Jon Gilbert is a Features Writer for Android Police. I've covered Android since 2021, focusing on writing features and guides about Android apps and features that directly affect users. I've attended CES to uncover powerful hardware that isn't dominated by Google like the Mudita Kompakt. I trawl through Android news daily, hunting for stories that have real-world consequences. I hold a BA in History & Classics.
Reluctantly, I have started exercising regularly. Partly out of boredom, but mostly because spending half of my day sitting at a desk wasn't doing my body any favors. But in this modern age, everything must be tracked, measured, and optimized.
Coincidentally, Google is gearing up to launch the Fitbit Edge. Leaked renders suggest a device halfway between the Google Pixel Watch and Fitbit Air. But I won't be buying it. Instead, I picked up the $99 Fitbit Air.
The Fitbit Air is perfectly designed
Forgettable tracking
My problem with modern smartwatches is that they are overdesigned and unnecessarily expensive. The Pixel Watch 5 is an eye-watering $400; it's only $200 cheaper than the Pixel 10a.
But it's the fitness features that bug me. The Pixel Watch (or most smartwatches, for that matter) is unsuitable for serious exercise. I kept knocking it during workouts, and after one too many close calls, I took it off for workouts.
Sure, they have the same water and dust resistance, but it's obvious which one is better for swimming.
I don't like wearing a smartwatch all the time, but if I want accurate health tracking, I have to wear one.
I solved my smartwatch dilemma by preordering a Pebble Round 2, but I still needed a wearable to track my fitness.
Enter Fitbit Air. It's designed to be as forgettable as possible; you can wear it 24 hours a day without it getting in the way or needing a recharge. It doesn't have speakers and vibrates only for an optional wake-up feature.
Oh, and it offers seven days of battery life.
It's a true "set it and forget it" tool, which is why I won't be buying the Fitbit Edge.
The Fitbit Edge is a budget fitness smartwatch
But I won't buy it
Google hasn't officially confirmed the Fitbit Edge's existence, but leaked renders and tech specs give us a good idea of what to expect.
It'll offer a pill-shaped screen, a select few apps, and the same battery life and fitness features as the Fitbit Air.
The rumored price is estimated to land between $149 and $200; I see exactly who this device is aimed at.
Smartwatches are useful, but expensive. Wearables like the Fitbit Air are cheap, but are only useful for tracking health metrics. The Fitbit Edge seems like the perfect compromise.
So why won't I buy one? It seems like the perfect solution for me. The problem is style.
I like wearing things that look good
The Fitbit Edge is too ugly to wear every day
If I'm wearing something 24 hours a day, I need to like how it looks. It's as simple as that.
I bought the black Fitbit Air because it doesn't look out of place with the other bracelets I wear regularly.
A closer look reveals the watch strap and hardware, but it's subtle enough to blend with all my outfits.
The Round 2, on the other hand, is a stylish wearable that looks more like a standard watch than a smartwatch. It's an eye-catching piece of technology that embraces style over minimalism.
I'm going to wear the Round 2 because it looks cool. I'm not going to wear the Fitbit Edge because it looks ugly.
Maybe I'm alone here, but the Fitbit Edge's glass-and-metal construction and digital display look like something a hospital would make me wear when I'm booked for surgery.
It's clinical to the extreme, and certainly not something I would show off to my friends.
If you don't care about style and exercise regularly, the Fitbit Edge is for you. But I like dressing well and wearing accessories that look nice, so I'll pass.
I'd rather own two wearables
An all-in-one device isn't always the best solution
Instead of buying one expensive smartwatch that does it all and needs daily charging, I wear two.
The Fitbit Edge will stay on my wrist permanently, except when I take it off to charge it weekly.
I'll keep the Pebble Round 2 off my wrist when showering, exercising, or sleeping. I probably won't wear it at all around the house, since I have a wonderful device called a clock I can put on my wall.
The Fitbit Edge lives silently in the background. I'm intrigued to see how many people comment on it, but my guess is close to zero.
The Round 2, on the other hand, is what I'll be showing off to anyone and everyone. Would I do that with the Fitbit Edge? Absolutely not.
The Fitbit Edge has a place, but I'm skipping it
On paper, the Fitbit Edge looks like an excellent wearable that makes the right compromises. But for something meant to be worn 24/7, it scores a zero on style points.
I hope nobody ever notices my Fitbit Air, and that's exactly how it should be.