The Fitbit Versa 4 is not my first foreway into the fitness watch world. I did have a Huawei Smartband until the strap broke and could not be replaced. I kept the Huawei Health on my phone to track my steps and fitness activities, but I wanted a fitness tracker that I could wear and it was easy to track steps, my BPM and fitness activity times, such as running and cycling.
The main advantage of using a Fitbit is that they have been in the wearable fitness market since the late 00s and have been a major player. Since 2021 they have been owned by Google, which means Fitbit has been absorbed into their hardware department. This could be a good or bad thing. The deal happened most likely so Google could obtain more health-related data, but it could also mean more funding for Fitbit. However, the fact Google also has its own division of wearable fitness devices (Pixel), will remain to be seen.
For me, owning a Fitbit is similar to owning a Walkman CD player or an iPod. Yes, there are other brands available, but Fitbit helped revolutionise the market.
I like the ease of use, although it took a few days to understand the touch-screen sliding. But, having a watch where I can easily track my park runs, gym sessions and pickleball sessions (I track pickleball using the Tennis option). Because I wear my watch pretty much all day, it tracks more of my movements, whereas before I didn’t have my phone on me at all times so steps or movements were not being tracked. I like seeing my pace per kilometre whilst running and how many calories I have burned in a session.
It’s not just about fitness. One of the other reasons I selected this watch is because I can make quick payments, link to my Alexa, use it to navigate to places via Google Maps, use it to find my phone and check the weather. For a reasonably priced smartwatch device, it packs some decent features. Unfortunately, it doesn’t include the ability to download Spotify tracks onto it. It’s not the end of the world, but it would have been a good feature for when I am running.
I also like the fact you can change the clock face and there are many different types to select from, including a Fallout Pip-boy-inspired one and one that can be turned into a metronome – useful for musicians.
I am never alone in getting alert emails from Fitbit congratulating me on my weekly stats or telling me I’ve completed a new badge such as the Penguin March badge which is awarded when you complete 112 lifetime kilometers. It is also worth noting the battery life is pretty decent. I was considering Samsung’s fitness watch, however, after discovering that I’d need to charge it every night seemed off-putting. The Fitbit does state it has a 6-day charge, but I think it is more than 3-4 days. It is worth mentioning that I do have the clock display always on.
It’s a great device that I like wearing. Its badge system and easy-to-read graphics help me be more dedicated towards my fitness goals, as well as being active in general – which for me is a winner. The fact that I can also use it as a metronome for practising music is a bonus I was not expecting.
The Fitbit Versa 4 is available from Amazon
