While most people might not think of them as direct competitors, the Apple Watch SE 2022 and the Fitbit Versa 4 share a very important distinction: they’re both priced within the range of $200-250.
Their mid-range pricing means that they’re appealing to the very same type of customer: people who want a general-purpose smartwatch with more features than a fitness tracker, but don’t want to spend the high-end prices that the Apple Watch 8 or Fitbit Sense 2 commands.
You might want to pit Versa 4 against the iWatch 8, but in our opinion, this is a lopsided comparison. Apple Watch 8 is in a completely different league, being almost twice as expensive as the Versa 4.
In this guide, we will stack Fitbit Versa 4 vs Apple Watch SE 2 and find out which of these two is the better smartwatch for iPhone users, as you might know, Apple Watch doesn’t work with Android Phones.
Table of Contents
General Overview:
| Apple Watch SE 2 | Fitbit Versa 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Release Date | September 2022 | August 2022 |
| Predecessor | Apple Watch SE | Fitbit Versa 3 |
| Company | Apple Inc | Fitbit |
| Operating System | Wear OS | Fitbit OS |
| Compatible Smartphones | iOS | Android and iOS |
| Competition | Galaxy Watch 4, Fitbit Sense 2, Garmin Fenix 6 | Galaxy Watch 5, Garmin Fenix 7 |
| Sensors | optical heart sensor, Compass, altimeter, accelerometer, Gyroscope | Multi-path optical heart rate sensor, Red and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, Altimeter, 3-axis accelerometer, Ambient light sensor, Vibration motor |
Pricing:
As discussed earlier, both watches are very similarly priced. The Apple Watch SE 2022 starts at $250, while the Fitbit Versa 4 starts at $229.
However, if you add the Fitbit Premium subscription to the mix (around $10/month), the price of the Versa 4 will go significantly up. We will give SE an advantage here for its one-time upfront cost.
Winner: Apple Watch SE (2022)
Design & Display:
| Apple Watch SE 2 | Fitbit Versa 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 44mm: 44 x 38 x 10.7mm, 40mm: 40mm x 34mm x 10.7mm | 40.5 x 40.5 x 11.2 mm |
| Buttons | 1 button+ Digital Crown | 1 button |
| Weight | 44mm: 32.9g | 40mm: 26.4g | 37.64 G |
| Colors | midnight, starlight, and silver. | Beet Juice/Copper Rose, Black/Graphite, Pink Sand/Copper Rose, Waterfall Blue/Platinum |
| Band Size | Not specified | Not specified |
| Casing Material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Strap Material | Silicone | Silicone |
| Screen Size | 44mm: 1.5 inches | 40mm: 1.17 inches | 1.6 inches |
| Screen Type | Retina LTPO OLED display | AMOLED |
| Screen Resolution | 44mm: 368x 448 pixels | 40mm: 324×394 pixels | 454 x 454 pixels |
| Screen Protection | Ion-X front glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| Always-on Display | Yes | Yes |
| Waterproofing | 5 ATM (up to 50m) | Suitable for Shower, Swimming | 5 ATM (up to 50m) | Suitable for Shower, Swimming |
Apple Watch SE 2 is available in two sizes (40mm, and 44mm), with multiple color options. It has an AMOLED display and is protected by Ion-X strengthened glass. The display resolution varies with the size of the watch. Like the original iWatch SE, the always-on display didn’t make the cut. The watch is resistant to water for up to 50 meters.
The Fitbit Versa 4, on the other hand, has a smaller form factor and is available in one size only. The casing is smaller and thinner than the original Versa and also the iWatch SE 2. It also has an AMOLED display with a similar resolution, which is protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The watch has an always-on display mode and like Apple Watch it is water-resistant for up to 50 meters.
Fitbit Versa 4’s low profile design gives it an edge in terms of comfortability. You can wear it for long hours without feeling any fatigue. As all other specs are similar, we will give the design edge to Fitbit in this comparison.
