Fitbit Releases Another Smartwatch In $199 Versa

At this point, the smartwatch market has not exactly taken off as a lot of companies might have hoped, particularly tech giants like Apple and Fitbit. The former currently has a huge chunk of the niche, though, this isn’t really saying much. However, Fitbit is still determined to take on the Apple Watch with its own smart wearable offering called Versa.

This is actually the second time that Fitbit has tried to make its mark in the smart wearable market, The Verge reports, with its first attempt being the Ionic. Unfortunately for the fitness tracker firm, the product didn’t sell nearly as well as it was aiming for. This hasn’t seemed to dampen its enthusiasm, however, since it is now planning to sell another smartwatch in the Versa.

Cheaper than the Apple Watch by a mile with its $199 price tag, it seems the Fitbit product is aimed more at the mass consumer market, which is composed of individuals who don’t really need unnecessary features and LTE connectivity. It comes preloaded with all the usual services expected of a fitness-tracking product, but it also comes with music streaming.

The most striking aspect of the Versa, however, is how similar it looks to the Apple Watch. The two devices are so close in appearance, in fact, that it can be difficult to tell them apart from a distance.

In any case, the Versa does improve on many of the aspects that made the Ionic such a troublesome device, CNET notes. For starters, the upcoming smartwatch is less bulky and is less expensive, which immediately improves its standing in the eyes of average people. While there were some compromises, it still represents Fitbit’s biggest opportunity to have a hit on its hands.

Fitbit is also close to launching new features that will make it particularly appealing to female consumers. The biggest prospect that could draw feminine attention is the planned period tracking service, which will essentially track the menstrual cycle female users.