The differences between the two most popular Fitbits of 2021
Monitoring your health is easy these days, thanks to wristband devices like the Fitbit. The first Fitbit was released in 2009, and there have been several models with various technological improvements released in the years since. In 2021, the Fitbit Charge 4 and the Fitbit Versa 3 are arguably the best models currently available, but which one is better?
Both models are excellent at performing their primary function, which is to track core health metrics, but there are some differences in terms of specs and features, as well as aesthetically.
Fitbit Charge 4
The Fitbit Charge 4 is the cheaper option, which you can find for under $130. If you’re looking for a basic health metric monitor with some cool features, it’s a terrific option.
You won’t get all the bells and whistles in terms of features as you would with the Fitbit Versa 3, but the Fitbit Charge 4 is accurate, works well, and has the most fundamental fitness tracker features, including a few additional features.
Fitbit Charge 4 pros
The Fitbit Charge 4 has a wristband design, so it’s more lightweight than the Fitbit Versa 3, making it appealing for those who don’t want the bulkiness of a watch-like accessory on their wrist.
It delivers on all fronts when it comes to monitoring essential health and fitness metrics. There’s a built-in heart rate monitor, and you can keep track of the number of steps you’ve taken, distance traveled, calories burned, traveling speed and sleep patterns.
It’s water-resistant up to 50 meters, so it can be worn while swimming or showering and delivers notifications from your smartphone, which can be connected via Bluetooth. Also, it has a better battery life than the Fitbit Versa 3, lasting approximately seven days, while the latter lasts six.
Its predecessor, the Fitbit Charge 3, didn’t have a built-in GPS, but the Fitbit Charge 4 does, making it perfect for those who want to exercise outdoors without the burden of carrying their phone on them.
Fitbit Charge 4 cons
The Fitbit Charge 4 is as good as wristband fitness trackers get, but it lacks some premium features that are included in many smartwatches.
The Fitbit Charge 4 has a small 1-inch OLED touchscreen, which is excellent for those who want a compact device, but it can be difficult to navigate for others. Also, it’s only grayscale and, unfortunately, doesn’t have an option for an always-on display, even while exercising, which can be frustrating.
You can hook it up to your smartphone for notifications, but it doesn’t have a microphone, so you can’t receive phone calls, and unlike the Fitbit Versa 3, there are no on-screen workout programs or support for voice assistants.
Fitbit Versa 3
The Fitbit Charge 4 is an excellent basic and lightweight fitness tracker. However, the Fitbit Versa 3 has turned things up a notch and appeals to those looking for more features. It has all the features of the Fitbit Charge 4 and then some. It’s essentially a smartwatch, and a fitness tracker blended into one device.
It’s the more expensive option, but some people find the upgrade worth the money since at $230, it’s roughly $100 more.
Fitbit Versa 3 pros
The Fitbit Versa 3 has a smartwatch design, so it’s more robust than the wristband style of the Fitbit Charge 4. It can track every fitness metric the Fitbit Charge 4 can, including female health-tracking. There’s a built-in microphone for receiving phone calls and voice assistant support like Alexa and Google Assistant.
The Fitbit Charge 4 doesn’t support on-screen workouts, which wouldn’t be suitable regardless due to the one-inch grayscale screen. However, the Fitbit Versa 3 is better suited for on-screen workouts with its 1.5-inch AMOLED color touchscreen display.
Also, the Fitbit Versa 3 has additional features that aren’t available with the Fitbit Charge 4, including storage capabilities, an ambient light sensor, music and podcast playback, and storage control for streaming services like Spotify, Deezer, and Pandora.
Fitbit Versa 3 cons
The Fitbit Versa 3 is designed to sync with a smartphone to take advantage of all its features, but it also relies on a mobile app to control it and adjust settings. Some users find the app slow and unresponsive, but this issue may be corrected with a future update.
Some might find it too large or heavy. Some people want to wear their fitness trackers while they sleep to monitor their sleep patterns, but they might find the bulkiness of a smartwatch too uncomfortable to wear while sleeping.
The band leaves something to be desired. It has a quirky design where the strap runs adjacent to the wrist. Some find it uncomfortable while wearing it because of it, but mostly it’s just a hassle to work around when putting it on.
Also, it can last up to six days off a full charge, while the Fitbit Charge 4 can last up to seven.
Should you get the Fitbit Charge 4 or Fitbit Versa 3?
You can check out the buyer’s guide of the best Fitbits from BestReviews, where you’ll find a comparison of the best devices as well as some other models worth a look like the Fitbit Inspire 2. However, the Fitbit Charge 4 and Fitbit Versa 3 are the cream of the crop in 2021.
If money is no consideration and you want more control and features, the Fitbit Versa 3 is the way to go. It does everything the Fitbit Charge 4 does, but it works in harmony with your smartphone and has a stylish smartwatch appearance.
The Fitbit Charge 4 is excellent for those who don’t care for the extra features like voice assistants or receiving phone calls and want a lightweight fitness tracker strictly for monitoring standard health metrics.
Kevin Luna is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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