I review fitness tech for a living, so not a day goes by that I don’t walk around with multiple devices strapped to my pulse points. My friends have stopped asking about my dual-watch lifestyle — probably glad I’m not wearing a chest strap to brunch (yet) — but for the past five days, there’s been a new accessory in the mix, the new Fitbit Air, and I’m impressed.
The Fitbit Air is a new, $99 screenless fitness tracker, taking on the likes of Whoop with its simplistic design. It’s available to buy on May 26, and we’ll be wearing it 24/7 to release our full review on the same date, but for now, here’s a sneak peek into why this device might be one of my favorites so far this year.
In a world of non-stop notifications, the Fitbit Air disappears
I’m chronically online, and as a mom to a toddler, I’m really trying to be more disciplined. Yet, with a smartwatch buzzing on my wrist, sending nonstop notifications, “unplugging” feels impossible. The Fitbit Air is a breath of fresh air — like the Whoop or the Oura Ring on my index finger, it silently tracks my sleep, stress, steps, and menstrual cycle, without keeping me updated on the ins and outs of the nursery mom’s WhatsApp group.
The Fitbit Air disappears, which is what you want from a screenless tracker.
The unit I got in for review came with the Performance Loop in Lavender, but you can also choose a hardy plastic Active Band. The sensor easily pops in and out of the band in seconds. The Performance Loop is extremely comfortable — it’s long enough to wear around the wrist, or the top of my arm if I’m lifting weights in the gym, and it’s extremely comfortable and lightweight.
A pet peeve of mine, as a female, is that sports watches in particular often feel like they’ve been designed for the male wrist. If you want the top tech and safety features, you’ll often have to choose a bulky device that just isn’t comfortable. The Fitbit Air, on the other hand, disappears, which is what you want from a screenless tracker.
I’ve also been impressed with the actionable insights from the new Gemini-powered Google Health Coach. It can be difficult to know what to do with the data your device has collected, but in my brief testing, I’ve found the Health Coach’s approach refreshing.
After my run this morning, for example, the Health Coach told me my heart rate dropped quickly during my cool-down, which is a sign my body is coping with the intensity of my workouts. It’s not something I’d often look for when looking at my running data, and I found the insight genuinely interesting. Of course, the slight downside is that users will have to pay $10 a month to use the health coach, but this is still a lot cheaper than Whoop and Oura’s subscriptions.
My full Fitbit Air review, including my verdict on the rebranded Google Health app and Gemini-powered Google Health Coach, will be coming next week, but from a comfort and mental health perspective, I’m thoroughly enjoying the screenless experience. Will this little tracker win the screenless battle with Whoop? Watch this space.
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