NEW, BUT NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT

Fitbit has come a long way since those first activity trackers concealed in pendants and wristbands.

But then...

So has everybody.

Wearables are more omnipresent than ever; smart watches and activity bands to be found on every second wrist - these days often worn more as a fashion statement than for any of the more practical uses they may have been originally designed for.

With the Ionic and then the Versa, Fitbit made real strides (pun intended) towards this brave new world of smart watch-meets-fitness tracker. But what have they done for us lately?...

If you were expecting the Fitbit Versa 2 to look wildly different from its predecessor, it simply isn't. I'd argue that's no major letdown, as the original Versa was widely accepted as perhaps the most attractive device Fitbit had ever come up with.

Part of that was to do with it's striking (and I'm assuming deliberate) resemblance to a certain popular Apple device. One obvious update for the 2019 version is not an addition, but a subtraction. There are two less buttons on the Versa 2. That leaves a single control on the left-hand side to either go back or, with a long press, launch Alexa or Fitbit Pay. (More on those later)

You do have to wonder why they bothered with any buttons at all; the touch screen is easily navigated with swipes and presses. The new watch feels a bit more comfy with its super-light aluminium casing and there's a good range of colour combinations available.

Of course, a Fitibit wouldn't be a Fitbit without its own crazy charging cable that isn't compatible with anything else - not even the original Versa. Yep, although this year's model seems pretty similar, it actually is a marginally different size and shape. Obviously it comes with the slightly gangly, clamp-style charging cradle in the box - just don't get it confused with any old ones you may have lying around, they won't fit.

Luckily, if you've built up a collection of alternative bands for your original Versa, they will work with Number 2, so that's a bonus.

This year's Versa gives you an always-on display function, which certainly cuts down on those awkward, unnatural wrist-raises to activate the screen. The always-on display options are limited though, a simple choice between a basic black-and-white analogue or basic black-and-white digital. This is in stark contrast to the hundreds of clock faces you can now access via the Fitbit app - a much bigger selection than you could find this time last year.

In fact, the Fitbit app store has come a long way in a short time, with a host of developers jumping on board to configure their apps for this market. I'm not just talking fitness apps anymore, you can now control music apps like Spotify and Deezer, track stockmarkets, even receive newsfeeds from Flipboard or the New York Times. Uber's on there now, there are navigation apps and even some airlines have realised people who travel wear Fitbits too.

Don't get me wrong, there's nowhere near the content available as there is for Android or iOS devices, but it's definitely gaining momentum.

Certainly, being able to pay by waving your wrist over a tap-and-go terminal is super convenient - a shame you can only register an ASB credit card for Fitbit Pay in New Zealand at the moment. Hopefully other banks will join in the fun some time soon.

What hasn't changed is all the good stuff, the things Fitbit does so well. Actual fitness tracking for example. You can select up to seven different exercises to monitor regularly, including swimming. All workouts are displayed clearly and usefully on the full colour display. As usual, this is bright enough to see easily in any lighting conditions, even blazing sunshine.

Unfortunately, there's still no on-board GPS on the Versa 2, so if you want accurate route mapping, you'll need to take your phone with you. 

Speaking of your phone, I've noticed a dramatic improvement in bluetooth connectivity. For the first time, I can rely on all my notifications to come through in a timely manner, from whatever apps I choose. This as often been a bit hit and miss on previous Fitbit devices. Sadly, this remains a one-way street though; there's still no ability to answer texts or emails - or take phone calls.

Frustratingly, the media controller is the exception when it comes to consistent performance. It works fine for any music stored on the Versa 2 itself, but terribly when it comes to playing and pausing tunes and podcasts on my phone. It did okay when I first paired it, but the next time I tried to use it it didn't work at all, until I paired it all over again. Then, within minutes, sadly, same result, ie: no result.

Battery life is fairly impressive - I'll easily get four or five days from a single charge, even with the always-on display activated. This is good, because once you put it on, you'll be tempted to wear the Versa 2 24 hours a day. Not only is it comfortable enough to wear to bed, it's taken sleep tracking to a new level. If you subscribe to the new Fitbit Premium service, you can access even more insights as to why you always wake up so grumpy. The Premium service also offers a range of coaching options, tailormade to help you reach your own unique fitness goal.

But perhaps the most notable modification on the Versa 2 is it's now Alexa enabled. She won't talk to you, but as long as you've connected your Alexa account to your Fitbit app, you can certainly talk to her, controlling your other Alexa enabled devices by talking to your wrist. It's also a quick way to set an alarm or kick off a countdown timer.

So not a lot of extra features. In fact, in some ways, the Versa 2 is a more streamlined experience. Is it worth its $359.95 price tag? To be honest, that may be pushing the envelope a little as we've seen several other smart watches enter the market at around that price with a lot more two-way functionality. It probably depends on how much of a premium you personally place on Fitbit as a brand. What I can assure you is reliable, accurate fitness tracking is still the main focus here and if that's your focus too, it may be time for an upgrade.


Click here for more information and pricing on the Fitbit Versa 2.