Expert review Fitbit Versa 4

The Fitbit Versa 4 comes in a sturdy, original packaging. You open the packaging like a book. The Versa 4 is right in the middle. You'll find a longer strap on the left and a charging cable on the right. To set up the Fitbit, you should download the Fitbit app on your Apple or Android smartphone. To connect your Fitbit to your smartphone, a Fitbit account is required. Fitbit advises you to fully charge the Versa 4 first. A charger isn't included, and I have to look for a USB-A charger in my house. Luckily, I found such a charger in the bottom drawer. That way, I didn't have to purchase a new one.

The first thing I notice is that the Versa 4 has a physical button on the left side. The haptic button on the Versa 3 caused many problems, because the button was often pressed accidentally. Due to this, activities weren't always registered properly. With the new, physical button, this is no longer a problem. The watch is available in 3 different colors and the straps of the Versa 4 are interchangeable with the Versa 3, the Sense, and the Sense 2. The operating system of Fitbit runs on the Versa 4. This means that you can barely download any external apps onto the watch. You won't find a music player, Spotify, or the railway booklet on the Versa 4.

Fitbit Versa 4 is an activity tracker that looks like a smartwatch. There are 40 preprogrammed activities on the watch, like cycling, walking, and running. More exotic sports like kayaking, SUP, and inline skating are present too. You can activate an activity with a couple of swipes. I mostly go walking. After my walk, I can see the route, heart rate, the number of steps, and the number of burned calories in the Fitbit app. Fitbit doesn't synchronize this data with Apple Health or Google Fit.

While you're working at the office, the Versa 4 monitors various health values. In the health statistics, you can find your breathing frequency, your heart rate variability, change in skin temperature, oxygen saturation, and your resting heart rate. If you wear the Versa 4 for multiple weeks, a trend will occur. This information can give you insight if you experience stress or help to keep track of your menstrual cycle. You'll also receive a notification if your heart rate suddenly becomes irregular. In the app, you can create a PDF file with this data to show it to your doctor, for example.

To get the most out of your Versa 4, you need a Fitbit Premium subscription. For a fixed amount per month, you'll get access to extra workouts and mindfulness sessions. You can also determine your sleep animal. During your sleep, you'll go into various sleep stadia like the deep sleep or REM sleep. Based on your sleep pattern, Fitbit determines if you're a giraffe or a parrot, for example. You'll receive advice on how to improve your sleep.

As mentioned before, the Versa 4 is more of an activity tracker than a smartwatch. But it does have useful smart functions. For example, you can pay with your watch thanks to Fitbit Pay. You also receive messages and incoming calls of your phone directly on the Versa 4. While writing this article, we're waiting for a large software update. Fitbit promised to add Google Wallet and Google Maps at a later time. In addition, they will also add the option to answer incoming calls directly on your wrist.