Google Fitbit Air Review: The screenless tracker to beat

At a look

Professional’s Score

Execs

• Extremely mild & snug
• Wonderful app interface
• Quick charging
• Well being Coach is game-changing

Cons

• Greatest options want subscription
• No GPS
• No NFC for contactless funds

Our Verdict

Google’s first screenless health tracker is a tremendous achievement, one which takes the idea of Whoop’s in-depth well being evaluation and opens it as much as the lots with a funds value. The gadget itself is snug to put on, and though it does value additional, the Gemini AI-powered Well being Coach is the actual cherry on prime, making the method of organising and sticking to a exercise routine simpler than ever.

Value When Reviewed

This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined

Greatest Pricing At the moment

Value When Reviewed

$99.99

Greatest Costs At the moment: Google Fitbit Air

$99.99

Whoop has dominated the in-depth well being monitoring scene for a great whereas, however now the Fitbit Air is right here to supply an alternate for the lots.

For nearly so long as I’ve been testing smartwatches and health trackers, I’ve additionally had a trusty Whoop Strap on my different wrist, filling within the gaps with tons of data, the likes of which my different wearables couldn’t hope to seize. It’s been a love-and-hate relationship, together with the time that it gave me the worst sleep rating of my life on my wedding ceremony day, at which level it was flung unceremoniously right into a drawer, however on the entire, I’ve very a lot loved my time with Whoop.

My Whoop Strap 4.0 was the gadget that woke me as much as the results of alcohol and extra caffeine on my sleeping sample which, on the time I’m penning this, has allowed me to chop down on the latter and utterly minimize out the previous. It’s an amazing little bit of tech with some nice intentions, however the largest situation with Whoop has all the time been the hefty annual subscription, with out which the gadget is simply good for being a style accent. It’s exactly this situation that the brand new Fitbit Air appears poised to repair.

At only a fraction of Whoop’s value (from £84.99/$99.99), Google’s newest Fitbit gadget has already generated plenty of chatter within the run-up to its launch, and after having spent a few weeks with the screenless health tracker strapped to my wrist, I’ve quite a bit so as to add to the discourse.

Design & Construct

• Screenless design
• Very snug across the clock
• Is available in 4 colors (5 within the US)

The obvious distinction between the Fitbit Air and just about another wearable in the marketplace is that there isn’t a display in anyway. In the event you’ve been a fan of health trackers for so long as I’ve, it looks like an homage to the times of the Fitbit Flex and the Jawbone UP24.

Whereas which may appear jarring at first, particularly when all the pieces has a display these days, it permits the Fitbit Air to be much more inconspicuous when worn, and that’s no dangerous factor. In essence, the Air is a small pebble-like gadget containing numerous sensors which pops into the strap.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

I actually can’t keep in mind the final time I wore a health tracker that felt as snug as this. One thing that’s little doubt a results of the Air’s minuscule 12g weight (together with the usual band), making it supreme for anybody who’s all the time been delay by the thought of sporting a smartwatch as a result of added bulk.

Being so compact, the Fitbit Air is splendidly match for goal because the expectation is that it must be worn across the clock, however its presence isn’t felt so it might probably sit comfortably and with out irritation. Even after a extra intensive exercise like an out of doors run or a stint on the treadmill the place I’ve constructed up a sweat, it by no means outstayed its welcome.

On the very least, if I did wish to permit a bit extra air to succeed in my wrist, then adjusting the brand new Fitbit isn’t any hassle in any respect. In contrast to the Whoop Strap, which makes use of a barely extra convoluted system with its default band, the Fitbit Air makes use of a easy velcro setup, which I a lot desire as it may be adjusted rapidly.

It’s additionally very simple to take away the precise tracker itself from the included band as soon as it’s off your wrist, so you may swap in one of many additional bands available for purchase individually, if you wish to strike a special look.

By default, the included band makes use of a woven materials that feels sturdy however can be comfortable in opposition to the pores and skin, and there are 4 colors, together with Obsidian (which you’ll see on this assessment), Lavender, Berry and Fog.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

There’s an additional Stephen Curry particular version that’s solely obtainable within the US, taking over a two-tone gray and orange aesthetic that I want might be purchased right here as nicely, however I recognize that the basketball participant doesn’t have the identical recognition within the UK.

