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I wore Google's Fitbit Air to track my health for a week, and it's a serious Whoop rival for less money

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Why This Matters

Google's Fitbit Air offers an affordable, screenless health tracker that rivals premium devices like Whoop, with comprehensive health monitoring and an AI-powered health coach. Its affordability and comfort make it an attractive option for consumers seeking effective fitness tracking without a hefty price tag. This development signals a shift towards more accessible, feature-rich health wearables in the tech industry.

Key Takeaways

Google Fitbit Air 4.5 / 5 Very good pros and cons Pros Affordable

Comprehensive health tracking

Google's AI Health Coach improves the experience Cons The AI isn't perfect, and can hallucinate $99.99 at Amazon

Is 2026 the year we go screenless? It's looking to be that way with Google's release of the Fitbit Air, its Whoop competitor, available now. Whoop may have kick-started the screenless wristband craze, but Google is proving that an affordably priced health tracker can be just as commercially successful, especially if it's comfortable, useful, and long-lasting -- with its $100 price tag.

Also: Fitbit Air vs. Whoop: I compared Google's screenless fitness tracker to the industry best

The Fitbit Air's announcement came with a few software updates, including an app name change from Fitbit to Google Health and the global launch of Google's Health Coach, the AI companion that powers the premium app experience.

I've been testing the device over the past week as I've gone running, lifted weights, done yoga, and logged hours on the elliptical. I've asked the AI coach for help in planning my workout routine, understanding my recovery, and nutrition advice. After stress-testing the Fitbit Air, I'm well-positioned to tell you whether it's a worthy buy. Spoiler alert: it absolutely is.

Your experience with the Fitbit Air will differ depending on whether you're subscribed to Google Health Premium. The bulk of the Fitbit Air's functions are the same across tiers, but some in-app features, like logging a meal by messaging the AI coach, are slightly more seamless in the membership tier.

Out of the box, the $100 Fitbit Air comes in four colorways: lavender, berry, obsidian, and fog (a blue-gray). It's a thin band that takes up less space around my wrist than my Whoop or Apple Watch. It's also lighter.

Also: I compared the best smartwatches by Google and Samsung - here's how Pixel wins out

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