I’ve already tested the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Cirqa head-to-head in a prior walk test comparison, but a hiccup with the latter’s data meant a rematch was inevitable.

About as evenly matched as they come, both the Air and Cirqa track your sleep, workouts, and overall health. Garmin’s insights go a bit more in-depth than Fitbit’s, but the Cirqa is also twice the price of the Air, $199 vs. $99.

When it comes to onboard tech, neither device has GPS, so you must carry a paired smartphone for location tracking data during outdoor workouts.

I walked 5,000 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Cirqa

So, which screen-free tracker is the more reliable wearable? I walked 5,000 steps with the Fitbit Air on my left wrist and the Garmin Cirqa on my right wrist to find out (the opposite of the previous test).

For good measure, I also tracked the walk using the Strava app on my iPhone 16, and as always, I manually counted my steps with some help from an old-school tally counter (one click = 100 steps).

Find the results of the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Cirqa walk test, round 2, below.

Garmin's step count was closer

Given the fact that the Fitbit Air, Garmin Cirqa, and Strava were all making use of the same location data, courtesy of my smartphone, you'd expect metrics like distance, steps, and pace to be pretty similar across the board. And that is very much the case.

However, when it comes to steps, Garmin's tally was closer to my actual count than Fitbit's by a whopping margin of... three steps. This is to say, both devices performed remarkably well here.

Strava's step count, for what it's worth, was 4,992, another impressive result.

The Fitbit Air continues to struggle with climb data

Some things never change. While the Garmin Cirqa and Strava calculated virtually the same amount of ascent for my rather hilly walk, the Fitbit Air significantly undercounted.

This is far from the first time the Air has logged lower-than-expected climb data. I had a similar result when I last pitted the Air vs Cirqa in a walk test. It also undercounted in a walk test versus the Apple Watch 11, and another time in a comparison against the Pixel Watch 4.

All three tracking methods noted similar distance and pace

Despite inconsistencies in climb data, the Fitbit Air, Garmin Cirqa, and Strava app all calculated roughly the same amount of distance covered and average pace for my ~45-minute walk around sunny Seattle, Washington. That said, Garmin was the most generous with my efforts and speed.

Garmin failed to record any heart rate data

Well, this is a first: For unknown reasons, the Garmin Cirqa failed to record any heart rate data during my walk. This is particularly disappointing given the fact that it performed well in every other regard. Coincidentally, when I last tested the Garmin against the Fitbit, heart rate data was one of the few metrics it did log.

The Fitbit Air's max and average heart rate data, meanwhile, are right around what I expected for my walk, based on previous walk data from a zillion other tests.

Fitbit burned more battery and calories

Finally, neither device used much battery recording my walking workout, which makes sense given neither has a screen or GPS to power. While the Cirqa registered zero drain, the Air used just 2%.

Not only did the Fitbit burn more battery, but it also said I burned more calories than the Garmin during my stroll. That said, fitness tracker calorie counts are notoriously inconsistent, and one of the main metrics I tend to ignore.

Which of these two fitness trackers would you be more likely to use? Let me know in the poll below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Can the $99 Fitbit Air beat the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 at fitness tracking? I manually counted 4,500 steps to find out
• I walked 4,000 steps with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 — and the winning margin was razor-thin
• Exclusive: Garmin Cirqa PM says ‘it just felt like we had all of the pieces in place’ to launch a screen-free fitness tracker

Plenty of longtime Fitbit users hate the change, my own mother being one of them. When Google Health replaced the Fitbit app in May, users complained about missing badges, sleep animals and social features. The new Gemini-powered AI Coach hasn’t won everyone over, either.

Those complaints are fair, but my personal experience has been different. Google Health has made the information collected by my Fitbit easier to follow. More importantly, its AI Coach can look across that information and help me understand how one part of my routine may be affecting another.

For the first time, my Fitbit data feels connected and my goals are easier to achieve.

Everything I want to see is in one place

The first thing I look at is my sleep score. I can see how long I slept, how much time I spent in each sleep stage and whether my night was considered poor, fair or good.

From there, I can check my steps, exercise and calories burned. Each number is useful on its own, but having them together makes the app more valuable. I don’t have to remember how active I was after a bad night’s sleep or guess whether I moved less on a particularly busy day. What I like about the redesigned Today tab is that I instantly get a quick picture of how I'm doing overall.

And, if I want more detail, I can move into the Fitness, Sleep and Health sections without losing that larger view.

Google Health is highly customizable, too. I can decide which metrics deserve space on my main screen instead of scrolling through information I rarely use. Google Health still collects plenty of data, with your approval, but it does a better job of showing me the numbers I care about.

The AI Coach knows more about my routine than I expected

The dashboard tells me what is going on day-to-day with my body and The AI Coach tries to explain what it means.

Google’s Coach is built with Gemini and can use information shared through the app to answer questions about fitness, sleep and general wellness. Depending on what you allow it to access, that can include sleep and activity metrics, workouts, nutrition, cycle tracking, location, local weather and personal medical records.

It can also remember information you provide during its onboarding conversation. By the way, I encourage you to take the five minutes to have that quick chat. You can tell it about your goals, daily routine, available exercise equipment and any injuries or limitations it should consider.

That gives it far more context than an ordinary chatbot.

Prompts to try with Google Health Coach

The best way to understand what the AI Coach can do is to ask it about information that would normally require comparing several parts of the app.

Instead of asking a general question such as “How am I doing?” give the Coach a period of time to examine and tell it which parts of your health data you want it to compare.

1. Find patterns in your sleep

Try this prompt: Looking at my data from the past month, what patterns do you notice in my sleep?

The Coach can examine your sleep duration, scores and consistency instead of giving you generic advice about maintaining a regular bedtime. You can follow up by asking which nights were your best and what those nights had in common.

2. Learn how sleep affects activity levels

Try this prompt: How does the amount of sleep I get affect my activity the following day?

This is the kind of comparison I could technically make myself, but I probably wouldn’t. I would need to move between different parts of the app, compare dates and remember what else was happening on those days. The Coach can look across your sleep and activity history to see whether your step count, workouts or calories burned tend to change after a particularly good or bad night.

3. Ask what workout makes sense today

Try this prompt: Based on my recent activity and recovery data, what kind of workout makes sense today?

Google wants the Coach to do more than summarize what has already happened. It can use your recent exercise, sleep and readiness to suggest what you might do next.

If you slept poorly or recently completed several demanding workouts, it may recommend something lighter. If your recovery looks good, it could suggest a more challenging session.

This is where the Coach has the potential to be the most useful. Fitness trackers have always been good at telling us how far we ran, how many calories we burned and how long we slept. They have been less helpful at telling us what to do with that information.

That doesn’t mean I would follow every recommendation without question. A fitness tracker cannot know exactly how my body feels, and Google says the Coach is not intended for medical purposes. I treat its suggestions as another piece of information rather than an instruction I have to obey.

4. Find your most and least active days

Try this prompt: Which days of the week am I usually most active and least active? Compare my steps, workouts and calories burned over the past month.

The Coach may be able to find routines that aren’t obvious from looking at one day at a time. Once it identifies a pattern, you can ask why it reached that conclusion and request the numbers it used.

5. Ask what the Coach knows about you

Try this prompt: What information about me are you using to make your recommendations?

Depending on what you allow it to access, it may be drawing from a detailed record of when you sleep, how much you move, when you exercise and how your body responds.

Google says users control what they share with the Coach. It has also committed not to use Fitbit health and wellness data for Google Ads. Still, this is sensitive information, especially once medical records, cycle tracking or location enter the picture.

The Coach becomes more useful as it gains more context, but that means giving it access to more of your life. It is worth reviewing the app’s privacy controls and deciding which information you are comfortable sharing.

How to get Google Health Coach

Google Health Coach became globally available in May after an earlier public preview. It is included with a Google Health Premium subscription, which costs $9.99 per month or $99 per year in the United States.

Google AI Pro and Ultra subscribers receive Google Health Premium at no additional cost. The Coach launched first for eligible Fitbit and Pixel Watch users, with support for additional devices planned.

After opening Google Health, look for the Ask Coach button. The onboarding conversation gives you a chance to explain your goals and routine. You can return later and update those details if your goals change.

The app can be used without the Coach, and Google provides controls for limiting the information it accesses. Availability and features may vary depending on your device and location.

Final thoughts

I've tried ChatGPT Health and Apple Health, but after experimenting with each, I keep coming back to Google Health.

And, yes, I totally understand why longtime Fitbit users are frustrated. Google removed familiar features and placed an AI assistant at the center of an app that many people used simply to check their numbers.

But Google Health has worked for me because it makes those numbers easier to understand. I can see my sleep, steps, exercise and calories in one place, then ask questions about how they may be connected.

The AI Coach isn’t a doctor, and it won’t always tell me something I couldn’t figure out myself. What it can do is examine weeks of information in a few seconds and point me toward patterns I might otherwise miss.

