Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch 3 Best Fitness Tracker in 2024

The Apple Watch 3 has created quite the sensation since it was launched a few years ago. Apple is currently selling the third iteration of this popular wearable, which is compatible only with iPhones.

Earlier this year, Fitbit also launched a smartwatch of its own, the Versa. This is not the company’s first smartwatch as there have been multiple offerings in the past. However, this is Fitbit’s most advanced offering to date, as it was only launched recently. Does it match up to the features offered by the third gen Apple Watch? Let’s have a look.

Fitbit Versa vs Apple Watch 3 Best Fitness Tracker

Fitbit Versa

As we’ve mentioned above, this wearable is pretty new to the market. Unlike the Fitbit Blaze, this comes with a lot more features on board, that is perhaps its biggest strong suit. The Versa is powered by a bright 1000-nit display, which pretty much brings it on par with the Apple Watch. However, the Versa is slightly more expensive than the Blaze, but cheaper than the Apple Watch, which doesn’t surprise anyone.

Pros and Cons

One of the biggest concerns for smartwatch owners is the battery life. We’re happy to report that the battery life on the Versa is significantly better than the Apple Watch. This is particularly true when compared with the cellular version of Apple Watch Series 3, which eats up a lot more battery even at standby.

Overall, the Versa can last up to 4 days on a single charge thanks to the 145 mAh battery pack. Pricing is also a big factor here and almost justifies the absence of some features from the Versa. It can offer comprehensive details on your steps, heart rate and workouts. Naturally, all data is synced with Fitbit’s dedicated app, which also helps you change the watch faces and control other aspects of the smartwatch. At its heart, the Versa is still very much a proper Fitbit, but with the added convenience of notifications. Add a 4 day battery life to the equation and you have a proper fitness band that can easily double as a smartwatch.

Another big addition for Fitbit here is the ability to store music natively within the wearable. You can store more than 300+ songs or even listen to stations from Pandora and Deezer.

Now for some of the disadvantages, well, there are a few. The Fitbit Versa doesn’t feature cellular compatibility, which is only available on the Apple Watch Series 3 (LTE). This means the Fitbit Versa cannot be used independently and will always rely on the phone’s data for activity updating. The Fitbit offering also lacks a dedicated GPS on board, which increases dependence on your smartphone.

Pricing and Availability

The Fitbit Versa can be yours for just $199.95 on Amazon right now. For this price, the company offers the small and large bands by default for added convenience. The smartwatch is available in Black, Charcoal Woven, and Gray/Silver. I personally prefer the Charcoal Woven color variant for its unique styling.

Apple Watch Series 3

As we’ve mentioned already, the Apple Watch Series 3 is immensely popular in the marketplace and known by almost everybody in the world. However, how does this stack up against a new smartwatch like the Versa?

Pros and Cons

The Apple Watch Series 3 introduced the first ever model in the lineup with an LTE chip underneath. This means, that like the many Samsung smartwatches that we’ve seen in the past, the Apple Watch 3 can also function independently of a smartphone. This gives it a significant advantage over the competition, although it falls short on battery life. But that’s a necessary sacrifice to make for a feature like cellular connectivity on your wrists. Much like the Versa, the Apple Watch Series 3 is water resistant up to 50 meters, making it the ideal companion for swimming.

The dedicated Health app on iOS allows users to get all the data that the Watch has recorded. This includes a comprehensive sleep tracker. The Series 3 features a bright 1000 nits display with better pixel density than the Versa, although the difference is barely recognizable to a regular user. The design of the Apple Watch also leaves the competition behind, thanks to its use of premium grade aluminum in its construction. Further, the amount of straps available for purchase make it an instant hit with the customers.

As far as customer satisfaction and overall performance is concerned, the Apple Watch 3 is really hard to beat. However, the fact that its battery drains rather quickly is a big letdown for us. Also, the fact that it’s incompatible with non-iOS devices is disappointing.

Pricing and Availability

The Apple Watch is available in a number of variants. For example, the standard aluminum variants of the GPS only and GPS + Cellular versions will set you back by $329 and $399 respectively. Amazon is currently selling the refurbished version of the Apple Watch Series 3 for attractive prices, so we recommend checking those out if you’re looking to save some money. You will shell out more money for stainless steel versions of the Apple Watch Series 3. The model with the Space Black Stainless Steel Case and Space Black Milanese Loop is the most expensive model on the roster at $749.

Verdict

It’s clear that the Apple Watch isn’t the cheapest offering available out there. However, for a smartwatch that can stand the test of time and offer you the same kind of performance as on day 1, we think the price is somewhat justified. However, if you’re an Android user, the Fitbit Versa is the smartwatch to get. Not only because the Apple Watch 3 is incompatible with Android smartphones, but also because the Versa can function better on an Android device. It’s a bonus that you will only shell out $199.95 for the Versa, which is almost half the price of a standard Apple Watch. The only recourse for Android fans who want an Apple Watch is to switch to an iPhone.

But are you willing to do that?