Fitbit's New Versa Lite Edition Costs Less Than Half as Much as the Apple Watch

[BSG75]

I wear a FitBit band just because my Apple Watch is in a rotation with my mechanical watches, but from my experience, FitBit products seem to have an 18-month lifespan. That's why only only buy the cheapest option FitBit offers.

Now, if I could only have one device to track fitness metrics, the Apple Watch wins, hands down.

 

[bobob]

Fitbit's New Versa Lite Edition Costs Less Than Half as Much as the Apple Watch

...and it's worth less than a quarter as much as the Apple Watch

 

[Blackwell]

Close but not exactly like an iWatch. I would like the cheapest knock-off there is. Don't care if it works - it's a fashion accessory for me. Special bands.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Apple will continue to face more pricing pressure across their IOS product line. It's nice to be a premium product, but not everyone can afford a premium product.

You can already purchase decent smartphones with 6" screens, dual SIMs and other value features at under $100. Watches will be next.

To quote a poster hanging in my tattoo artist's old parlour:
"A good tattoo ain't cheap, a cheap tattoo ain't good."

 

[Romeo_Nightfall]

Does it still include the "leak your data everywhere" feature?

Apple has bought this recently with macOS, as journaled here.

 

[bobob]

Where's the round screen "everyone" was demanding?

 

[ksec]

From Apple perspective, It doesn't matter. There are always going to be a cheaper product. You could even get a similar band from Xiaomi for less than $100.

But when it is about health. People will spend more for it on a brand they trust. Even if Fitbit had an exact replica of Apple Watch S4 with same software and sold it for half the price, the vast majority will still choose Apple.

And Apple is not afraid to bump up the price, comparatively speaking, Apple Watch is very affordable or even considered as cheap in the world of Watches. It is one area where Apple could hike margin, or add test more leading edge tech like Solid Battery or MicroLED.

 

[mejsric]

Does it still include the "leak your data everywhere" feature?

it can’t connect to the internet and no mic too.

 

[zmon]

A lot of the mentioned things it lacks doesn't really matter to most people. In reality, I only use my watch for tracking time, heart rate, sleep, steps/biking, and checking messages (which I imagine this is the case for most people who would actually admit it). As for Wifi, I've noticed if I walk out of range of my phone, the watch will have issues activating Siri even though I have plenty of wifi signal. Are there a lot more things you can do with the Apple Watch? Of course, and you have the obvious iOS integration. But this watch would definitely eat at Apple's lower end models for people who just want simple things like I mentioned above.

 

[QCassidy352]

Silly comparison. It’s a fairly basic fitness tracker vs an advanced smartwatch that does some fitness tracking. Of course the price is going to be wildly different.

 

[acblue94]

Fitbit today announced its latest smartwatch, the Versa Lite Edition. Priced at $160, the Versa Lite is $40 cheaper than the standard Versa model released last year and less than half as much as the Apple Watch Series 4, which starts at $399.

The new Versa Lite Edition looks similar to the standard Versa, beyond having one button versus three. Of course, the Lite Edition loses some features compared to the standard Versa, including Wi-Fi, on-device music storage and playback, on-screen workouts, and the ability to track swim laps and floors climbed.

Nevertheless, the Lite Edition has most features you would expect from a fitness tracker, including step counting, calories burned, sleep tracking, heart rate tracking, guided breathing sessions, and more than 15 exercise modes.

Compared to the Apple Watch, the Versa Lite Edition is unsurprisingly basic. It has fewer apps, lacks built-in Wi-Fi, GPS, or optional LTE, can't be used for contactless payments, doesn't have a microphone for voice control, and so forth. The simplicity of the Versa Lite does allow for up to four-day battery life though.

Fitbit is the world's second largest smartwatch vendor according to estimates, but it trails Apple by a significant margin, so it's clearly attempting to win market share with an aggressive pricing strategy. This includes the also-announced Inspire, Inspire HR, and Ace 2 fitness trackers priced between $70 and $100.

Versa Lite Edition is available for pre-order in white, lilac, mulberry, and marina blue.

Article Link: Fitbit's New Versa Lite Edition Costs Less Than Half as Much as the Apple Watch

LOL. And? A Honda cost less then half of a BMW.

 

[Agit21]

This is a pretty nice offering. I love my Apple Watch S3, but realistically I usually only use it for heart rate, sleep, steps and checking the time.

Exactly. And since there is no offline support for Spotify I’m thinking about selling my s3.

 

[murdoc2k]

A lot of the mentioned things it lacks doesn't really matter to most people. In reality, I only use my watch for tracking time, heart rate, sleep, steps/biking, and checking messages (which I imagine this is the case for most people who would actually admit it). As for Wifi, I've noticed if I walk out of range of my phone, the watch will have issues activating Siri even though I have plenty of wifi signal. Are there a lot more things you can do with the Apple Watch? Of course, and you have the obvious iOS integration. But this watch would definitely eat at Apple's lower end models for people who just want simple things like I mentioned above.

