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Google abandons the screen in its latest versions Wearable And bet big on an AI health coach. The new Fitbit Air is a thin, screenless band with a removable sensor whose only function is to collect health data in the background, removing distractions from notifications, apps and stats.
Read more: Fitbit Air, redesigned app, and AI trainer: Google is overhauling its health ecosystem
The move back to basics reflects this Oldest Fitbit devicesbut with a completely different ending. Where those first bands only counted steps, the Fitbit Air feeds a much broader stream of biometric data into Google’s evolving health ecosystem that appears increasingly focused on artificial intelligence.
At $99, the band is just the ticket to get you in the door. The main event is Google’s recently launched Health Coach program, part of Google Health Premium (formerly known as Fitbit Premium) service. The premium service will run you $10 per month or $100 per year when you purchase an annual subscription.
Health coach It is an AI-powered chatbot built on Gemini that translates raw data into personalized guidance, adaptable workout plans, and recovery recommendations.
The strategy also extends beyond Android. Since the Fitbit Air and its companion app support both iOS and Android, Google is using the device as a Trojan horse of sorts to bring its AI health coach to iPhone.
News of the launch comes alongside a wider rebrand, e.g Google is phasing out the Fitbit name In its app for Google Health – part of a drive to unify wearables, services and artificial intelligence. The Fitbit branding is still present on devices for now, but the finish line for the Fitbit name is in sight.
It is also a strategic bet on which direction the market is headed. Devices without a screen e.g A squawking band and Oura ring It has created a growing category of wearables that focus on continuous wear, sleep tracking, and long-term health trends rather than the real-time functionality of a smartwatch. The fact that the Fitbit Air can be paired with a device like Pixel watch He also points out that Google sees the two as complementary rather than competitive.
The Fitbit Air has a removable sensor under the band.
What does it track?
The Fitbit Air covers the basic health metrics you’d expect, including 24/7 heart rate monitoring, heart rate variability, SPO2 (blood oxygen level), temperature change, sleep tracking and analysis, cardio load, training readiness, steps, distance, and irregular heart rhythm notifications to detect atrial fibrillation. It also includes automatic activity tracking that you can confirm later in the app. The device is water resistant to a depth of 50 metres.
One caveat: The Fitbit Air uses an older sensor setup than the current Pixel Watch 4, which includes a multi-path optical heart rate sensor and a far-field temperature sensor. The Air sticks to more traditional sensors, which may limit accuracy, especially in peak heart rate zones and for more advanced insights, like tracking your menstrual cycle.
Superpowers in Google Training
Google Health Coach and long-term health insights are the main reason you should buy this bracelet. The trainer collects fitness, sleep, heart rate and menstrual data to build training plans that adapt to performance and schedule in real time. It sets weekly goals, can suggest workouts (which include video examples), adjust recommendations based on recovery, and can use your own data to indicate when to push and when to rest. This includes Smart Wake haptic alarms that dynamically use your sleep data to wake you at the ideal point in your sleep cycle.
Health Coach has been in beta since October 2025 and is being rolled out in a staggered launch alongside the Fitbit Air.
Three phone screens display nutrition and fitness scoring in Google Health Coach.
Battery life
One of the most obvious advantages of going without a screen is battery life. Google says the Fitbit Air lasts up to a week on a single charge. (We’ll have to test to see how this stacks up to our real-world tests.) It can also charge from zero to 100% in 90 minutes.
That doesn’t quite match the Whoop Band’s two-week battery life, but it’s a serious step up from the roughly 36 hours of battery life you’ll get from its display siblings, like the 41mm model of the Pixel Watch 4.
The Pixel Watch 4 (pictured) can be used alongside the Fitbit Air.
iOS and Android
Unlike the Android-only Pixel Watch, the Fitbit Air works with both Android and iOS, which is more in line with other Fitbit devices. This means you can get Google Health Coach even if you have an iPhone, although it’s unclear if there are any advantages to using Air on Android versus iOS.
Design and fit
I haven’t seen a Fitbit Air in person yet, but based on the specs, it follows a familiar screen-less design. Like the Whoop band, the sensor unit can be removed and swapped between different bands. Unlike Whoop, which offers alternative holders like a sports bra and even a Whoop thong, Fitbit is sticking to wrist-based accessories. This may change later based on feedback.
The Air supports a range of interchangeable bands in different materials. Options include the Performance Band for everyday wear, the Active Band for workouts, and the Modern Elevated Band for a more stylish look. Bands start at $35 and come in four colors: Obsidian, Mist, Berry, and Lavender. A special edition orange and gray Stephen Curry colorway will also be available in limited quantities.
Fitbit Air Performance Band Color: Lavender, Obsidian, Berry, and Mist.
The privacy dilemma
The shift toward Google Health branding is now drawing renewed scrutiny, especially as the company explores allowing users to import medical records into the app. As part of it Fitbit acquisition 2020Google agreed to keep Fitbit’s health data separate from its advertising business for 10 years.
Google says data collected by the Fitbit Air and other Fitbit devices will not be used for advertising, but experts note that even anonymized health data can often be traced back to individuals, and that once data is collected, how it is used for many years depends entirely on policies that can change. For anyone considering handing over their health data, it’s helpful to read the fine print and monitor how those policies evolve over time.
The Fitbit Air automatically detects workouts and stores them in the Google Health app.
Fitbit Air pricing and availability
The Fitbit Air will launch on May 7 for $100 on Google.com and in the Google Store app, with in-store availability at physical retail locations starting May 26. Accessory belts start at $35.
Google Health Premium is included for three months with your purchase, after which the subscription automatically renews at $10 per month.
CNET will be testing the Google Fitbit Air over the coming weeks, so check back for our full review.