Google launches Fitbit Air with Gemini

Google launched the Fitbit Air on May 7 as a screenless wearable built around Gemini-powered health coaching rather than on-device notifications. The $99.99 tracker pairs with the new Google Health app, which is replacing the Fitbit app and will later absorb Google Fit users, according to company posts and product pages. (blog.google) Google said the device is its smallest and most affordable tracker, with up to a week of battery life and a three-month Google Health Premium trial included. (blog.google) Bloomberg reported the product is aimed at rivals such as Whoop, which also sells display-free fitness hardware. ### What exactly is Fitbit Air? (blog.google) Fitbit Air is a screenless wrist-worn tracker that Google says is designed for 24/7 health monitoring without a display. Google’s product page says it tracks heart rate, steps, calories, sleep stages, blood-oxygen trends, heart-rate variability, breathing rate and skin temperature variation. It also monitors heart rhythm for signs of atrial fibrillation while a user is still or sleeping, according to the store listing. Andy Abramson, head of product for Google Health, said in Google’s launch post that the device was built to be “simple, affordable and comfortable enough to wear 24/7.” The company described the hardware as a small “pebble” that sits silently on the wrist and shifts most interaction to the phone app. (blog.google) ### Why did Google remove the screen? Google said the absence of a screen is part of the product design, not a missing feature. The company said users can “stay notification-free” on the wrist and review metrics, coaching and workout recaps in the Google Health app instead. (blog.google) The Google Store listing says Fitbit Air is “designed to sit silently on your wrist,” while Google’s launch post says the device was made for people who find wearables too bulky or too complicated. Bloomberg said the approach places Fitbit Air directly against Whoop and other health trackers that also skip displays. (blog.google) ### Where does Gemini fit into the product? Google tied Fitbit Air to a broader health software push announced the same day. The company said the Fitbit app is becoming the Google Health app and that Google Health Coach — built with Gemini — will use data from Fitbit Air and other sources to answer health questions, generate adaptive fitness plans and provide science-backed guidance. (blog.google) Starting May 19, Google said Google Health Coach will become publicly available as part of Google Health Premium. The subscription starts at $9.99 a month or $99 a year, and Google said it is also bundled with Google AI Pro and Ultra tiers. (blog.google) ### How much does it cost, and what is bundled? Google priced Fitbit Air at $99.99 in the United States, according to the Google Store. A Stephen Curry special edition is listed at $129, and every Fitbit Air purchase includes three months of Google Health Premium, Google said. (blog.google) Bloomberg reported that pricing is one of the clearest differences from Whoop’s model. Google is charging upfront for the hardware and offering an optional subscription, while Bloomberg said Whoop’s annual subscription starts at $200 and does not require a separate hardware purchase. (blog.google) ### What happens next? May 26 is the first availability date shown on Google’s U.S. store page for Fitbit Air. Google said preorders are open now, and the company’s broader health rollout also includes the May 19 public availability of Google Health Coach and a later migration of Google Fit users into the Google Health app. (blog.google) (bloomberg.com)