I've experienced the issues you had regarding wifi and siri not working when I first got my  watch series 2. The ironic thing is that I use apple airport extreme routers at home. You would think with the tight integration, things should "just work". I sent Apple a feedback and now I noticed the watch works when Im in the kitchen, the known deadspot in my house for all bluetooth devices (where  watch failed to connect previously) with only an extended airport extreme to connect to.

 

[neuropsychguy]

I would rather get the Versa for $40 more. Wi-Fi, GPS could be important benefits for many. I use my AW w/ Wi-Fi a lot.

Or the AW3, which can regularly be purchased for $200 new. Battery life on the Versa/Lite could be a major selling point for some though.

 

[Baymowe335]

"Compared to the Apple Watch, the Versa Lite Edition is unsurprisingly basic. It has fewer apps, lacks built-in Wi-Fi, GPS, or optional LTE, can't be used for contactless payments, doesn't have a microphone for voice control, and so forth. The simplicity of the Versa Lite does allow for up to four-day battery life though."

Lol, such terrible journalism with "and so forth" and "though". no conviction on whats a con or a pro. not everyone feels these things are important.

They are if you’re going to act like they are comparable when you mention price.

 

[0924487]

At a glance it’s an Apple Watch

 

[CarlJ]

Zero interest in Fitbit at this point (Apple Watch does so much more), but I'd love to have Apple do a sport band in that fuschia color.

 

[AppleScruff1]

Who cares? Apple products are all about iOS integration.

Don't like it? Use Android.

You tell them!

 

[jp1119]

Sorry, but it still looks cheap.

Received a Fitbit as a gift a few years ago. Died less than a year later. Company's response - sorry.

At that price, it's still a toy.

A nice gift for kids.

Fitbit today announced its latest smartwatch, the Versa Lite Edition. Priced at $160, the Versa Lite is $40 cheaper than the standard Versa model released last year and less than half as much as the Apple Watch Series 4, which starts at $399.

The new Versa Lite Edition looks similar to the standard Versa, beyond having one button versus three. Of course, the Lite Edition loses some features compared to the standard Versa, including Wi-Fi, on-device music storage and playback, on-screen workouts, and the ability to track swim laps and floors climbed.

Nevertheless, the Lite Edition has most features you would expect from a fitness tracker, including step counting, calories burned, sleep tracking, heart rate tracking, guided breathing sessions, and more than 15 exercise modes.

Compared to the Apple Watch, the Versa Lite Edition is unsurprisingly basic. It has fewer apps, lacks built-in Wi-Fi, GPS, or optional LTE, can't be used for contactless payments, doesn't have a microphone for voice control, and so forth. The simplicity of the Versa Lite does allow for up to four-day battery life though.

Fitbit is the world's second largest smartwatch vendor according to estimates, but it trails Apple by a significant margin, so it's clearly attempting to win market share with an aggressive pricing strategy. This includes the also-announced Inspire, Inspire HR, and Ace 2 fitness trackers priced between $70 and $100.

Versa Lite Edition is available for pre-order in white, lilac, mulberry, and marina blue.

Article Link: Fitbit's New Versa Lite Edition Costs Less Than Half as Much as the Apple Watch

 

[johnnygee]

Costs half as much...Does less than half as much...That's the new Versa Lite!

 

[dannyyankou]

Just get the standard one. This should be cheaper with how many features were removed.

 

[JetTester]

Doesn't do much, costs less. Yeah, a pencil doesn't do much and costs way less. Rather have the pencil.

 

[MatthewUT44]

For people that have super tight budgets this is a great offering! Not everyone can stomach the $400 price tag for a series 4.
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No WiFi? OK, might as well spend the extra $40 for a Versa.

But if you’re going to spend $200 on a Fitbit, you might as well save for an extra week or two to get the extra $80 for a Series 3. If you’ve got an iPhone, that is.

Or you can save an extra 4 to 6 weeks for $160 for the series 4

 

[EssModelsRule]

I value Apple’s ecosystem and stance on privacy but am only interested in the health and fitness tracking abilities in a wearable. For me, a $99 Inspire HR would probably be fine, but should I be concerned about Fitbit’s record with users’ personal data? I mean, they’re not Facebook level bad are they?

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

it can’t connect to the internet and no mic too.

How does it sync then? Oh right, that little wireless technology called Bluetooth.
[doublepost=1551898996][/doublepost]

LOL. And? A Honda cost less then half of a BMW.

And neither are worth buying.
[doublepost=1551899071][/doublepost]

I value Apple’s ecosystem and stance on privacy but am only interested in the health and fitness tracking abilities in a wearable. For me, a $99 Inspire HR would probably be fine, but should I be concerned about Fitbit’s record with users’ personal data? I mean, they’re not Facebook level bad are they?

You should be concerned. They don't monetize you with or without your permission like FB, but I've read nothing to indicate that they've actually secured their Bluetooth connection.