1 00:00:04,600 --> 00:00:07,760 Speaker 1: Fitbit Versa is a great smart watch for everyone. What's 2 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,760 Speaker 1: going on. I'm Rich Dmiro. This is Rich on Tech Daily, 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: and this is my review of the Fitbit Versa. Now, 4 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:16,240 Speaker 1: when it comes to smart watches, let's get this straight. 5 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: Apple Watch is king. There is no denying that it 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: really offers the best combination of useful features plus tight 7 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,079 Speaker 1: integration with the iPhone. I love the Apple Watch. I 8 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,200 Speaker 1: think it is the best wearable out there. Problem is 9 00:00:29,320 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 1: it excludes a lot of people, Android users and anyone 10 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:35,480 Speaker 1: who thinks it's a little too expensive or someone who 11 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 1: doesn't need all of those features. Enter the Fitbit Versa. 12 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: I've been wearing this for a few weeks now. I 13 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: actually bought it site Onseen on Amazon, and it is 14 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: easily the best alternative to the Apple Watch for several reasons. 15 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: You get a lot of the same useful features without 16 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 1: a lot of complication or fuss. So let's take a 17 00:00:52,240 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: look at what I'm talking about. For starters, the Versa 18 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: looks and feels great. It's lightweight, it has a super 19 00:00:57,040 --> 00:01:00,440 Speaker 1: slim profile. I love the screen although it's tiny, it's 20 00:01:00,440 --> 00:01:03,360 Speaker 1: super bright. It's vivid and way better than the predecessor, 21 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: which was the Fippit blaze on that you can see 22 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: individual pixels on the screen. It was kind of dull 23 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 1: looking that is no longer. The case set up with 24 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: the Pippit Versa was a little rough. It's not as 25 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:15,280 Speaker 1: smooth as the Apple Watch. It took a little bit 26 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,120 Speaker 1: longer than I expected, and the process actually failed at 27 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: the end, which was kind of frustrating, so I had 28 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: to do it again. But once you take the half 29 00:01:21,959 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: hour so to connect the Versa to your phone, download 30 00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:26,520 Speaker 1: the latest software, pair it up all that good stuff, 31 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:28,760 Speaker 1: you really don't have to do that again. And like 32 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 1: I said earlier, the Versa works with iPhones and androids. 33 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 1: Wearing the Versa is very comfortable. The battery lasts just 34 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,680 Speaker 1: as long as advertised. I got about four days each time, 35 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:40,840 Speaker 1: although I'd probably charge it at like twenty five percent 36 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: because I didn't want to run out. It's really nice 37 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: to not have to charge it every day, and I 38 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:47,360 Speaker 1: even went on a short weekend trip without packing an 39 00:01:47,400 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: additional charger, which is always nice. Fippit Versa has lots 40 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:53,000 Speaker 1: of great stats that report back to you. For starters, 41 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: you get your steps, your floors climbed, and your all 42 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: day heart rate and I personally am a big fan 43 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 1: of the active minutes. This to me is the best 44 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:04,560 Speaker 1: indication of the physical activity I'm getting on a daily basis, 45 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: whether I'm working out or not. I took the Versa 46 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,600 Speaker 1: on several runs and I was very happy with the results. 47 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:11,520 Speaker 1: The big thing you're gonna hear is that the Versa 48 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: does not have GPS on board. Now this sounds bad, 49 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 1: but in reality, this only comes into play for a 50 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: few situations. First off, if you're a really big time 51 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,000 Speaker 1: athlete and you need super exact stats, this is not 52 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: the watch for you. If you're a runner, you want 53 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: specific maps of your run, again, this is not for you. 54 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: But the Versa does have something called connected GPS. That 55 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 1: means if your phone is nearby while you're working out, 56 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: it's just going to use the GPS data from sensors 57 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 1: on your phone to fill in the blanks. So I 58 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 1: ran with my phone in without the phone, and I 59 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: found that the stats collected by the Fitbit both ways 60 00:02:44,520 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: were just fine. It still uses its on board sensors 61 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: like accelerometer and algorithms to figure out how far you're 62 00:02:50,280 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 1: running and your pace and all that good stuff. So 63 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:54,799 Speaker 1: let me tell you I'm a big runner. I had 64 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 1: no issues with the no GPS on the Versa. Now. 65 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: One feature I was excited to try out kind of 66 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 1: bummed on the Versa was the ability to store music 67 00:03:02,639 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 1: on the device. You can hold up to like three 68 00:03:04,200 --> 00:03:06,400 Speaker 1: hundred songs, and this is the holy grail for runners 69 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: because you can run without your phone. All you have 70 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:10,679 Speaker 1: to do is connect a pair of Bluetooth headphones to 71 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 1: your Versa and you're free. But I found it's not 72 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 1: really that easy to transfer your own music files without 73 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,040 Speaker 1: connecting the verse Sa to your computer. You can't do 74 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,239 Speaker 1: it through the app, and that's kind of a bummer. 75 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,000 Speaker 1: And I hope they change this in the future with 76 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,799 Speaker 1: a software update, because when I saw the message that said, hey, 77 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 1: connect your Versa to your computer to do this, I 78 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 1: was like, uh, since I wasn't ready for that reality. 