Fitbit Versa

While its feature set isn’t quite on par with that of its bigger brother the Ionic, the Fitbit Versa feels like the same watch but with a lighter and friendlier design and a much lower price point.

The Versa isn’t perfect, and Apple still succeeds over Fitbit in certain areas, particularly around user interface design, communication features, and ease of use when swapping bands. But those setbacks aside, the Versa is the first Fitbit smartwatch I’ve actually been excited to wear.

For those reasons, Versa still feels more like a fitness tracker, albeit a really great one, rather than a smartwatch. If you go into this device with the right expectations, it's a great product -- just don't expect it to change how you view Fitbit or its products.

While all these minor gripes mean it isn’t as slick as the Apple Watch, the Fitbit Versa comes surprisingly close. Keen runners and cyclists will be better served by a watch with GPS inside but the Versa is something you can wear every day without being conscious of the lump of silicon, glass and plastic on your wrist. With Fitbit’s community to back it up, it’s a great buy at $200.

If you need a smartwatch that doesn't die after just one day of use, buy the Fitbit Versa. If you need a stellar fitness tracker, buy the Versa. If you need a powerful smartwatch, you'll want to pass on this one. Fitbit is still new to the smartwatch world, and it shows. This isn't the smartest smartwatch on the market — it certainly has its quirks — but it is a big step in the right direction.

The Fitbit Versa is a prettier, cheaper version of the company’s first true smartwatch, the Ionic. It lacks built-in GPS and NFC payments, but you’ll save $100 if you opt for the new watch over the original. The Versa still boasts four-day battery life and a comprehensive range of health-tracking features, making it a strong fitness-centric smartwatch.

The Fitbit Versa is the best fusion of smartwatch and general fitness tracker under $200, if you can live with its limitations.

I’ve never really been head-over-heels with a smartwatch before — and that remains true after testing the Fitbit Versa. But if there was such thing as a perfect smartwatch for me — I think this would be it. It’s pretty good at tracking metrics and I’m pretty good at caring about my fitness; I exercise run a few times a week (if I’m lucky), but not with specific goals in mind; I basically run until I’m tired.