Leaked Fitbit Sense 2, Versa 4 photos reveal that physical buttons are back

Buttons are a sensitive topic amongst smartwatch homeowners, however new leaked Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4 photographs from 9to5Google point out the corporate is ditching capacitive buttons for each of its next-gen smartwatches.

We bought a touch that Fitbit could also be bringing again bodily buttons on the Versa 4 a couple of months in the past, nevertheless it wasn’t clear on the time if that will lengthen to the Sense 2. The choice isn’t stunning. Fitbit launched the capacitive button as a method to create a slimmer profile and forestall unintended presses, however in actuality, it made for a finicky consumer expertise. Many Versa and Sense customers discovered the button to be unresponsive or simply plain unreliable. (Paradoxically, once I reviewed the unique Sense, it was manner too straightforward to by accident set off the capacitive button.)

Picture: 9to5Google

In any other case, it doesn’t appear as if Fitbit is rocking the boat an excessive amount of design-wise. Other than the bodily buttons, essentially the most notable replace in these leaks is the Sense 2’s bezel. The unique Sense constructed the EKG sensor right into a refined steel body across the case. This time round, it seems to be like Fitbit has managed to cram the EKG sensor into the bezel itself, beneath the glass touchscreen. That might recommend you’d have to the touch the glass show to finish the EKG circuit — which might be uncommon in comparison with different EKG-capable smartwatches. The Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, for instance, require you to the touch a finger to steel buttons. It’s disappointing that Fitbit doesn’t look like including extra display actual property, however hey, when you’re going to stay with an egregiously massive bezel in 2022, you may as nicely benefit from it.

In the meantime, photographs of the Sense 2’s sensor array on the underside of the case reveal a brand new raised border — although it’s anybody’s guess whether or not it is a important change. It may trace at a brand new sensor, or maybe the modified design is to make sure higher pores and skin contact. What we do know is that the markings close to the underside of the array (they’re extraordinarily faint within the picture) point out the system can have an EKG sensor, physique temperature sensor, built-in GPS, and a water resistance score of fifty meters.

Picture: 9to5Google

As for the Versa 4, the brand new photographs don’t reveal a lot. The sensor array appears to be unchanged from the Versa 3, and in keeping with 9to5Google, there’s no EKG or physique temperature sensor. It nonetheless has a microphone, in addition to built-in GPS and 50 meters of water resistance. That means that the Versa 4 might not add a lot on the {hardware} entrance, with any main updates coming within the type of new software-based options. To be truthful, Fitbit isn’t shy about including new Versa watches to its product lineup. There have already been 4 variations of the smartwatch because it first launched in 2018, every solely barely totally different from the final.

Given the photographs, it looks as if an official launch is on the horizon. That mentioned, 2022 has been an odd 12 months for Fitbit’s traditional product cadence. The corporate usually launches at the least one system within the spring and one other in late summer season. Nevertheless, Spring 2022 has already come and gone with no new Fitbit in sight. In the meantime, Google, which owns Fitbit, may additionally muddy the waters with its plans to launch the Pixel Watch this fall. One of many marquee options for the Pixel Watch can be a shiny new Fitbit integration — which Fitbit is ostensibly placing the ending touches on with Google. That, plus any new software program options for the Sense 2 and Versa 4, is lots for anyone firm to be engaged on without delay.