7 Reasons Why Fitbit Versa Can’t Compare to Apple Watch

Fitbit recently made another dive into the smartwatch world with the release of its $200 Fitbit Versa smartwatch. To give credit where it’s due, the Versa is probably the closest thing to a real Apple Watch competitor currently on the market.

Despite that, it’s still not an Apple Watch. Cupertino’s flagship wearable is not only the best-selling smartwatch in the world, it’s the best-selling watch. There are a variety of reasons for that. Continue reading to learn 7 that might make you reconsider buying a Fitbit Versa.

7 LTE, GPS, and Advanced Features

The Apple Watch Series 3 comes in an LTE-equipped variant. That means that you can leave your iPhone behind and still receive important calls or messages — which is, obviously, great for running and other athletic activities.

The Fitbit Versa also lacks onboard GPS, so it relies on a connected smartphone for location-tracking. That belies the general intention of the Fitbit Versa: it’s a fitness tracker first, and a smartwatch second.

The Apple Watch on the other hand is thoroughly a smartwatch, but also packed with advanced activity tracking features.

6 Better Design + More Variety

The Fitbit Versa is smaller and lighter than the Apple Watch, but both otherwise share a similar physical design. According to head-to-head testing of both watches, the Apple Watch’s bands are significantly easier to swap out, however.

The Apple Watch, of course, is more of a premium device — and it shows in its build quality. It’s also available in two sizes, as opposed to the Versa’s one, and comes in a wider range of color options. And that’s not even considering the plethora of first- and third-party accessories for the Watch. Put simply, the Watch reigns supreme in variety, versatility and customization.

5 There Are a Lot More Apps

When it comes to apps, it’s hard to beat Apple at its own game. The App Store is prolific, and that’s no less true for the Apple Watch. There are tons of Watch-specific platforms available, and many iOS apps also feature companion apps for the smartwatch.

By comparison, the Fitbit Versa only has a limited amount of apps currently available. To be fair, that’ll probably change as time goes on. But it’s not a stretch to say it’ll be hard to compete with a marketplace as established and packed-with-options as Apple’s App Store.

4 It Can Save Your Life

Here’s another reason to buy an Apple Watch: it can very well save your life. There are a slew of stories of the Apple wearable alerting users to potentially deadly conditions, helping them get to medical attention sooner. Those wearers aren’t shy about saying that the Watch saved their lives.

Theoretically, the Fitbit Versa could have similar capabilities with its heart rate sensors. But Fitbit doesn't have a feature that notifies wearers of elevated heart rates, and according to some Versa owners, there are issues with the heart rate accuracy.

Plus, it’s hard to overstate the fact that the Apple Watch has a proven track record when it comes to helping save lives.

3 It Has Apple Pay Built-In

In response to Apple Pay, Fitbit has debuted its own integrated payment platform called Fitbit Pay. While the general idea and functionality are still there, Fitbit Pay lacks the polish and completeness of Apple’s solution.

For one, U.S.-based users will only get access to Fitbit Pay if they buy the Special Edition Versa. Even then, Fitbit Pay support isn’t as widespread as Apple Pay. Presumably, it’ll continue to expand like Apple Pay. But until then, it’s not quite a head-to-head competitor.

2 Music on Apple Watch Is Better

Listening to music is something we all probably do when running or working out. So when your fitness tracker or smartwatch lets you easily stream or listen to your favorite tracks, it’s a major plus. And the Apple Watch wins in this category, too.

Syncing songs over to the Watch is much easier since it can be done via phone, rather than having to use the desktop app for the Versa.

The Apple Watch Series 3 with LTE also allows users to stream Apple Music directly to their wearable without their iPhone nearby — a feature that the Versa just doesn’t have.

1 Seamless Integration

Admittedly, the Apple Watch’s integration with the Apple ecosystem isn’t a plus for Android users. But if you’re an Apple aficionado (or you just own an iPhone), the Apple Watch is the clear winner as far as having a wrist-worn companion.

The Watch works seamlessly with the iPhone, with reliable notifications and feature syncing. That deep integration has other benefits, too. You can ping your iPhone with your Apple Watch when it’s lost, and you can use your Apple Watch to easily unlock your Mac computer without inputting a password.