More from Tom's Guide

• The smartest AI trick isn't a prompt — it's your Google Drive
• I found ChatGPT's secret menu — these 9 features change everything
• I use Gemini Spark daily — here are 7 prompts that show what it can really do

Even though the Garmin Cirqa is twice the cost of the Fitbit Air — $199 vs $99 — these two trackers have a lot in common. Screen-free, your primary method for interacting with either is through the companion app. That said, the Cirqa also has one physical button to start and stop workouts.

More importantly, neither has onboard GPS, so both require you to bring your paired phone along when logging an outdoor workout so that they can piggyback off its location and elevation data.

Now, on to the test!

Fitbit Air vs Garmin Cirqa: Walk test rules

I manually counted 7,000 steps — using my trusty $6 tally counter to log every hundred — with the Fitbit Air on my left wrist and the Garmin Cirqa on my right wrist to determine which is the more accurate fitness tracker.

I also ran Strava on my iPhone 16 Plus for additional step count, distance, elevation, and pace data. For the Fitbit Air, I manually began a walking workout from the Google Health app. For the Garmin Cirqa, I started the workout by pressing the single button. This proved to be a mistake.

Fitbit Air vs Garmin Cirqa: Walk test results

It took me about one hour to walk 7,000 steps around sunny Seattle, Washington, a step count total that all three tracking methods came remarkably close to. For these tests, I consider any tally within 100 steps of my actual total to be outstanding.

Ultimately, the Fitbit Air undercounted by a mere ten steps, while the Garmin Cirqa overcounted by 70. Strava, meanwhile, overcounted by ten.

Unfortunately, because the Cirqa logged my efforts as a generic workout rather than an outdoor walk, it frustratingly didn't register any distance, climb, or pace data for this test.

The Fitbit Air, on the other hand, logged the same distance as Strava, which isn't too surprising given both are making use of the same GPS data. However, its climb data is seemingly waaaay off. This is neither the first nor the second time I've had an issue with climb data when it comes to the Air.

Fortunately, the Air's pace data is much more aligned with Strava's.

The lack of consistency between the Air and Cirqa for heart rate data is a tad concerning. Without control data, it's hard to say for sure which watch is more accurate in this regard, but I suspect it's the Garmin, given my walk involved quickly ascending several very steep hills, which definitely got the blood pumping.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Winner

Despite continuing to struggle with climb data, the Fitbit Air beats the Garmin Cirqa in this walk test head-to-head by a small but legit margin. This is similar to the results my colleague Jane discovered when she tested these two gadgets against one another in a 4,000-step comparison.

Stay tuned for more testing and coverage of the Garmin Cirqa, including my full review, coming soon.

More from Tom's Guide

• Can the $99 Fitbit Air beat the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 at fitness tracking? I manually counted 4,500 steps to find out
• I walked 4,000 steps with the Apple Watch Ultra 3 vs Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 — and the winning margin was razor-thin
• Oura vs Whoop vs Fitbit Air — 5 questions to ask yourself before buying a screen-free fitness tracker

The vast majority of name-brand wearables track heart rate, distance, and step count — assuming you're going for a walk or hike — with impressive consistency, in my experience. For example, I’ve performed dozens of walk tests where I wear a device on either wrist and manually count my steps to see which comes closer.

Not only do most modern wearables come within a few hundred steps of my actual count — an impressive accomplishment when we're talking 5,000 or more steps per walk — but most also report similar distance data, down to a few tenths of a mile, and broadly the same heart rate data, give or take a handful of beats per minute.

That said, there are three workout stats that are consistently, well... inconsistent. And it's not just wallet-friendly models that struggle; even some of the best smartwatches and best fitness trackers occasionally have hiccups tracking these metrics.

The three fitness tracking stats I trust the least

1. Elevation gain

As an avid mountain sports enthusiast and someone who enjoys urban hiking and biking in a particularly hilly part of the U.S. (Seattle, WA), inconsistent elevation tracking seriously irks me. For example, it’s not unusual for a standard midday, two-mile walk to involve several hundred feet of climb.

Unfortunately, a lot of wearables come up short when it comes to assessing upward effort.

Not only that, some popular wearables don’t even offer a metric for elevation gain in the post-workout report, like the Fitbit Inspire 3. Others, like the newer Fitbit Air — a wearable I otherwise really like — measure elevation about as accurately as a newborn shooting pool.

Even the best Apple Watch models occasionally report inaccurate climb data. From my experience, the Ultra 3 is rock-solid, but both the Series 11 and SE 3 have been known to log slightly inflated elevation stats from time to time.

For what it’s worth, the brand I’ve found most consistent with elevation tracking is Garmin, that is, assuming you purchase one of the best Garmin watches, specifically, one with an onboard barometric altimeter. The new Forerunner 70, for example, lacks one.

2. Pace

Speaking of Garmin, it’s one of the few smartwatch brands that provides two pace metrics for outdoor activities like walks, hikes, runs, and bike rides: an average moving pace and an average elapsed (total) pace.

For most of us, the former is the more valuable metric, as it ignores long pauses — like waiting at a traffic light or stopping for a sip of water — thereby providing a more accurate measure of your actual moving effort.

Unfortunately, brands like Apple and Google only offer one pace metric in their respective workout reports. And though they don’t specify which pace metric it is, it's almost always slower than the competition’s moving pace stat, suggesting both are reporting elapsed pace, the less valuable one.

3. Calories

Post-workout calorie counts are perhaps the most all over the place in my testing. For example, it’s not uncommon for one device to log one hundred or more calories burned than another after the exact same workout.

In fact, this metric tends to be so inconsistent that I mostly ignore it completely. Not only are most manufacturers opaque about how the calorie counts are even calculated in the first place, but key factors like a user's metabolism or muscle mass are rarely taken into account when generating them.

Which fitness tracking stats do you think are bupkis? Let me know in the poll below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Can the $99 Fitbit Air beat the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 at fitness tracking? I manually counted 4,500 steps to find out
• I walked 5,500 steps with the Apple Watch SE 3 vs Garmin Forerunner 70 — and the results surprised me
• I ran a 5K with the Garmin Forerunner 570 vs Apple Watch Ultra 3, and although the pace data matched up perfectly across both devices, the Garmin’s exercise load metric and detailed vertical ratio analysis made it the clear winner

Steps are, of course, just one of the many metrics these high-tech wearables keep tally of, but for this head-to-head, it’s the primary figure I’ll be using to declare a winner.

I also tracked my Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch Ultra 3 walk using the Strava app as a control for distance, climb, and pace.

Read on for the results!

Can a $99 Fitbit beat a $799 Apple Watch?

But first, if you’re thinking that this isn’t really a fair competition given the price difference between the Fitbit Air and Apple Watch Ultra 3, you’d be right! But who doesn’t love a good old-fashioned underdog showdown?

It is worth noting just a few of the key differences between these two trendy wearables before moving on to the outcome. The Fitbit Air is a discreet, screen-free health and fitness tracker with no buttons, notifications, or onboard GPS. While tracking a workout, the Air relies on a paired smartphone for location and elevation data.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 sports a sizable, ultra-bright display and is easily one of the most high-tech, feature-packed smartwatches on the market. It boasts a dual-frequency GPS antenna and dedicated altimeter for logging outdoor adventures.

With that out of the way, here are the results of my 4,500-step walk test between the $99 Fitbit Air and the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Walk test results

Both wearables calculated my total steps with passable accuracy, but the Ultra 3 was closer. As a rule of thumb, I consider any step count total that's within ~150 steps of my actual count to be within a reasonable margin for error/impressive.

Strava, for what's worth, noted 4,496 total steps.

The Fitbit Air's distance measurement is a little further off from the control than the Apple Watch Ultra 3's, but not by a concerning amount.

What is a tad concerning is the fact that Google seemingly removed climb data from the post-workout report. Notably, because every other time I've logged a walking workout using the Air, the metric was there.

However, after some poking around, it appears the lack of climb data may be due to my inadvertently changing the Google Health app's location data setting on my paired phone from "always" to "while using the app" via an ill-timed pop-up.

Then again, I had the app open for the duration of my test, and it managed to pull all the other usual location-based metrics, so I'm not 100% convinced this caused the hiccup.

Coincidentally, as noted in my Fitbit Air vs Pixel Watch 4 and Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch 11 walk tests, accurate elevation tracking isn't exactly the Air's strong suit. Whether inconsistent or missing entirely, I'm hopeful this is something Google irons out with future firmware.

Moving on, the Fitbit Air noted a slower pace than the competition, which is a bit strange, given it measured less distance than Strava and the Ultra 3. More reassuringly, heart rate and calorie data from the Fitbit and Apple Watch pretty much align for this hilly, ~42-minute walk.

Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Winner

When pondering whether the $99 Fitbit Air can keep up with the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 at reliably tracking an outdoor workout, the answer is, well, not quite. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 proved more precise across the board, not just at tracking total steps, but pace and climb, too.

