Fitbit Versa 4 is 1.58 inch wide made from the Aluminum bezels and plastic rear end.
Runs on AMOLED Display Fitbit Versa 4 is perfect for basic Health Tracking.
Fitbit Versa 4 can last 5-6 days on one charge.
Garmin Forerunner 55 is 1.08 inch wide smartwatch with a rounded plastic body.
With 5 buttons on either side Garmin Forerunner 55 gives a new meaning to activity tracking.
Garmin Forerunner 55 lasts for 14 days or 2 weeks on smartwatch mode before needing a charge
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Fitbit Versa 4 Vs Garmin Forerunner 55 isn't a one-sided battle. Given the Forerunner 55 amazing battery life and unique style the all-new Fitbit Versa 4 advanced features aren't enough to make it a win for the Fitbit tracker.
Fitbit Versa 4: Fitness Freak
Introduced in the early 2022 Fitbit Versa 4 has hit the market during September of the year 2022. Much like its predecessor it is a powerful health tracker. Although, general trend has shifted a bit and it is geared more towards fitness activities Fitbit hasn’t shifted from providing the quality built.
In spite the claims of it being more of a health tracker than smartwatch Fitbit Versa 4 serves complete experience. Yes, there are few notable omissions from previous generations hope lingers soon enough Fitbit would update the device with timely changes.
Garmin Forerunner 55: All About Running
Garmin is not new to the scenes of IoT world.
Serving the wearable community for almost 35+ years now Garmin products have seen all kinds of high and lows. Even when in recent years a growing trend has been noticed within the company belief to transition towards variety. The quality of its creation isn’t a question in anyone mind.
As is the case with latest Garmin Forerunner 55 released during June of year 2021. Meant to be an entry level smartwatch for those hoping to shift to a healthy lifestyle Forerunner 55 provides everything you could need in your first smartwatch. By nature it is more like a sport watch, don’t judge it by its look, it could be more than you think.
Garmin Forerunner 55 vs Fitbit Versa 4: Running Time…
Just as I said when we discussed the matter of Fitbit Versa 3 and Garmin Forerunner 55 it is not first time Fitbit and Garmin have found each other competing for a slice of cake. The following has been happening for a long time now.
Which is not a surprise, given the nature and intended market of each brand. Yes, even when they don’t have exactly the same set of target audience in mind.
Either way, my point is Garmin and Fitbit are well aware of each other position within the IoT landscape. As it is reflected further through their products trying to imitate the better part of each other. As it is further presented through the contrasting shades between Garmin Forerunner 55 and Fitbit Versa 4.
BODYÂ In Question
Fitbit and Garmin have different ideas of what makes a good design good design. Which is fine, beauty of an object is subjective, however, if you’d ask me I’d definitely go for Garmin all round watch face than Fitbit cute but almost Apple Watch like structure. Don’t get me wrong I love Fitbit and their products, I have just never been fan of how they have kept the same design for Versa and Sense series for so long.
For sure, Garmin Forerunner 55 isn’t worlds apart either in context of watch face with its predecessor (Forerunner 45) the round sleekly design with little to define is holy grail of any kind of watch. You could say Garmin is playing safe by doing it, I’d say I admire their resilience to stick to tradition.
Built Quality
Garmin Forerunner 55 weighs 37 grams and has strong presence, not in regards that you’d feel it on you, you won’t it is quite lightweight. Since it host 5 buttons on each side of bezel (3 on left and 2 on right) it would be hard to miss them. Now if this is first time you are hearing about buttons you’d be wondering why, well it is because Garmin Forerunner series doesn’t have touch screens.
“But this is 2023 why doesn’t it have touch screen?”
If this is what your mind is thinking let me assure you by telling that during testing phase I enjoyed having physicals buttons to play around more than Fitbit smooth screen. Nonetheless, all of them are clearly marked so you won’t get lost.
Talking about Fitbit, Versa 4 weighs 40 grams and have 1.58 inch wide screen (more about it later) with plastic backend and aluminum presence at edges. Just like Forerunner 55 you won’t feel its presence as well and bands are actually replaceable, so options to customize lay on your lap.
