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At a time when everything demands our attention, more and more companies are leaning into the idea that consumers might want something that we can mostly ignore. He fitbit air fits into a growing category of devices like the Oura 4 Ring and scream bands which aim to minimize their presence while monitoring everything in the background.
I’ve been testing the Fitbit Air for a little over a week now and it’s easily becoming one of my new favorite wearables. It does all the health and fitness tracking I want, but without the distraction of a screen. And while some users may prefer the functionality of a device like the Pixel Clock 4The Fitbit Air is perfect for anyone who doesn’t want a smartwatch to weigh them down.
|
Category |
fitbit air |
|---|---|
|
Battery |
Up to 7 days |
|
Connectivity |
bluetooth 5 |
|
Compatibility |
Android, iOS |
|
Sensors |
Optical HRM, SpO2, Skin Temperature, Accelerometer, Gyroscope |
|
Vibration |
✅ |
|
Materials |
Sensor: Recycled polycarbonate, PBT plastics Band: Textile, stainless steel |
|
Water resistance |
Up to 50 meters |
|
Dimensions (sensor) |
34.9x17x8.3mm |
|
Weight |
Sensor: 5.2g Sensor+band: 12g |
|
Band size |
Textile: 130-210mm Silicone: 130-175mm, 165-210mm |
|
Flag |
Obsidian, Berry, Lavender, Mist, Stephen Curry Special Edition |
As light as air
Fitbit Air is Fitbit’s first product since 2023, excluding kid-focused one Fitbit Ace LTE from a couple of years ago. Previously, the Charge Fitbit 6 was launched as a minimalist fitness tracker, with a small screen and Google services, making it a decent alternative to a smart watch. The Air takes that philosophy to the next level as a lightweight, affordable tracker.
As soon as I put the Fitbit Air on my wrist, I was surprised as light it is. I am used to using smart watches like Pixel Watch 4 and Garmin Venu 4so this is practically nothing compared to them. The Performance Loop woven band that comes with it is thin and comfortable, and I often forget I’m wearing it, which feels appropriate and a little refreshing.
That said, the bracelet is a little awkward to put on, as it attaches above the wrist instead of below. I also notice that the vibrant Berry color option gets a little dirty quite easily and I haven’t been brave enough to wear it during workouts.
Before working out, I usually take out the actual tracker, which is a relatively small disc, and place it on the active band. Google makes it easy by placing a small marker on both the tracker and the bracelet.
The silicone design of the Active band makes it ideal for intense workouts, especially since many of my workouts are hot and sweaty. a lotalthough it is a little thicker than the Performance band. I also really like that it clips on more like a transitional smartwatch band under the wrist.
Sleep like a baby, wake up refreshed
An advantage of the lightweight design is that the Fitbit Air is the perfect wearable device to wear while you sleep. I, like many others, find smart watches uncomfortable to wear while sleepingand it can be enough to wake me up in the middle of the night just to get one off my wrist. With the Fitbit Air I have not had that problem, since it goes as unnoticed at night as during the day.
The sleep tracking on the Fitbit Air is as good as you would expect and as good as on devices like a Pixel Watch or even a garmin smart watch. It records sleep stages, sleep quality, and even restlessness or how much you moved while you slept. You get a sleep score, though Animals that sleep on Fitbit are not supported with the new Google Health app, which is kind of a bummer.
Smart Wake is one of the best features of the Fitbit Air. I set a few alarms and the Air would wake me up at an optimal time up to 30 minutes before the actual alarm time. And at the “optimal time,” the band will determine if you’re in a lighter stage of sleep, which is generally better for waking you up without feeling groggy.
I use a low-level vibration that is subtle enough to wake me up without startling me, although a higher intensity is available. So far, I haven’t had any problems waking up while wearing the Fitbit Air, and the lack of an alarm sound is the best part, as it can be the most jarring part of a smartwatch or smart display. To dismiss the vibration, simply double-tap the top of the sensor; otherwise it will repeat after nine minutes.
Your phone is the only screen you interact with
Of course, without a screen, you’ll need a way to view Fitbit Air data. The new Google Health app, which rose from the ashes of the Fitbit app, is the Air’s main point of interaction, unlike a Pixel Watch, which requires its own standalone app.
Setup is pretty simple; As soon as I put the Air on its charger for the first time (and yes, it’s yet another charger from Google), my phone was prompted to sync with it and was ready to go in no time.
There are not many differences between the new Google Health app and my experience testing Fitbit’s revamped UI. It’s still packed with all the Gemini AI you could want (or not), especially if you’re subscribed to Google Health Premium, although it’s pretty easy to ignore if you just want to focus on the data. However, there are some useful changes that expanded and refined its health and fitness tracking.
For example, the Fitness tab breaks down your various training or cardio loading goals to make them easier to follow. Additionally, as part of the training “plan”, the tab now offers training “suggestions” that you can easily follow and track throughout the week.
To start a workout, I usually start directly from one of my workout tips. However, for exercises outside of the regimen, I can start a workout of my choice from the Today tab, such as pilates or high-intensity interval training (HIIT). My phone shows live heart rate, cardio load and calories burned. For suggested workouts with multiple exercises, large buttons are available to move to the next set of exercises or to end and record the workout.
The Fitbit Air also has one of my favorite Pixel Watch features– The ability to display my heart rate live on a Peloton. And if you forget to manually track a workout, Fitbit Air is smart enough to detect certain exercises automatically, although you’ll still need to confirm them in the app.
I’ve done some step testing with Fitbit and other wearables, and the Air is surprisingly accurate, with just a few steps at a time. You can also use Air together with a Pixel Watch and display data from any source. And while it may seem strange or redundant to use both, there are some things that the Fitbit Air can’t monitor that the Pixel Watch can, such as ECG and continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) for stress and body response.
Although, to be honest, I can live without these data points, so I don’t mind ditching the Pixel Watch 4 for the Fitbit Air. That said, the heart rate sensor isn’t as advanced as the one on the Pixel Watch 4, although it seemed to hold up well with my Garmin Venu 4 during several workouts.
Still, therein lies the benefit of using both Google wearables simultaneously or swapping them, for example, if you just want to wear the Fitbit Air while you sleep and the Pixel Watch during the day for more accurate fitness tracking.
The Fitbit Air is a great tracker for most people
There are very few things I don’t like about the Fitbit Air. As someone who uses smart rings Like the Oura Ring 4 daily, I love having a comfortable wrist wearable that lasts up to a week per charge.
The Air may not be the best wearable for runners, as it lacks built-in GPS and other features that runners may find useful (like a screen). However, I have plenty of friends I work out with who don’t mind wearing smartwatches, and I can see something as lightweight and discreet as the Air fitting in perfectly.
The price also makes it a no-brainer. At $99, it’s much cheaper than a Pixel Watch 4 or Oura Ring 4 while still offering many of the same features. Of course, that doesn’t include the optional $10 per month charge for Google Health Premium, which you’ll need to use the coaching features. However, you do get three months free when you purchase the device, and even with that optional cost, I think the Fitbit Air is a pretty attractive deal.
nothing but air
The Fitbit Air is so comfortable, you’ll forget you’re wearing it until the next time you need to charge it. This makes it ideal for fitness and especially sleep tracking, in case you want to upgrade your bulky Pixel Watch.