When it comes to the Fitbit Air, even though it didn't log my workout as accurately as its pricier rival, the results were still in the ballpark (missing elevation data aside). For most folks, myself included, that's more than good enough for my exercise logging needs.

More from Tom's Guide

• I walked 3,000 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70 — and I’m seriously amazed by the results
• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing
• Oura vs Whoop vs Fitbit Air — 5 questions to ask yourself before buying a screen-free fitness tracker

The Fitbit Air is one of the best fitness trackers in 2026, especially if you want an easy-to-wear, set-it-and-forget-it piece of tech that keeps tabs on your key health and fitness metrics with no distractions or fuss. View Deal

I pitted the $99 Fitbit Air against the $349 Pixel Watch 4 in a head-to-head fitness tracking comparison to determine which is the more precise Google wearable. The results genuinely surprised me.

The Fitbit Air is a lightweight, screen-free fitness tracking band that's as easy on the wallet as it is comfortable on the wrist. The Pixel Watch 4 is Google's flagship smartwatch, with a large, bright display and features galore, including a handy, voice- or gesture-activated Gemini AI assistant.

To find out which of these flagship Google products is the more competent fitness tracker — at least when it comes to step-counting — I walked 4,000 steps with the Fitbit Air on my right wrist and the Pixel Watch 4 on my left. My primary control metric for the comparison is total steps taken. To ensure a precise tally on my end, I manually counted my steps, noting every hundred with a click of my old-school tally counter.

As a control for distance, pace, and climb, I brought along my iPhone 16 Plus and logged the walk using the Strava app. Find the results of the Fitbit Air vs Pixel Watch 4 walk test below.

Fitbit Air vs Pixel Watch 4: fitness tracking accuracy compared

When it comes to tracking outdoor workouts, it's important to note a key difference between the Fitbit Air and Pixel Watch 4. The former lacks onboard GPS, so for location-based insights, you need to carry along a paired smartphone.

In addition to piggybacking off of your phone's GPS antenna, the Fitbit Air also relies on its altimeter for elevation data. The Pixel Watch 4, meanwhile, boasts both an onboard GPS antenna and a barometric altimeter.

Now, on to the test results!

Fitbit Air vs Pixel Watch 4: Walk test results

I took exactly 4,000 steps (manually counted) during my 38-minute walk, including a stroll up Seattle's steepest block (for old-time's sake). While both wearables noted step count totals within 15 steps of my actual count — a seriously impressive result and well within a reasonable margin for error — much to my surprise, the Fitbit Air was a little bit closer than the Pixel Watch 4.

The Air and Pixel Watch 4 also beat Strava, which logged 3,978 steps.

The Fitbit Air's distance data is additionally more in line with the control; the same goes for pace. However, the Air's climb data is woefully inaccurate, a result I noted in my previous walk test with the Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch 11.

When it comes to heart rate and calories, the Air logged a slightly less aggressive workout compared to the Pixel Watch 4. The Air also used marginally less battery — not surprising, since it lacks a display.

Fitbit Air vs Pixel Watch 4: Winner

And the winner is... the Fitbit Air, thanks to a slightly more accurate step count total, pace metric, and distance data. That said, the Air's win versus the Pixel Watch 4 comes with an asterisk due to disappointing elevation tracking performance.

The Pixel Watch 4, meanwhile, performed with acceptable accuracy across the board, including measuring my climb. For this reason, as someone who loves mountain sports, I'd likely opt for the latest Pixel Watch over the Fitbit Air for logging my next adventure. What do you think? Let me know which Google wearable you prefer in the poll below.

Which fitness trackers or smartwatches should I test head-to-head next?

More from Tom's Guide

• I walked 3,000 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70 — and I’m seriously amazed by the results
• Oura vs Whoop vs Fitbit Air — 5 questions to ask yourself before buying a screen-free fitness tracker
• Exclusive: Google design director says Fitbit Air reception proves they 'made the right decision' going screen-free

For this showdown, I wore the Apple Watch 11 on my left wrist and the Fitbit Air on my right wrist for a 5,000-step walk around beautiful Seattle, Washington. How do I know it was 5,000 steps? I counted every darn one, with some assistance from my trusty tally counter (one click= 100 steps).

Now, if I were a betting man (I'm not), my money would be on the Series 11 to come out victorious. Not only is it one of the best smartwatches in 2026, but it's also four times the cost of the Fitbit Air: $399 vs $99.

Then again, the Fitbit Air may be affordable, but it's also one of the best fitness trackers in 2026. Not only that, when I pitted in a separate walk test versus the Apple Watch SE 3, the Air surprisingly came out victorious. Will this be a repeat win? Read on!

Apple Watch 11 vs Fitbit Air: tech compared

When it comes to wrist-based trackers, the Fitbit Air and Apple Watch 11 couldn't be more different. The former has no screens, buttons, or notifications, and lasts up to a week.

The Series 11, meanwhile, is a super-connected device, boasting a large, bright touchscreen, multiple physical buttons, and compatibility with a dizzying array of apps. That said, the Series 11 comes up short on battery life; 24 hours per charge is the norm.

Another major difference: the Fitbit Air has no onboard GPS for location tracking or altimeter for elevation data, so you need to carry a smartphone along when logging an outdoor workout. The Apple Watch 11, on the other wrist, has both GPS and an altimeter.

With that out of the way, let's move on to the results!

Apple Watch 11 vs Fitbit Air: Walk test results

Before we begin, it's worth noting that Strava appears to have had a "hiccup" while recording this walk test. How do I know? The app logged just 4,506 steps, which is a major red flag. Normally, Strava's step-count data is within 10-20 steps of my actual count. TLDR: Take Strava's distance, climb, and pace data with a grain of salt.

Anyhow, both the Apple Watch 11 and Fitbit Air performed admirably when it came to keeping an accurate tally of my steps — anything within ~150 steps of the control is considered excellent in my book — but the Apple Watch was just a little closer!

Distance data between the Apple Watch and Fitbit Air is similar enough for my liking. The Fitbit noted slightly more ground covered but also a faster pace, which checks out.

The Fitbit Air's elevation metric is concerningly inaccurate (this walk was particularly hill-heavy), which doesn't make a whole lot of sense, given the device can piggyback off of the iPhone 16 Plus's climb data. This also isn't the first time I experienced less-than-precise elevation tracking insights from the Fitbit Air; it was also way lower than expected versus the Apple Watch SE 3.

Fortunately, the Fitbit Air finishes strong: Heart rate data is a perfect match with the Apple Watch Series 11, a result I love to see. Meanwhile, the Air logged slightly more calories burned, but used way less battery during my ~42-minute stroll.

Apple Watch 11 vs Fitbit Air: Winner

Ultimately, the Apple Watch Series 11 wins this showdown of fitness tracking accuracy against the Fitbit Air, with a more precise total step count and climb data.

Which fitness trackers or smartwatches should I pit head-to-head next? Let me know in the comments below. Also, which do you prefer, the Apple Watch 11 or the Fitbit Air? Share your opinion in the poll below.

More from Tom's Guide

• I walked 3,000 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70 — and I’m seriously amazed by the results
• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing
• Oura vs Whoop vs Fitbit Air — 5 questions to ask yourself before buying a screen-free fitness tracker

That depends on your expectations for the device, namely, whether you want a piece of tech that monitors your health passively or something you interact with more actively.

As TG’s resident wearables expert — and someone who just reviewed the new Fitbit Air — below are the five biggest things to consider before committing to the no-screen lifestyle.

1. Is distraction-free the way to be?

Whether you're considering one of the best smart rings, like the Oura Ring 5 or the more wallet-friendly Ringconn Gen 2 Air, or a screen-less fitness band, like the Whoop 5.0 or Fitbit Air, all of these wearables promise distraction-free health and fitness tracking insights.

Of course, if you want mirrored smartphone notifications, there is no shortage of wrist-based wearables that fill the role, including the $99 Fitbit Inspire 3 and $50 Amazfit Band 7. In fact, when comparing the Fitbit Air vs. the Fitbit Inspire 3, both devices offer broadly the same set of data; the Inspire 3 is just a little more "connected."

The point is, when it comes to screen-free fitness trackers in 2026, giving up the display also means giving up the ability to receive on-wrist/finger smartphone alerts. If that sounds delightful, read on.

2. Am I ready to bond with a companion app?

Most of the best screen-free wellness trackers, including the Oura Ring 5 and Fitbit Air, lack buttons, which means the companion app is your new best friend, whether you're checking how much battery you have left or trying to start tracking a workout.

As such, it's a good idea to get a sense of whether or not you vibe with, say, the Google Health app (formerly the Fitbit app) if you're considering the Fitbit Air. It's also worth mentioning that both Oura and Whoop charge monthly fees for their respective apps.

