Fitbit Air arrived early — but Android users can't use it yet

Google's new Fitbit Air fitness tracker reached some pre-order customers ahead of its May 26 official launch — but many Android users found the $99.99 device completely unusable on arrival. The culprit: the mandatory Google Health app update to version 5.0 hadn't yet rolled out to their phones. For anyone who paid £84.99 in the UK expecting a seamless unboxing, that's a frustrating way to start.

The pairing problem

Fitbit Air is a screenless, buttonless tracker that requires the new Google Health app (v5.0) to pair and function. Google is migrating all existing Fitbit users to this app between May 19 and May 26, but the rollout is staggered — and early deliveries outpaced it. Android users who tried to set up their new band were met with an 'app update required' error and no way forward, as Droid Life reported.

iOS users had no such problem. Apple's version of Google Health 5.0 went live several days earlier, so iPhone owners received and set up their trackers without issue. A Google product team member confirmed on Reddit that the Android rollout is being accelerated, but gave no specific fix date.

The device itself

Fitbit Air is a stripped-back wearable aimed at people exhausted by smartwatch notifications and always-on displays. The $99.99 price — £84.99 in the UK — is a significant undercut against rivals: the Oura Ring starts around £349, and a Whoop 5.0 subscription runs roughly £170 a year. Fitbit Air asks for neither a subscription nor a screen, trading both for a claimed seven-day battery life and continuous health tracking.

At launch, Google offers three band styles: a Performance Loop for sports, an Active Silicone Band with sweat resistance for workouts, and an Elevated Modern Band designed to double as everyday jewellery. Spare bands come in four neutral colours at $35 each.

UK buyers can pick one up from the Google Store, Currys, or Argos from May 26, with a £35 Google Store credit promotion running through May 31, per Laptop Outlet UK.

What to do right now

If you're an Android user with a Fitbit Air in hand, the honest answer is: wait. Google says it's pushing the v5.0 update faster, and the full rollout should complete by May 26. Check the Google Play Store manually for the Google Health update — it may arrive before the automatic rollout reaches your account. iOS users can proceed normally.