Does the Fitbit Versa Lite have GPS?

Fitbit Versa Lite
Fitbit Versa Lite (Image credit: iMore)

Does the Fitbit Versa Lite have GPS?

Best answer: The Fitbit Versa Lite doesn't have built-in GPS, but it uses "connected GPS" to track the details such as pace, distance, and elevation for your outdoor workouts.The smartwatch: Fitbit Versa Lite (From $125 at Amazon)

How the Versa Lite uses GPS

While GPS is not built into the Fitbit Versa Lite itself, it does utilize your smartphone's GPS to see real-time pace and distance during runs and bike rides. Your Versa Lite must be connected to your iPhone or other smartphone. The phone must be nearby for the Versa Lite to capture GPS information, as the Versa Lite is working with the sensors on your phone. So, you'll need to carry your smartphone with you on your run or ride. Fitbit calls this feature "connected GPS" to differentiate it from built-in GPS. You can use the connected GPS to gather the same information you'd get from a smartwatch with a built-in GPS.

To use connected GPS, you do have to make sure your phone's cellular services are on so it can still track your location when it's out of WiFi range. You'll also need to make sure your GPS can work when your phone is locked by keeping Background App Refresh in the Fitbit app. Also, be sure that Location Services for the Fitbit app remain on.

Once you complete your outdoor workout and sync your Fitbit Versa Lite, your workout will be saved to your exercise history in the Fitbit app. There, in the dashboard, you can see more details about your activity, such as elevation during your run. Click Log > Activities and tap on the specific workout to see details about it.

Remind me, what exactly is a Fitbit Versa Lite?

The Fitbit Versa Lite is a health and fitness smartwatch that tracks activity, calorie burn, steps, sleep stages, female cycles, and heart rate. It lets you receive notifications, so you don't miss calls, texts, or app alerts.

The Versa Lite has a 4+ day battery life, so you only need to charge it a couple of times per week. It tracks more than different 15 types of exercise, and it's water-resistant up to 50 meters. Download over 100 apps and customize your watch face. It comes in five colorways: White/Silver Aluminum, Lilac Silver Aluminum, Marina Blue/Marina Blue Aluminum, Mulberry/Mulberry Aluminum, and Charcoal/Silver Aluminum.

Karen S Freeman
Contributor

Karen is a contributor to iMore.com as a writer and co-host of the iMore Show. She’s been writing about Apple since 2010 with a year-long break to work at an Apple Store as a product specialist. She's also a contributor at TechRadar and Tom's Guide. Before joining iMore in 2018, Karen wrote for Macworld, CNET, AppAdvice, and WatchAware. She’s an early adopter who used to wait in long lines on release days before pre-ordering made things much easier. Karen is also a part-time teacher and occasional movie extra. She loves to spend time with her family, travel the world, and is always looking for portable tech and accessories so she can work from anywhere.