Google Ditches the Screen With the New Fitbit Air (2026)
The Air is not intended to be standalone, but rather to serve as a data collector within Google’s growing health software ecosystem. (The company also rebranded the Fitbit app as “Google Health.”) Built on Gemini, Health Coach is the brains of the system, promising personalized advice based on your habits, goals, and biometrics. Rather than simply displaying statistics, Google Health Coach translates them into actionable recommendations. It can generate training plans, suggest recovery windows based on effort and readiness, and analyze sleep disruptions. It aims to provide ongoing coaching that evolves alongside your routine.
Despite its sleek exterior, the Air maintains the same breadth of tracking capabilities as the Charge 6. This includes basic metrics like steps, distance, and calories burned, as well as more advanced features like weekly cardio load and daily readiness rating. 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) information.
Sleep tracking gets a modest upgrade. The Air still offers 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 time 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 is 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 still see your activity, sleep, and health data. (Google also plans to offer support for a wider range of devices later this 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 months free when you purchase the Air, and it’s also included for anyone with Google One’s AI Pro and AI Ultra subscription plans.
If you’re already part of Google’s wearable ecosystem, the Air is designed to fit into your routine frictionlessly. The Air and 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 measurements by device. It’s a small but telling detail that reflects Google’s broader attempt to unify its lineup and create interchangeable entries for a single health platform.
The new Google Health app will be rolled out on May 19 for Android and iOS. The Fitbit Air is available for pre-order today and launches on May 26.
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