Google’s new Fitbit Air might look like an odd sell to anyone already wearing a Pixel Watch 4, but Google says that misses the point.
The screenless tracker has been designed to work alongside the smartwatch, giving users a lighter option for sleep tracking, recovery and round-the-clock health monitoring through the Fitbit app, which will soon become Google Health.
At first glance, the Fitbit Air could seem like a tough pitch for Pixel Watch 4 owners. After all, if there is already a smartwatch on the wrist handling notifications, workouts and health data, why add another wearable into the mix?
According to Google, that is exactly the wrong way to look at it.
Not one or the other, but both
Rather than positioning the Fitbit Air as a cheaper alternative to the Pixel Watch 4, Google is framing it as a companion device built to sit alongside the smartwatch.
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The idea is simple enough: use the Pixel Watch 4 during the day, then swap to the Fitbit Air at night while the watch is on charge. In that setup, the Air becomes the more comfortable, less obtrusive option for sleep tracking, while the Watch 4 keeps its place as the more fully featured daytime device.
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)
That tandem approach is central to how Google is selling the Air. The company says both devices can be paired to the Fitbit app, which is soon to be renamed Google Health, and used interchangeably as companion wearables. So instead of choosing between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker, users are being encouraged to treat the two as part of the same setup.
That makes a fair amount of sense for anyone who has ever taken a smartwatch off at bedtime because it felt too bulky, only to miss out on sleep data. Google says the Fitbit Air was purpose-built with sleep in mind, sporting a screenless design that’s meant to be easy to forget once on the wrist. It also supports silent alarms and smart wake features, making it a more natural overnight option than a full smartwatch for some users.
Google is clearly trying to reduce the friction of owning more than one health device here. If the Air and Pixel Watch 4 are both feeding into the same place, data duplication becomes a non-issue, and the decision simply comes down to convenience. You can use the Pixel Watch 4 for workouts, notifications and daytime use, while the Fitbit Air comes in handy for sleep and recovery without leaving gaps in your data.
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The Air itself is tiny, with Google calling it its smallest tracker yet and 25% smaller than the Fitbit Luxe. It still covers the expected health basics, including heart rate and SpO2 tracking, while offering up to seven days of battery life. There is fast charging too, with five minutes on the charger said to deliver a day’s worth of battery life.
For existing Pixel Watch 4 users, the Fitbit Air is not being presented as a replacement, but rather as an add-on for moments when a full smartwatch is not ideal – especially overnight.
The Fitbit Air will go on sale on 26 May, priced at £84.99 in the UK and $99 in the US. It comes with three months of subscription access included, while extra straps start at $34.99.
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Curious about how the Fitbit Air compares to its biggest screenless rival? Take a look at Fitbit Air vs Whoop to understand the core differences between the two.
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