Three new devices have emerged from Fitbit, with the wearables company updating the Inspire, Versa and Sense range. Fitbit notes this new generation combines its health and wellness tools with the smarts of Google, the company that now owns Fitbit.

The Google features come mainly in the integration of Google Wallet and Google Maps in the new Versa 4 and Sense 2 smartwatches, at least later this year.

The Versa 4, much like the Sense 2 and Inspire 3, is thinner and lighter than the previous models, redesigned with a physical button on the side. It sports similar features as its older brother, such as built-in GPS, but now also incorporates a new tiled interface to help with navigation and the ability to track forty different workouts, including dancing. In all, this seems like an incremental update to the Versa 3 (review), even including the same battery life of six days.

The Sense 2 is of course the flagship, now offering a new Body Response sensor to track continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) for all-day stress management. Previously you needed to check this on your own, but now it does so automatically through the day. Fitbit believes by sending notifications around stress (Body Response notifications) once detected, the smartwatch users might be able to identify stressors and possible patterns. The Sense 2 recommends different ways to manage stress in the moment, including mood logging, guided breathing, mindfulness sessions, on-wrist or in the Fitbit app. Other sensors onboard the Sense 2 can detect signs of atrial fibrillation through our ECG app and PPG algorithm, heart rate variability and skin temperature, according to Fitbit.

The Inspire 3 is pitched as the entry-level device for the Fitbit range, with this smartband topping 10 days of battery life and coming with a colour touchscreen. It’s able to monitor heart rate, oxygen saturation (SpO2), sleep trends and a few more. Like many of its smartband kin, it does not have built-in GPS.

While Fitbit will provide the most prominent information through the app, the company also keeps some information locked for use through subscription, such as your daily readiness score. As such, if you buy one of these, you will receive six months of Fitbit Premium for mahala, but after that you will have to fork out cold hard cash to remain a member, previously at about R150 per month.

The Fitbit range with the new models.

Locally the Fitbit Inspire 3 will be available in-stores and online starting 15 September and the Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 will be available starting 29 September. The recommended retail price for the Fitbit Inspire 3 is R2 500, Fitbit Versa 4 is R5 700 and the Fitbit Sense 2 is R7 500. This is pretty similar to the price of the previous models iwhen they were introduced.

If you are looking to get into the Fitbit range and don't need the latest, consider that the current retail prices for the previous models include R3 600 for the Versa 3, R6k for the Sense and the Inspire 2 for R1 700.