GoKawiilNina Raemont/ZDNET
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Fitness bands are making a resurgence, and Google wants in on the party. Recently, I got a chance to review the latest Fitbit Air.
The $100 fitness band takes aim at popular offerings like the Whoop as an inexpensive alternative to premium health trackers (annual subscriptions start at $200, rising to $360). While Whoop caters to a serious athletic audience, the Fitbit Air goes more mainstream, designed for regular users at a more approachable price point (and no subscription required).
Also: I wore Google's Fitbit Air to track my health for a week, and it's a serious Whoop rival for less money
The devices are similar. They ditch the screen for a band form factor and utilize apps as the center of the health-tracking experience. They both track activity, sleep, recovery, and stress, and, of course, they have complex AI assistants (though Google's AI Health Coach is available only with its premium membership tier).
So which should you buy? That depends on how much you're willing to spend and what you want. While I haven't tried the Fitbit Air out yet, I've compared the specs of both devices and considered their product offerings to break down the pros and cons.
At a glance
Whoop 5.0/MG Fitbit Air Weight 27 grams 12 grams Battery life 14 days 7 days Dimensions 34.7 mm x 24 mm x 10.6 mm 34.9 mm x 17 mm x 8.3 mm Water resistance IP68 5 ATM Sensors PPG optical sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, skin temperature sensor, and ECG contact pads (specific to Whoop MG only) Optical heart rate monitor, 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope, red and infrared sensors for Sp02, temperature sensor, vibration motor Subscription required? Yes No, but Google Health Premium subscription costs $100 annually or $10 per month. Your first three months of Google Health Premium are free with a purchase of Fitbit Air. Colors Black standard band Fog, Obsidian, Lavender, and Berry
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