That said, there are plenty of subscription-free smart rings and trackers available (some with screens, some without). The tradeoff is that Oura and Whoop's holistic insights are the most in-depth across the board, especially for hardcore athletes. The Fitbit Air, on the other wrist, is subscription-optional and more geared toward casual health-conscious users.

3. Smart features? What smart features?

With no display, buttons, or notifications, it probably doesn't come as much of a surprise that the best screen-free fitness trackers also lack support for smart features. Still, I would love to see NFC added to a smart ring, if for no other reason, because paying for something with a tap of the finger sounds positively futuristic.

4. No GPS, no problem?

For my outdoor workout peeps, one of the biggest considerations to make before investing in a screen-free wearable is whether or not you can get by without onboard GPS.

While many of the best smartwatches and some of the best fitness trackers have built-in GPS antennas, no smart rings or screen-free trackers do. This means, for accurate location-based data when working out, you'll need to bring your paired smartphone along for insights into your distance, speed, pace, climb, and more after a run, walk, bike ride, etc.

5. Am I big on battery life?

It still kind of blows my mind that one of the most popular smartwatches in 2026 only lasts for roughly 24 hours per charge. I'm speaking, of course, of the Apple Watch Series 11.

Fortunately, screen-free wearables, by and large, beat their display-graced siblings when it comes to longevity. In fact, from smart rings to fitness bands, most will last up to a week, sometimes more, per charge.

What do you think of screen-free wearables? Do you already own one? Are you considering one? Let me know in the poll or comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Exclusive: Google design director says Fitbit Air reception proves they 'made the right decision' going screen-free
• Leaked Apple Watch 12 design change is the opposite of an upgrade — and that has me worried
• 5 reasons why I sometimes still wear a 'dumb' watch

I’ve been seriously impressed with the new $99 Fitbit Air — in fact, I’d go as far as to say it’s one of the best wearables to launch so far this year, but I’ve had one issue with it: the haptic alarm just isn’t strong enough to wake me from said sleep coma in the mornings.

I know what you’re thinking — surely my two-year-old is my alarm clock, and you’d be right, but as any parent knows, if I want to drink a warm cup of coffee, do a quick Pilates workout, or just sit and stare at my phone in silence, the only way to do so is to wake up before he does. Luckily, I’ve found a hidden Fitbit Air hack that solves this problem — read on to find out more.

I found that by making this simple tweak, I was definitely able to feel the alarm going off on my wrist in the morning. It was still silent enough that it didn’t wake my toddler if he had crept into my bed at 2 am, and I was able to have 20 minutes of peace before my day began.

If I didn’t have a human alarm clock, I’d love the custom alarm schedule on the Fitbit Air, which allows you to set different alarms for different days of the week. The Smart Wake feature also looks great for those who don’t want such an abrupt start to their day — the Fitbit Air will gently wake you up in a timeframe that’s best for your REM sleep, helping you wake up feeling more refreshed. A girl can only dream.

Did you know about this hidden vibration setting? Follow Tom’s Guide for more Fitbit Air tips and tricks.

Follow Tom's Guide fitness on Instagram for more workouts, routines, tips, and tricks.

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Sure, it costs less, but does the Fitbit and Google name automatically mean it's great at tracking your health? Does it even give insights that are, first of all, accurate and then actually useful?

I've been tracking my sleep with both the Fitbit Air and the Whoop MG for a week, and the Fitbit Air actually held up much better than I expected. It's not perfect, though, and there are a few things you should know before buying one.

Here's how I tested both trackers side by side

Before we get into the numbers, there's one thing worth knowing upfront: I've been using the Whoop MG for over a year now. It's been my primary fitness and health tracking device for that entire time, which means it has a lot more context about my body compared to the Fitbit Air.

I got the Fitbit Air around June 16 and started properly testing it from the night of June 17. For this test, I wore the Fitbit Air on my left, non-dominant wrist, while my Whoop MG has been on a bicep band on the same arm for the past three months. I tracked a full week across both devices from June 17 to June 25, with two nights being an exception where I actually slept without any of the bands because I fell sick.

Before we dive into the numbers, though, it's worth knowing that since the Fitbit Air was brand new out of the box, it was still building its baseline during the first couple of nights.

It's also worth noting that wearing the Whoop MG on the bicep rather than the wrist does influence readings. Both are valid measurement points, but it's commonly believed that less movement leads to more accurate results.

The wrist moves around a lot, while the bicep stays relatively still, so the Whoop data could be slightly more accurate because of that, though I can't say for certain. Either way, the Fitbit Air doesn't offer a bicep band yet, so if a bicep option is something you need, the Whoop MG is currently the only choice.

Fitbit needed a few nights before the data made sense

As expected, the Fitbit Air took a couple of days to calibrate to my body and sleep patterns. I wasn't expecting it to agree with the Whoop MG right from the first night, and that was pretty obvious in the data. On day one, there was almost a one-hour difference in total sleep. Fitbit Air logged just 5 hours and 15 minutes of sleep, while the Whoop MG recorded around 6 hours and 15 minutes.

Thankfully, things improved quickly after that. From the second night onward, the two trackers became much more consistent. On the final two nights of my testing (June 22 and June 25), both devices recorded roughly seven hours of sleep on one night and around seven and a half hours on the other, with only about a 15-minute difference.

I'd call that accurate enough for tracking total sleep duration. If all you care about is knowing how long you slept, the Fitbit Air becomes much more reliable after a few days of wear.

Sleep stages, though, are a completely different story. Even after a week, both devices continued to disagree quite a bit on deep sleep and REM sleep. You can see from the table above that there are some pretty noticeable differences between the two, despite both devices tracking the exact same nights.

Which one is actually right? Honestly, it's hard to tell after just a week of testing. A longer testing period might reveal whether the two begin converging over time, but that is something I'll give one or two months to test.

It's also worth noting that placement could be playing a role here. As I mentioned above, I wore the Whoop MG on my left bicep while the Fitbit Air stayed on my left wrist, and this might have led the trackers to produce slightly different readings.

One area where the Fitbit Air clearly felt better to me, however, was the representation of the data collected overnight.

Fitbit's app actually won me over

I've said this before, and I'll say it again. While Whoop has become popular with casual users, it's still a product built primarily for athletes. That means the moment you open the app after waking up, you're greeted with a wall of numbers, graphs, and recovery metrics.

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually think Google has done a great job with the Google Health app that powers the Fitbit Air, even though plenty of Fitbit users might disagree with me.

I don't want to wake up and immediately analyze a dashboard full of metrics. Instead, Fitbit Air gives me a quick summary of how I slept, and for most mornings, that's all I need to know whether I had a good night's sleep or not. I also like that I can tell the app when I don't agree with how I'm feeling, rather than blindly accepting the data.

One thing I also noticed during my testing was how much faster Fitbit Air processes sleep data. Most mornings, it gave me my sleep summary within five to seven minutes of waking up.

The Whoop app, on the other hand, often took much longer. There were days when I didn't get my sleep report for nearly 30 minutes, and sometimes I even had to manually end the sleep session before it would process the data.

Verdict

Overall, I still think the Fitbit Air offers a better experience for the average user. Sure, the data differed from Whoop, but that's true of almost every consumer sleep tracker. None of these devices are clinical-grade after all.

After a week of wearing both trackers, I don't think sleep tracking alone is a good enough reason to spend significantly more on a Whoop. Once the Fitbit Air had a few nights to calibrate, its total sleep tracking was consistently close enough that I stopped paying attention to the differences.

What you're really paying the Whoop premium for isn't better sleep tracking. It has other features as well, like ECG, blood pressure insights, strain tracking, and a whole recovery ecosystem built for athletes. If those features matter to you, the subscription makes sense.

But if your main priority is simply understanding how well you slept each night, I honestly think the $100 Fitbit Air gets you most of the way there, with a friendlier app experience and for a fraction of the yearly cost.

More from Tom's Guide

• I used the Apple Watch and Whoop to track my sleep for a year — there's a clear winner for me
• I walked 3,500 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3 — and there's a clear winner
• Forget the Apple Watch: I use AirPods Pro 3 for Live Heart Rate Tracking while running

So, when the opportunity arose to sit down and chat with Jonah Becker — design director for wearables at Google — about the recently debuted Fitbit Air, I was a tad embarrassed. Fortunately, Jonah didn’t take my doomsday predictions personally, which is a relief given he’s been working on Fitbit products for over a decade.

Jonah started at Fitbit in 2016 and moved over to Google during the 2021 acquisition. He currently leads the industrial design teams behind the Pixel Watch, Pixel Buds, and, of course, Fitbit.

Our chat touched on the inspiration and design process behind the Fitbit Air (i.e., one of the best fitness trackers in 2026), the reason it doesn’t have onboard GPS, and the possibility of other Google-built screen-free wearables. I also got his candid thoughts on the outcome of the Google x Fitbit acquisition, five years on.

