fitbitversa
Latest
The best smartphones, tablets and smartwatches for students
New school year, new gear. Maybe you're due for an upgrade, or maybe you broke your phone over summer break, or maybe you just want a new toy. Either way, you might be looking to refresh your slate of devices before heading to campus. For the mobile section of our back-to-school guide, we considered the best phones you can get on a student-friendly budget. We also threw in our favorite smartwatches for both Android and iOS users. But "mobile" means more than just phones and phone-like things meant for your wrists. We also included our favorite e-reader and make a case for why someone might want to splurge on an iPad Pro. (Hint: art and design students might get a kick out of it.) We know that in your haste to get to class on time you might occasionally forget to charge your devices, so we've also included a portable battery that can keep all your stuff running. And life isn't all work and no play, so when it's time to chill out in your dorm, you can strap on our favorite wireless headset and take out some aliens in VR -- no need to make your roommate trip over any cables.
The fitness gadgets and apps you should be using at school
In between cramming for never-ending tests, going out with your classmates and campaigning for the student union, you still need to keep fit. The good news is, you don't have to do that last bit all by yourself. Plenty of smartwatches can stand in for your mom, reminding you to go take a walk after you've sat in front of your computer for too long. There's also gear that you can take with you on your runs to make the grueling exercise more tolerable. In curating this list, we thought not only about what could make your workouts more fun and productive, but also devices and services that help you stay on top of your fitness regimen. These include apps that help manage your diet or exercise plans, so you don't have to splurge on a whole new gadget. Some options are even free. Here's what we recommend.
Fitbit Versa Lite review: The basics aren't enough
I wasn't sure what to expect when Fitbit announced the Versa Lite smartwatch. It's supposed to be a pared-back iteration of last year's Versa, which itself was already a watered-down version of the company's first true smartwatch, the Ionic. For $200, the Versa was actually a pretty compelling mix of an Apple Watch-inspired design, capable fitness tracking and a robust operating system at a reasonable price. But it begs the question: How much more stripped down can you get? Apparently about $40 more. Fitbit somehow managed to squeeze $40 of tradeoffs out of the Versa to deliver the Versa Lite. It brings over most of my favorite features from the more expensive watch, but it might be too "lite" even for the first-time smartwatch buyers the company is targeting.
The best smartwatches and fitness trackers to give as gifts
With the arrival of Apple Watch Series 4 and Google's redesigned Wear OS platform, this is a great year to give the gift of smartwatches. If money is no object, Apple's latest-generation wearable ($399 and up) is a good all-around choice for anyone in your life who carries an iPhone. It has a bigger screen than its predecessors, longer battery life and expanded heart-rate monitoring features that let the wearer know if their BPM is too high or too low. You might also consider Samsung's similarly priced Galaxy Watch instead of the Series 4 if you're buying for an Android user (especially consummate Samsung fans).
Fitbit's period-tracking features are seriously lacking
Fitbit wants to help women stay on top of their cycles. It added a "female health tracking" feature to its app two months ago, which puts data about periods and ovulation alongside your other metrics. Although there are plenty of period and fertility tracking apps available, having Fitbit keep all that information in the same place as the stuff it already knows about you should be both convenient and illuminating.
Fitbit activates female health tracking on the Versa and Ionic
Two months ago, when Fitbit unveiled its Versa smartwatch, the company also announced an upcoming feature called "Female health tracking" that would launch in May. Now that we're a week into the month, Fitbit is ready to roll it out. The new tool is available on the iOS and Windows apps, and is expected to arrive on Android later this month. It'll let you keep tabs on your period from the face of your Fitbit Versa or Ionic, too.
Fitbit Versa review: A stylish smartwatch at the right price
When Fitbit launched its first true smartwatch last year, it had something to prove. The company had just bought beloved smartwatch pioneer Pebble, and up till then had struggled to produce a wearable with a proper operating system. So it's no surprise that the Ionic was stuffed full of features. It not only tracks a comprehensive range of fitness metrics and provides onscreen workout tutorials, but also stores your music, streams to Bluetooth headphones, runs third-party apps and makes contactless payments. It even has a blood-oxygen sensor just waiting for the company to turn it on (but right now is completely useless). It's also not a surprise, then, that the Ionic wasn't cheap. While $300 isn't much compared to the Apple Watch and Samsung's Gear Sport, it might put off people who are fitness novices looking for a simpler device. The Ionic also didn't look like a regular watch, thanks to its hexagonal design that screams "Fitbit." The company addresses all that with its second smartwatch, the Versa. For starters, it will cost just $200, and comes with a simplified operating system that reduces the swipes you need to see your daily info. Most important, the Versa is the best-looking Fitbit yet.
