Google has announced the Fitbit Air, the company’s first screen-free tracker since its early days with trackers like the Fitbit Flex.
The Fitbit Air is designed to be a wearable you wear but largely forget. Its design amplifies this, with weight of a super-low 12g with the watch band. This is significantly lighter than the 26.5g Whoop 5.0 wearable.
It’s a slim, plastic sensor puck that slots into the band, and features an array of sensors shared with most other wearables of this style.
The Fitbit Air has an optical heart rate reader with the sensors required for blood oxygen readings. There’s a skin temperature sensor and gyroscope plus accelerometer motion sensor.
Unlike a Polar 360, the Fitbit Air also has a vibration motor.
Does The Fitbit Air Need A Subscription?
It pairs with the Google Health Premium service, which is a rebrand of Fitbit Premium, but can also be used without the subscription. Flying solo, you’ll see step counts, distance travelled , Cardio load and training readiness in the companion phone app.
You’ll still get sleep tracking, heart rate results and blood oxygenation reports too. Google Health Premium adds fitness plans, an AI health coach, “detailed sleep insights” and a catalog of workout and mindfulness sessions.
But if all you need is the fitness tracker basics, the Fitbit Air will clearly provide them without ongoing fees.
Fitbit Air Strap Options
Accessories are another important part of the Fitbit Air equation. When you buy an Air you choose between four colors of basic fabric strap: black, lilac, pink and “fog” green. These are dubbed Performance Loop bands, and additional ones cost $34.99.
There are also two other series of strap styles, Active and Elevated Modern. Active bands are made of “sweat-resistant silicone,” and come in small and large sizes and the same four colors as the Performance Loop ones. Active bands also cost $34.99.
Elevated Modern bands are a little more expensive, at $49.99. They are made of polyurethane, and come in somewhat more muted Moonstone grey/blue, black and Porcelain cream with a sold stainless steel clasp.
Heading back to the Fitbit Air’s main specs, battery life is rated at up to a week, and it’s water resistant to 50M. This is typically solid enough for showers and for pool swimming, but not diving.
The Fitbit Air is available to pre-order now, with shipping due from May 26.