Inspired by his children's friendship bracelets

The Fitbit Air is a $99 screen- and button-free fitness tracker that doesn’t require a subscription and works with both Android and iOS devices. Incredibly lightweight and comfortable, it barely even looks like a piece of wearable tech, and that’s the point.

“The inspiration we had from the start was the friendship bracelet — the idea that you have this thing that is super lightweight, comfortable — it's not a typical fitness watch or fitness tracker,” says Becker. It’s “something that has a more casual, all-hours-in-the-day vibe. I would see my kids at summer camp; they'd put on a friendship bracelet and wear it for months on end until basically the threads went bare and they fell off.”

The beauty of the Fitbit Air is that all of the tracking technology is condensed into a small, bean-like object that can easily be popped in and out of bands for maximum customization. Google even released a hardware development kit allowing DIYers to design and 3D-print their own bands for the Air.

“There are a lot of creative people in the world who have unique situations, and the idea that it becomes something that people can have fun with," says Becker on the subject of creating your own straps for the Air. "You know, as long as it's working in a way that it's supporting their health, that's what's most important.”

A Whoop alternative for you and me

Of course, the Fitbit Air is far from the only screen-free fitness tracker out there. Its primary competition is the Whoop 5.0, a subscription-based tracker that’s big on heady training stats and recovery insights. Perfect for hardcore athletes and pros, the Fitbit Air is essentially the exact opposite.

While Whoop-wearers are less likely to need daily motivation to work out, the rest of us, well, could probably benefit from it.

"You have your high-tier athletes, and then you have like the other 99.7% of the population. There are a lot of people who don't have that motivation and guidance. So for me, it's like, that's where the real opportunity is, this broad population health."

As I noted in my review of the Fitbit Air, the device is basically a “Whoop alternative for the rest of us.” And after chatting with Becker, it seems that was the intention behind its development.

"I see [the Fitbit Air] as sort of the archetype of the ambient fitness tracker, the displayless tracker that's not demanding your attention. We have so many devices around us demanding our attention all the time, and at the same time, health is every hour of every day, seven days a week."

No GPS, no problem... for most people

It's worth noting that the Fitbit Air lacks onboard GPS, something I critiqued in the review, but why? According to Becker, the size, cost, and battery implications of including GPS didn’t align with the overall design intent of the Air.

Moreover, “the reality is that like 99% of people who might want to track a run or a hike or something like that are going to have their phones with them. So, having the paired GPS with the phone is going to provide a great experience,” adds Becker.

On the longterm outcome of Google’s Fitbit acquisition

Becker has the unique perspective of working on the Fitbit brand both when it was a standalone company and under Google. And much to my surprise, he revealed that Fitbit Air has been under development since shortly after the acquisition in 2021. That's a long time!

“To launch [the Fitbit Air] now feels in many ways like the first big move in delivering upon the promise of the acquisition,” admits Becker.

“I think one of the great things about Fitbit becoming part of Google is that Fitbit brings a ton of health expertise, history, brand recognition, and many years — a decade plus — of data collection, so an understanding of people's biometrics and behaviors,” says Becker. “And Google is a company that can probably do the best job in the world of making sense of all that data, and I think that's what it's really unlocked.”

What’s next for Fitbit?

All of this begs the question: Is the Fitbit brand actually here to stay? When I asked Becker, he was coy, but I picked up on a glimmer of excitement. So, I pushed further. "With word of a Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 under development, might we expect other screen-free wearables from Google in the near future?" I asked.

“I think we are seeing a really great reception to Fitbit Air, so it gives us confidence that we made the right decision in pursuing a screen-free form factor, and I, and I'll have to leave it at that.”

More from Tom's Guide

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Of course, shiny new pieces of consumer tech often ship with “quirks” — who could forget Apple's “Antennagate” — but with a growing number of Fitbit Air users reporting issues with fitness tracking accuracy via TikTok and Reddit, it’s worth rehashing the device’s technical limitations, along with some troubleshooting tips.

So, if you’re having issues with Fitbit Air fitness tracking accuracy, try these three things.

1. Manually start your workouts from the app; don’t use auto-tracking

The Fitbit Air’s auto workout tracking needs, well, work. At present, it only logs walks, bike rides, "sports," and "other activities." Moreover, you need to spend 15-20 consecutive minutes or more doing a supported activity for tracking to kick in. That’s hardly ideal.

For instance, I'm a beginner runner who averages about two miles per outdoor session. As a result, my runs tend to be shorter than 20 minutes, which means the Fitbit Air is hit-or-miss at automatically logging them.

Fortunately, the solution to this issue is simple: If you want to ensure the Fitbit Air actually records your workout, manually start a workout session for your activity of choice in the Google Health app (formerly the Fitbit app) before beginning.

2. For accurate daily step counts, carry your phone at all times

One of the biggest complaints I've heard about the Fitbit Air is that daily step count totals are far from accurate. However, there's a good reason this might be the case.

As a reminder, the Fitbit Air lacks an onboard GPS. This means you need to carry a paired smartphone with you at all times if you want precise daily step count totals, as the Air piggybacks off your phone’s GPS signal.

3. When tracking outdoor workouts, always bring your phone

Similarly, if you want accurate run, hike, walk, or bike data in your post-workout report, you must carry your phone along; otherwise, metrics like distance and pace will be far from accurate.

In my testing, you can start an outdoor-based workout from your phone, then leave it behind, and the Fitbit Air will try its best to measure location-based stats, but the results are faaaar from reliable. It’s also worth noting that there’s no onboard altimeter in the Fitbit Air. So, like GPS, the wearable relies on a paired phone, carried with you, for that info.

Ultimately, Google might be wise to add a warning in the Google Health app when users start an outdoor workout stating that a paired phone is required for accurate data.

Alternatively, Google could simply turn off all location-based metrics in the post-workout report when no GPS or altimeter info is available. If nothing else, this might help folks better understand the technical limitations of the Fitbit Air.

More from Tom's Guide

• I walked 3,500 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3 — and there's a clear winner
• I went for a run with the Fitbit Air and Garmin Forerunner 70 to see how the $99 tracker compared, and I’m impressed
• Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3 — which $99 fitness tracker wins?

The Oura Ring 4 may be our favorite sleep tracker, but it's not the only entry in our best sleep trackers guide to get a price drop this Prime Day. In this sleep-tracking deals hub we've included all the best Amazon discounts on top choices from Apple Watch, Garmin, Oura, Whoop, Withings, and Fitbit, all reviewed by the Tom's Guide team.

While Amazon's Prime Day event has, to be honest, been underwhelming in some areas, it definitely hasn't let us down in the sleep tech department. So, here's a list of the top five sleep tracker discount in both the US and UK, and why they're the best Amazon Prime Day mattress and sleep deals we've seen so far.

Don't forget your Prime Membership...

Top 5 sleep tracker US Prime Day deals

Top 5 sleep tracker UK Prime Day deals

For my beginner runners, the easy-wearing, feature-packed Garmin Forerunner 165 is nearly 50% off on Amazon. Meanwhile, the latest Apple Watch Series 11 is on sale for 30% off.

Find all details on these deals and my other favorites below.

Quick Links

• Fitbit Inspire 3: was $99 now $66 @ Amazon
• Fitbit Charge 6: was $159 now $85 @ Amazon
• Garmin Forerunner 165: was $249 now $129 @ Amazon
• Apple Watch Series 11: was $399 now $279 @ Amazon
• Garmin Instinct 3: was $449 now $299 @ Amazon

Best Prime Day 2026 smartwatch deals

We're tracking all the best Prime Day smartwatch deals

Right now, you can save 48% on the Oura Ring 4 at Amazon and take 33% off the Fitbit Versa 4 at Amazon. These devices can help you learn more about your sleep habits and supercharge your rest this summer.

I've spent the past two years on the hunt for the best sleep trackers on the market, putting various watches, rings, armbands, and mats through our sleep tracker testing methodology, and recording their sale prices along the way.

That means a) I know what design elements, software, and sensors make a good sleep tracker, and b) I can spot a worthy deal when I see one. So, here I'm zoning in on the best tracker deals in current Amazon Prime Day sleep sales on both sides of the Atlantic right now.

Don't forget your Prime Membership...

Top 4 sleep tracker US Prime Day deals

From 48% off the world's top-rated smart ring (need we mention, it's the Oura Ring) to $38 savings on an up-and-coming, contact-free sleep monitor, here are the deals I recommend checking out if you're in America...

Top 4 sleep tracker UK Prime Day deals

For UK folk, the best Prime Day deals feature Oura (shock), Fitbit and Withings. Read on for all the deets...

The Fitbit Charge 6 is roughly the same size as the Fitbit Air but features a small AMOLED touchscreen. Normally priced at $159, you can score the Fitbit Charge 6 for just $99 via Amazon right now. That’s nearly 40% off retail and one of my favorite early Prime Day deals.

Epic Fitbit Charge 6 deal

One of the best Fitness trackers I've tested

The Fitbit Charge 6 may have arrived in late 2023, but it remains one of the best fitness trackers you can buy in 2026.

