Fitbit will ship the Versa 3 and Sense with the latest version of the Fitbit Operating System (Fitbit OS) already pre-installed on the devices. According to the statements made by the manufacturer, there are presently no plans to incorporate the new operating system into watches that were produced in the past.
These products were introduced earlier this month, and now they are starting to ship out to customers. The most obvious improvement that was made to the Versa 3 was the incorporation of an inbuilt GPS receiver, in addition to a display that was somewhat bigger. On the other hand, Sense is an ambitious health watch that incorporates everything the Versa 3 does, an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor and the ability to measure stress levels. It is priced higher than the Versa 3.
One more thing that is brand new about these two smartwatches is the fact that they both come with a fifth-generation operating system. This is yet another one of the many new features of these smartwatches. According to the company, this is the “largest and most important wristwatch enhancement since the release of Fitbit Ionic in 2017,” and it has been in development since 2017.
Additional Reading: Let’s Find Out The Smartwatches That Can Play Apple Music
What’s new about the Fitbit OS 5.0?
These changes will have an effect on every facet of the company. They ought to end up producing an interface that is not only more usable but also simpler to traverse. Everything has been modified for it to fit flawlessly within the enormous, one-of-a-kind squircle display on both the Sense 3 and the Versa 3 smartphones.
The new visual scheme has been reflected in every component, which has been updated (buttons, backgrounds, icons, colors, and tiles). Everything should now be considerably simpler to read than it was in the past due to the typeface used, which is called Raiju.
In addition to this, navigation functions in a different way. On a device running Fitbit OS 5.0, swiping from left to right takes you back one screen to the previous screen that you were on. You can view the primary clock face by pressing the button that is concealed on the left-hand side of the device.
According to Fitbit, the newly included navigation shortcuts will make it much easier to use the Sense and Versa 3 while exercising because they will reduce the amount of time spent navigating.
There is now a new compatibility option that might assist developers in bridging the gap between newer versions of the operating system and older versions of the program. This option became accessible recently. As a consequence of this, pre-existing software, such as programs and clock faces, will be capable of running on Sense and Versa 3, respectively. On the other hand, users will not be able to develop a single piece of software capable of targeting devices running Fitbit OS 4.0 and Fitbit OS 5.0.
Additional Reading: Best Smartwatches For Diabetics
Will the Fitbit OS 5.0 be compatible with older watches?
The excellent piece of news is that. Customers who pre-ordered the HTC Versa with Sense will, as previously mentioned, be upgraded to the most recent operating system version as soon as their devices are delivered to them.
The unfortunate truth is that individuals who are still utilizing older models of Fitbit devices will be out of luck. According to Fitbit, the operating system that is used by the Fitbit Sense and the Fitbit Versa 3 was built specifically to take advantage of the new display (which is a massive 336x336px) and speaker that is included on both of these devices. The operating system that comes with older watches is now at version 4.2, and it does not appear that it will ever be updated to a version that is higher than 4.
