Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch with Daily Readiness – Pros and Cons Review

A Stellar Fitness Tracker with Minor Shortcomings

The Fitbit Versa 4 + Premium,  is a fitness-focused smartwatch that excels in health tracking and usability, making it a top choice for casual fitness enthusiasts and wellness-focused users. With a sleek design, vibrant display, and a six-month Fitbit Premium trial, it offers robust features for the price. Here’s a detailed look at its pros and cons, emphasizing its strengths while highlighting three key drawbacks.

PROS

Vibrant AMOLED Display: The 1.58-inch AMOLED touchscreen (336×336) delivers sharp, colorful visuals, with a brightness suitable for outdoor use. The slim bezels and customizable watch faces (hundreds available) enhance its aesthetic appeal, making it easy to read stats during workouts or check notifications. The responsive interface, with swipe gestures and a physical side button, ensures intuitive navigation.

Exceptional Battery Life: The Versa 4 boasts up to 6-7 days of battery life, even with continuous heart rate and sleep tracking. Users report 5 days with the always-on display enabled, outlasting competitors like the Apple Watch SE (1-2 days). A 12-minute charge provides a full day’s use, ideal for busy lifestyles.

Comprehensive Fitness Tracking: With 40+ exercise modes (double the Versa 3’s), built-in GPS, and Active Zone Minutes, the Versa 4 tracks runs, swims (50m water resistance), and more with solid accuracy for casual users. The Daily Readiness Score (Premium feature) guides workout or recovery decisions, while auto-tracking detects activities like walking or yoga.

Robust Health Monitoring: The Versa 4 excels at 24/7 heart rate tracking, SpO2, and sleep analysis, including REM, light, and deep stages, plus a Sleep Score. Premium adds personalized Sleep Profiles and stress management tools like guided breathing and mindfulness sessions. Skin temperature variation tracking (new vs. Versa 3) enhances overnight health insights.

Smart Features and Connectivity: The watch supports Bluetooth calls, text notifications (Android quick replies), Fitbit Pay, and Google Wallet (post-update). Amazon Alexa integration allows voice commands for weather or timers, though it requires a phone nearby. Google Maps offers turn-by-turn navigation via a paired phone, adding convenience for urban users.

Lightweight, Durable Design: At 40g and 15% lighter than the Versa 3, the aluminum case feels premium and comfortable for 24/7 wear. The physical button improves usability over the Versa 3’s touch panel, and the IP68 rating ensures durability for showers or pool workouts. Available in four stylish colorways, it suits various tastes.

CONS

Inaccurate Heart Rate Tracking: During high-intensity workouts, the heart rate sensor lags, reading 10-15 bpm lower than devices like the Apple Watch Series 8, affecting Active Zone Minutes accuracy. This frustrates users relying on precise data for interval training.

Limited Smartwatch Features: The removal of third-party apps, music playback, and Google Assistant (only Alexa remains) makes the Versa 4 feel more like a fitness tracker than a full smartwatch. Users must carry a phone for music or advanced apps, reducing phone-free convenience.

Premium Paywall: Key features like Daily Readiness Score, Sleep Profile, and detailed analytics require a Fitbit Premium subscription ($9.99/month post-trial). This paywall can feel restrictive, especially for a $200 device, though the six-month trial adds value.

FINAL VERDICT

The Fitbit Versa 4 + Premium is a fantastic choice for casual fitness enthusiasts, offering a vibrant AMOLED display, long battery life, and robust health and fitness tracking. Its lightweight design and smart features like Alexa and Google Wallet enhance daily use, while the Premium trial unlocks valuable insights. However, inaccurate heart rate tracking, limited smartwatch features, and the Premium paywall may deter advanced users. BUY YOURS NOW!