While the regulatory hurdles persist for Google’s takeover of Fitbit, it looks like some of the effects are already being realized with Fitbit’s latest announcement of 2 new watches for 2020 with the Google Assistant baked in: The Fitbit Versa 3 and the new Fitbit Sense. Both watches are currently available for pre-order and, according to the Fitbit website, both watches will start shipping on September 25th.
While there will be reasons to look at the latest Fitbit Versa 3 or to choose the upgraded flagship in the Fitbit Sense, we’re really here to talk about the fact that both of these new values have the option to Use Google Assistant out of the box. As a Google user and assistant user, I fully disable the Alexa functionality on my Fitbit 2. There are times when I could see some serious headaches to quickly gain access to voice-enabled features on my wrist, but not enough to wade into the Amazon waters of virtual assistants when I was not doing much at all in the present Amazon ecosystem.
With this new Google Assistant option ready on my wrist, I’m much more compelled to actually seek virtual help from a smartwatch for more than just text and instant messaging responses. If you can queue the direction in Google Maps, check the weather, set reminders, create calendar events, set timers, set alarms, and so on. Will all be normal rates for me if I have a watch that the Assistant uses. And before you say it, yes I do know that there are a myriad of WearOS watches who have access to the Assistant, but I have known too many friends who have tried their WearOS watches and hate to ever really consider buying one for myself.
With both the Fitbit Versa and Versa 2 that I own, I have more appreciated the simplicity, health tracking, battery life and very low weight of the watches. As the versions have progressed, Fitbit just gets better at the design and its watches add useful features that users actually need and want. With the Versa 3 we get the addition of GPS in the watch and with the Fitbit Sense we get a ton of new, handy features like an ECG monitor, skin temp sensor, and a speaker for directing or ringing your wrist. The Versa 3 will come in at $ 229.95 and the Sense will run at $ 329.95. Both are now available to pre-order.
While the regulatory steps still need to be cleared for Fitbit to become an official Google company, it will be great to have a direct path to the Google Assistant in an already great smartwatch experience while we wait for news about the deal that it actually goes on. For users like myself, the Fitbit Versa 2 has been a fantastic companion device that does all the basic things I really need in a smartwatch. From the look of these newer models, the Fitbit Versa 3 and Fitbit Sense will just take the winning formula, add a few nice things and bring Google into the conversation a little more.
Shop Fitbit Sense & Versa 3 on Chrome Shop
