Smartwatches don't seem to have gained major traction with consumers quite yet, but some companies continue to release new hardware in hopes of catching the public's interest. Today Fitbit did just that.
The Fitbit Versa is a new smartwatch with a focus on fitness, which shouldn't come as a surprise with Fitbit's history in wearable devices. The Versa boasts features like continuous heart rate tracking, automatic activity and sleep tracking, and more than 15 exercise modes. There are also on-screen personal workouts from the Fitbit Coach feature, support for using your smartphone's GPS, and swim tracking with water resistance up to 50 meters.
The Versa can also help you with other aspects of your life. Move reminders will help you to stay active throughout your day and the Guided Breathing Session will give you moments throughout the day to relax and focus on your breathing. Fitbit is also launching its new female health tracking with the Versa, which lets you log periods, track your cycle, and gauge ovulation.
Fitbit has also baked some more smartwatch-y features into the Versa. There are notifications for calls, calendar alerts, texts, and apps, and quick replies to messages for Android are coming soon. You can download your music onto the Versa or sync Pandora stations, and you can use Fitbit Pay to make payments with your watch (only in special edition). There are also apps from companies like Starbucks, AccuWeather, Yelp, Nest, and Flipboard.
When it comes to hardware features, the Fitbit Versa has a color touchscreen, optical heart rate monitor, ambient light sensor, vibration motor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a battery that's rate to last 4 days.
The Fitbit Versa is compatible with devices running Android 4.3 or higher, Windows 10 devices, iPhone 4S and later, and iPad (3rd gen.) and later.
Fitbit is now taking pre-orders for the Versa ahead of its April launch. Pricing starts at $199.95 for a black, gray, or rose gold aluminum case. The Fitbit Versa Special Edition will include Fitbit Pay and will be priced at $229.95.
Fitbit today also introduced the Fitbit Ace, a wearable for children. The Ace has activity and sleep tracking, reminders to move, and motivations to help kids be active at least 60 minutes per day. The band is adjustable and the whole device is showerproof to help protect it from splashes and spills. Fitbit says the Ace's battery will last up to 5 days on a single charge.
The Fitbit Ace is now available for pre-order at a price of $99.95. It'll ship in late May.
