Google Fitbit Air

The Fitbit Air is Google's take on the screenless fitness band, a category popularised by Whoop. There's no display, no buttons and no menus, just a small pod that slots into a fabric band and quietly sends heart rate, skin temperature and sleep data to your phone. It's a deliberate step away from the smartwatch model, and that will appeal to anyone who wants health insights without another screen demanding attention.

At a reported $99 in the US (£85 in the UK), it's pitched squarely at people curious about passive health and sleep tracking who balk at Whoop's ongoing subscription costs. If you want notifications, on-wrist workout stats or quick glances at the time, this isn't the device for you.

On paper, the Fitbit Air's biggest strength is its value proposition. Unlike Whoop, it doesn't require a subscription just to function, which makes it a much lower-commitment way into screenless tracking. Reviewers describe it as light, comfortable and generally accurate, and those are the qualities that matter most for a device designed to be worn day and night. An 11.9g total weight and up to a week of battery life support that always-on, forget-it's-there approach.

Thoughtful touches like a vibration motor for gentle wake-up alarms and an LED that warns of low battery help make up for the lack of a screen. Swappable bands, including a recycled-yarn Performance Loop in several colours plus silicone and polyurethane options, add some flexibility in comfort and style.

The caveats are real, though:

• The headline AI coaching in the Google Health app requires a premium subscription, and without it the device is described as somewhat limited. So the 'no subscription' advantage over Whoop is partly qualified.
• Blood oxygen is only tracked during sleep, not on demand.
• There's no on/off button, and charging relies on a proprietary magnetic charger, so losing that cable is a hassle.
• With no screen, everything depends on your phone, which is by design but limits use during workouts.

Our assessment is based on reported specs and third-party review findings rather than long-term testing, and details like workout tracking depth and the exact scope of the free tier are not fully clear from what's available. Even so, for passive sleep and health tracking at a modest price, the Fitbit Air looks like a sensible, comfortable alternative to pricier subscription bands, as long as you accept that the smartest features cost extra.