The $200 Fitbit Versa is the best smartwatch I've ever used — yes, even better than the Apple Watch

Fitbit Versa

With the Fitbit Versa, Fitbit has created a near-perfect smartwatch.

The $200 Versa — available for preorder now and shipping in April — is Fitbit's second "true smartwatch." It has Fitbit's fitness tracking built in, along with a touchscreen that provides on-watch workouts, call, and text alerts, and in-depth fitness stats.

I tried Fitbit Versa for a little under a week, testing whether it held up to Fitbit's claims of four-day battery life (it did!) and whether it could be a more accessible, lower-cost option than the Apple Watch.

After several days of wearing Fitbit Versa nearly nonstop, I can say it's Fitbit's best wearable yet, and one of my favorite smartwatches I've ever tried.

Take a look at the Fitbit Versa, and why I like it more than the Apple Watch:

Fitbit says the Versa was designed with smaller wrists in mind, and it shows.

What immediately struck me about the Fitbit Versa was that I actually enjoyed wearing it. The watch is incredibly lightweight, so running with it or even wearing it to bed wasn't uncomfortable.

Typically, after wearing a watch on my wrist for long periods, it starts to feel constricting. When I come home at the end of the day, I can't wait to take it off. But I never felt that way while wearing Fitbit Versa. I slept with the watch on one night — something I never, ever do — and it was perfectly comfortable.

And while you can't really tell from the photos, Fitbit Versa is smaller and better designed for thin wrists. I never felt like the watch overwhelmed my wrist or looked like I was wearing a man's watch. On the flip side, it's not overly feminine. I tried the black version of the Versa, and it would work just as well for men.

The overall design does look ... familiar.

One thing that has to be said about the Fitbit Versa's design: It looks just like an Apple Watch at first glance. I know this because more than once while testing it, someone said, "Oh, you're using an Apple Watch?"

I feel conflicted about that similarity. On the one hand, it's smart thinking. Analysts estimate that Apple is the biggest watchmaker in the world, outselling Rolex, Omega, and Swatch combined. Why wouldn't Fitbit want a piece of that? (Plus, Fitbit's first watch — Fitbit Ionic — wasn't exactly great-looking, so the Versa is a welcome change.)

On the other hand, the design feels lazy. I've never loved the design of the Apple Watch to begin with, and Fitbit's version is only marginally better.

The band went a long way toward making Fitbit Versa feel more high end than its $200 price tag.

I tried the Fitbit Versa in black with a metal mesh band for everyday wear and a white classic band for working out.

The metal mesh band instantly elevated the watch. It didn't look so much like a fitness tracker, but rather a fashionable watch that I was happy to wear every day.

I was worried that Fitbit Versa would feel cheap, especially since it's so lightweight and reasonably priced. But the watch is sturdy and well made, and the stylish accessories helped it look and feel high end.

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