Google on Wednesday launched the screen-less Fitbit Air fitness tracker in India, but is pricing at \u20b913,999 (roughly $146), ostensibly positioning it as a premium device. Comparatively, the device costs $99 in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Unveiled in May<\/a>, the Fitbit Air features health and fitness tracking, like 24\/7 heart rate monitoring, heart rhythm monitoring with A-fib (atrial fibrillation) alerts, blood oxygen level, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep stages, and duration.<\/p>\n The device\u2019s screen-less form is a bid to tap into the growing popularity of screen-less devices as people shy away from screens, opting for distraction-free health gadgets like Whoop\u2019s fitness bands and Oura\u2019s rings \u2014 though the new Fitbit is more pocket-friendly.<\/p>\n The health tracking space now has screen-less devices from Garmin<\/a>, Fitbit founders\u2019 new company, Luffu Link<\/a>, as well as from Indian startups like Noise<\/a> and Urban<\/a>, which have been trying to undercut their Western rivals on price.<\/p>\n Research firm IDC noted in its global wearables report that despite a declining<\/a> number of wristband shipments, screen-less trackers are carving out a niche. India currently accounts for only 5% of the screenless wearable market, per Counterpoint Research<\/a>, and a wearable priced like a premium device might not make a dent in overall numbers, despite having a big name like Fitbit or Google behind it.<\/p>\n The Fitbit Air is available for purchase on the Google Store and retail partners, including Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital and Vijay Sales, from October 2. Google is also offering a free, three-month Google Health premium membership with the new band.<\/p>\n