Google has officially unveiled Fitbit Air — its first screenless fitness band, which competes not with the familiar Mi Band, but with professional trackers like Whoop. The device costs $99.99 (approximately 11,000 ₽ in Russia) and is already available for pre-order, with sales starting on May 26. The band is aimed at those who need 24/7 health tracking without distractions from notifications and a screen.

Google introduced its newest fitness band, reminiscent of the 1st generation Mi Band

Fitbit Air — What Kind of Band Is It

Fitbit Air is a compact tracker shaped like a plastic “pebble” that snaps into an interchangeable strap and is easily removable. The device measures 35.6 x 17.8 x 7.6 mm, weighing just 12 grams including the strap. Google calls it the smallest Fitbit tracker ever: it’s 25% more compact than the Fitbit Luxe.

Fitbit Air has no screen — that’s by design

Fitbit Air has no screen — the idea is that the device simply lives on your wrist, collects data, and doesn’t distract you with notifications like a smartwatch. There’s no support for notifications, Google Wallet, or GPS — this is a deliberate decision, not cost-cutting.

Does this remind you of anything? To us — the 1st generation Mi Band without a screen. Exactly the same execution and even construction. Google is clearly taking inspiration from the best.

Fitbit Air Sensors and Health Tracking

Despite its size, the sensor array in the Fitbit Air is impressive. Inside there’s an optical heart rate monitor, a three-axis accelerometer with gyroscope, sensors for blood oxygen level monitoring (SpO2), and a skin temperature sensor. This means the band can:

Despite the lack of a screen, the band excellently tracks sleep and other activities

  • measure heart rate 24/7 and detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib)
  • track heart rate variability (HRV) — a recovery indicator, as well as weekly cardio load and training readiness assessment
  • measure blood oxygen and skin temperature
  • provide detailed sleep analysis with a score every morning
  • automatically recognize workouts or start them manually from the app

There’s a vibration motor for a smart alarm: the Smart Wake feature will wake you at the optimal moment in your sleep phase.

How Fitbit Air Differs from Xiaomi Mi Band

At first glance, Fitbit Air and Xiaomi Mi Band 10 look similar and play in the same category. But in reality, these are devices for different people.

Mi Band is a screen on your wrist: notifications, music control, timers, watch faces. Fitbit Air deliberately abandons all of that. Its job is to silently collect health data and send it to the Fitbit app, where you check analytics at your convenience.

It’s obvious the creators were inspired by Mi Band

According to Google’s vice president, Fitbit Air is designed for people who find existing gadgets too bulky, complicated, or expensive. If a screen and notifications on your wrist are important to you, Fitbit Air won’t suit you. But if the screen is exactly what annoys you and you want an unobtrusive tracker without frequent charging — this is a strong alternative.

Battery, Charging, and Water Resistance of Fitbit Air

Fitbit Air lasts up to 7 days with continuous monitoring — a solid result for a band with sensors running 24/7. For comparison, Whoop promises up to 14 days but costs significantly more. Mi Band 10 can last 2 weeks or more with the appropriate settings enabled.

The package contents are traditionally very modest

Fast charging is one of the nice details: 5 minutes on the magnetic charger provides a full day of use, and a complete charge from zero takes 90 minutes. The charging cable finally got USB-C. The band can be submerged to a depth of 50 meters: you can swim in a pool, take a shower, and not take it off in the rain.

What Straps Does Fitbit Air Have

Google offers three types of straps: the fabric Performance Loop, the silicone Active Band, and the more refined Elevated Modern Band. Additional straps cost from $34.99 (approximately 4,000 ₽ in Russia), while the Elevated Modern Band will cost $49.99 (approximately 6,000 ₽).

There’s a special edition strap from a basketball player