Google’s new Fitbit Edge is a $179.99 fitness tracker built for people who want a screen without moving all the way up to a smartwatch. Available for preorder now and due in stores October 27, it replaces the aging Charge 6 and sits between the screenless Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch.
A larger screen and a replaceable battery
The Edge has a 1.34-inch Hybrid OLED display, a physical side button and 46% more viewing area than earlier Fitbit trackers. It runs a redesigned version of Fitbit OS rather than Wear OS.
Google calls it the first repairable Fitbit fitness tracker, with a modular internal design and a replaceable battery. The company rates battery life at up to seven days, or about two days with the always-on display enabled, and says a five-minute charge can provide a full day of power.
The tracker also adds built-in GPS, an altimeter, ECG, skin-temperature, blood-oxygen and optical heart-rate sensors. It is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance and 5ATM for swimming.
More workout tracking, but fewer smartwatch features
Google says the Edge’s GPS is up to 40% more accurate than previous generations. Its updated automatic activity detection can recognize up to 100 types of workouts, while more than 50 exercise modes can be started from the wrist.
Some of the most advanced health features sit behind Google Health Premium. Health Guardian can surface longer-term blood-pressure and insulin-resistance trends, while Google’s AI coach can use those patterns to adjust fitness guidance. Google stresses that these are wellness tools, not diagnostic readings or substitutes for medical advice. The Edge includes three months of the subscription.
There are tradeoffs compared with the Charge 6. The Verge reports that the Edge has no microphone or speaker, so it cannot take calls from the wrist. It also drops NFC, meaning Google Wallet and contactless payments are unavailable.
