I have a love-hate relationship with smartwatches. I love the fitness and health data they provide, but hate the extra screen and bulk they add to my wrist. If you’re questioning whether you truly need a smartwatch to monitor your everyday health and track your workouts, you’re not alone. That’s why minimalist fitness bands are surging in popularity, from brands like Whoop, Google, and Garmin.
I’ve used the Google Fitbit Air, a screenless fitness band designed for passive health tracking, for six months, and it’s not a smartwatch replacement — but Google’s new Fitbit Edge might be. It’s a spiritual successor to the Fitbit Charge 6 with a bigger screen, infused with a Pixel-esque version of Fitbit OS. I’ve unboxed the Fitbit Edge and put it on my wrist, and while I can’t tell you how it feels or how it tracks just yet, these are my first impressions.
Slim, without the compromises
Not much larger than a Fitbit Air, with way more features
Just by looking at the unboxing photos, you’ll immediately see the difference between the Fitbit Air and the Fitbit Edge: the screen. The Fitbit Edge has a 1.3-inch AMOLED display, up from the 1.04-inch panel we saw on the Fitbit Charge 6. The Fitbit Air, of course, doesn’t have a screen at all.
The display takes some of the biggest user criticisms about the Fitbit Air and nips them in the bud. For instance, I wasn’t happy with my Fitbit Air’s automatic activity detection. I’d go on runs without my phone, expecting my high heart rate and vitals to let my Fitbit Air know I’m in the middle of an intense workout. When I synced with the Google Health app later, nothing would show up.
Google is separately pushing an update that improves accuracy, but the ability to start workouts from the Fitbit Edge’s screen means you won’t have to rely on auto-detection. Aside from starting workouts, there’s a bit you can do on the Fitbit Edge display. There are clock faces to pick, tiles to swipe through, and more Fitbit OS features, which Google showed off on the Fitbit Edge product page.
From what we’ve seen so far, the Fitbit Edge looks like a worthy Charge 6 successor and an enticing Fitbit Air alternative. Well, in every way but one. The Fitbit Edge doesn’t have an NFC chip, so you can’t use Google Wallet on the fitness band for mobile payments. That’s a downgrade compared to the Charge 6, and it could be a non-starter for those who need tap-to-pay on their wrist.
The screen is only half the story
The health sensors underneath look impressive for the price
Everyone’s talking about the screen, but after combing through the specs sheet, I don’t think it’s the best upgrade. That would be the onboard GPS tracking, which the Fitbit Air skipped to keep the form factor small and the price down. The Google Pixel Watch 5, and other full-fledged smartwatches, have dual-band GPS tracking. Dual band beats single band, but casual users all the way up to fitness buffs will likely find single-band GPS passable.
GPS means I can leave my phone at home while working out, and it’s far from the only sensor onboard. The Fitbit Edge also has an altimeter, accelerometer, and gyroscope. It sports electrical sensors, temperature sensors, red and infrared sensors, and an optical heart rate sensor. These sensors cover all the health and fitness basics, enabling features like ECG and blood-oxygen sensing.
And no, it doesn’t require a subscription. Yes, you can buy the Google Health Premium subscription, but it’s completely optional. Google Health Premium adds AI-powered Health Coach analysis to your data, but basic health, activity, and sleep tracking is included for free. If you aren’t keen to have an AI model comment on your health, you might prefer to use the Fitbit Edge subscription-free.
I bought the Fitbit Air as a smartwatch alternative, but it’s become more of a dedicated sleep tracker than anything else. The workout and automatic activity detection just didn’t match my expectations. Here comes the Fitbit Edge, complete with all the features I wished the Fitbit Air had, and a tiny screen that doesn’t look too distracting. Could this be the smartwatch alternative I was looking for?
Air, Edge, or Watch? You don’t have to choose
Pair all three trackers with the same phone and Google Health account
Google is slowly building out one of the best wearable device ecosystems. The Fitbit Edge can be paired with the same phone and Google account as a Fitbit Air and a Pixel Watch 5. I’m not sure if anyone will (or should) buy all three, but this multi-device compatibility is a testament to the versatility of Google’s wearable lineup. For perspective, only one Fitbit could be connected to a device at once — if you wanted to use a Fitbit Air and Charge 6 together, you were out of luck.
The Fitbit Edge changes that, and Google’s lineup makes for some exciting combinations. Tired of smartwatches? Grab a Fitbit Air and Fitbit Edge, and get a minimalist combo for only $280 total. Still need a smartwatch? Pair the Pixel Watch 5 with either a Fitbit Air or Fitbit Edge and get the best of both worlds.
Apple and Samsung can’t match that. You’re not buying an Apple Watch Series 12 and an Ultra 4 to use in tandem, nor are you buying a Galaxy Watch 9 and a Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for the same setup. Garmin’s lineup is more versatile, but less approachable. That level of flexibility is uniquely offered by Google wearables, and it has me intrigued.
As I mentioned, I’ve only been able to unbox and try on the Fitbit Edge so far. I’ll report back later with the full results of a week-plus of testing. For now, the Edge certainly looks compelling on paper at its $180 price point.
- Heart Rate Monitor
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Yes, optical PPG
- Battery Life
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Up to 7 days (AOD off)
- Integrations
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Google Health
- Display
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1.3-inch AMOLED
The Google Fitbit Edge is a slim fitness tracker with Google Health integration. It packs a 1.3-inch screen, week-long battery life, and an assortment of health sensors.
