(*two*)
The Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 are reportedly in production, after a YouTube video from a smartwatch accessory maker was uploaded and removed. The video, uploaded by electronic accessories company Wasserstein, was a tutorial on how to apply their screen protectors to the Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2.
Unfortunately, we didn't get a chance to watch the video before it was taken down. But 9to5Google (opens in a new tab) was able to take a screenshot, revealing that the tutorial wasn't running on an actual Versa 4 or Sense 2 unit.
Instead, it focused on the Fitbit Sense, a two-year-old smartwatch and one of the models on our best Fitbit list right now. We can take this as a confirmation, except in sharing, that the Versa 4, Sense 2 and the original Sense will share the same screen shape and size, as accessories compatible with the existing Sense will be able to be used with the two new devices. .
It's not the first time we've heard this rumour, as a leaked photo last month suggested the display would be at least the same shape and a teardown suggested the resolution would be identical. We don't know much else about the two watches, but it's likely they'll continue to run Fitbit's operating system instead of Wear OS this round.
What does this mean for a launch period? The original Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 models launched in September. If prop production is ongoing, it seems like a likely window of time until the announcement. Apple is also likely to unveil the next version of its watch in September, so Alphabet may want to beat its competitor.
(*2*)Analysis: Marginal GainsSmall iterative changes rather than bold new looks are in line with how major smartwatch makers operate these days. Fitbit, Garmin, Apple… nobody wants to reinvent the wheel and take more risk than necessary, especially when their target audience has less money to spend. Small updates, better firmware, improved accuracy, and new software features trump radical new designs.
Of course, small changes come with their own risks: For current Fitbit watch users, the next generation of updated smartwatches may not be essential just yet. It will all depend on the sensor network and improved software to justify an upgrade.
Don't get me wrong: we love the pebbled design of the Sense and Versa 3. It's sleek and stylish, evoking contemporaries like the Apple Watch while remaining very clean. But if Fitbit wants existing users to ditch everything and upgrade their current watches, the Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 will need some serious internal firepower.