review with features, price and specifications

If with mobile phones we saw an evolution towards increasingly larger screens, it seems that with wearables we are moving in the opposite direction. Whoop has managed to find the key in a tremendously competitive segment: its bracelet without a screen is the germ of the Fitbit Air that I have been wearing for the last two weeks. This has allowed me to know something very specific: having to look at everything on my phone is not my ideal use.

• You are interested in following the activity, not recording exercise.
• You need to disconnect from the screens.
• You are looking for a comfortable device to track your health.

• You are an athlete who needs to have a record of your training.
• You like to leave your cell phone at home when you do sports.
• You want to avoid subscriptions.

The essentials in 30 seconds

The Fitbit Air is an old-fashioned fitness tracker, without a screen. It’s like the Original Mi Band: All information must be consulted in the app. This eliminates at once part of the appeal for any amateur athlete: the bracelet does not have GPS, it cannot record outdoor workouts, it does not allow you to follow the coach from the screen and, ultimately, does not release the smartphone. Yes of notifications.

The Fitbit Air adequately records steps, measures heart rate accurately as long as your heart rate does not increase, offers easy use without a subscription (like a basic activity bracelet) and includes tools such as a personal trainer, workouts, extended information and more under Fitbit Premium Google Health Premium. Google has looked to its competition, Whoop, for its subscription model.

The accessory has a very specific audience, among which I am not: who only needs the bracelet to motivate activity. Google aims for a calm profile, far from the athlete who would use a Garmin. Even far from those who would choose a smartwatch as an extension of their mobile phone: the Fitbit Air seeks to cut out notifications to focus on what is essential: movement. Their approach to health measurement is also important.

If you’re looking for motivation to get off the couch, and you don’t want an uncomfortable accessory on your wrist, the Fitbit Air may be for you.

Our experience with the Fitbit Air

Comfort above all. What I like most about the bracelet is that it looks like you’re not wearing anything. It is light, compact, fits well on the wrist and the nylon strap is very nice (I am a fan of these straps). What I don’t like is not having a screen: more than once I found myself turning my wrist to check the time. I understand those who are looking for a Fitbit Air to complement their watch, I prefer not to carry two devices.

How am I doing, Fitbit Air? Google has focused on Whoop to focus the Fitbit Air on well-being and health, not so much on exercise. Measure heart rate, SpO2, temperature, stress, breathing or sleep. More or less what is usual for an activity bracelet. The data is good without reaching maximum reliability: the variety of heart rate is high and in the step count I have seen a certain margin of error. Not to mention distance estimation: since it doesn’t have GPS, the margin of error is enormous.

The coach is the best of the bunch. Gemini disguises himself as a trainer under our orders. So this is the best thing about the software: you can ask it for workouts, to explain your health status, stretching, or, as it occurred to me, a Pilates plan. Since Google knows a lot about me, it was able to adapt a plan to me with precision. It is an AI adapted 100% to the Fitbit Air and its data.

The coach is the best of the bunch. Google offers the trainer, and some added features, under the Premium subscription. With the purchase of the Air, three months of the plan begin. And there is something better: if you have Google One Pro or higher you already have Google Health Premium. It is a complement that is very worthwhile, since it not only tells you how healthy you are, it also creates training plans, sessions and any other approach related to health and sports.

You can register the sport with it. But…It is far from what a GPS watch can do. Measuring running distances is useless, the same with walks (in performance data it comes out well). Also, since you don’t have a screen you can’t see how the practice is going. The Fitbit Air automatically records steps, but for sports practices you must necessarily go through the smartphone. There will be those who prefer this way of training, I like to forget about the phone as much as possible. The recording is sufficiently precise, as I said before, but the calculations tend to err in high intensity situations.

Less battery than expected. Not having a screen I imagined that the autonomy would be high. Error: with everything active, the battery lasts a week, as Google promises. Charging is done using a magnetic base and takes an hour and a half to complete (ten minutes saves the day). Again, all the information related to the charging status must be checked from the mobile phone, since when you double tap the LED it only gives us two pieces of information: white LED, it has a charge; Red LED, danger. And that’s it.

Fitbit Air technical sheet

Fitbit Air, Xataka’s opinion

It seemed like a return to the past, to that Fitbit that had a watch and little else. I agree that this avoids distractions, although with a downside: you have to go through the smartphone for everything. If you don’t usually watch steps, activity, and more, you can don’t worry and let the Fitbit Air record everything. On an informative level, it ended up surprising me.

It offers a large number of health records, the app tracks it exhaustively, and the trainer is an AI that is helpful and willing. Gemini expands health and sports capabilities almost to infinity. Under the premise of the subscription: as a basic activity bracelet, the use remains basic. Pretty basic.

It is an activity bracelet in the most canonical definition of the concept– Measures how much you move, how you are doing and encourages you to exercise more. It doesn’t offer mobile payments or apps or a watch or anything that goes beyond health measurements (it can be used as a vibration alarm, which is something). If you are happy with its shortcomings, the Fitbit Air is the most comfortable and economical you will find.

Do I recommend it to you?

If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to bracelets like the Whoop, the Fitbit Air fits the bill. Also if you want a comfortable accessory so that it does not bother you during the day or while sleeping: the bracelet is a “win-win” at this point. In case you need a sports accessory, capable of keeping up with you whether you go running or cycling, the Fitbit Air falls too short. I thought I would get used to carrying a device without a screen, but the truth is I wouldn’t. I know it’s not for me even though I really liked how it does all the health monitoring.

Images | Xataka

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This device has been provided for testing by Google. You can consult how we do reviews on Xataka and our relations policy with companies.