Software program & Options

• Pairs with the all-new Google Well being app
• Brilliantly designed with a transparent structure
• Well being Coach is a game-changer

As a result of the Fitbit Air is totally and not using a display or any buttons, precise interplay with the gadget itself is severely restricted. You may double-tap it and a little bit LED mild will flash to let you realize if the battery is above or under 20% (though you’ll get a notification in your cellphone when it drops that low anyway), and you’ll set a vibrating alarm via the app that can be dismissed through a double-tap, however that’s it.

The whole lot else is relegated to the all-new Google Well being app.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

This new software program comes on the expense of the prevailing Fitbit app in addition to Google Match, and though it’s actually the tip of an period, I need to say that the Google Well being app is likely one of the better of its form that I’ve utilized in a protracted whereas. In a really ‘Materials You’ style (the type of current Android variations), the app’s structure is clear, and it’s separated into 4 easy-to-understand tabs: At the moment (which serves as your fundamental dashboard), Health, Sleep and Well being.

As somebody who moved over from utilizing an Apple Watch to the Garmin Venu X1 nearly a 12 months in the past, whereas I like the tech that the corporate places out, the app expertise can generally be a proper headache with easy issues hidden behind layers of menus. It’s precisely the form of UI Rubik’s Dice that may make me suppose twice about recommending a Garmin watch to somebody who’s much less tech savvy, however I wouldn’t have that very same hesitation with the Google Well being app.

Proper on the prime, with a beautiful splash of color, you may see your total step rely in relation to your goal, alongside the gap you’ve travelled, energy burned and the variety of days you’ve exercised all through the week. A bit swipe left and also you’ll see extra knowledge at a look similar to how lengthy you slept, whether or not or not your key vitals are in test, and extra.

Not solely do I recognize how this instantly cuts via the noise in order that I can see my most vital health and well being data immediately, however this little dashboard is very customisable.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

In the event you don’t wish to see any of what I’ve simply talked about and would relatively have a dashboard that focuses solely in your readiness rating, your present coronary heart price and the main points of your current meals, then you are able to do simply that.

By default, the Fitbit Air is able to monitoring most of those metrics mechanically however for issues like meals consumption, you may inform the app what you’ve had or scan an obtainable barcode, and if that’s not simple sufficient, you may simply take an image of the meals you’re about to eat and ship it over to the actual MVP of the app, the Google Well being Coach.

On the threat of teetering into hyperbole, I can actually say that the Google Well being Coach is the only largest shake-up I’ve seen in a health monitoring app in years. This AI-driven, Gemini-powered private coach is at your beck and name for something you may wish to talk about. Fancy constructing extra upper-body power, however aren’t fairly positive what you may deal with/the place to begin? Ask the Well being Coach to construct a plan for you primarily based on the information it already has.

In my case, as a brand new mother or father and a contract author who’s juggling quite a bit, I now have a really restricted period of time by which I can train, and on most days, no time in any respect. I defined all of this to the Well being Coach and after a dialog about what I’d prefer to prioritise about my health and wellbeing, it was capable of develop a exercise and sleep routine that’s most certainly to work round my new schedule.

What actually made the distinction although, is that on days when ideally I wanted to get to the gymnasium however there simply wasn’t a chance to take action, I defined as a lot to the Well being Coach and with out judgement, it merely modified the schedule for me. As somebody who’s come very near altering to a special smartwatch completely after being sick of the guilt journey of being informed that I’m ‘detaining’ and falling via the cracks, Google’s much more forgiving strategy has been simply what I’ve wanted.

In any case, I’ve loved a reasonably constant weight coaching routine for over a decade now, and I do know that I’ll get again to it sometime, however now could be the time when my priorities lie elsewhere and the Google Well being app is the one software program I’m at present utilizing that appears to grasp that. It’s a complete game-changer, and I feel it makes health monitoring extra accessible than ever.

