Google Ditches the Screen With the New Fitbit Air (2026)

The wait is over. There's finally a new Fitbit.

Five years after acquiring Fitbit, and three years since it released the Charge 6, Google is finally expanding into a new phase of fitness tracking. With its screen-free design, the new Fitbit Air could be the first device to threaten Whoop's grip on this category, thanks in large part to Google's intuitive, user-friendly software.

The First Screenless Fitbit

The Fitbit Air is Google's most minimalist wearable yet. There's no AMOLED display, no haptic side button, and none of the visual feedback loops that have defined Fitbit devices (and most fitness trackers) for years. Instead, it's a slim oval device that fits into a wide array of bands. It looks and functions more like a Whoop band than a traditional tracker with a screen.

Courtesy of Google

Google claims the Air is 20 percent lighter than the discontinued Fitbit Luxe; it's meant to disappear on the wrist rather than compete for attention. Whether that feels liberating or limiting likely depends on how much you rely on real-time metrics during workouts and whether you want a purely functional fitness tracker that fades into the background. There are, unsurprisingly, no Google Wallet integrations or YouTube Music controls here.

Google is also expanding its accessory lineup with several new band options and colorways. The default Performance Loop, made from recycled materials, is micro-adjustable for a precise fit. It's available in four colors: Obsidian, Fog, Lavender, and Berry. The Active Band is a sweat- and waterproof silicone strap built for workouts, and it comes in the same four colors. The Elevated Modern Band offers a more fashion-forward alternative for everyday wear and comes in three colors: Porcelain, Moonstone, and Obsidian.

For the launch, Google has also teamed up with NBA champion Stephen Curry on a special-edition band. Curry has been acting as a performance adviser for Health Coach and has been notably seen wearing a test version during Warriors games.

Stephen Curry Fitbit Air

Courtesy of Google

Full Fitbit Tracking

At $100, it costs the same as the Inspire 3, Google Fitbit's most affordable model, putting it in direct competition with its predecessor. But functionally, it's closer to Google's more advanced wearables, packing in sensors like a temperature sensor and gyroscope.

Elevated Modern Band Porcelain (left), Berry Performance Loop Band (middle), Lavender Active Band (right)

Courtesy of Google

The Air is not meant to stand on its own so much as serve as a data collector within Google's expanding health software ecosystem. (The company also rebranded the Fitbit app to “Google Health.”) Built on Gemini, Health Coach is the brains of the system, promising personalized guidance based on your habits, goals, and biometric data. Rather than simply displaying stats, Google Health Coach translates them into actionable recommendations. It can generate workout plans, suggest recovery windows based on strain and readiness, and analyze sleep disruptions. It's meant to provide ongoing coaching that evolves alongside your routine.

Despite its stripped-back exterior, the Air retains the same breadth of tracking capabilities as the Charge 6. That includes baseline metrics like steps, distance, and calories burned, alongside more advanced features such as weekly Cardio Load and Daily Readiness scoring. It also continues to offer 24/7 heart rate tracking, including irregular heart rhythm notifications that can flag potential signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), alerts for high or low heart rate readings, and heart rate variability (HRV) insights.

Sleep tracking gets a modest upgrade. The Air still delivers Fitbit's personalized Sleep Score, but Google says the system—now powered by Google's Gemini—is 15 percent more accurate than the previous model at capturing interruptions, naps, and transitions between sleep stages. It also includes Smart Wake alarms, which aim to wake users at the optimal point in their sleep cycle for an easier start to the day.

It's worth noting here that while Health Coach is at the heart of Google's health software ecosystem, it's also a subscriber-only feature. Anyone can use the Google Health app for free, and if you have a Fitbit device or Pixel Watch, you can continue to see your activity, sleep, and health-tracking data. (Google also intends to offer support to a wider array of devices later in the year.) If you want access to Health Coach or features like adaptive fitness plans, it will cost $10 per month ($100 per year) for Google Health Premium. You get three free months with the purchase of the Air, and it's also included for anyone subscribed to Google One's AI Pro and AI Ultra subscription plans.

If you're already in the Google wearables ecosystem, the Air is designed to slot into your routine without friction. Both the Air and the Pixel Watch pair with the Google Health app, meaning you can wear them simultaneously or switch between them. Health data syncs automatically, and the app lets you filter metrics by device. It's a small but telling detail that reflects Google's broader attempt to unify its lineup and build interchangeable inputs for a singular health platform.

The new Google Health app rolls out May 19 for Android and iOS. The Fitbit Air is available for preorder today and launches on May 26.

Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore. Subscribe Today.