Winner: Fitbit Versa 4
Smartwatch Features:
| Apple Watch SE 2 | Fitbit Versa 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating System | Watch OS | Fitbit OS |
| Connectivity Options | LTE and UMTS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth® LE, Wifi |
| Processor | S8 with 64-bit dual-core processor | Not Specified |
| RAM | 1GB RAM | Not Specified |
| Storage | 32GB | 7 days of detailed motion data |
| Companion App | Watch | Fitbit |
| Contactless Payment (NFC) | Apple Pay | Fitbit and Google Pay |
| Standalone Calling and Texting | Yes | No |
| Voice Assistant | Siri | Google Assistant, Alexa |
Though Fitbit marketed the Versa series as a smartwatch, it was more of a fitness tracker with some handy smart features.
Like its predecessor, Versa 4 comes with two voice assistants (Alexa + Google Assistant), and can store mp3 music. The watch can also make contactless payments, and here also, we have two options: Fitbit Pay and Google Pay. However, the major addition to the watch is the Google Maps app that comes pre-installed.
Apple Watch SE 2 is a trimmed-down version of the Watch 8, but still, it is way better than the Versa 4 in terms of smart features. The LTE variant can make/receive phone calls and messages, while both variants can make contactless payments, control IOT devices via Siri, and have access to many watch faces and third-party apps.
Winner: Apple Watch SE (2022)
Health Tracking and Fitness Features:
| Apple Watch SE 2 | Fitbit Versa 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Heart Rate Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Monitoring | Yes (Advanced) | Yes(Advance) |
| Stress Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| ECG Monitoring | No | No |
| Blood Oxygen Saturation (SpO2) monitoring | No | Yes |
| Workouts | 20+ | 40+ |
| Automatic Workout Tracking | No | Yes |
| GPS Tracking | L1 GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and QZSS | GPS, GLONASS |
Apple Watch SE lacks ECG, SpO2 monitoring, and even the new temperature sensor on iWatch 8. However, it excels in the basic fitness tracking features. As far as sports tracking is concerned, it gets the same workout profiles as on Watch 8, which include activities like running, cycling, swimming, yoga, etc. It has an always-on altimeter and built-in GPS making it a great companion for runners and cyclists.
Like the iWatch, Fitbit Versa 4 also lacks some of the advanced health monitoring features of its pricier siblings. It lacks the ECG and advanced stress monitoring but still manages to track blood oxygen saturation giving it a slight edge over the Apple Watch. Other sensors like GPS, Altimeter, and gyroscope are present in both devices.
On the software front, WatchOS9 brings new metrics to popular sports workouts, but the Activity Ring-based fitness tracking system remains the same. Fitbit’s OS relies on Activity Zone minutes to track your well-being. It takes the lead in training and recovery insights as the features like ‘Readiness Score’ and ‘Sleep Profile’ give you a better idea about how your body is responding to the training.
Winner: Fitbit Versa 4
Battery Performance:
| Apple Watch SE 2 | Fitbit Versa 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Type | Lithium-ion | Lithium-ion |
| Expected Battery Performance | Up to 18, hours+36 hours in basic mode | Up to 6 Days |
| Fast Charging Support | No | No |
Fitbit claims that the Versa 4 is fully capable to offer 6+ days of battery on a single charge. The company made a similar claim for the previous year’s model, and our testing with the Versa 3 revealed that it could easily manage 5-6 days with average usage.
As for the Apple Watch, the figure is almost carved into the stone at 18 hours. You can eke out more if you’re very careful with your use, but the Watch will generally need a nightly charge.
Winner: Fitbit Versa 4
Final Verdict:
Despite its better integration within Apple Echosystem, Apple Watch SE 2 falls way behind Fitbit Versa 4 in terms of value for money proposition. It offers a solid battery life, better fitness tracking features, and advanced health monitoring features at a much lower price tag.