Apple Watch Series 6 vs Fitbit Versa 3 (2022): Which Smartwatch Should You Buy?

The Apple Watch Series 6 is official, and it’s taking personal health tracking to new heights. It has a new blood oxygen level sensor and sleep tracking, and then there’s an always-on altimeter for climbers and hikers. However, it’s not the only wearable to be on the look out for. There’s also the Fitbit Versa 3, and in contrast, it has a few advantages here and there.

Put simply, the Watch Series 6 can keep tabs on your health better, but it’s more expensive. Meanwhile, the Versa 3 does the job, and it’s more affordable to boot. However, it lags behind in a couple of areas. That’s just the tip of the iceberg, though. We put the two side by side to help you decide which one will fit your needs better.

Apple Watch Series 6 vs Fitbit Versa 3 Comparison Chart

Design and Build

Both have a similar square watch face with curved corners.

Building on its predecessor, the Watch Series 6 now has an always-on OLED display that’s 2.5 times brighter, meaning it has better visibility in sunlight. It comes in 40 mm and 44 mm and in aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium.

On the other hand, the Versa 3 sports an always-on AMOLED with an aluminum watch case. For those coming from the Versa 2, you’ll be glad to know that it now has built-in GPS, so you no longer have to rely on your phone for it.

Design-wise, both have a polished and sleek look. Speaking of, they’re also rocking squarish faces with rounded corners. One thing that makes the Watch Series 6 all the more appealing is the new Solo Loop, which Apple introduced alongside the new models. It’s a seamless silicone band without any buckle or clasp, and it’s even available in a braided variant. In short, you get more options to personalize it to your liking.

Health and Fitness Features

The Watch Series 6 can stay on top of your personal health more closely than the Versa 3.

This is where the Watch Series 6 has the edge over the Versa 3. It has features such as electrocardiogram (ECG) and abnormal heart rate alerts that notifies you if your resting heart rate is abnormally low or high. There’s also automatic fall detection and emergency SOS in the mix, as well as an always-on altimeter for real-time info on altitude, which can come in handy for hikers.

As mentioned earlier, it now has a blood oxygen sensor so you can measure your blood oxygen levels using a combination of green, red, and infrared LED lights. It only needs 15 seconds to do a test, and it can take periodical background measurements even while you’re sleeping. The data it provides could be particularly useful for those who have a respiratory or heart condition.

In its defense, the Versa 3 does have a heart rate sensor too, and it can measure blood oxygen levels as well. It can also track sleep, calories burned, and female health—the usual.

Now the two of them have a water resistance of up to 50 meters, and that means they’re swimproof. Moreover, the Versa 3 boasts more than 20 preinstalled exercises, while in the Watch Series 6’s case, its workout types are expanding with Core Training and Dance, to name a few, with the arrival of watchOS 7.

Battery Life

You’ll have to charge the Watch Series 6 more frequently than the Versa 3.

Apple didn’t increase the battery life of the Watch Series 6. In other words, it’s still rated to last up to 18 hours, the same as its predecessor.

Now this is where the Versa 3 blows the Watch Series 6 out of the water. It can go over six days on a single charge or up to 12 hours with GPS on. It even has a fast charging feature that gives you a whole day’s worth of battery life in only 12 minutes.

Smart Capabilities

In terms of smart features, the Versa 3 can’t really hold a candle to the Watch Series 6.

When it comes to smart features, they’re pretty much how you’d expect them to be. Each one has their own contactless payment methods, voice assistants, and music support.

At that, the Watch Series 6 has Apple Pay, Siri, and Apple Music in store. The Versa 3 has Fitbit Pay and Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, and it supports Spotify playback controls and lets you store songs and podcasts from Deezer and Pandora.

One thing that gives the Watch Series 6 the upper hand here is Family Setup. Thanks to this feature, you can pair multiple Apple Watches using only one iPhone, and once connected, each family member can contact one another via text or call and even send SOS alerts in case of an emergency.

Verdict

From just about any perspective, the new Watch Series 6 is ahead of the competition here, but the Versa 3 doesn’t fall too far behind.

The Watch Series 6 beats the Versa 3 across the board, except battery life. After all, it has an ECG, emergency features, and abnormal heart rate alerts, among other things. The Versa 3 is more of a hybrid between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker in that it has enough smarts to pass off as a smartwatch and the battery life typical of fitness trackers.

For iOS users, the decision is pretty obvious. But for those looking for a simple and functional wearable that can track workouts and the usual fitness metrics, the Versa 3 can go a long way without breaking the bank.

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