I frequently recommend it because it’s lightweight and comfortable, offers accurate health and fitness tracking insights, lasts nearly a week on a single charge, and has just the right amount of non-holistic smart features. These include support for Google Maps, Google Wallet, and mirrored smartphone notifications.

Plus, onboard GPS means you don’t need to carry a paired smartphone for location-based data when logging an outdoor workout.

How accurate is the Fitbit Charge 6’s fitness tracking performance? When I tested it versus the Apple Watch 10, a much pricier wearable, it proved nearly as precise. And versus the Pixel Watch 3, the Charge 6 bested its Google-built sibling. So, yeah, I’d say it’s pretty darn accurate.

To help you better understand the differences between 2023's Fitbit Charge 6 and 2026's Fitbit Air, I've compared the two across five categories, including cost, design, health and fitness tracking features, smart features, and battery life.

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Charge 6: Specs compared

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Charge 6: Cost

The newer Fitbit Air is $99, while 2023's Fitbit Charge 6 is $159. However, the latter goes on sale frequently. For example, you can pick up the Charge 6 right now for just $99 via Amazon. That said, the Fitbit Air is consistently cheaper than the Charge 6, so it wins this category.

Winner: Fitbit Air

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Charge 6: design

Both fitness trackers are lightweight, comfortable wearables with modest footprints. While the Fitbit Air is screen-free and button-free, providing a no-distractions health and fitness tracking experience, the Charge 6 offers a small 1.04-inch AMOLED touchscreen and haptic side buttons.

Does this make the Charge 6 a better tracker than the Air? That depends on whether you prefer a more-connected device capable of mirroring phone notifications and displaying stats, or one designed with a set-it-and-forget-it mentality.

Either way, the Charge 6 and Air each proved to be well-built in our testing, with respectable water resistance ratings of 50 meters. The Air is, of course, a bit more understated due to the lack of a screen; it's also a bit smaller. These factors don't necessarily make it a better-designed device, though.

Winner: draw

Fitbit Air vs Charge 6: Health and fitness tracking

The Fitbit Air proved to be a competent fitness tracker when pitted head-to-head against other popular wearables, like versus the Fitbit Inspire 3. However, it lacks onboard GPS, so you need to carry your paired phone to ensure metrics like distance, pace, and elevation gain are recorded accurately.

Not a fan of jogging with a bulky smartphone in your pocket? I feel you. In that case, the GPS-sporting Fitbit Charge 6 is going to be the better tracker for you.

The Charge 6 has other advantages over the Fitbit Air, most notably, the ability to record ECGs. When it comes to tracking workouts, both devices support over 40 modes with automatic detection and tracking for basic workouts like walks, runs, and bike rides.

Of course, thanks to its screen, users can manually start a workout on the Charge 6 with just a few taps, while Fitbit Air users will need to make a trip to the Google Health app on their paired phone.

Winner: Fitbit Charge 6

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Charge 6: Smart features

This one isn't even close. When it comes to support for smart features, the Fitbit Charge 6 blows the Fitbit Air out of the water. However, the Charge 6 doesn't offer anywhere near the level of smarts you'll get from the best smartwatch models in 2026, like the Apple Watch Series 11 or Google Pixel Watch 4.

Still, the Charge 6 has NFC, so you can tap-to-pay using Google Wallet. It also supports a small selection of handy Google apps, like Google Maps and YouTube Music. There's no onboard music storage, but you can control media playback from your paired device.

The Charge 6 additionally mirrors smartphone notifications for both Android and iOS users.

Winner: Fitbit Charge 6

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Charge 6: Battery life

The Fitbit Charge 6 is rated to last up to six days per charge on average, while the Fitbit Air is billed for up to seven days per charge. In my testing, both ratings proved accurate, making the Fitbit Air the winner of this category.

Winner: Fitbit Air

Verdict

When choosing between the Fitbit Air and the Fitbit Charge 6, the ultimate question to ask yourself is, "Do I want a screen-free and distraction-free fitness tracker or a more connected device?"

Put another way, the Fitbit Air is a wearable that you simply, well, wear and let it do its thing; the Charge 6 is one you interact with via a small touchscreen and haptic buttons.

Both are reliable, comfortable, and long-lasting. Of course, the Charge 6 has the advantage of onboard GPS, which is why I ultimately prefer it to the Air, along with NFC. But if you're not big on outdoor workouts or using tap-to-pay from this wrist, this may not matter much to you.

Overall winner: Draw

More from Tom's Guide

• Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3 — which $99 fitness tracker wins?
• I tested all 3 Fitbit Air accessory bands — and there’s a clear winner
• I've been using the Fitbit Air for over a week, and my favorite feature has completely changed the way I wake up

On a picture-perfect cerulean Seattle summer day, I took one for the team and walked 3,500 steps with the Fitbit Inspire 3 strapped to my left wrist and the Fitbit Air affixed to my right.

How do I know I walked exactly 3.5K steps? I counted each and every one, clicking my trusty manual tally counter to note every hundred, before starting the count over at one.

While my manual count was a control for steps, I used the Strava app on my iPhone 16 Plus as a control for distance, pace, and elevation gain. Ultimately, one of these top-performing fitness trackers proved more competent. Was it the Fitbit Air or the Fitbit Inspire 3? Read on for the results.

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: key differences

I’ve already gone in-depth concerning the pros and cons of the Fitbit Air vs. the Fitbit Inspire 3. But as a quick refresher, both wearables are compact and record the basics, like sleep quality, workouts, women’s health, and overall well-being.

The most notable difference: The Fitbit Inspire 3 has a screen — albeit a tiny one — for mirrored smartphone notifications, starting workouts, and viewing stats. The Fitbit Air, meanwhile, is screen-free and distraction-free.

They each cost $99, though the Inspire 3 is frequently on sale for less (It's just $79 via Amazon as of publishing). When it comes to logging outdoor workouts, like walks, neither has an onboard GPS, so you’ll need to carry your smartphone along (as I did) for accurate location-based metrics.

Now, on to the results of my 3,500-step walk test with the Fitbit Air vs the Fitbit Inspire 3.

I walked 3,500 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3

During my roughly 34-minute walk, I took exactly 3,500 steps. The Fitbit Air was more accurate, with a total that's off by just a single step. Strava, for what it's worth, noted a total of 3,510 steps.

The Fitbit Air recorded nearly the same total distance covered as Strava, while the Inspire 3 was off by nearly a third of a mile.

"The Fitbit Air's elevation tracking data has proven less than reliable in my testing, but at least the tracker provides the metric (unlike the Inspire 3)."

The Air's pace data is pretty darn close to Strava's. I didn't pause at any point during the walk, so I expected roughly the same pace from all three tracking methods. That may be the case for the Fitit Air, but not the Inspire 3.

Despite noting less distance covered, the Fitbit Inspire 3 recorded slightly higher heart rate data than the Air and more calories burned.

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: Winner

The Fitbit Air is the clear winner of this head-to-head fitness-tracking accuracy showdown against its older sibling, the Fitbit Inspire 3.

Ultimately, the Air has newer hardware and represents the latest in Google's holistic tech. The Fitbit Inspire 3 may record most of the same metrics, but the Fitbit Air does so with better overall accuracy.

Which fitness trackers or smartwatches should I test head-to-head next? Let me know in the comments below.

More from Tom's Guide

• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing
• I tested all 3 Fitbit Air accessory bands — and there’s a clear winner
• We asked Tom's Guide readers if they prefer the Fitbit Air vs. the Garmin Forerunner 70 — and the results were overwhelming

With more than 800 total votes — 821 to be exact — one wearable proved far more popular than the other, receiving nods from 67% of respondents. So, which of these top-performing fitness trackers came out on top, the Fitbit Air or the Garmin Forerunner 70? Read on.

67% of TG readers prefer the Fitbit Air, but why?

We ran our “Which 2026 fitness tracker do you prefer, the latest Garmin or the newest Fitbit?” poll for two weeks, and the results speak for themselves. With all votes tallied, 67% of Tom’s Guide readers prefer the Fitbit Air to the Garmin Forerunner 70. But why?

For starters, the Fitbit Air is just $99, and the Garmin Forerunner 70 is $249, but that’s just one likely factor in the former’s popularity.

An even bigger reason folks prefer the Fitbit might come down to the target audiences. While the Garmin Forerunner 70 is designed with running enthusiasts in mind, the Fitbit Air is geared toward, well, anyone who’s looking for health and fitness insights from a no-fuss wearable.

Ultimately, the Forerunner 70 is a more niche product, while the Fitbit Air has more mass appeal.

Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70: Biggest differences

I’ve already covered the core differences between the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70 in the intro to my 3,000-step walk test between the two (Spoiler alert: both performed with remarkable accuracy). But to summarize, the Garmin boasts more training and recovery tools, running features, and onboard GPS. It’s light on smart features but does offer mirrored notifications and media control.

