Google unveiled the Fitbit Air — a fitness band without a display that bets on long battery life and passive health monitoring. The price is $99, sales start May 26, and conceptually it’s a direct response to Whoop, not Apple Watch. If you’ve been looking at smartwatches, this band might be worth a look first — it offers a completely different approach to health tracking, and for many people, this format may prove more convenient.
It looks like Google brought back the first-generation Mi Band
Fitbit Air Without a Screen: How Google’s New Band Works
Fitbit Air is a band without a screen: you won’t see the time, notifications, or real-time workout data on it. All statistics go to the Google Health app on your smartphone. The device’s logic is simple: it collects body data around the clock, and you review the insights later.
It’s simply a nylon band with a sensor capsule inserted. No screen at all
The main difference from Apple Watch is the usage format. Apple Watch is primarily a screen on your wrist: notifications, calls, Apple Pay, workouts with on-screen guidance. Fitbit Air can’t do any of that. However, you can wear it continuously without worrying about charging for several days.
Fitbit Air Sensors: Heart Rate, SpO2, Sleep, and Skin Temperature
The sensor array is quite robust for a $99 device. Fitbit Air tracks:
Fitbit Air is fully ready for sports and beyond
- heart rate and resting heart rate
- skin temperature
- blood oxygen level (SpO2)
- heart rate variability
- sleep
- signs of atrial fibrillation — heart rhythm irregularities
During workouts, the band automatically recognizes activity types and saves statistics. If you want to log a specific session, you can start a workout manually through the Google Health app.
In terms of metrics, this is close to what Apple Watch offers — Apple’s watch also has heart rate, SpO2, ECG, and sleep analysis. The fundamental difference isn’t in the sensors but in the fact that Fitbit Air doesn’t display anything on its own — it simply collects data.
How Long Does Fitbit Air Last Without Charging and Why It Matters
Google claims up to a week of battery life with continuous 24/7 health monitoring. This is the key advantage over smartwatches: Apple Watch typically requires charging every day or every other day, especially with sleep tracking enabled.
The manufacturer expects you to wear the band non-stop, even during everyday activities
The “put it on and forget it” format makes Fitbit Air closer to Whoop bands, worn by professional athletes — Cristiano Ronaldo and LeBron James among them. The logic is the same: the band doesn’t distract you with a screen at night and doesn’t require a charging ritual.
You’ll have to charge it with this quirky charger. God forbid you lose it
The band is designed for round-the-clock wear, including during sleep. However, there’s a catch: without a screen, all interaction goes through your phone. Checking your heart rate on a run, glancing at the time, or quickly switching workouts won’t work — you need to pull out your smartphone.
Fitbit Air Price, Release Date, and Google Health Premium Subscription
Fitbit Air is already available for pre-order at a price of $99. Sales are set to begin on May 26.
Along with the device, buyers receive three months of Google Health Premium subscription. It includes:
- AI coach powered by Gemini
- advanced sleep analytics
- workout library
- mindfulness features
What the subscription will cost after the three free months and which features will move behind a paywall — Google hasn’t fully disclosed yet. This is standard practice for fitness services: some analytics tend to migrate to the paid tier over time, and it’s worth keeping that in mind.
Fitness Band or Apple Watch: Which Is Better for Health
If you’re into active sports and don’t want to be distracted by a screen, Fitbit Air is ideal
A direct comparison isn’t entirely fair here — these are devices of different classes. But if you’re choosing what to put on your wrist for health purposes, here’s the guide:
- Apple Watch is a good fit if you need notifications, calls, Apple Pay, workouts with on-screen guidance, ECG, and deep integration with iPhone.
- Fitbit Air is a good fit if you need passive health and sleep monitoring, week-long battery life, and minimal distractions.
There’s another point: Fitbit Air is tied to the Google Health ecosystem, while Apple Watch is tied to Apple Health and Fitness+. For iPhone owners, this matters: data from Fitbit will live separately from the familiar Health summary on your iPhone. Apple, for its part, is gradually improving sleep analysis — in watchOS 26, the watch will learn to evaluate sleep like other bands and watches, and some of Fitbit’s advantages narrow here.
