Wearables in Review: The Fitbit Versa 3
With a lower price point than the Sense, the Fitbit Versa 3 has a great range of features and a solid battery life of up to six days. It also has a comparable range of sensors and can track skin temperature variation and blood oxygen levels while users sleep. With its integrated GPS, fast charging feature, and sleek color display, the Versa 3 is a well-rounded wearable under $250.00 and a favorite among consumers.
Our Favorite Features
If you are looking for a budget-friendly wearable, the Versa 3 is a serious contender. For a price point of $229.95, it provides a large range of features and metrics. The Versa 3 tracks the level of oxygen in their blood, their heart rate, and skin temperature variations. This wearable also has an integrated GPS system, which allows for real-time pace and distance tracking. The Versa 3 also has some features that are specifically geared toward the consumer vs the clinical audience. For example, the wearable notifies users when their heart rate is too low or high. Fortunately, for clinical studies and trials, where patient interventions like this may be less desirable, it is possible to disable these notifications.
The Versa 3 collects less sophisticated data than the Sense, but its lengthy battery life and fast charging features make it a helpful wearable for clinical trials collecting basic health information. Its large, high resolution touchscreen also has an always-on display, making it easy to use.
What’s Missing
Despite its array of features, the low price point of the Versa 3 means that it does not have the highest level of activity tracking for a wearable. A notable absence is the ECG (electrocardiogram) sensor, especially considering that Fitbit received FDA clearance for the company’s ECG app to treat atrial fibrillation in its other models. Without an ECG sensor, the Versa 3 has limited capabilities for complex clinical trials, like cardiology studies.
Users have also reported some performance issues when it comes to the Versa 3. Occasional lagging and syncing problems have been reported. The limited app library and Fitbit Premium paywall are also some frustrating features of the Versa 3.
Clinical Trial Presence
Although it does not track as much information as the Sense, the Versa 3 has great potential for clinical trial use. Its skin temperature variation feature and ability to track blood oxygen levels while users sleep make it a great tool for sleep studies. The Versa 3 itself has yet to be utilized for a major study, but it’s predecessor, the Versa, has been used to detect drinking behavior and provide automated lapse detection in fluid intake in adult patients with kidney stones. The Versa also produced comparable data to an EEG when measuring sleep duration. Given that the Versa 3 has improved many of its features and metrics compared to its original model, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the Versa 3 debut in more studies in the near future, especially on the academic side where price may play a larger role in device selection.
What This Means for the Future
The Fitbit Versa 3 is a robust, reliable wearable for clinical trials looking to collect basic health metrics. However, its lack of ECG sensors mean that it lags behind in data collection capabilities compared to the Sense and other wearables from manufacturers like Garmin and Apple. Still, the Versa 3 is a great consumer option at a more affordable price point. Here at Litmus, we’re curious to see if the upgrades in the next iteration of the Versa will be targeted towards consumers preferences or more clinically focused — as this may ultimately dictate whether we continue to monitor the Versa models for clinical trial inclusion.
Sensors: Accelerometer, altimeter, ambient light, GPS, heart rate, pedometer, PPG, pulse oximeter, temperature sensor
Activity/Measurement Data: Blood oxygen, calories burned, floors climbed, heart rate, sleep, steps, VO2 max
Metrics: Activity, breathing rate, HRV, sleep quality
Connectivity: Bluetooth, USB, WiFi
MSRP: $229.95
Battery Life: Up to 6 days
Waterproof Rating: Water resistant up to 50 meters
Average Consumer Rating: 4.3/5
To learn more about Litmus, as well as download a copy of the Device Census Report, Volume Two, please visit www.litmushealth.com.
