GoKawiilGoogle Health app lets Premium users disable AI Coach feature
Google Health Premium subscribers can turn off the app's AI Coach through the Feature privacy controls menu or via Google Health settings under Coaching. Users can also opt for reduced
Fitbit
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Fitbit Air sensor can be worn under standard watch straps, users show
Fitbit's Air tracker can be combined with a traditional watch using its 18mm Performance Loop band threaded under the watch's spring bars, with the watch sitting atop the wrist and the tracker underneath. Lug widths of 18-20mm generally work, while 3D-printed adapters let owners keep their original straps and mount the removable sensor beneath them instead.
Fitbit confirms restarting the watch regularly causes no damage
Guidance on Fitbit devices clarifies that users can restart their watch as often as needed without harming the hardware. Restarting is recommended as a troubleshooting step for issues like failed app syncing, unresponsive screens, delayed touch input, or inaccurate activity tracking.
Fitbit's new Edge tracker ships without an NFC chip for tap-to-pay
Google's new Fitbit Edge fitness tracker does not include an NFC chip, meaning it cannot support Google Wallet tap-to-pay. Several older Fitbit models, including the Charge 4, 5 and 6 and various Sense and Versa smartwatches, do include NFC and can use Google Wallet, which replaced Fitbit Pay in 2024. Apple Wallet is not supported on any Fitbit device regardless of NFC.
Google explains how Fitbit calculates heart rate variability
Google detailed how Fitbit devices measure heart rate variability, using an optical sensor to estimate gaps between heartbeats and applying the RMSSD formula to produce a millisecond-based score. The metric draws on the longest sleep period of at least three hours within the prior 24 hours, and results appear in Google Health under Health > Vitals > Heart rate variability, showing daily and long-term trends plus a personal range from up to 30 days of data.
Android Authority poll: Fitbit Air edges out Pixel Watch 5 as top Fitbit Edge alternative
Android Authority ran a reader poll asking which wearable people would buy instead of the newly launched Fitbit Edge. Among over 2,000 votes, the screen-free Fitbit Air won with 26%, followed by the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 (22.5%), Fitbit Charge 6 (20.9%), Pixel Watch 5 (20.3%), and Oura Ring 5 (6.1%), with 4.2% naming other devices like the Garmin Venu 3 and Fitbit Sense 2.
Fitbit Air and Edge add insulin resistance and blood pressure trend tracking
Google has added new insulin resistance and blood pressure trend features to the Fitbit Air and Fitbit Edge, part of its 'Health Guardian' suite of health tools. The features, which analyze heart rate, activity, sleep and other metrics rather than measuring blood directly, are exclusive to subscribers of the $100-a-year Google Health Premium plan who have worn their device for at least five days.
Fitbit launches Edge, a stripped-down fitness tracker
Fitbit has released a new device called the Edge, positioned as a simpler fitness tracker rather than a full-featured smartwatch. Early reviews describe it as focused on core activity tracking rather than the broader feature set found in recent wearables.
Fitbit Air and Whoop compared on battery life, apps and subscriptions
Google's new screenless Fitbit Air is being compared against Whoop's band lineup, with Whoop's newer 5.0 and MG models rated for 14+ days of battery versus up to seven days for Fitbit Air. Both offer companion apps with AI assistants for logging meals and building workout plans, but Whoop requires a paid membership to function while Fitbit Air can be used without a subscription for basic tracking. Whoop membership pricing starts around $149 for the first year, rising to $199 annually or $25 monthly, while Fitbit Air includes a three-month Google Health Premium trial.
Android Authority lists five alternatives to the newly launched Fitbit Edge
Android Authority published a roundup recommending five wearables as alternatives to the Fitbit Edge, which launches soon after its earlier announcement this month. The list includes the Google Pixel Watch 5, Fitbit Air, Samsung Galaxy Fit 3, Oura Ring 5, and Fitbit Charge 6, with the Pixel Watch 5 highlighted for its full Android Wear app support, larger display, and Google Gemini integration versus the Edge's simpler feature set.
Google's Fitbit Edge adds a screen but little extra health tracking over Fitbit Air
A comparison of Google's two new Fitbit wearables finds that the $179.99 Fitbit Edge, which includes a 1.34-inch AMOLED touchscreen and GPS, offers largely the same core health and fitness metrics as the screenless $99.99 Fitbit Air. Neither device currently supports Sleep Breathing Quality tracking, though Google says it may add that feature to the Edge in the future.
Google Health 5.11 expands auto workout detection to over 100 activities
Google has released version 5.11 of its Google Health app for Android and iOS, broadening automatic activity detection from roughly 10 workout types to more than 100, including strength training and swimming. The feature works on Fitbit Ace, Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5, and the upcoming Fitbit Edge, logging workouts automatically once heart rate stays elevated for a set period. The app also adapts its detection over time based on how users correct or manually add workouts.