Display Screen
Garmin Forerunner 55 falls short here…
While you would be able to see screen on both watches be it sunny day or darkened moony night (thanks to lighting up button on Forerunner 55) it is very – very – and I’d say emphasis are again on the word ‘very’ very hard to compete with OLED screen. Fitbit Versa 4 screen paints it’s 1.58 inch screen with million of colors within second and with respectable resolution (336x336px) as well.
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Garmin Forerunner 55, on the other hand, has 1.08 inch screen and it is not working on OLED technology, so it automatically disqualifies for further investigation.
Resistivity Prowess
Garmin and Fitbit understands its users need. They are well aware smartwatch/health tracker/just tracker users would wander to deepest part of the world. Hence the need for resistivity from potential hazards that can affect the life of a smartwatch is more than a need.
They understand it very well.
So you’d be pleased to know that both Fitbit Versa 4 and Garmin Forerunner 55 are IP68 certified with tolerance level of 50 meter. They are both sand, dust, and impact resistant. Fitbit also have water lock function, further ensuing, a shield a protection from contact with large amount of water body.
FEATURESÂ At Time
The primary reason many people buy smartwatches or just anything is how it can solve a problem for them. You have heart issue and wants to measure your RHR on daily basis? Get a health tracker. In need of a device that keeps you entertained and you won’t have to rely on your phone a lot? Get a smartwatch.
My point is we buy stuff that can solve our problems.
Fitbit Versa 4 and Garmin Forerunner 55 are also bought for the same reasons, and the problems they solve are through providing certain functionalities aka features.
Sensors Sensing Everything
Once again, I won’t list the sensors Fitbit Versa 4 have under its belt. Given its health tracker it is expected from it to have a strong portfolio. In any case, feel free to check out the Fitbit Versa 4 specs.
Now, let’s turn our focus towards real business.
Garmin Forerunner 55 is by nature sports watch. It’s not inherently and I don’t use the word inherently loosely a smartwatch or health tracker. It is a sports watch meant to enhance and aid in working out. However, just because its nature is confided to a certain metric it doesn’t mean it can’t function otherwise.
Just like you can track heart rate, sleeping statistic, pace travelled, distance covered, GPS location on your Fitbit Versa 4 you can do the same on Garmin Forerunner 55. If you ask me, it’s even better at Garmin than Fitbit and I have my reason why:
- In order to access advanced insights in Fitbit you’d have to pay a monthly fee of $9.99 to get Fitbit Premium.
- Garmin Forerunner 55 have Fall Detection and Live tracking integrated. For full disclosure Fitbit also have the hardware for Fall Detection in place for some unknown reasons there is no algorithm at the backend to make it work.
- GPS tracking on Forerunner 55 is miles ahead than anything you would find on Fitbit Versa 4.
- Infrequent, however, present Fitbit Versa 4 suffers from skewed heart rate (or Resting Heart Rate) results during works out.
- Although you can’t see your sleeps statistic on Garmin Forerunner 55 itself through mobile application it is possible to have the sight on required information. On Versa 4 Fitbit Premium is mandatory.
- Garmin Forerunner 55 have stress and woman tracking in place. For Fitbit Versa 4 the same can’t be said.
There are metrics like sp02 that are exclusive to Fitbit Versa 4 since Garmin Forerunner 55 isn’t even a health tracker it is mighty impressive of what it can do. As for Versa 4 it shows why Fitbit calls Sense it’s flagship series.
Connectivity Ability
Both Fitbit Versa 4 and Garmin Forerunner 55 can connect to Android and iOS smartphones. To ensure smoother onboarding make sure your phones are updated to latest OS which for Android should be at least 8.0+ and for iPhone iOS 14.0 or further.
While Fitbit have given Versa 4 all of the following: Bluetooth 5, Wi-Fi, and NFC. The same can’t be said for Garmin’s sport watch, the smartwatch falls a bit short here. It doesn’t have NFC or Wi-Fi support although as an alternative ANT+ is available and it makes up for it to an extent. But just to an extent.
