Wearable technology is not new.
Well, to be deadly accurate, it was actually in the 1500s when a German inventor, Peter Henlein thought it would be a great idea to put a watch around his neck…Clear to see why that never caught on. Seriously, how do you check the time?
But its sort of new to me. And so here I was, spending the last month testing the Fitbit Versa Lite, which is packed full of tech, as well as being a watch that can conveniently be found on your wrist. Cough Peter Henlein Cough.
You might ask how are wearables new to me, and where have I been this decade?
When the first generation of activity trackers came to market, I actually received one as a gift, but the tediousness of the interface and data entry just bored me, and it’s currently gathering dust somewhere. The Versa Lite is definitely a major improvement.
Perfect for a casual workout
One of the first features that blew me away was the auto-tracker. Gone are the days of logging your exercises manually! And, The Versa Lite was able to work out that going around the mall with my partner is extreme exercise. I’d take that.
Outside of that real-world advantage, it’s pretty high-tech in that it records workouts and retains real-time stats for running, biking, Yoga and 12 other physical activities, which is ideal if you’re a casual exerciser.
The display and interface are not bombarded with complicated features so it makes for an un-fussy and uncomplicated experience compared to some other products. And, as far as smartwatches go, it looks sleek too.
There are also multiple options to choose from when it comes to the appearance of the UI and the strap.
The lack of internal storage, compared to the standard Versa, can be a little off-putting though as it doesn’t replace your phone when it comes to GPS or songs, but that is to be expected at a modest price point.
I am quite an active person and train intensely 6 days a week, so it was really interesting to see accurate data on my body’s response to movements. I found myself pushing harder to keep my heart rate in the optimal zone and making sure I wasn’t resting too long. My output during the trial has definitely increased since using the watch.
So rather than just documenting, it’s a little hand-held motivator too.
Sleep tracker is dreamy
Now, my absolute favorite feature is the sleep tracker.
I would buy a Fitbit just for this feature. If you have any conflict with your spouse about who is keeping who awake at night, allow the Fitbit to settle the debate. I’d just like to say thank you, Fitbit – I win. The sleep tracker tracks how long you sleep for as well as what stages you go through and when, such as light, deep and REM, which helps determine if you’re getting a good night’s rest or not.
As someone who never wears watches or smartwatches, because I find it just as convenient to check my phone, I actually adapted to the Fitbit very quickly. It was comfortable, light and convenient, which is something a lot of products market themselves as but don’t necessarily follow through.
The app-integrations take the Fitbit from your average activity and health tracker to a high-end smartwatch. One app I thought was great was Barcode that allows you to store up to 5 membership cards on the app and use them through the Fitbit. On top of that, you can control your smart-home tech too!
Overall, for the price and the functionality, the Versa Lite offers just as much as the high-end smartwatches and fitness-oriented apps plus more. You get what you pay for with this one!