Fitbit has a new device for people who don’t want a smartwatch. It is called the Fitbit Air, and it is the smallest tracker the company has ever made. The main idea is to keep things simple. There is no screen, no beeping, and no notifications buzzing on your wrist. You just wear it and forget about it.
The Fitbit Air looks like a small smooth pebble. You wear it on your wrist with a band. If you want to see your health data, you open the Google Health app on your phone. That is where all the information goes. The device itself just collects the data quietly in the background.
For a tiny gadget, it can track a lot. It measures your heart rate all day and all night. It can spot unusual heart rhythms and send you an alert for atrial fibrillation, or Afib. It also checks your blood oxygen levels, your resting heart rate, and something called heart rate variability. On top of that, it tracks your sleep stages and how long you sleep. All of this information feeds into the Google Health Coach, which gives you personal tips based on your own numbers.
One big selling point is the battery. A full charge lasts up to seven days. And if you are in a rush, plugging it in for just five minutes gives you enough power for a full day. Because there is no screen, the battery does not drain quickly. The tracker is also very light, so you can wear it to bed without any trouble. Fitbit says you could wear a Pixel Watch during the day and then switch to the Air for sleep. You will not lose any data when you switch.
When it comes to exercise, the Fitbit Air does most of the work for you. It can detect common activities like running or walking without you having to press anything. After your workout, it sends a short recap to your phone. Over time, the detection gets better because it learns how you move. You can also start a workout manually from the app, or you can follow a guided workout from the coach. There is even a feature where you take a photo of a machine at the gym, like a treadmill, or a whiteboard with a workout written on it. The app then logs that activity for you.
Fitbit is also offering different bands so you can change the look. The standard band that comes in the box is made from recycled materials and has small adjustment holes for a better fit. You can buy a sweatproof silicone band for running or going to the gym. There is also a fancier band that makes the tracker look like a normal bracelet instead of a fitness gadget. To change bands, you just pop the tracker out and snap it into a new one.
The price is lower than most fitness trackers on the market. Fitbit Air is now available for pre-order for $99 (~Php6,000). It will be available in stores in the United States on May 26. Extra bands start at $34.99 (~Php2,100). The device works with both Android phones and iPhones.