48 hours later, I am already impressed

First impressions matter, and after 48 hours with the Fitbit Air, Google’s new screen-less tracker is making an excellent one. Actually, I’m already extra impressed by the bodily machine than I used to be by the thought of it.

Ever because the early rumors surfaced, the Fitbit Air gave the impression of one other minimalist wellness wearable chasing the identical passive-tracking development as gadgets just like the WHOOP 5.0. I’m additionally usually cautious of first-generation gadgets and the inevitable quirks that include them. However on my wrist, Google’s first swing already makes good contact (particularly for $99). Till I spend extra time digging into options, accuracy, and the corporate’s new Well being Coach platform for my full evaluate, I gained’t name it a house run simply but.

The Fitbit Air is definitely probably the most comfy tracker I’ve examined, and it’s tied to a platform with a whole lot of potential.

The Fitbit Air feels tiny, and that’s onerous to perform while you even have tiny wrists (me). At simply 8.3mm thick and 12g with the band connected, it feels dramatically lighter and slimmer than any smartwatch I’ve examined.

I’ve repeatedly forgotten I’ve the Air on, which is the very best praise I may give a wearable, not to mention a sleep-focused one. It doesn’t shift round whereas I’m typing, dig into my wrist throughout exercises, or really feel awkwardly cumbersome in a single day. I’ve even worn it on the identical wrist as one other watch to see how sensible that setup can be, and I genuinely didn’t thoughts in any respect. It’s about as unobtrusive as the gathering of hair ties I hold stocked on my reverse arm.

An enormous a part of that comes right down to the truth that the Fitbit Air doesn’t have a show, only a slim sensor puck tucked beneath a band. It avoids not simply the load, but in addition the visible litter that makes wearables really feel like a method dedication. It’s additionally noticeably thinner than the WHOOP band, which provides extra of an ’80s racquetball sweat band impression.

After all, the screen-less design gained’t be for everybody, and I’ve positively tried checking the time about 67 occasions, however for those who’re bought on minimalist wellness monitoring, that is my favourite design but. It additionally nonetheless packs a reasonably succesful sensor array, together with optical coronary heart price monitoring, SpO2 monitoring, pores and skin temperature sensing, and an accelerometer (although sadly no GPS). I’ll put these sensors to the take a look at throughout my full evaluate within the coming weeks.

My solely actual criticism concerning the general construct is that Google added one more proprietary charger to my rising nest of cables. I’d have swooned for compatibility with the Pixel Watch charger, however the Fitbit Air’s puck is barely smaller and uniquely designed for the tracker. Its succesful size is ample, and I admire that it’s USB-C, nevertheless it’s nothing to put in writing residence about. I’d like to see Google get extra artistic in future generations, whether or not meaning on-wrist charging like WHOOP or a battery-equipped charging case.

Google gives the Fitbit Air in three distinct band types, every accessible in a mixture of colorways. Swapping between them is absurdly straightforward, with the best band attachment system I’ve used, making it more likely I’d be prepared to spend money on additional types.

Every order ships with a woven Efficiency Loop band, which is straightforward, delicate, light-weight, and micro-adjustable so long as you don’t thoughts the sound of Velcro. It’s my favourite fashion of the bunch from a consolation perspective, however I detest moist wearables, and it might positively take a minute to dry out if I acquired it too sweaty.

For figuring out, Google’s silicone Energetic Band is a safer guess for rinsing sweat off. Regardless of wanting pretty stretchy in renders, the fabric is definitely firmer than I anticipated, nevertheless it nonetheless feels delicate towards the pores and skin and stays secure throughout exercises. It additionally has an nearly extreme variety of tightly clustered clasp holes to assist discover the appropriate match.

Visually, although, the bubbled ridge design jogs my memory inexplicably of the Michelin Man, particularly within the Fog grey tone I selected. Total, it’s not my favourite when it comes to seems to be, however it’s comfy and well-designed for the fitness center.

The third band fashion is the Elevate Fashionable Band, and it makes the strongest pitch for the Air as a way of life wearable. I’d put on one thing prefer it even when there wasn’t a tracker hiding beneath. The clasp system is very attention-grabbing with a sublime sliding closure and a intelligent textured sample on the within of the band to maintain every thing in place. I used to be very skeptical about how safe it might be, nevertheless it’s surprisingly efficient.

The Fitbit Air {hardware} could also be deliberately minimal, however the brand new Google Well being app positively isn’t. The redesigned expertise feels extra fashionable (and extra Google) than the older Fitbit app, with the inevitable wave of AI options.

Talking of which, Google’s Well being Coach is a bit of more durable to evaluate after solely 48 hours. At its finest, the AI-powered system surfaces helpful patterns and contextualizes my tracked metrics in a conversational, digestible means. It’s checked in on accidents I’d forgotten ever mentioning, referred to as out my horrible sleep habits, and highlighted coronary heart price adjustments that aligned with me being pretty sick this week.

At different occasions, although, it drifts into the identical imprecise fluff as a whole lot of different AI instruments. It’s additionally nearly uncomfortably supportive of me “taking it straightforward,” together with commending me for skipping an hour-long stroll I don’t bear in mind ever saying I deliberate to take. Nonetheless, I haven’t run into the exercise hallucinations reported elsewhere or any radically inaccurate insights. To date, Well being Coach largely feels par for the course when it comes to firms layering AI onto current well being platforms.

I’m desirous to dive deeper into Well being Coach and the remainder of the Fitbit Air’s options in my full evaluate. Within the meantime, I’m blissful to have the band strapped to my wrist, as a result of I barely discover it’s there.