Fitbit Charge 5 vs Versa 4
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Summary
The Fitbit Versa 4 smartwatch outperforms the Charge 5 fitness tracker in several areas. The Versa 4 has a larger screen which displays more information at a time, it has a much more accurate heart rate sensor, and it has an integrated mic and speaker for answering calls and replying to text messages by voice. It also has Amazon Alexa integration.
The Charge 5’s advantages are having more battery life (up to 7 days vs the Versa 4’s 6 days), and an ECG app to assess your heart rhythm.
Quick Similarities
Quick Differences
Charge 5 Specific Features
Versa 4 Specific Features
Form Factor and Comfort
Tracking Performance
Verdict
Quick Similarities
Starting an exercise manually on the Charge 5.
A run tracked automatically on the Versa 4.
Both wearables have lot in common in terms of functionality, so either device will suffice for the following:
a clock interface
heart rate tracking*
step counting
integrated GPS
sleep tracking
workout tracking and automatic workout detection
replying to text messages (with pre-set responses)
* The Versa 4’s heart rate tracking is better, but we’ll get to that.
Quick Differences
Heart rate trend over the last 2 hours on the Versa 4.
Steps, distance, and time in fat burning zone on Charge 5.
The Versa 4 has a mic and a speaker, so you can answer calls directly from it.
The Versa 4 has a bigger screen which makes viewing information at a glance much easier.
Versa 4 shows your heart rate trend over the last 2 hours.
The Versa 4 has Spotify and Alexa integration.
The Versa 4 has Google Wallet integration.
The Versa 4 has a physical button on the left to help navigate menus and it can be assigned to open different apps.
The Versa 4 has fast charging.
The Charge 5 has ECG monitoring using the sensors on the side.
The Charge 5 has slightly better battery life and lasts up to 7 days. The Versa 4 is rated to max out at 6 days.
Charge 5 Specific Features
ECG App
The ECG app will ask you to wear the device on your wrist while placing your index and thumb on the sensors on either side of the device. It’s supposed to detect any abnormalities in your heart rhythm, but I can’t personally asses how useful this is since I haven’t had any issues detected myself.
I wouldn’t actually jot this down as a reason to buy this device. Aside from this, the only advantage the Charge 5 has over the Versa 4 is better battery life.
Versa 4 Specific Features
Integrated Microphone and Speaker
The built-in mic and speaker on the Versa 4 lets you take calls right on your wrist or reply with custom text messages using your voice. The sound quality from the mic is atrocious, but it was functional.
Text to speech for text messages on the Versa 4.
You can answer calls on your wrist with the Versa 4 and even switch it back to your phone for better sound quality.
Alexa Integration
After setting up the Alexa app on your phone, as long as your phone is connected to your phone’s Bluetooth, you can utilize Alexa from the Versa 4.
Alexa is useful for small tasks like setting alarms, checking the weather, and getting information from the web. There are some questionable ommissions in its functionality. For example, you can’t actually send a text message with Alexa. You can only reply to a message already sent to you and that’s separate from Alexa entirely.
Alexa is great to have on the Versa 4, but…
Still, getting recipies or basic nutrition information for foods on the fly without having to pull out your phone is convenient.
Google Pay
Google Wallet works seamlessly with The Fitbit Versa 4, but it’s not supported on the Charge 5. Using the NFC connection, you can pay with your Versa 4 anywhere Google Pay is accepted.
Spotify Integration
The Versa 4 works with the Spotify app for your phone. It can play tracks, go back and forth between tracks, and even like songs.
Ironically, it does not have any integration with YouTube Music, despite Google purchasing Fitbit. Very disappointing.
Form Factor and Comfort
The Versa 4’s screen is much larger than the Charge 5’s and it has a square shape with rounded corners. The Charge 5 is rectangular and it has a very thin width when it comes to screen real estate.
Due to the screen size, heart rate, time in fat burning zone, and sleep score are all on the home screen by default on the Versa 4. Swiping left from the home screen twice lets you see steps, calories burned, distance, and floors climbed in addition to time in the fat burning zone.
On the Charge 5’s home screen, you have to tap to toggle between: distance, steps, heart rate, time in fat burning zone, and calories burned.
I’d rate these both at about the same level of comfort. I barely notice either of these during the day, and only while using my arcade stick for Tekken is the Versa 4 a bit annoying due to its bulk and slightly heftier weight. They both have the same easy-to-use strap mechanism as well, but the Charge 5’s strap is smaller.
Tracking performance
Heart Rate
Heart rate tracking was vastly superior on the Versa 4 compared to the Charge 5. I wore both devices while exercising and during several weekends at work. I have a part time job doing manual labor, and the Charge 5 fluctuated wildly even when I wasn’t exerting myself at all.
During my treadmill run, the Charge 5 could go from +/15 BPM compared to the Versa 4. In isolation, it’s impossible to know which one is correct, but during a light walk where I could personally count my heart rate at around 90 BPM, the Charge 5 would show elevated numbers upwards of 130 BPM. It’s just not consistent at all.
Sleep Tracking
Charge 5 sleep score.
Versa 4 sleep score.
Sleep tracking was about the same on both devices. Even after several months of using both wearables, I never saw many major differences or errors compared to what I can verify myself. Either device will work great for tracking your quality of sleep.
Workout Detection
Both devices also did great at detecting whether I was on a walk or run and tracked them reliably. However, I’ve come to the conclusion that unless you’re doing traditional cardio such has walking, running, or biking, these devices aren’t great for tracking other kinds of workouts.
Neither device could ever tell when I was lifting weights or doing burpees. The latter of which can be far more intense than a run. So these get a “meh” in terms of workout detection overall, but a thumbs up for tracking runs and walks.
Verdict
I recommend the Fitbit Versa 4 over the Charge 5. The screen is larger to provide more information, the heart rate tracking is more consistent, and the Alexa integration lets you use it for minute tasks adding more utility to the device.
While the Charge 5 has better battery life, that’s its only real advantage. I’d only get the Charge 5 if you can’t find the Versa 4 on sale.
