Tom's Guide tests Fitbit Air vs Whoop

Tom’s Guide published a new side-by-side test on June 2 comparing the screenless Fitbit Air with Whoop, extending a run of recent coverage around lower-profile fitness bands that skip the display and push users into companion apps. The comparison was framed around multiday wear, daily usability and battery life, according to the Tom’s Guide item referenced in the publication’s fitness-tech briefing. (tomsguide.com) Tom’s Guide had already reviewed the Fitbit Air on May 27 and described it as a “discreet and distraction-free” tracker that is “easy to use, accurate, and long-lasting,” with a $99 price and no subscription. (tomsguide.com) The June 2 comparison lands as screenless wearables are drawing broader coverage beyond Whoop’s subscription model. Tom’s Guide’s own fitness pages in recent days have highlighted the Fitbit Air as a Whoop alternative and tracked fresh interest in similar products, including a reported Garmin rival. ### What was Tom’s Guide actually testing? Tom’s Guide said the June 2 piece compared Fitbit Air and Whoop after side-by-side use over multiple days, with the decision hinging on day-to-day usability and battery life. (tomsguide.com) The publication’s earlier May 27 Fitbit Air review by Dan Bracaglia used similar criteria, describing the device as user-friendly and long-lasting. Dan Bracaglia, the Tom’s Guide writer behind the May 27 Fitbit Air review, had already positioned the Fitbit Air as “the best Whoop alternative for the rest of us.” That earlier review did not stand alone as a launch note; Tom’s Guide also ran follow-up pieces on sleep tracking, walking accuracy and feature trade-offs. (tomsguide.com) ### Which health metrics overlap between the two devices? WHOOP says its Health Monitor tracks heart rate, respiratory rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen and skin temperature, and the company separately says its app provides a VO2 max estimate. (tomsguide.com) WHOOP described VO2 max in an April 22 post as one of the strongest independent predictors of endurance performance and long-term health. The source briefing for the June 2 Tom’s Guide comparison said both Fitbit Air and Whoop track pulse, blood oxygen and VO2 max. (tomsguide.com) Fitbit’s main product pages available in search results confirm Fitbit’s broader health-tracking positioning, though the surfaced official pages did not provide a product-specific Fitbit Air spec sheet in the search snippets reviewed here. ### Why is Fitbit Air being treated as a Whoop rival? Tom’s Guide on May 27 described the Fitbit Air as a no-screen tracker that costs $99 and does not require a subscription. (whoop.com) That price point is central to its positioning in Tom’s Guide coverage, which repeatedly cast the device as a Whoop alternative aimed at buyers who want passive tracking without a smartwatch-style display. Tom’s Guide’s coverage archive also shows the Fitbit Air being discussed against other wearables on cost and simplicity rather than on-screen features. (fitbit.com) A May 15 Tom’s Guide item about a possible Garmin entrant said the Fitbit Air would face new competition in the screenless category, underscoring that the niche is no longer defined by Whoop alone. ### What did Tom’s Guide appear to favor? Tom’s Guide’s June 2 comparison, according to the briefing, said both devices were viable screenless trackers but recommended one over the other on usability and battery life. (tomsguide.com) The publication’s earlier Fitbit Air review gives a strong indication of where Bracaglia had already landed, calling the Fitbit Air the best Whoop alternative and emphasizing ease of use, accuracy and longevity. The June 2 article itself was referenced in the briefing with the headline “I tested Fitbit Air vs Whoop side by side — here’s the screenless fitness tracker I’d buy,” indicating the piece ended with a direct purchase recommendation rather than a tie. (tomsguide.com) ### Where can readers find the next details? Tom’s Guide’s wellness coverage pages on June 2 continued to surface Fitbit Air reporting, including Bracaglia’s May 27 review and newer follow-up items about sleep and daily use. The Whoop side of the comparison can also be checked against WHOOP’s own feature pages for Health Monitor and VO2 max, which outline the metrics the company says it tracks. (tomsguide.com) Tom’s Guide’s fitness-tracker and smartwatch pages remain the clearest place to watch for any update, correction or expanded testing note tied to the June 2 comparison and any further response from Fitbit, Google or Whoop. (tomsguide.com 1) (tomsguide.com 2)