Wear Radar

Apple Watch SEvsFitbit Versa

6d vs 18h
battery life
Fitbit Versa lasts longer
$99
price gap
Fitbit Versa cheaper
12g
lighter
Apple Watch SE
Apple Watch SE
Buy/Wait:good

Early in release cycle

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Fitbit Versa
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Full details →
Apple Watch SEFitbit Versa
Pricing
Starting price$249$150
Subscription✓ Noneℹ️ Optional — $79/yr
Hardware
Weight26g38g
Water resistance50m50m
Battery18h6 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
PlatformiOS onlyiOS & Android
TierSmartwatchSmartwatch
Buy timing
ReleasedSep 19, 2025Sep 25, 2022
Cycle advicegoodbad
Deals adviceneutralgood
Next modelApple Watch SE 4 (Expected fall 2027)

Health Sensors

Apple Watch SE only
3 exclusive sensors
Irregular RhythmBackground optical check for irregular heart rhythms
Crash DetectionDetects vehicle crashes and alerts emergency contacts
Fall DetectionAuto-calls emergency services after a hard fall
Both
2 shared
Heart RateContinuous or on-demand pulse tracking
HRVHeart rate variability — stress & recovery scores
Fitbit Versa only
2 exclusive sensors
SpO2Blood oxygen saturation, tracked during sleep
EDA / StressSkin conductance sensor measuring stress responses

Why buy each?

Apple Watch SE

Full watchOS at a lower price

Access the entire watchOS app ecosystem, Apple Pay, Siri, and Family Setup — for $150 less than the Series 11.

Crash and fall detection

Emergency SOS, fall detection, and Crash Detection give real safety value even without premium health sensors.

Aluminium in four colours

Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and (PRODUCT)RED with a wide range of Apple Watch-compatible bands.

Fitbit Versa

Works with Android and iPhone

Rare for a smartwatch with real GPS and health sensors to work fully on both platforms — Versa 4 does.

Google Maps and Google Wallet on wrist

Turn-by-turn navigation and NFC payments without needing your phone in hand.

6-day battery and Fitbit health coaching

Sleep stages, daily readiness score, Active Zone Minutes, and SpO2 — all on a 6-day charge.

Quick Winner

The right pick depends on what you optimize for.

For the budget
Apple Watch SE wins

$249 vs $387 over 3 years · no required subscription.

For battery life
Fitbit Versa wins

6 days vs 18h battery.

For health depth
Apple Watch SE wins

5 sensors.

For daily comfort
Apple Watch SE wins

26g · no required subscription.

Bottom Line

Technical gaps
  1. Watch SE-only sensors: Irregular Rhythm, Crash Detection, Fall Detection.
  2. Versa-only sensors: SpO2, EDA / Stress.
  3. Weight. Watch SE is 12g lighter — relevant for all-day comfort and sleep.
Commercial gaps
  1. Hardware cost. Versa is $99 cheaper upfront ($150 vs $249).
Pick the Apple Watch SE if…

iPhone users who want Apple Watch's core experience — activity tracking, notifications, crash detection, and Apple Pay — at a lower price point. Ideal for kids, teens, or anyone upgrading from a much older watch without needing the advanced health sensors.

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Pick the Fitbit Versa if…

Android or iPhone users who want a balanced smartwatch with solid Fitbit health tracking, multi-day battery, and a clean square watch design — without the premium price of a Galaxy Watch or Apple Watch.

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