Google Releases Fitbit Air Band as Fitbit App Ends

Google announced the Fitbit Air fitness band this week, its first new tracker hardware since the Charge 6 in 2023. The device is designed as a simple, lightweight fitness band focused on steps, heart rate and sleep tracking. It will be sold as the Google Fitbit Air and bundled with the new Google Health Coach AI feature and updates to the Google Health app.

The company said the Fitbit Air returns to the original purpose of fitness bands as an accessible, affordable tool to encourage movement. Rishi Chandra, Google’s vice president of health and home, stated that the company took time to develop the product because it did not want to release another basic tracker.

The announcement comes as the standalone Fitbit app will be discontinued on May 19 and replaced by an app with a multicolored heart icon for Google Health. Fitbit has operated under Google ownership since the 2021 acquisition. Users have been encouraged over time to migrate Fitbit accounts to Google accounts.

The product lineup has included both Fitbit-branded devices and the Pixel Watch, which Google positions as a premium, Android-only wearable with advanced sensors.

The transition mirrors Google’s earlier handling of Nest products after its acquisition. The Nest app remains available in maintenance mode for older devices but cannot pair with new ones. Fitbit experienced server outages and the removal of some social features during the integration period, which drew user complaints in 2023.

Chandra said Fitbit products are intended for broad compatibility with both iOS and Android phones and are positioned as entry-level devices. In contrast, Pixel devices target users seeking the highest-end wearable technology. The Fitbit Air is not branded as a Pixel Band to maintain this distinction between the two product segments.

Ten years ago, Fitbit dominated the fitness band category to the point where the brand name was used interchangeably with the product type. The company faced increasing competition by 2021 from lower-priced devices and from smartwatches offered by Apple, Samsung and Garmin.

Smartwatches had become the main focus for new health technology features at that time. In 2026, interest has grown in simpler, screenless wearables. Companies are also emphasizing comfort and continuous wear to support data collection for AI features.

Generative AI tools that provide personalized insights from health data have been introduced more recently in the sector. Google described the Fitbit Air and Health Coach combination as addressing data overload and fragmented health information. The company said the AI coach can parse multiple metrics and deliver actionable guidance to users.