Google's Fitbit Air brings a Whoop-inspired approach to fitness tracking in India. (Img: Google)
New Delhi: Google has introduced the Fitbit Air in India, expanding its wearable portfolio with a screen-free fitness tracker designed for people who want continuous health and activity monitoring without the notifications and distractions associated with conventional smartwatches.
The Fitbit Air is priced at Rs 13,999 in India and will be available from October 2 through the Google Store and the company's retail partners. The tracker is offered in Obsidian, Berry, Lavender and Fog colour options.
Unlike conventional smartwatches and fitness bands, the Fitbit Air does away with a display and physical buttons. The compact device is designed to remain on the wrist while health and fitness information is viewed through Google's health platform on a connected smartphone.
Google has positioned the Fitbit Air as its smallest tracker, with a pebble-like body that attaches to an interchangeable band. The screenless approach is intended to make the device suitable for wearing throughout the day and overnight.
The tracker monitors several health-related metrics throughout the day. These include 24-hour heart rate monitoring, heart rhythm tracking with AFib alerts, blood oxygen or SpO2 levels, resting heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV).
Rather than presenting the information directly on the wrist, the data is processed through Google's health ecosystem. The Google Health Coach is designed to turn the collected information into easier-to-understand insights and personalised suggestions.
Sleep monitoring is another major part of the device. The Fitbit Air can record sleep duration and different sleep stages, making it particularly relevant for users who want to track their health and recovery overnight.
Google is also positioning the tracker as a potential companion to Pixel Watch users. Users can rely on a Pixel Watch during the day and wear the lighter Fitbit Air at night, allowing sleep information to continue being recorded without keeping a conventional smartwatch on the wrist.
The Fitbit Air is rated to provide up to seven days of battery life on a single charge. Google also says a five-minute charging session can provide enough power for up to a full day of use.
The extended battery life is particularly relevant for a tracker designed for continuous and overnight monitoring, as users can spend less time removing the device for charging.
Every Fitbit Air purchased in India comes with a three-month trial of Google Health Premium. The trial provides access to the full Google Health Coach experience.
After the trial period ends, users will need to pay for the subscription to continue accessing the premium services, making the ongoing subscription cost an important consideration for buyers.
The launch puts Fitbit Air in the same broad category as screen-free fitness wearables such as Whoop, which emphasise continuous health tracking, recovery insights and long-term fitness data over traditional smartwatch functionality.
Whoop has helped popularise the screen-free approach, while the Indian market now also includes alternatives from brands such as Noise and Amazfit.
Noise's REP Band is priced at Rs 9,999 and offers features including heart rate, HRV, sleep and SpO2 tracking without a subscription. Amazfit's Helio Strap is priced at Rs 8,999 and offers up to 10 days of battery life along with health and fitness tracking through the Zepp app.
Whoop does not have an official India sale channel, while unofficial units can cost considerably more and require a subscription for access to their features.
The Fitbit Air is not restricted to Google's smartphone ecosystem. It supports devices running Android 11 or later and iPhones running iOS 16.4 or later. Users will need a Google Account and the Google Health app to set up and use the tracker.
The device is aimed at users who want detailed fitness information without having to wear a conventional smartwatch. By removing the screen, Google is focusing the Fitbit Air on passive tracking, sleep monitoring and health insights rather than notifications and interactive features.
With its Google Health ecosystem integration, screen-free design and continuous tracking features, the Fitbit Air gives Indian consumers another option in the growing market for wearables built around health data rather than smartwatch functionality.
