Google screenless Fitbit Air lands May 26, costs $99.99, no subscription needed

Google screenless Fitbit Air lands May 26, costs $99.99, no subscription needed

Google has announced the Fitbit Air, a screenless fitness tracker that sells for $99.99. Basic health tracking does not require a subscription. The device goes on sale May 26 in Australia.

The Air is a plastic pebble clipped into a band. The tracker weighs 5.2 grams on its own, 12 grams with the strap. Google says it is 25 percent smaller than the Luxe and 50 percent smaller than the Inspire 3. It is water resistant to 50 metres.

Optical sensors track heart rate continuously. The device can flag irregular rhythms that may signal atrial fibrillation. Red and infrared LEDs measure blood oxygen. A temperature sensor tracks skin temperature. An accelerometer and gyroscope detect movement and automatically recognise exercise.

“Fitbit Air is our smallest and most affordable tracker designed for comfortable, 24/7 health monitoring,” Google said in a statement.

Google rates the battery at up to seven days. Five minutes of charging gives a full day of use. A full charge takes 90 minutes. The bundled charger is USB-C with a magnetic connector. Bluetooth 5.0 handles phone connectivity.

Three band styles are available. The Performance Loop is a breathable textile made from at least 35 percent recycled material. The Active Sport is a sweatproof silicone band. The Elevated Modern is a polyurethane band with a stainless steel buckle. Colours include obsidian, fog, berry, lavender, moonstone, and porcelain. Bands sell separately from $34.99. The Elevated Modern is $49.99. A Stephen Curry edition costs $129.99.

The Air uses the Google Health app, replacing the Fitbit app. Three months of Google Health Premium are included, unlocking a Gemini-powered coaching feature. After the trial, Premium costs $9.99 per month. Basic tracking stays free. That is the main difference from Whoop, which charges a monthly fee just to use the hardware.

Google says the Air can run alongside a Pixel Watch. Use the watch during the day and the Air for sleep or workouts. Data syncs between them automatically.

The Air is Google’s first screenless fitness device. The launch also rebrands the Fitbit app as Google Health, absorbing the last visible piece of the 2021 Fitbit acquisition into Google’s own product line. The AI Health Coach is available to Premium subscribers.

Australian pricing has not been confirmed. The device ships to Australia from May 26. Pre-orders are open now at the Google Store.