Tech Friday: The end is near for Fitbit and my beloved Versa 2
Posted By RichC on August 23, 2024
Well it has been a good run, that of my Fitbit smartwatch. According to long running rumors and a recent flurry of technology articles, these very long lasting 
Fitbit smartwatches (four days between charging) have finally officially met their end.
The Fitbit Versa 2 has been one of the best tech gadgets that I’ve ever had and I’d probably be lined up to buy another IF Google (who bought Fitbit) would continue to make and support them. BUT no, like HP did to my beloved Palm Pre and webOS … took the tech and patents that they wanted and flushed the brand down the toilet.
Very sad.
This week, Google unveiled its new Google Pixel Watch 3 at the Made by Google 2024 event, which showcased Google’s latest and greatest hardware. The Google Pixel Watch 3 is a true smartwatch, stuffed with features and boasting many of Fitbit’s best features, including its Daily Readiness Score. Usually available only for Fitbit Premium subscribers, Pixel Watch 3 owners get it absolutely free.
Unfortunately, we also saw some sad news for Fitbit fans: the Pixel Watch 3’s announcement spelled the end for other Fitbit smartwatches. Google quietly confirmed that there would never be another Fitbit Sense or Versa model produced. From now on, Fitbit-branded devices will be relegated to Google’s best fitness trackers: the Fitbit Inspire, Luxe, and Charge ranges. The smartwatch form factor would be exclusively reserved for the Pixel Watch line.
This is sad news. Fitbits were among the best cheap smartwatches you could buy: they lasted longer than most traditional smartwatches do today, and people loved the form factor. I know of at least three people in my everyday life who aren’t techie at all, who wear Fitbit Versa models they’ve had for years, and they love them. The Fitbit Versa 2 and 3, in particular, were very well received, and the Versa 3 hung onto the top spot of our best Fitbit guide for years after its introduction.
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