The fitness world may be in a “to screen or not to screen” state, with fitness bands without screens gaining popularity, but Google is clearly keeping its Fitbit feet in both screen and screenless fitness trackers. Days after launching its Fitbit Air screenless tracker in India, the Search giant has launched the Fitbit Edge, a fitness tracker with a display that sits right in the middle of the Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 5, both in terms of pricing (it starts at USD 179.99, well above the USD 99.99 of the Fitbit Air but well below the USD 399.99 of the Pixel Watch 5) and display size. Only time will tell whether it will hit the golden middle ground between “lots of display” and “no display at all,” but while we wait for the Fitbit Edge to hit stores later this month (and indeed, hopefully arrive in India soon), here are twelve points worth noting about the latest Fitbit in fitness town:
A big display in an increasingly no-display zone
In a fitness band world that seems to be aiming to become more and more screen-less, the Fitbit Edge comes with a big-gish display for a fitness tracker. It has a 1.34-inch AMOLED, always-on display, which is 46 percent bigger than the one on the Charge 6, its predecessor. It is also much brighter and has Gorilla Glass 3 protection. Fitbit actually claims it is the brightest and biggest display on a Fitbit fitness tracker. Should the Fitbit Air be jealous?
Wear it without Wear OS: Fitbit OS onboard
It comes from Google and also has a display on board like the Pixel Watch 5, which has led many to assume that the Fitbit Edge must be running on Wear OS, but that is not the case. The Fitbit Edge actually runs on Fitbit OS. And like all Google fitness devices, it also uses the Google Health app to keep track of your data and give you fitness inputs. While this means you get relatively less distraction and only basic notifications, it also means you do not get access to third-party apps on the device.
Bye bye Haptic, Hello real button!
One of the biggest headaches of the Fitbit Charge 6 was its pressure-sensitive, haptic touch button, which many of us struggled to use (it almost had a vibe of its own). Thankfully, the Fitbit Edge fixes that and brings a physical button on the side for controls. We couldn’t be more glad. The haptic control on the Charge 6 was a bit of a pain and messed up what was (and still is) a superb fitness tracker.
A battery that can be removed and replaced
Most modern devices have given up on the concept of a removable battery, which was sad because once the battery of a device died, it tended to render an otherwise perfectly good device useless, unless one went in for complex engineering. That, however, has been changing thanks to regulations from the EU, and the Fitbit Edge comes with a removable battery. Which means you can simply remove the battery and replace it if its health deteriorates, increasing the life of the fitness tracker.
Very Air-y battery life
In terms of battery life, the Fitbit Edge rather surprisingly has the same battery life as the display-less Fitbit Air – about a week. However, keeping the always-on-display feature on reduces this to a rather low two days.
Metal frames that can take an ECG…and save your life (in select countries)
The Fitbit Edge’s metal frame can be used to take a 30-second manual ECG. This can highlight heart rate irregularities and can also spot signs of AFib. The tracker also has an optical PPG heart rate sensor that continuously tracks one’s heart and pulse rate and alerts the user if their heart rate is unusually high or low. The catch is that the ECG is only available in select countries, but it is still great to see an ECG on a fitness tracker – a feature seen generally in premium smartwatches.
Take it swimming
Much like its screen-less sibling, the Fitbit Air, the Fitbit Edge too is pretty sturdy. The device comes with 5 ATM water resistance, which means you can easily take it along for your swim sessions. The device also features IP68 dust and water resistance, and as we mentioned earlier, Gorilla Glass 3 protection.
Comes with GPS and is stair-worthy
The Fitbit Edge has an improved and built-in GPS, something the Air lacks, so you do not need to carry your phone along to cover outdoor workouts and activities. It has multi-constellation support, which is paired with a new antenna and chip, making the device up to 40 percent better at tracking locations than the Charge 6. The Edge has another edge over the Air – an integrated altimeter, which can detect changes in altitude, and comes in handy not only while counting stairs but also during hikes and trekking, where you can accurately measure altitude change.
Get Google Maps directions on your wrist:
The Fitbit Edge might not have Google Wear, but it works in sync with Google Maps on your phone and can show you turn-by-turn directions on your wrist. The feature requires you to have an active Bluetooth connection between your phone and the Fitbit Edge, and directions will start popping up on your tracker screen when you start walking, running, cycling, or even driving. That big display really helps!
Quick Notifications, quicker actions but no call support:
The Edge has a mixed relationship with your smartphone. It is a few steps ahead of the Air in terms of notifications, or some might say behind it in terms of a distraction-free experience. You get basic call, message, and app notifications on the tracker, and also get quick reply and navigation access on it. However, you cannot use it to handle calls because the device does not have a mic or a speaker. You can accept a call from the tracker, but it will be directed to your smartphone.
Google Health Guardian’s on your wrist
Earlier limited to the more expensive Pixel Watches, Google’s Health Guardian is available on the Fitbit Edge. This comes with cardiovascular tracking and alerts, alerts for potential breathing and pulse issues, and tracking of trends in the background to create monthly reports on blood pressure and even insulin resistance. It also unlocks premium features of the Google Health app, like personalized coaching and deeper tracking and analysis.
Gemini present, but cannot be summoned:
The Fitbit Edge comes with personalized Gemini coaching to help you meet your health and fitness goals. But complete access to all of Gemini’s features requires a subscription, and you cannot summon the AI assistant on your tracker – you have to use your phone for it.
And one more thing: There is a Stephen Curry edition:
The Google Fitbit Edge comes with a special edition, designed in collaboration with 4-time NBA champion Stephen Curry. It pairs the regular tracker with a Satin Pyrite aluminum case and also features a custom moisture-wicking, water-repellent, recycled polyester yarn band. Also on board are special basketball watchfaces. Mind you, all that extra goodness will set you back by an additional USD 40 – the Stephen Curry edition starts at USD 219.99.