Apple Watch be gone: Fitbit Versa now has an extra, potentially life-saving feature

You can now closely monitor SPO2 levels with a brand new watch face for Fitbit Versa and Fitbit Ionic

Fitbit blood oxygenation level SpO2 level estimated oxygen variation graph
(Image credit: Fitbit)

It's never been too complicated to check blood oxygen saturation – sometimes also called blood O2 saturation or just SpO2 levels – on the best Fitbits but it just became much easier thanks to a newly released watch face called "SpO2 Signature", available through the Fitbit App. Fitbit is seemingly after Apple Watch Series 5 users by constantly tweaking and updating its smartwatch range with new features, all the while keeping the price point relatively low.

The new watch face will be available for all the newly announced Fitbits such as the Fitbit Sense and the Fitbit Versa 3, but it was also made available all other devices capable of measuring blood oxygen levels, including the Fitbit Ionic, Fitbit Versa (still kicking), Fitbit Versa Lite and Fitbit Versa 2.

Fitbit blood oxygenation level SpO2 level estimated oxygen variation graph


(Image credit: Fitbit)

What is blood oxygen saturation and how does it work in Fitbits?

The sensors found on compatible Fitbit wearables utilise the red and infrared sensors on the back of the device to measure SpO2 levels. Blood oxygen saturation measures the percent of your blood that’s saturated with oxygen – pretty straightforward, right?

Typically, it’s at 95-100%, meaning the blood is carrying as much oxygen as it can. If you have lung issues (or stop breathing), the saturation level can fall since less oxygen enters the body. In general, variations should be low and if you are seeing frequent, big variations, that could be a sign that you may be experiencing breathing disturbances during sleep.

Through the Estimated Oxygen Variation graph, Fitbit tries to make this otherwise complicated information more understandable for the general public. The graph which users can see in the Fitbit app under the Sleep tile, approximates the changes in your blood oxygen saturation while you sleep.

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Matt Kollat
Section Editor | Active

Matt Kollat is a journalist and content creator who works for T3.com and its magazine counterpart as an Active Editor. His areas of expertise include wearables, drones, fitness equipment, nutrition and outdoor gear. He joined T3 in 2019. His byline appears in several publications, including Techradar and Fit&Well, and more. Matt also collaborated with other content creators (e.g. Garage Gym Reviews) and judged many awards, such as the European Specialist Sports Nutrition Alliance's ESSNawards. When he isn't working out, running or cycling, you'll find him roaming the countryside and trying out new podcasting and content creation equipment.