Fitbit Versa review: Slowly but surely pushing Fitbit past the “fit” bit

Enlarge (credit: Valentina Palladino)

Every company hopes to make a device that appeals to the masses. But when you're a company like Fitbit, known for its fitness expertise, it can be harder to clear the mental hurdle in consumers' heads that separates what you're known for and what you want to be. People who prioritize wearable features that aren't fitness-related may not even look to Fitbit when considering a new device, because fitness is so deeply ingrained into the company's identity.

Fitbit's core will always be health and fitness, but the company is actively trying to make devices that appeal to people who don't necessarily place their exercise and dieting regime on a pedestal. The new $200 Versa smartwatch speaks to those users as a wearable designed for "mass appeal." With its combination of Fitbit-developed fitness features and Pebble-influenced smartwatch capabilities, the Versa aims to bring more users into the Fitbit ecosystem with the promise that it can add value and convenience to all parts of your life.

It's not shocking that the Versa stands tall as Fitbit's most polished smartwatch to date. The company learned a lot since coming out with its two previous smartwatches (the Blaze and the Ionic) and since purchasing Pebble at the end of 2016. Pebble loyalists will immediately recognize the Versa's design as a Pebble derivative; it closely resembles the Pebble Time Steel.

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