The Fitbit Air, meanwhile, offers a well-rounded mix of holistic and fitness features with no screen, buttons, or ability to mirror notifications. It also requires a paired smartphone for location data when working out.

Ultimately, both the Fitbit Air and Garmin Forerunner 70 impressed me during testing, with each proving reliable, long-lasting, durable, and comfortable.

Haven’t voted in our Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70 poll yet? Make your voice heard now, below.

More from Tom's Guide

• Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Forerunner 55: Here's how Garmin's new entry-level running watch stacks up against its predecessor
• I went for a run with the Fitbit Air and Garmin Forerunner 70 to see how the $99 tracker compared, and I’m impressed
• Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3 — which $99 fitness tracker wins?

I just reviewed the Fitbit Air and have worn a Fitbit Inspire 3 for several years, and there's plenty of good reason why both make our list of the best fitness trackers in 2026.

Here's how these two trackers compare head-to-head across six categories, including cost, design, customization, health and fitness features, smart features, and battery.

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: Specs compared

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: Cost

The Fitbit Air and Fitbit Inspire 3 each cost $99. However, the former is much newer and unlikely to see a discount anytime soon, while the latter goes on sale often for up to 30% off.

For example, as of writing, you can pick up the Inspire 3 for just $79 at Amazon.

Winner: Fitbit Inspire 3

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: design

The Fitbit Inspire 3 and Fitbit Air are both small, comfortable fitness trackers that don't garner much attention or get in the way of daily life. However, the newer Air is both smaller and lighter than the Inspire 3 and offers a wider selection of band materials.

Neither wearable has physical buttons, but the Inspire 3 offers two haptic buttons on either side and sports a small AMOLED touchscreen. Depending on your ability to read tiny text and the daintiness of your fingers, navigating the Inspire 3's controls is a hit-or-miss affair.

Ultimately, I prefer the simpler, less-distracting design of the Fitbit Air to the fiddly controls and comically small screen of the Inspire 3.

Winner: Fitbit Air

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: customization

The Fitbit Air is designed for maximum accessory customization. All of the tracking components and battery are contained within a small, pebble-like shell that can easily be popped out of one strap and swapped into another.

Google has a decent selection of accessory bands for the Fitbit Air available; I tried them all, and there's a clear winner. However, with a starting price of $34.99, I'm looking forward to more affordable third-party options popping up on Amazon and the likes, eventually.

The Fitbit Inspire 3 also supports band swapping, but removing and installing a band is a trickier process. That said, to my surprise, Google sells some pretty cool-looking Inspire 3 bands to replace the standard-issued ones.

Winner: Fitbit Air

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: Health and fitness

The Fitbit Inspire 3 and Fitbit Air boast the same onboard tech, including sensors for tracking heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, movement and temperature. However, it's unclear whether the Air is using newer sensors or the same generation as the Inspire 3.

Either way, both devices keep tabs on your overall well-being, sleep quality, fitness, and women's health. However, neither sports an onboard GPS for location tracking data or an altimeter for elevation insights.

This means that you'll need to carry a paired smartphone along when working out to accurately capture metrics like distance, pace, speed, and elevation gain.

You also get automatic workout tracking for a small selection of common exercises, regardless of which tracker you choose. Meanwhile, more nuanced activities can be manually selected.

Winner: Draw

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: Smart features

Neither of these fitness trackers offers much by way of smart features, but that's the point. Apps like Google Wallet and YouTube Music are reserved for the higher-end Fitbit Charge 6. You also won't find onboard storage for saving music on either.

The Inspire 3 can mirror smartphone notifications from Android or iOS devices on its tiny screen, but it's not a great user experience. Meanwhile, both wearables support Google's lovely Smart Wake haptic alarm feature. And that's a wrap for smart features.

Winner: Draw

Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: Battery life

Battery life is impressive with any tracker you choose, but the Fitbit Inspire 3 lasts a little longer than the Air. In our testing, the Inspire 3 easily meets the ten-day-per-charge threshold, while the Air effortlessly matches the advertised seven days per charge.

Winner: Fitbit Inspire 3

Verdict

In terms of performance, wearability, and cost, the Fitbit Air and Fitbit Inspire 3 are extremely similar. What sets them apart largely boils down to design. Simply put, the Inspire 3 has a small screen for starting workouts, viewing stats, and receiving mirrored smartphone notifications, while the Air does not.

Personally, I prefer the Fitbit Air's set-it-and-forget-it approach to wellness tracking, with no annoying controls or tiny screens to deal with. I admit, starting a workout session from the Google Health app is a tad annoying, and the Air's auto workout tracking needs... work, but the overall user experience of the Air feels more refined than that of the Inspire 3.

Of course, at the end of the day, they both log the same health and fitness insights.

Overall winner: Draw

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• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing
• I tested all 3 Fitbit Air accessory bands — and there’s a clear winner
• I've been using the Fitbit Air for over a week, and my favorite feature has completely changed the way I wake up

The screen-free and subscription-optional Fitbit Air is Google's answer to the Whoop 5.0 fitness tracker, and one of the best fitness trackers in 2026. Starting at $99, users can select from three strap types — though, more are in the works — including two woven options and one silicone.

I've been wearing the Fitbit Air for over a week and tested all three options, both while working out and hanging out. Here's how I rank them.

Third place: Fitbit Active Band

• Price: $34.99 or $99 with Fitbit Air
• Styles: Obsidian, Lavender, Berry, Fog
• Sizes: Small (130-175mm), Large (165-210mm)
• Material: Silicone

In third place, we have the silicone Fitbit Active Band, available in your choice of four colors, including Berry, shown here. This option is sold either kitted with the Fitbit Air for $99 or on its own for $34.99 via Google directly.

As far as rubbery/silicone straps go, this one is fairly soft on the skin; however, several factors detract from its appeal.

For starters, the Active Band is both thicker and less flexible than the woven strap options. It also secures to your wrist with a pin-and-buckle style system, so you can't make micro-adjustments for maximum comfort. That said, two sizes are available.

Finally, I'm not a fan of how silicone feels on my skin, in general, when I'm super sweaty. So, the Fitbit Active Band was never going to be my top choice.

Second place: Fitbit Performance Loop

• Price: $34.99 or $99 with Fitbit Air
• Styles: Obsidian, Lavender, Berry, Fog
• Size: One size (130-210mm)
• Material: Woven polyester and elastane fabric, stainless steel buckle

In second place, we have the Fitbit Performance Loop, which comes in the same four color options as the Active Band above. It's also priced at $34.99 from Google à la carte, or $99 with the tracker.

The Performance Loop is a woven textile strap made from a mix of polyester and stretchy elastane, with a shiny, stainless steel buckle. Available in one size, velcro allows for infinite micro-adjustments.

Overall, I found this strap to be quite comfortable; it's seriously lightweight, flexible, and anything but thick. However, the woven material is a bit slick, so the Fitbit's sensors occasionally slide from their ideal position, atop the wrist, when working out or just getting sweaty.

Fortunately, my favorite Fitbit Air band solves this issue.

First place: Fitbit Stephen Curry Loop

• Price: $129 with Fitbit Air
• Style: Orange and Rye
• Size: One size (130-210mm)
• Material: Woven polyester and elastane fabric w/ water resistant coating and silicone ribs, satin finish stainless steel buckle

The Fitbit Air Stephen Curry Loop is hands down the best accessory band for the device from a comfort standpoint. I also think the black, orange, and rye woven pattern looks really sharp; colleagues and pals tend to agree.

Unfortunately, at this time, Google isn't selling the Stephen Curry band on its own. The only way to secure one is to purchase the special edition Fitbit Air for $129.99; fortunately, while it's 'special edition,' it's not 'limited edition.'

This band uses the same woven material as the standard Performance Loop; however, Steph's version is treated with a water-repellent coating to make it more quick drying. In my testing, it dries extremely fast, even after a proper soaking in the shower.

The underside of the Steph Curry Loop features raised silicone ribs running parallel to the length of the strap. These not only increase airflow but also help secure the Fitbit Air in place on your wrist during physical activities.

Ultimately, I think the Steph Curry strap is worth the extra $30 compared to the others. Now I just wish Google would offer it in additional styles and à la carte. Even if they're $40, I'd probably pick up another. Any more than that, and I'll wait for a sale.

Which Fitbit Air strap do you prefer? Let me know in the poll below.

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• Forget the Whoop 5.0 — The new Fitbit Air is a screen-less, subscription-free fitness tracker for the masses

The Apple Watch SE 3 is Cupertino's latest entry-level, full-featured smartwatch and one of the best cheap smartwatches of 2026. The Fitbit Air, meanwhile, is a brand-new, diminutive, screen-free wearable and one of the best fitness trackers available right now.

Both devices track tons of workout types and deliver similarly detailed post-effort insights, but which one is more reliable? To find out, I walked 4,5000 steps while wearing the Apple Watch SE 3 on my left wrist and the Fitbit Air on my right. As a primary control for tracking accuracy, I manually counted my steps, noting every hundred taken with a click of my trusty tally counter.

