Update after 2 weeks of use:
I've put the Versa through its paces over the past two weeks... 110 miles of walking (235,000 steps) and 400 flights of stairs, plus tested its waterproof claims. Here's what I've found:
- The distance/step tracking is pretty accurate without the GPS, nominally better than the Blaze, but with one exception. It appears to be sensitive to arm movement without walking. For example, I attended a concert and picked up a "mile of walking" just by standing and clapping my hands at the concert. I tested this a couple times. Just sitting and clapping or tapping my knees to music will add steps and distance to the counter. Couldn't find any solution for this other than use the GPS function - connecting it to your phone's GPS - as you exercise, which works well. But now that I know the issue, I can adjust my tracking accordingly. Since I walk with my phone anyway (for security) this is not an issue for me either way.
- Stair/elevation changes track very similarly to the Blaze. My daily outdoor walk route includes some hills and the number of "flights" it tracks never varies by more than one on any given day.
- It is definitely waterproof. In the shower, in the pool for more than an hour, walking in the rain. No problem. You can even read the screen underwater. Haven't tried the ocean yet... that will be next month.
- Without connecting to GPS and only syncing on demand, not constant, I get a good full 5 days of battery life. I find I have no need to have it continuously sync.... if I want to know my progress, it's on the watch anyway with less effort than opening the phone app.
- I have not tested out the music yet, though I've looked at it and the instructions appear pretty straight forward. Since I'm taking my phone with me anyway, I don't need to have the music on the watch. I'm sure I'll try it eventually.
The bottom line for me at this point is that it is everything the Blaze was with a better interface, charging solution, and waterproof.
I’ve had a Fitbit Blaze for 2 years.... it helped me lose 175 lbs over that time period. I replaced it with this Versa mostly because the Versa is waterproof. Other than being waterproof the only functional upgrades are (1) the ability to store music and play music directly thru Bluetooth, the watch’s ability to connect to WiFi (to do OS updates and download music) and (3) the updated operating system that allows third party apps to be installed and used. Otherwise than these it gives me the same functionality as the Blaze.
It is a little smaller and thinner than the Blaze and because, unlike the Blaze you don’t pop it out of its frame, the control buttons seem easier to use. The screen display is much brighter too. The Blaze in direct sunlight is unreadable; this one is fine. Screen resolution appears to be much higher too.
Setup was a breeze. Just follow the step by step directions on the app, which needs to be installed on your phone before setup. There are also some fine videos online that will walk you thru the setup too.
I’ve taken it thru 2 days of activity so far (about 24 hours) and as I write this the battery is 83% charged. Sensors seem a little more sensitive than the Blaze.
Some reviews complain about the apps or the watch faces. I think there are plenty of the latter to choose from and most are free. The one pictured here was free and I liked it because it displays all the tracking on one screen (and with a simple tap on the screen I can change the display color).
All in all I’m happy with the Versa upgrade from the Blaze.
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