The one drawback is that it prices additional to take pleasure in this added performance.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

As a way to entry the Well being Coach, you’ll want a Google Well being Premium subscription. Fortunately, you do get three months of the service included with the Fitbit Air so you may take it for a spin and see all that it has to supply first, however as soon as that free trial is up, it’s £7.99/$9.99 a month, or £79.99/$99.99 whenever you go for an annual plan.

On the very least, that is nonetheless extra reasonably priced than the Whoop subscription and also you do get entry to a ton of exercise movies, meditations and a wide variety of wholesome recipes, to assist justify the expense.

As a aspect be aware, as a result of the Pixel Watch now additionally makes use of the Google Well being app, these wearables are designed to play good with the Fitbit Air to supply much more performance when paired up. For instance, should you don’t fancy sporting the Pixel Watch 4 to mattress, then you may take it off proper earlier than you fall asleep and the Fitbit Air will simply take over and seize your sleep knowledge.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

You may even put on each on the similar time for extra knowledge, which the app will kind via. It’s actually not a necessary pairing by any means, however it’s good to see that Google has thought-about its current person base right here.

The Google Well being app may also sync together with your medical data, however it is a characteristic that’s solely obtainable within the US at launch.

If you’re somebody who needs to have extra sensible options like GPS monitoring or NFC contactless funds on the go, then it’s value having the Pixel Watch in tow because the Fitbit Air is totally devoid of those options.

This isn’t a lot of a shock on condition that it’s the identical scenario with the Whoop Strap, but it surely ought to be understood, because it means you may’t simply exit with the Air alone and observe routes and seize an iced espresso whereas leaving your cellphone at dwelling. Many low cost health trackers do have these options however they arrive with a display.

Health & Well being Monitoring

• Tracks resting coronary heart price, blood oxygen and extra
• Coronary heart price knowledge is spectacular for the value
• Difficult stats are damaged down for customers

As a result of it doesn’t function like a standard health tracker, whereby you may choose a exercise onscreen earlier than attending to it, the Fitbit Air has a number of workarounds to ensure that it collects the precise knowledge associated to your chosen train.

You may both begin a exercise within the Google Well being app, so the Air will know precisely when the session started and what you’re doing, and you’ll simply inform it whenever you’ve completed, or you may simply go away it to the Air to mechanically assess what you’ve accomplished, simply because it did with a number of walks I took into city.

Alternatively, as I additionally tried, you may observe your exercise together with your smartwatch after which simply inform the Well being Coach after the very fact and it’ll retroactively register a exercise primarily based on the information it’s already collected. All of it works relatively seamlessly, and generally I might go down a fair lazier route and simply screenshot the Garmin app and share it with the Well being Coach, and it could know precisely what to do.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

By way of the precise knowledge collected, the Fitbit Air displays a good bit. On prime of your coronary heart price and resting coronary heart price, it additionally tracks your blood oxygen ranges and, crucially, your coronary heart price variability which is likely one of the largest indicators as to how nicely you’ve rested and in case your physique can tackle a difficult exercise.

You may arrange alerts to let you realize in case your coronary heart price is just too low or too excessive, or if there are any indicators of atrial fibrillation. It’s an amazing array when you think about how reasonably priced the Fitbit Air is compared to plenty of wearables in the marketplace, however the knowledge it collects is surprisingly on the mark, too.

When heading out for an early morning run with the Garmin HRM 600 in tow (a chest strap coronary heart price monitor), the Fitbit Air barely deviated from the outcomes that the chest-worn monitor picked up. The HRM 600 registered a peak 178bpm, alongside a mean price of 153bpm, and the Fitbit Air picked up only a single beat per minute decrease on the height however was bang on with the typical. I actually anticipated extra of a discrepancy for a sub £100/$100 tracker, but it surely simply signifies that you’re in good palms with the Fitbit Air.

Sleep monitoring can be surprisingly in-depth, and it’s proper up there with the Huawei Well being app when it comes to breaking down convoluted knowledge into an easy-to-understand abstract.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

For example, the Google Well being app would clarify that whereas my sleep consistency is sweet, which helps the physique to adapt to a routine, the general size of my sleep isn’t fairly sufficient to match the challenges offered all through the day, and that got here with a suggestion that if I went to mattress simply 20 minutes earlier, it could make a distinction. It’s simple to observe and it’s precisely what sleep monitoring ought to be.

