Google has officially presented the fitbit airto $99 Screenless fitness tracker designed for continuous health monitoring. The device is now available for pre-order and will ship on May 26. Fitbit Air connects with the Google Health app on both iOS 16.4 or later and Android 11 or later. It adds a new option to Google’s line of wearable devices, competing with devices like Whoop 5.0 and Whoop MG.
For the first time, the Google Health app allows users to pair a Fitbit Air and a pixel clock at the same time. This makes it possible to switch between devices or use both without losing data continuity.
Fitbit air sensors, health tracking and sleep features
Fitbit Air features an optical heart rate sensor for continuous tracking, along with red and infrared sensors to track blood oxygen levels. It also includes a device temperature sensor to monitor changes in skin temperature, a three-axis accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a vibration motor. The device does not have built-in GPS and relies on a paired phone for location data.
Metrics tracked include steps, distance, calories burned, heart rate variability, cardiovascular load management, irregular heart rate notifications, and high and low heart rate alerts. The device automatically detects activities and processes this data through the Google Health application.
A new sleep scoring feature is included, which Google says is 15% more accurate than Fitbit’s previous sleep tracking thanks to a new machine learning model. The Smart Wake feature uses the vibration motor to wake users during an optimal point in their sleep cycle.
Fitbit Air design, battery life and band options
The Fitbit Air measures 8.3mm thick and weighs 5.2 grams without a strap, or 12 grams with a strap attached. The bands are interchangeable, with a cloth Performance Loop Band included, while the silicone active and fashion bands are sold separately. Colors available at launch include Obsidian, Fog, Lavender and Berry.
Battery life is estimated at approximately one week on a full charge. Charging for five minutes can provide about a day of use. A full charge takes approximately 90 minutes with the included magnetic charger, which can be attached in any direction.
Fitbit Air and Google Health Premium subscription features
Most Fitbit Air features can be accessed with a free Google account. Google Health Coach, an AI-based coaching and training tool that evolved from the previously announced Fitbit Health Coach, requires a subscription to Google Health Premium. The premium service costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 annually, which is $20 more than the previous annual price of Fitbit Premium.
Google Health Premium is offered free of charge to Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra subscribers. The Fitbit Air will launch on May 26.
