GADGETS

Our monthly roundup of new gadgets

Fitbit

Fitbit has launched the Versa, the company’s newest smartwatch that has an uncanny resemblance to the Apple Watch. The Versa is pitched as an affordable smartwatch with a touchscreen display and a premium design. Fitbit Versa will be made available in India in the second-quarter of 2018 at a price of Rs 19,999. The company is also offering a special version of the smartwatch for Rs 21,999. The smartwatch will come in the following colours: black with a black aluminum case, gray with a silver aluminum case, and peach with a rose gold aluminum case. Band accessories will be priced between Rs 2499 and Rs 8999.

The Versa is a low-cost version of the Ionic, which didn’t fare well in the market owing to its high price. Designed for both men and women, the Versa looks different from the predecessor – the Ionic. Instead, the smartwatch has a ’rounded square’ design with soft edges. The case is made out of ultra-thin, anodized aluminum that is slightly tapered and angled in its design to fit small or large wrists. Fitbit Versa sports a 1.34-inch (300 x 300) LCD display and has three physical buttons on its sides. Otherwise, the smartwatch is relatively simple. There’s neither GPS nor a built-in SIM slot, like the Apple Watch Series 3. It has got all the features one should expect from a typical smartwatch from Fitbit, like 27 x7 heart rate tracking, 50-meter water resistance, onboard music storage, automatic sleep tracking, and Fitbit Pay – the company’s take on Apple Pay. Plus, there’s also support for quick replies on Android. Fitbit is promising four days of battery life on a single charge. The Versa runs on Fitbit OS 2.0, the company’s preparatory operating system designed for its wearable lineup. Additionally, Fitbit has also introduced female health tracking to help women understand how their menstrual cycle connects to their overall health. Fitbit Versa is compatible with both iOS and Android platforms.

Apple

Apple has announced its new 9.7-inch iPad with A10 Fusion chip for immersive Augmented Reality experiences as well as support for Apple Pencil. Apple’s new iPad is coming to India in April, with prices starting at Rs 28,000 for the 32GB version. Apple’s new iPad focusses on education and comes with TouchID on the front, there’s an 8MP rear camera and FaceTime camera on the front as well. Apple will also offer this in an LTE option, and the company is promising 10 hours of battery. Thanks to the A10 Fusion chip, Apple’s new iPad has support for AR apps as well.

Apple also said that all iWorks apps will now work with pencil and announced updates for them. Logitech’s Crayon has also been specifically designed for the new iPad and features palm rejection technology, allowing students to write and draw naturally, just as they would with traditional pencil and paper. The 32GB Wi-Fi+Cellular variant is priced at Rs 38,600. The device can be bought in Silver, Space Gray, and Gold variants. Apple Pencil can be purchased separately for Rs 7,600, while Smart Covers for iPad will be available for Rs 3,400. The Smart Covers come in Charcoal Grey, Midnight Blue, Red, White and Pink Sand variants.