Battery Life & Charging

• Lasts for per week at a time
• Prices to over 60% in simply quarter-hour
• Proprietary charger included

As a lot as I like the design and health monitoring supplied by the Fitbit Air, I discovered myself a bit stunned by the battery scenario right here.

Google claims you can get per week’s value of use on a single cost and I discovered that to be correct in my testing, because the preliminary run went from a Saturday to the next one earlier than needing a full cost.

A seven-day stint is certainly respectable, however on condition that the gadget has no display, and the most recent Whoop Strap 5.0 can final for 2 weeks at a time, I anticipated extra.

Thomas Deehan / Foundry

I’m additionally left questioning why Google didn’t mirror Whoop’s charging system, which makes use of a separate battery which may slot on prime of the Whoop Strap and cost it up wirelessly, guaranteeing that there’s no break within the well being monitoring. As an alternative, it’s a must to take away the Fitbit Air out of your wrist to offer it juice through the supplied proprietary charger.

On the plus aspect, charging could be very quick, because the battery was again to 61% after simply quarter-hour, and reached 90% after about half an hour.

Oddly sufficient, the charging course of was caught at 99% for a great 25 minutes earlier than lastly reaching 100% on the one-hour and five-minute mark, however this is perhaps a glitch within the communication between the Air and the app.

Value & Availability

The Fitbit Air carries a price ticket of £84.99/$99.99, which makes it much more reasonably priced than even essentially the most entry-level value of the Whoop Strap 5.0, which stands at £160/$199 per 12 months.

You should purchase it from Google’s official retailer in addition to loads of retailers similar to Amazon, Currys and Argos within the UK, and BestBuy for these stateside.

Though you may broaden the characteristic set with the aforementioned Google Well being Premium subscription (£7.99/$9.99 a month), what’s essential is that the Fitbit Air isn’t reliant on that service, so you may merely purchase the gadget and luxuriate in its core well being monitoring metrics. By comparability, the Whoop Strap is tied to its subscription and turns into ineffective with out it, which makes the Fitbit Air much more palatable to the typical client.

A subscription-free rival has simply been introduced, however the Luna Band is at present invite-only if you wish to buy one, with models anticipated to begin delivery in July.

There are precise health trackers with a show that may be purchased for across the similar value because the Fitbit Air, together with the Huawei Band 11 Professional, however the capability to have a distraction-free wearable is a promoting level in itself, and I feel that the Fitbit Air additionally boasts one of the best app expertise of any competing gadget in its value bracket.

Take a look at our really useful health trackers and one of the best Fitbits you should buy.

$99.99

Do you have to purchase the Fitbit Air?

The Fitbit Air is a slam dunk for Google. Not solely has it supplied a correct, mainstream different to the Whoop Strap with a less expensive level of entry, but it surely additionally comes with among the best apps I’ve ever had the pleasure of testing. The very best praise I may give the Fitbit Air is that I’ll be utilizing it as my secondary health tracker after this assessment, and I’ve no intention of placing it in a drawer any time quickly.

It’s a smooth gadget to put on, and one which’s positive to attraction to anybody who would like to not have one other gadget on their individual with a probably distracting display. The information it collects is strong, and it’s offered in a really easy-to-understand style, which, regardless of the rebrand, looks like a seamless continuation of what Fitbit has all the time been about. You may even use it concurrently/alternating with a Pixel Watch.

If you need to have the ability to look on the time, your stats and use apps, then a screenless design like this isn’t for you. It additionally lacks GPS and NFC which is perhaps important for some customers.

I do suppose it’s a disgrace that one of the best characteristic, the Google Well being Coach, is simply accessible through a Well being Premium subscription, however given the probabilities right here for effortlessly adapting to fulfill your wants with exercise and relaxation recommendations that make sense, I feel it’s essential service for anybody who needs to get severe about taking higher care of themselves.

I extremely advocate the Fitbit Air for discreet, distraction-free monitoring at a no brainer funds value.

Specs

• 7-day battery life
• Vibration motor
• Optical coronary heart price monitor
• SpO2 monitoring
• 12g (with band hooked up)
• Colors: Obsidian, Berry, Lavender, Fog