Do you need connected GPS to properly use all features?

[knowsnofitness]

Hi

I've never owned a smartwatch or fitness tracker, and I've never used any fitness related apps on my phone.

I want to encourage my family to start moving more with the step counter on the watch, and the calories burned, and other things in the Versa I don't know about.

I don't want my family to have to carry their phone out all the time for connected GPS.

So with the Versa not having GPS without a phone, and me reading how some are complaining that it doesn't have GPS, how important is it? Do I lose out on so much functionality and data without GPS?

Do the step counters, calorie burned counter, and other monitoring data to encourage movement work without GPS?

Thank you very much.

Moderator edit: title for clarity

[ianwuk]

Thanks @SunsetRunner 

I just got a Versa, coming from a four year old Surge.  I never even thought that the Versa would not actually have built-in GPS like the Surge does.  I haven't even taken the Versa on its first run yet - I will do that on Saturday.  But I guess, like you say, turning the GPS off as you do on your Ionic (essentially recreating having a Versa) is no deal breaker.  I mostly run indoors right now anyway.

I appreciate your feedback - cheers!