Google Fitbit Air: a screenless health tracker for $99
Google has officially launched the Fitbit Air, a screenless fitness tracker that goes on sale May 26, 2026 for $99.99 (£84.99 in the UK). The device weighs just 12 grams with its band — half the heft of most fitness trackers — and ships with a three-month Google Health Premium trial included. For anyone who's looked at Whoop and balked at the subscription-only model, this is worth paying attention to.
No screen, no buttons
The Fitbit Air is a small pebble-shaped core — 5.2g on its own — that sits on a wrist band and does all its communicating through the Google Health app. There's no display, no buttons, and no notification buzz. Google's pitch is simple: wear it, forget it, check the app when you care.
The Fitbit Air pebble core weighs just 5.2g — 12g with the band attached.
It tracks heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, and skin temperature continuously. Battery life is seven days, and a full charge takes 90 minutes — though five minutes on the charger buys you a full day if you're in a rush. Water resistance is rated to 50 meters. The tracker automatically detects over 140 exercise types, from cycling and rowing to gym machines, without any manual logging.
The tracker automatically detects over 140 exercise types with no manual input required.
The AI angle
Built into the device is Google Health Coach, a Gemini-powered assistant that analyzes your health data and offers personalized sleep, workout, and recovery recommendations. You can query it like a chatbot — ask about your training load, sleep trends, or how to adjust your routine. Google says health data won't be used for ad targeting, though that commitment hasn't been independently verified.
Google Health Coach, powered by Gemini AI, offers personalized recovery and workout recommendations.
The full coaching experience sits behind a paywall: Google Health Premium costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year after the trial ends. Core tracking — heart rate, sleep, steps — stays free.
Three bands, one clear rival
At launch, three band styles are available: the Performance Loop (sport-focused, micro-adjustable), the Active Silicone Band (sweat- and water-resistant), and the Elevated Modern Band (a dressier option). Additional bands in four neutral colors cost $34.99; a premium Elevated band runs $49.99. A Stephen Curry special edition — rye-brown Performance Loop with orange detailing — goes for $129.99.
The obvious comparison is Whoop. Fitbit Air costs $200 in year one if you add Premium ($99 hardware plus $100 in subscriptions) versus Whoop's minimum $349 per year on its Life plan. Core tracking on Fitbit Air is free; Whoop requires a subscription for any data access at all. Whoop's battery lasts 14 days versus Fitbit Air's 7 — a real trade-off for heavy travelers — but the cost gap is substantial, per Trusted Reviews.
Pre-orders are open now via the Google Store and Amazon, with general sale beginning May 26. The device ships to over 20 countries, confirms 9to5Google.
