A new update rolling out for the latest Fitbit smartwatches gets a couple of useful features. Version 5.1 software update lets the Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 track your blood oxygen levels overnight without needing to install any SpO2 clock faces. But if you're the type who wants to see that regularly, Fitbit will also introduce seven new faces in the gallery before the end of the year.
Even if the Fitbit Versa 2 is just a year old, unfortunately, it won't be getting the latest version of Fitbit's smartwatch software. The Fitbit OS 5.0 platform was developed "exclusively" for the newer wearables and "optimized" for the Sense and Versa 3's latest displays and speaker technology. OS 5.0 introduces a new interface navigation method and interface that takes advantage of the higher resolution screens. And while it can run older apps, these need to run in a compatibility mode.
Developers can't distribute a single version of an app optimized for both old and new smartwatches. What they can do is release different versions that will reach the right users. Those who own older Fitbit Versa smartwatches can still use theirs just fine (our first-generation Versa still works well); it's just they won't get the steady stream of new features.
Fitbit's recent launch updated the Versa and Inspire lines with the Versa 3 and Inspire 2. But the star of the show is undoubtedly the Fitbit Sense. While it bears similarities with the Versa, it looks and feels more premium. And it comes with a higher price tag to prove that.
The Sense is a new smartwatch brand from Fitbit, marking the first significant watch update since the Versa was initially launched in 2018. At $429.95, the Sense is Fitbit's most expensive new device and most advanced smartwatch to date.
It offers an ECG that can spot abnormal changes in heart rate and stress and temperature sensing capabilities. You might have seen ECG on devices like the Apple Watch Series 4 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 3. But Fitbit hasn't gotten clearance yet to activate its ECG feature. It's reportedly coming soon, though. Forbes estimates around early 2021.
Fitbit includes the first Electrodermal Activity sensor on a smartwatch with the Sense. It's said to be at the forefront of stress level detection in this smartwatch. It monitors tiny electrical changes on your skin. So, if your palms start to get sweaty when you're nervous or anxious, the Sense can detect that.
Fitbit Charge 4 gets a couple of significant features the company has introduced into its smartwatches. The first one is the Smart Wake option, which uses the sleep tracker to help you set the alarm to wake you up when you feel the most rested. With sleep disrupted profoundly by the COVID-19 pandemic, this feature is particularly useful. If you can spare the time (you should really), this feature might be an excellent way to wake you up in the morning.
Another is Dynamic GPS, which lets you connect the tracker with the GPS on your phone when it's in range. This function helps preserve the Charge 4's battery life as well as improve location accuracy. The fitness tracker also now lets you decide how long the display stays on when it has been awakened. The Fitbit Charge 4's official retail price is $199.95, but it's currently on sale over at Fitbit's site at $169.95.
Saturday, November 21, 2020 at 3:29AM 
