Fitbit has unveiled its latest line of devices, and there is quite a bit of shifting going on. The Ionic is finally retired, the Versa 2 is suddenly in no-country, the Inspire and Inspire HR have been replaced by one model, and there are two new smartwatches at the top of the line: the $ 329 Versa 3 and the Sin. But with just $ 100 to spare, which of Fitbit’s new flagships should you buy?
Versa 3 vs Sense: Design and display
You will not be able to tell the Versa 3 and the Sense separately. This is because they have exactly the same size and shape, which is slightly larger than the Versa 2.
Verse 3 and sentence: 40.48 x 40.48 x 12.35 mm
Verse 2: 39.95 x 39.84 x 12.15 mm
In addition to the same body, the Versa 3 and Sense both have 1.58-inch 336×336 OLED displays, slightly larger than the 1.39-inch screen of the Versa 2. The Sense is about five grams heavier, but you need the extra weight on your wrist do not notice. They also come in similar colors, with both watches having a stainless steel body in both “soft gold” and also a dark option (graphite for the Sense and black for the Versa 3). And they have a haptic button on the left edge instead of a physical one.
Fitbit- The Fitbit Sense comes in graphite, while the Versa 3 comes in black.
Like the watches and trackers that came earlier, the Versa 3 and Sense have interchangeable straps that connect differently than before, so older straps do not work. But any belt made for the Sense will work with the Versa 3 and vice versa.
Versa 3 vs Sense: Connectivity and sensors
Although they look exactly the same, the Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense on the inside are very different. First, here’s what you get, no matter what watch you buy:
- PurePulse 2.0 heart tracking
- SP02 sensor
- GPS
- Accelerometer
- Altimeter
- Bluetooth / Wi-Fi
- Microphone
- Cracks
- 50M water resistance
That’s a nice set of specs, but the Sense is full of even more, some of which we’ve never seen in a consumer smartwatch:
- Multi-path optical heart rate sensor
- Multipurpose electric sensors compatible with ECG app & EDA app
- Skin temperature sensor
In the next section, we will see what each of these sensors does.
Verse 3 against sense: monitoring fitness and health
While both watches will do the things you expect a Fitbit device to do – track, height, calorie, sleep and exercise tracking – the Sense has enabled a few new tricks through its next-gen sensors.
FitbitThe Versa 3 tracks your sleep, but not your skin temperature.
The Sense will be able to control your stress, monitor your body temperature while you sleep, and keep tabs on your heart rate on your wrist. Here’s how they work:
- EDA (stress): Hold your palm over the display
- ECG (heart rate): Hold 30 fingers two fingers on the corners of the stainless steel ring
- Skin temperature: Automatically while you sleep
In addition, Fitbit Premium (available for $ 10 per month or $ 80 per year) unlocks even more information about your stress score. You get detailed breakdowns on how the score is calculated, including “effort balance (activity impact), responsiveness (heart rate, heart rate variability, and electrodermal activity from the EDA Scan app), and sleep patterns (sleep quality).” A new Dashboard for health metrics will amplify the information that Sense’s sensors record, including “respiratory rate (average breaths per minute), resting heart rate (an important indicator of cardiovascular health), heart rate variability (variation of time between each heartbeat), and skin temperature variations. ”
Versa 3 vs Sense: Battery and charge
The batteries in the Versa 3 and Sense are both rated for the same 6-plus days of use, but that comes with permissions. If you use it always-on-display, and / or use GPS frequently, it will not take that long. But for the most part, both watches will last much longer than an Apple Watch.
FitbitThe Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 have the same battery and charger.
For charging, Fitbit finally has a charger that is not a clumsy, awkward cradle. Both watches come with the same type of charger and it supports fast charging. Fitbit claims that a 12 minute charge will provide a full day of use, and a full charge lasts just 40 minutes, which is faster than its previous chargers.
Versa 3 vs Sense: OS, apps, and wizard
The Sense and Versa 3 are part of the Fitbit family of smartwatches, so they both run the latest version of Fitbit OS, which has been completely redesigned to take advantage of the larger displays. It does not have as deep of an app catalog as the Apple Watch, but there are good enough, as well as a variety of clock faces.
There are also some new features on board. Fitbit has introduced new customizable widgets that are accessible by swiping from below, such as redesigned notifications and on-screen apps, while also offering more personalization options. If you use an Android phone, you can answer calls and answer texts with your voice, and you now have a choice of assistants, Alexa or Google.
Verse 3 against sentence: conclusion
If you have decided to buy a Fitbit smartwatch, the Versa 3 and the Sense are basically identical, except for the Sense’s three additional sensors: EDA, ECG, and skin temperature. Granted, we need to test them to make sure they work, but Fitbit’s devices are generally rock solid when it comes to tracking fitness and health, and the Sense is right in their wheelhouse. The Versa 3 is a great fitness smartwatch for a good price, but the extra $ 100 will be well spent on the Sense.
