GoKawiilWhen Pokemon Sleep was first announced in 2019, I wondered if the company behind one of the most iconic animations was dreaming too big. Getting people out of their houses and onto streets and parks with Pokemon Go was already a huge success. But did people care as much about their sleep hours as they did about their steps?
After several delays, Pokemon Sleep finally launched in 2023 to high interest, becoming the most downloaded sleep game app in the world, according to the Japanese news outlet Famitsu.
On Thursday, the Pokemon Company is partnering with Google and Fitbit to help people take their sleep even more seriously – while still having fun – with the new $129 special-edition Fitbit Air.
It’s a pairing that makes a lot of sense. The minimal design of the Fitbit Air is tailored for extended wear, including for sleep tracking, and Pokemon Sleep gamifies the resting experience so you hopefully rest for longer each night.
Here’s everything that’s included in the box. Kerry Wan/CNET
The stylistic touches will resonate with fans
I’ve been wearing the new special-edition Fitbit Air for half a day now, and it comes with a deep blue woven wristband and a cutesy Pikachu etching above the adhesive. On the wrist, it feels a lot like the original tracker, which launched earlier this year.
That’s a good thing, as CNET lead reviewer Vanessa Hand Orellana found the Fitbit Air slim, lightweight, and comfortable to wear during testing. Like the standard model, you can also pop out the pebble, which encapsulates the optical heart rate monitor, gyroscope, and other health-tracking sensors, and swap out the band.
The Fitbit Air with the Sleepy Blue wristband. Kerry Wan/CNET
Unfortunately for Pokemon fans who already have a Fitbit Air, Google tells me that the new band won’t be sold separately
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