Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Fitbit Versa and Fitbit Ionic smartwatch prices get slashed for spring

Brenda Stolyar/Digital Trends

Summertime is right around the corner, and now’s the best time to start slimming down for beach season. One of the most important parts of losing weight is staying active, and a Fitbit is a great way of tracking just how active you are. The Fitbit Versa and Ionic are two of Fitbit’s smartwatch models currently on sale at Rakuten, and you can get them even cheaper using the code ‘SAVE15‘ at checkout with a quick email sign up to be a Rakuten member.The Fitbit Versa is on sale for $172, and the Ionic $195 on Rakuten.

Rakuten is a trusted site, owner and operator of Ebates and other ecommerce sites, and sells from third-party vendors. When you add the promo code savings in, the Versa drops to the lowest prices we’ve seen yet. In fact, the Versa is $8 cheaper than either the Fitbit official site or Amazon, and the Ionic is as much as $35 cheaper. While you’ll have a choice of colors with the Versa — either black, Gray/Silver, or Peach/Rosegold, the sale price is only good for the Charcoal/Smoke Gray version of the Ionic.

Fitbit Versa:

Fitbit Ionic:

While both can be considered “flagship” models for the brand, the Versa is the newer (and also cheaper) model of the two. You do lose a few features, though. There is no NFC for contactless payments, and no built-in GPS. While the former might not matter as much, the latter means you’ll need to carry your phone with you to get better distance accuracy.

We would highly recommend either watch, and which one you pick is a matter of personal preference. Those that like a more smartwatch-like experience might find the Ionic a better option, but if you don’t need either NFC or GPS than the Versa is more than worthy of your consideration. We’d argue the overall design of the Versa is a bit more appealing (it’s quite reminiscent of the Apple Watch), and was our pick in our Versa vs. Ionic showdown.

But other than what we’ve listed here, there’s not a whole lot of difference. For those who want to compare, see the below chart.

Don’t wait too long, as there are limited supplies available. While you can purchase as many Ionics as you want, there is a limit of one per order on the Versa. Your order will ship in about two days, and standard shipping (3-10 business days) is included with your purchase.

Are you looking for some other great stuff? Find smartwatch deals, Apple Watch deals, Fitbit alternatives, and more, prepared for you on our curated deals page.

Editors' Recommendations

Ed Oswald
For fifteen years, Ed has written about the latest and greatest in gadgets and technology trends. At Digital Trends, he's…
Fitbit recalls Ionic smartwatch after several burn reports
best walmart deals on apple watch garmin and fitbit ionic smartwatch adidas edition ice gray silver

Fitbit Ionic smartwatch users need to stop using their devices right now. The company has recalled its Ionic wearable after over 150 reports of the watch’s lithium-ion battery overheating, and 78 reports of burn injuries to the users. It will offer a refund of $299 to the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch users who return the device.

Fitbit has received at least 115 reports in the United States and over 50 reports internationally about the Ionic smartwatch's battery overheating. It is recalling the device as there are two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns out of the 78 total burn injuries report.

Read more
Fitbit Luxe gets major updates with SpO2 measurement and always-on display
The Fitbit Luxe tracker has received major updates Credits: Fitbit official.

 The Fitbit Luxe launched in July 2021 and was reviewed by our smart home editor, John Velasco, as a beautifully designed and modestly sized fitness tracker. It has now received two major updates bringing new features to the table. 
Version 1.151.16 has added SpO2 measurements that allow users to track their blood oxygen saturation levels when asleep. SpO2 tracking is currently available in devices such as the Fitbit Charge 4, Charge 5, Fitbit Versa 2, and the Fitbit Versa 3, so it's nice to see it roll out to other devices in Fitbit's lineup.  To use the function, check the SpO2 tile on the watch face or the Health metrics tab on the mobile app. Additionally, Fitbit has published a detailed manual on tracking Sp02 levels with this model.
The second major update enables always-on-display functionality. As the name suggests, users no longer need to wake up their Luxe trackers to check the time or their workout tracking data. To use the feature, it's essential to enable the updated display functionality in Settings. You'll be warned that the feature can increase battery drain, so keep that in mind if runtime is important to you. 
The new Fitbit Luxe Fitbit
Apart from these two updates, there are several smaller ones. A bigger font size has been added to the trackers' screen, along with a series of bug fixes and patches. These updates are being rolled out on an incremental basis and may take some time to reach particular regions. To check if an update is available for the device, you should be able to see a pink banner when you log into the Fitbit App, and you'll be notified of further updates once they're available.
 

Read more
Fitbit Charge 5 adds sweat-based stress sensor, rounded design
Fitbit Charge 5

Following a high-profile leak that spilled most of the beans, Google-owned Fitbit today announced the Charge 5, an upcoming addition to the company's lineup of fitness trackers. On the outside, the Charge 5 borrows heavily from the Fitbit Luxe, with a sleek, rounded, colorful display. Under the hood, though, is where you can find all the goodness.
Vibrant always-on display
The most noticeable change in the Charge 5 is the always-on display that lets you check your health stats instantly and curves to fit the wristband. The always-on feature can be turned off to help you eke more battery life from the device. If you want to wake the display, all you need to do is raise your wrist.

Built-in GPS
Similar to the Charge 4, the new Charge 5 will ship with built-in GPS to track your outdoor activities. Not only will you be able to view your activity on a map, but the Charge 5 will also display your workout intensity along the GPS track. You'll be able to see at a glance where you were pushing yourself to your limit and where you were taking it easy.
New stress-monitoring sensor
The Charge 5 joins the Fitbit Sense as Fitbit's first trackers to feature an EDA sensor, which measures your sweat to monitor your stress levels. The sensor is used to generate a Stress Management Score to help you manage your daily stress levels.
Daily Readiness
Daily Readiness is a new metric added to Fitbit's Premium service. Like Garmin's body battery, the Daily Readiness Score takes heart rate variability, sleep, and activity into account to calculate your overall energy level. This new metric determines whether you are ready for a crushing workout or an extra-long nap. Daily Readiness helps athletes manage their exercise and recovery schedule so they can get the most out of their activities.

Read more