Fitbit Versa Fitness Smartwatch for Everybody from $199

Not to be confused with the entry-level hatchback from Nissan, the Fitbit Versa has now been formally announced to the world and it aims to deliver the fitness-oriented smartwatch to just about everybody. And like the humble Japanese vehicle of the same name, it’s meant to be affordable, functional and maybe even a little fashionable.

We first heard and saw some significant rumblings about this new product a couple of weeks ago and now those leaks have come to fruition. Fitbit has announced its family of new products for 2018 and that includes the Fitbit Versa.

The goal here, as far as I can surmise, is to deliver an experience that’s almost comparable to the more expensive Fitbit Ionic, but in a sleeker, more wallet-friendly package. The overall design is undeniable reminiscent of the Apple Watch, because of course it is.

You get a 1.34-inch LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 300 x 300 pixels. That’s how you interact with the various fitness apps through Fitbit OS. There’s no on-board GPS here, but you can pair with your smartphone to tap into GPS tracking for your runs around the trails. If you want to leave your phone at home, you can enjoy some on-board storage for music and up to 50 meters of water resistance, as well as on-device coaching via Fitbit Coach.

Moving away from the “fitness tracker” element and toward the “smartwatch” side of the equation, we find the usual array of smartphone alerts, like text messages, phone calls, calendar events, app notifications, and so on. There’s also 24/7 heart rate tracking, sleep stages tracking, and Android quick replies. If you get the special edition, you also get NFC for Fitbit Pay.

Fitbit is taking pre-orders now with shipments to commence in three to four weeks. The basic model of the Fitbit Versa — in your choice of black/black aluminum, peach/rose gold aluminum, or gray/silver aluminum — lists at $199.95 US or $249.95 CAD. For about $30 US (or $50 CAD) more, you can pick up a special edition version in charcoal woven/graphite aluminum or lavender woven/rose gold aluminum.