For years, Fitbit has supplied top-notch health monitoring gadgets to budding health fans and exercise execs. All of Fitbit’s gadgets are outfitted with a plethora of useful health- and fitness-tracking sensors. However what about Fitbit’s smartwatches?
Since 2021, Fitbit has been owned by Google, and its Versa 4 and Sense 2 smartwatches are in some methods worse than their predecessors. These gadgets lack options that appear like they need to be a given, which begs the query: does Fitbit have any smartwatches value shopping for anymore?
January 2021: Google Finalizes Fitbit Acquisition
Google first introduced its acquisition of Fitbit in November 2019 for the massive value of $2.1 billion. Though Google paid to accumulate Fitbit on the finish of 2019, the acquisition wasn’t finalized till January 2021.
Previous to Google’s acquisition of the corporate, Fitbit was making massive strides ahead, including full-featured smartwatches to the lineup alongside its well-known health monitoring gadgets. It appeared as if Fitbit gadgets have been all the time bettering—till the discharge of Fitbit’s Versa 4 and Sense 2 smartwatches.
September 2022: Fitbit’s Sense 2 and Versa 4 Flop at Launch
Roughly a 12 months and a half after Google finalized its acquisition of Fitbit, the Versa 4 and Sense 2 smartwatches debuted. Although each gadgets have been extremely anticipated by the general public, official opinions and widespread opinions in the end discovered these gadgets disappointing and in no way what shoppers anticipated.
With a scarcity of such essential and anticipated options, like Google Assistant assist, Wi-Fi capabilities, and third-party apps, the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 grew to become glorified, outsized health trackers somewhat than the premium smartwatches individuals thought they might be. The 2 smartwatches are bodily able to connecting to Wi-Fi, utilizing Google Assistant, and so forth—identical to their predecessors—however the options have merely been disabled.
The Fitbit Sense 2 and the Versa 4 are virtually as costly because the Google Pixel Watch. Why would anybody purchase the Versa 4 or Sense 2 when the Google Pixel Watch presents all of the options these two Fitbit smartwatches are lacking, for under $100 to $200 extra?
October 2022: Google Pixel Watch Releases
Solely a month after the lackluster releases of Fitbit’s Versa 4 and Sense 2, the Google Pixel Watch made its debut. Because it had the entire options customers needed to see within the Versa 4 and Sense 2, it ought to’ve been a smash hit, proper? Sadly, it wasn’t.
Google’s authentic Pixel Watch was a good first try at a smartwatch, nevertheless it in the end fell flat in ultimate opinions as a result of it simply felt like a premium Fitbit machine, and never an excellent premium choice at that. Sarcastically, the Fitbit Sense 2 and the Fitbit Versa 4 might have been the premium WearOS smartwatches customers have been on the lookout for if solely they weren’t stunted in options.
The Pixel Watch featured assist for Google Assistant, Google Maps, Google Pockets, the Gmail and Calendar apps, and third-party apps. Should you examine the Pixel Watch to Fitbit’s Sense 2, you’ll see that there was no assist for any of the options or apps on the Sense 2 on the wearable’s launch. Now, you need to use Google Maps and Google Pockets on the Sense 2, however customers needed to wait some time earlier than this assist was added.
Surprisingly, each smartwatches have Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and Wi-Fi capabilities built-in, however Wi-Fi performance on the Sense 2 (and likewise on the Versa 4) is disabled. It’s not potential for the consumer to show Wi-Fi on, and it doesn’t appear like Google plans to deliver it again anytime quickly.
Although Google has formally said that the corporate just isn’t attempting to switch Fitbit smartwatches with the Pixel Watch, it certain feels prefer it.
March 2023: Fitbit Options Proceed to Be Eliminated
Wi-Fi and Google Assistant assist aren’t the one options Google is eradicating from Fitbit gadgets, new and outdated. On the finish of March 2023, all Fitbit smartwatches and health trackers will likely be pressured to say goodbye to open teams, challenges and adventures, and assist for Deezer and Pandora music and downloaded playlists.
No Extra Open Teams
Should you’re not aware of Open Teams, they’re primarily massive teams of like-minded individuals the world over which are organized inside the Neighborhood tab of the Fitbit cell app.
Two of the extra fashionable Open Teams embrace Day by day Exercise and Sleep Effectively. Customers might put up inside these teams, enlist assist from strangers in staying accountable with day by day objectives, or simply flick through posts from different individuals for motivation. As of March 27, 2023, this function will not be obtainable.
Say Goodbye to Challenges and Adventures
Because the identify implies, the Challenges and Adventures part inside the Fitbit app gives distinctive methods to maintain your day by day exercises from getting stale. This was one of many options that made Fitbit Premium value it. You could possibly compete towards family and friends, or set out on a solo journey by your self to nearly discover real-world places. This function will likely be eliminated completely on March 27, 2023.
No Assist for Deezer, Pandora, and Different Third-Occasion Apps
On the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 smartwatches, individuals have been disillusioned on the lack of assist for third-party apps and Deezer or Pandora downloads. Since earlier iterations of Sense and Versa smartwatches supported these two apps and different third-party apps, this was one of many public’s greatest complaints in regards to the Sense 2 and Versa 4.
Earlier Fitbit gadgets that had assist for Deezer, Pandora, and different third-party apps appeared to skate by unscathed, that assist ends on March 31, 2023. Customers will lose the power to obtain new audio from Pandora or Deezer, copy over music from the web sites, or view beforehand downloaded or transferred content material.
Is It Even Price It to Purchase a Fitbit Smartwatch Anymore?
Relying on the way you have a look at it, Fitbit doesn’t actually have smartwatches anymore. The Versa 4 and Sense 2 are marketed as smartwatches, however they don’t have Wi-Fi assist and might’t obtain third-party apps, amongst different limitations. Fitbit’s smartwatches are merely health trackers with bigger screens and some further options.
Though Google firmly said that the corporate didn’t intend to section out Fitbit smartwatches and health trackers and exchange them with Pixel smartwatches, that would rapidly change. If eradicating fan-favorite options on Fitbit smartwatches causes gross sales to plummet, it could be very simple to say that Google is abandoning the Versa and Sense traces as a result of they aren’t worthwhile anymore.
Investing in health trackers from Fitbit just like the Cost line continues to be a wise alternative—a minimum of, for now. The Cost 5 and different health trackers will lose entry to Open Teams, Challenges, and Adventures identical to all different Fitbit gadgets, however their major focus will keep the identical: health- and fitness-tracking options.
If Not a Fitbit Smartwatch, What Are Your Choices?
Investing in a Fitbit smartwatch may not be your best option, however there are nonetheless a ton of different nice choices. When you’ve got an iPhone, the Apple Watch is tough to beat. Or if in case you have an Android machine, you possibly can try the newest flagship Galaxy Watch from Samsung or the various choices from Garmin.