Wits To Out Wit
Since Garmin Forerunner 55 is a sports watch and it isn’t primarily focused to pertain to complete standards of smartwatch Fitbit Versa 4 happens to have upper hand.
Let’s look at facts to understand why and how: As you would know and if you didn’t know then now you know Fitbit provides a complete experience with its trackers. Yes, in contrast to others out there even (Versa 4) isn’t the most complete version. General disregard of company towards improving its rather monotonous OS remains the number one issue of lackluster user interface.
There is still Amazon Alex, Google Assistant and Fitbit Pay to enrich the experience.
While Garmin have the mobile application and you can download the third-party apps, options are limited and just not the same as you would find in Samsung Galaxy Watches or even Fossil smartwatch.
BATTERYÂ Life
If you are returning visitor to Chronoat you’d know when we compare Fitbit products with other brands it is usually the Fitbit having the upper upper hand in the matter of a battery. Which is understandable Fitbit trackers are known for amazing battery life. Sadly or maybe not sadly but more like surprisingly Garmin beats the Fitbit at their own game here.
How and why it does that, well, let’s have a look…
Lifespan Over Lifetime
According to Fitbit your Versa 4 can last till 5-6 days on a moderate usage. However, if you’d be a fan of ALWAYS ON mode and GPS tracking running in behind the time span would fall down to 2-3 days. A gracious feat nonetheless not many smartwatches can boast having the same on heavy usage. Although if you feel the results are considerably getting worse, perhaps look into replacing the battery of a Fitbit.Â
You can also practice battery preservation activities like keeping brightness low on your Fitbit device. Or turning off the Bluetooth controls.
Garmin Forerunner 55, on the other hand, is straight out of the heaven. You can have it charged and not be required to go back to socket for 14 days!!! That is two weeks in a row. Yes, like Fitbit a constant use can bring the number down, we have to keep in mind the number coming down would still be of days and not hours.
“But why is it like that? How can it last for 14 days.”
If that is the question resonating in your mind it is because Garmin have simplified its purpose, it doesn’t do fancy stuff, it remains faithful to its nature. As we have seen in regards to WITS of both of these devices.
Charging Time
It takes two hours for Forerunner 55 to go from 0% to 100%. Whereas for Fitbit Versa 4 you can be done in 90 minutes or so. However, since time duration can be greatly influenced by age of device, a little variation in downward spiral can be more or less expected.
Wireless Charging
Fitbit doesn’t add the support of wireless charging to its devices. It’s hard to say why since it isn’t found even in latest releases, but it is what it is. Quite disappointing if I may add. Garmin, on the other hand, has taken better approach, because believe it or not despite being a sport watch and being rather simplistic in nature Forerunner 55 supports the wireless charging.
If you have a charging pad (make sure it is compatible with Garmin products) your Garmin Forerunner 55, when placed on it, will be able to charge itself up.
Fitbit Versa 4 vs Garmin Forerunner 55: STOP
And there we have it…
Let’s recap what we have learned here: Fitbit Versa 4 is a mid-range health tracker meant to provide the excellence in the basics fitness actives. It doesn’t have fancy sensors like Fitbit Sense 2 or even Fitbit Sense but it can get the job done.
Whereas Garmin Forerunner 55 is ideal beginners running watch crafted to aid anyone out there thinking of starting from tomorrow. It might be unfamiliar to some of the advance functions available in the Garmin portfolio. It is perfect and we know you’d love it.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on which Garmin smartwatch Fitbit Versa 4 is being compared too. If its Garmin Forerunner 55 that is the standard then an argument can be made for both devices. Although given Fitbit intuitive UI and functions majority would opt for it.
For someone who is just a beginner there isn’t a better option than Garmin Forerunner 55. Its complete package for anyone planning to start running frequently. Â
No. Fitbit Versa 4 can’t attend calls. It has the needed hardware (speaker and microphone) for now Fitbit hasn’t added the functionality to the smartwatch. Although company has promised to update both Versa 4 and Sense 2 soon for it.Â
Not necessarily. You can also use it to track activities and there are fair share of third-party applications available to download through Garmin Connect IQ store to enrich the UI and make it more than its primary function.
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