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00:00:00 – 00:26:28
In the video, Rob provides a detailed review of the Fitbit Versa 4, comparing it to the more expensive Fitbit Sense 2 and other fitness trackers like the Apple Watch and Huawei watches. Key features assessed include heart rate accuracy, sleep tracking, GPS tracking, and step counting. Despite some hardware and software similarities with the Sense 2, the Versa 4 is found lacking in heart rate accuracy across different activities, often showing significant deviations compared to an ECG chest strap like the Polar H10. It performs particularly poorly during intense exercises such as interval running and outdoor cycling.
In contrast, the Versa 4 fares better in sleep stage tracking, achieving about 85% agreement with deep sleep stages detected by the EEG device Dream 2. However, it sometimes overestimates deep sleep and underestimates REM sleep. The device's performance in GPS tracking and step counting is inconsistent, with inaccuracies in signal acquisition and step detection during non-walking activities.
Overall, the Versa 4 receives mixed ratings: it is praised for sleep tracking but falls short in heart rate and GPS accuracy, making it a moderate performer compared to other devices like the Apple Watch, which excels in these areas.
00:00:00
In this part of the video, Rob discusses his extensive testing of the new Fitbit Versa 4, comparing it to its more expensive counterpart, the Fitbit Sense 2. He outlines that his evaluation will focus on key features such as heart rate accuracy, sleep tracking, GPS tracking, and step counting, rather than just listing specifications. Rob highlights that the main differences between the Versa 4 and Sense 2 are additional health tracking features available on the Sense 2, such as electrodermal activity measurement, ECG, and skin temperature monitoring. The pricing difference between the two models is also mentioned, with the Versa 4 priced at around $230 and the Sense 2 at $300.
Moving on to the test results, Rob begins with the heart rate tracking accuracy, comparing the Versa 4 against the Polar H10 ECG chest strap. He presents data from 18 workout sessions, starting with indoor cycling. The results show that while there is some agreement between the Versa 4 and the chest strap, it is not perfect, with several points deviating from the expected values, indicating room for improvement in heart rate tracking accuracy.
00:03:00
In this segment of the video, the speaker analyzes the heart rate tracking performance of the Fitbit Versa 4 compared to other watches. They reveal that the Fitbit Versa 4 shows inaccuracies particularly in higher heart rate ranges. For example, its best matching training session shows a decent overlap with the Polar H10 chest strap data, despite some discrepancies. Conversely, its worst matching session almost entirely fails to accurately capture peak heart rates. The speaker compares the Versa 4’s performance to 66 other watches using correlation values, highlighting that while the Versa 4 is a medium performer, many other watches, such as those from Huawei and Apple, perform better. The Pixel Watch, also made by Google, is noted for its superior performance compared to the Versa 4. Overall, the Versa 4 is deemed to be performing just ‘okay’ in heart rate tracking.
00:06:00
In this segment, the video analyzes the performance of the Versa 4 watch in tracking heart rate during various activities. During moderate activities like walking, the Versa 4 shows deviations when compared to an ECG chest strap but manages to detect general heart rate patterns reasonably well. However, more strenuous activities such as hiking reveal inconsistencies and deviations in heart rate tracking. Similarly, interval running presents challenges for the Versa 4, showing significant inaccuracies at both heart rate peaks and lows. The worst performance is observed during outdoor cycling, where the Versa 4 consistently fails to match the more precise readings of the chest strap, frequently detecting much lower heart rates and demonstrating poor overall accuracy.
00:09:00
In this part of the video, the presenter discusses the underperformance of the Fitbit Versa 4 in heart rate tracking during various activities. For cycling, the Versa 4 consistently detects a lower heart rate compared to an HD chest strap, performing poorly against other tested devices. During weightlifting, the watch fails to accurately detect peak heart rates, showing low correlation values. The Versa 4’s performance is mediocre when compared to many other watches, similar to the Fitbit Sense 2, leading to the conclusion that the hardware and software of these devices might be very similar. The presenter also mentions plans to restart a newsletter and post updates on social media platforms.
00:12:00
In this segment, the reviewer evaluates the heart rate tracking performance of the Fitbit Versa 4, concluding that it is subpar, similar to the Fitbit Sense 2. They rate it 2 out of 5 stars and recommend Apple Watches and Huawei Watches for accurate heart rate tracking. The reviewer then shifts attention to sleep stage tracking, an area where Fitbit traditionally excels. Using an EEG device, the Dream 2, for comparison over ten nights, they found that the Versa 4 matches about 85% of the deep sleep stages detected by the EEG. However, there are discrepancies, with the Versa 4 occasionally misclassifying or detecting additional deep sleep. The review highlights these performance points through visual comparisons of the sleep data.
00:15:00
In this part of the video, the performance of the Versa 4 in sleep detection is analyzed, specifically its agreement with an EEG device across various sleep stages. It’s observed that the Versa 4 often overestimates deep sleep and tends to show less REM sleep compared to the EEG device. The agreement rates for light sleep, REM sleep, and wake detection are provided, showing reasonable similarity to these stages on the EEG, although some discrepancies exist, especially in detecting awake moments. Multiple examples illustrate these findings, displaying how the Versa 4 identifies sleep cycles across nights. The Versa 4’s performance is then contextualized by comparing it to 43 other watches, showing that Apple Watches currently have the highest agreement with EEG data.
00:18:00
In this part of the video, the speaker compares various fitness tracking devices, focusing on the Apple Watch series (7, 8, SE, and Ultra) and different Fitbits, including the Versa 4. It is noted that while Apple’s watches generally have superior performance, Fitbit devices, including the Versa 4, Sense 2, Charge 5, and others, show similar performance in sleep stage tracking. The Versa 4 is specifically praised for its sleep stage tracking, receiving a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, and is highlighted for its ability to track naps, a feature not present in Apple Watches.
The discussion then shifts to the GPS tracking capabilities of the Fitbit Versa 4. The speaker details a personal test conducted over six bike rides, focusing on the time taken to acquire a GPS signal and the accuracy of the GPS tracking. The results show inconsistency in signal acquisition time and occasional inaccuracies in GPS tracking, such as tracks deviating from the actual route and going through buildings. The conclusion is that the GPS tracking accuracy of the Versa 4 is not very reliable, similar to the performance seen with the Fitbit Sense 2.
00:21:00
In this part of the video, the reviewer evaluates the GPS tracking and step-counting accuracy of the Fitbit Versa 4. They mention significant deviations in GPS performance, where the device often fails to lock onto the signal quickly and shows inconsistent tracking, earning it a score of two and a half out of five stars.
Next, they test step-counting by manually counting 8,000 steps using a tele counter and comparing it to the Versa 4. The Versa 4 performed consistently but slightly over-counted steps, especially during certain segments. When comparing it with the Fitbit Sense 2 worn on the opposite wrist, both devices showed similar results, though the Versa 4 was slightly more accurate.
The reviewer then analyzes if the Versa 4 counts steps during non-walking activities like hiking, spinning, cycling, and weightlifting. They find that the Versa 4 does a reasonable job but sometimes records more steps than expected.
00:24:00
In this segment, the presenter evaluates the step counting, heart rate tracking, and GPS tracking of the Fitbit Versa 4. The device sometimes counts non-walking activities as steps, similar to the Fitbit Sense 2, leading to a step counting accuracy rating of 3 out of 5 stars. Overall, the Fitbit Versa 4 is not seen as a significant upgrade from previous models, with underwhelming heart rate and GPS tracking. However, it is recommended for sleep stage tracking, which Fitbits generally excel at. The video also directs viewers to affiliate links and additional reviews for more information on other devices.