Google's latest wearable seems like a Fitbit Air with a screen, but the two actually have less in common than you might think. Google cares about fitness trackers again. The company has continually iterated on the Pixel Watch since it launched in 2022 and released the kid-focused Fitbit Ace LTE in 2024, but many assumed Google had given up on affordable wearables under the Fitbit name.
That changed in May with the release of the $99 Fitbit Air, an affordable Whoop competitor without a screen. It changed again in October with the $179 Fitbit Edge, a half-step between the company's most affordable tracker and the Pixel Watch 5. Both devices offer AI-powered features not available on older Fitbit wearables, without costing an arm and a leg or locking you into the Android ecosystem. You do have to pay for Google Health Premium to use them fully.
The two devices are not completely interchangeable, though. The Edge has a 1.34-inch oval AMOLED touchscreen and a new mechanical side button, while the Air is a 1.37 x 0.66 x 0.32-inch sensor puck where nearly all interaction happens through the Google Health app. The Edge is also larger, at 1.54 x 1.01 x 0.46 inches, and more visible, especially with always-on display enabled.
Sensors differ too. Both have optical heart rate sensors, but only the Edge supports ECG readings, and it adds an altimeter and an ambient light sensor. Google rates both for seven days of battery life, but the Edge drops to around two days with always-on mode. The Edge can charge to 100 percent in 90 minutes, and both are IP68 rated and protected up to 5ATM.
Source: Engadget · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing