Fitbit's new operating system, OS 2.0, which Fitbit says is more simplified and intuitive. Here's what the watch can do when it comes to fitness:

- Daily and weekly fitness stats, along with historical data

- Tips, daily guidance, and motivational messages

- Reminders and challenges will get more personalized over time as the watch learns more about your habits

- Personalized workouts and automatic activity tracking

- 24/7 heart rate tracking

If you wear Fitbit Versa during the night, it can track your sleep stages.

If you wear Fitbit Versa during the night, it can track your sleep stages.Fitbit

The Versa watch also has a relative SpO2 sensor built in. Eventually, Fitbit says it might be able to track health issues like sleep apnea.

And for women, Fitbit is launching new tools for tracking health and wellness.

And for women, Fitbit is launching new tools for tracking health and wellness.Fitbit

Anyone who uses the Fitbit app, the Fitbit Versa, and last year's Fitbit Ionic watch can use Fitbit's new female-focused health-tracking tools.

Women will now be able to:

- Log their menstrual cycles

- Get predictions for when to expect their period

- See their menstrual cycle date side-by-side with other health data in order to draw connections

- View educational content about health, wellness, and family planning

- Record symptoms

- Check out online support groups for specific topics related to women's health

Fitbit Versa starts at $200 and is available for presale on March 13.

Fitbit Versa starts at $200 and is available for presale on March 13.Fitbit

You'll be able to buy the watch on Fitbit's website and at stores like Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Verizon, and Walmart.

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