79 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: I actually signed up for Pandora, and if you pay 80 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: five dollars a month to subscribe to Pandora, your Versa 81 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 1: will automatically and wirelessly download a selection of workout playlists 82 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: for you every time you charge your device. This process 83 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:45,720 Speaker 1: was way easier. I'm not thrilled that I'm paying extra 84 00:03:45,760 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: five dollars a month for this music service because I 85 00:03:48,160 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: already pay fifteen a month to Spotify. But you can 86 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: always cancel now. There are a bunch of onboard apps 87 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 1: you can download, like Starbucks, hughe, Nest, United Airlines, and Yelp. 88 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: But I don't see myself using any of these apps 89 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: on versus time screen. I can't see them as being 90 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: as good as the apps on my phone. I'd rather 91 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 1: just reach for my phone. The only exception to this 92 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 1: is the Starbucks app. I probably will end up linking 93 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:11,080 Speaker 1: that just so I can hold my wrist out at 94 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: the drive through at Starbucks and pay with my connected 95 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: Starbucks card. The software overall in the Versa is good. 96 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: It's not that great. There's still lag at times. It's 97 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 1: not as slick as you'd see on the Apple Watch. 98 00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:24,400 Speaker 1: With that said, it's totally fine for everyday use. You 99 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,080 Speaker 1: get your notifications from your phone if you want, like 100 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: texts and other notifications, as well as little reminders to move. 101 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 1: There's also breathing exercises. There's built in presets for tracking 102 00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 1: all kinds of workouts like running, biking, swimming, treadmill weights, 103 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: Interville timer. You can set silent alarms which gently vibrates 104 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:44,039 Speaker 1: on your wrist. I like this for naps, not so 105 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: much for waking me up in the morning, because I 106 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 1: just don't trust a silent alarm to do that. There's 107 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: also a selection of guided mini workouts you can do 108 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: right from your wrist. There's weather reports, a stop watch timer. 109 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 1: You get the idea. There's a lot of stuff going 110 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 1: on here. My favorite stats on the Versa are active 111 00:04:56,760 --> 00:04:59,279 Speaker 1: minutes and sleep insights. Again, I told you about the 112 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 1: active minutes. Sleep insights are really cool because you can 113 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 1: see exactly how long you spent awake in ram light 114 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: and deep sleep every night. You also get your thirty 115 00:05:07,760 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 1: day average, and you can compare yourself against others of 116 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,359 Speaker 1: your sex and similar age. Now, for reference, the Apple 117 00:05:15,400 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 1: Watch can track sleep, but only with third party apps. 118 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: I have a feeling Apple's gonna build this functionality in 119 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,039 Speaker 1: the future, but right now it's just not there. The 120 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: fipbit is water resistance. You can leave it on in 121 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: the shower or take a swim with it. If you 122 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:30,800 Speaker 1: are familiar with the Blaze, which was last model, you 123 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: had to pop out a little fitness tracker to charge it, 124 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: but with the Versa, the entire thing just sits in 125 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: a cradle with your band on and all. It's much 126 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: more convenient. And speaking of the bands, you can replace 127 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:43,919 Speaker 1: them because they easily come off. I don't think that 128 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: the Versa band is as nice as what comes with 129 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,680 Speaker 1: Apple Watch, but you will have the option to swap 130 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: that out at a later time if you find something 131 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 1: you like better. Overall, can't recommend the fipbit Versa enough. 132 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: It's best for daily health tracking for the average person. 133 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: Like I said, if you're a big time athlete or 134 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: a runner, probably be better served with a more niche device 135 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,600 Speaker 1: or the Apple Watch itself. Now, if you have an iPhone, 136 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 1: you're trying to side between Apple Watch and Versa. It 137 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: really comes down to how much you want to spend 138 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: and all the features that you need. The Versus one 139 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: hundred and thirty dollars less than the entry level Apple Watch, 140 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 1: and you get a lot more features on the Apple Watch, 141 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,719 Speaker 1: like that onboard GPS, all that integration with your iPhone 142 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: and Apple Music, plus a lot more apps. If you 143 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: have an Android device, I kind of think the Versus 144 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,359 Speaker 1: a no brainer. It's just smart enough to feed you 145 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: all the useful stats you need about your health, but 146 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: without notification or information overload. The Fipbit Versa is two 147 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: hundred dollars. It's available now. There's also a version with 148 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 1: mobile payment built in for two hundred and thirty dollars. 149 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,560 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for listening. If you like this podcast, 150 00:06:43,600 --> 00:06:46,679 Speaker 1: please rate and review it in the Apple Podcast app. 151 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: You can find a link to everything I talk about here, 152 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: including my Fitbit Versa review, on my website. Just go 153 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: to richontech dot tv, and if you're not following me 154 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,360 Speaker 1: on Instagram, I'm doing a lot of Instagram stories lately. 155 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 1: Just find me. My username is rich on tech Thanks 156 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: so much for listening. I'm Rich Tomiro. I'll talk to 157 00:07:03,960 --> 00:07:08,000 Speaker 1: you real soon. Mhm.