I also logged my efforts using the Strava app on my iPhone 16 Plus as a control for distance, pace, and climb data. So, which wearable came out on top, the Fitbit Air or the Apple Watch SE 3? Read on.

Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch SE 3: fitness tracking accuracy compared

Before jumping into the results, it's worth noting some of the primary differences between these two popular wearables. For starters, the screen-less Fitbit Air is designed to be a distraction-free tracker with no notifications or smart features (except just one).

On the other hand, the Apple Watch SE 3 is essentially the opposite: an ultra-connected smartwatch that does much more, in terms of smart features, than just track health and fitness stats. The SE 3 is also considerably pricier than the Air, starting at $249 compared to $99 for the latest Fitbit.

Finally, the Apple Watch SE 3 sports onboard GPS for location tracking without a paired smartphone; the Fitbit Air does not. That said, when you do carry your smartphone while logging an outdoor workout with the Air, fitness tracking performance is excellent.

Now, on to the test results!

Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch SE 3: Walk test results

I logged exactly 4,500 steps (manual count) during my roughly 40-minute walk around a gloomy Seattle, Washington, including a climb up the city's steepest hill. And much to my delight, both wearables logged similar step counts that fall well within a reasonable margin of error; ultimately, any tally within 100 steps of my actual count is considered an impressive outcome.

However, while the Apple Watch SE 3 is just 37 steps of my actual total, the Fitbit Air is off by just 12 steps. Strava, meanwhile, bested them both, logging 4,502 steps.

Distance data is similarly enough across the board, with Fitbit Air proving slightly more in line with the control data. However, the Air's climb data leaves a lot to be desired. The SE 3, in contrast, noted just a bit more uphill effort than Strava.

Thanks to the gloom, I encountered little traffic, which meant that I didn't stop moving at any point during this walk. As a result, I expected my average pace to be pretty similar across the board, which it is. However, Apple's pace calculation is closer to the control than Fitbit's.

Similar to my prior walk test with the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70, the former's heart rate data is noticeably lower than the competition's. This is a somewhat odd result, given that the Fitbit Air's heart rate tracking performed admirably time and again during testing for the review, regardless of which wrist I wore it on.

One possible theory for the discrepancies: I didn't wear the Air tightly enough during my last two walk tests.

Fitbit Air vs Apple Watch SE 3: Winner

Despite the Apple Watch SE 3 costing 2.5x the Fitbit Air, Google's humble, screen-less fitness tracker wins this showdown. However, the SE 3 performed nearly as well when it comes to step count and was more accurate across the board for other key metrics.

Which fitness trackers, smartwatches, smart rings, etc. would you like me to test head-to-head next? Let me know in the comments below.

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• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing
• I spent one week with a wallet-friendly Garmin Forerunner 970 dupe — 5 things that stand out about the $300 cheaper Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro

Priced at $99, with all major health, sleep, and fitness metrics available subscription-free, the Fitbit Air is also the best budget-friendly Whoop alternative, and my favorite fitness tracker of 2026 so far.

With no screen, buttons, NFC, or mirrored smartphone notifications to distract you, the Fitbit Air offers just one feature I’d consider to be truly ‘smart.’ More importantly, this feature has totally changed the way I start my day.

No smart alerts or distractions… except this one

In theory, the Fitbit Air could alert you to an incoming phone call, text message, or any other notification. However, by design, the onboard haptic motor is only capable of vibrating when you set an alarm from the sleep tab in the Google Health app (formerly the Fitbit app).

This is by no means a new or groundbreaking feature for wearables in 2026; plenty of the best Fitbits and many of the best smartwatch models offer something similar. However, I’m a little surprised but genuinely pleased that Google included hatpic feedback with the brand’s latest Fitbit.

Users can save up to eight alarms total. When one goes off, the tracker gently vibrates for roughly 30 seconds before going into snooze mode. This delays the alarm for exactly nine minutes (and can’t be changed) before it goes off again.

Not only is this a lovely, non-startling way to wake up — and one I’ve fully adopted — but unlike a standard audible alarm, the Fitbit Air alarm doesn’t wake my sleeping partner, or even my dog, Belverdere.

To silence the Fitbit Air’s haptic alarm, firmly double-tap the top of the tracker. From my experience, this works the first time, roughly 90% of the time.

The brilliance of ‘Smart Wake’

In addition to a haptic alarm, the Fitbit Air also supports Google’s ‘Smart Wake’ feature, which, when activated, prioritizes waking you during your optimal sleep stage, i.e., when you’re not in deep sleep or REM.

When switched on, Smart Wake will wake you up to 30 minutes before your actual alarm, but never after.

Some room for improvement

It’s worth noting that I’m a reasonably light sleeper, and even though the level of vibration offered by the Fitbit Air’s alarm is more than enough to get my eyes open, it may not be enough to awaken more hardcore snoozers.

My suggested solution for Google: Add a new function that lets users adjust how much the Air vibrates when the alarm goes off, with three levels to select from.

Have you ever tried waking up via haptics on a fitness tracker or smartwatch? What was your experience? Let me know in the comments below.

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Not only is the Charge 6 one of the best fitness trackers in 2026, despite launching in 2023, but it's a more capable tracker than the newer Fitbit Air.

Better yet, the Fitbit Charge 6 is on sale right now for 20% off at Walmart. That drops the price to $127 from $159, making the Fitbit Charge 6 nearly as affordable as the $99 Fitbit Air. And that's not the only Fitbit on sale right now...

Best Fitbit spring deals

• Fitbit Charge 6: was $159 now $127 @ Walmart
• Fitbit Inspire 3: was $99 now $84 @ Amazon

Fitbit Charge 6 vs Fitbit Air

Think of the Charge 6 as the Fitbit Air’s older brother. The two are similarly slender and easy to wear, but the Charge 6 sports an AMOLED screen — albeit a small one — and a host of ‘smart’ features, including support for NFC payments, turn-by-turn directions via Google Maps, mirrored smartphone notifications, and music/media controls.

Another advantage of the Fitbit Charge 6: It sports an onboard GPS antenna, which allows you to track outdoor workouts without needing to carry your paired smartphone. That said, in my testing, the Fitbit Air proved to be just as accurate as the new, pricier Garmin Forerunner 70 when you do carry your phone along.

Save on the Fitbit Inspire 3, too

In addition to the Fitbit Charge 6 deal, the smaller, more entry-level Fitbit Inspire 3 — which sports an even smaller screen than the Charge 6 and similarly lacks GPS like the Air — is also on sale for 15% off on Amazon, bringing the price down from $99 to $84.

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• I walked 3,000 steps with the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70 — and I’m seriously amazed by the results
• The Fitbit app is officially dead — but don’t panic, its replacement is even better
• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing

The Fitbit Air is a screen-less, wallet-friendly alternative to the Whoop 5.0, while the Garmin Forerunner 70 is the brand’s latest entry-level running watch, replacing the beloved but aging Forerunner 55.

To find out which of these 2026 wearables is the more accurate fitness tracker, I walked 3,000 steps with the Garmin on my left wrist and the Fitbit on my right. As a primary control for this head-to-head, I manually counted my steps (with some help from my trusty, old-school tally counter). Additionally, I logged my walk using the Strava app on an iPhone 16 Plus.

Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70: fitness tracking accuracy compared

Before diving into the results, it’s worth noting some key differences between these two devices. For one, the Garmin Forerunner 70 is $250 on Amazon and other major retailers, which is more than twice the cost of the $99 Fitbit Air.

Both wearables offer their primary health and fitness tracking features without a subscription. Want personalized insights, trend reports, workout recommendations, and more? Google Health Premium for the Fitbit Air is $9.99 a month or $99 for the year, while Garmin Connect+ is $6.99 a month or $69.99 annually.

The other notable difference is that the Garmin Forerunner 70 sports an onboard GPS while the Fitbit Air doesn’t. This means you'll need to carry your smartphone for location and elevation data when tracking an outdoor workout with the Air, something that isn’t the case for the Forerunner 70.

Now, on to the test results!

Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70: Walk test results

Any step count total within one hundred steps of my actual tally is considered a fantastic result by TG walk test standards. For this head-to-head, the Fitbit Air and Garmin Forerunner 70 were both within just five steps of the actual tally, a seriously amazing outcome. Strava, meanwhile, logged 3,006 total steps taken.

Distance data also lines up nicely across the board, with Fitbit's tally being just a tad closer to the control. The Fitbit Air also delivered a more accurate elevation gain total than the Garmin Forerunner 70, which notably lacks a barometric altimeter for tracking climb data (the Air piggyback's off your phone's altimeter just like it does for GPS).

While Strava and Garmin each provide moving and elapsed pace metrics, the Fitbit Air only offers one, and doesn't specify which it is (my money is on the latter). The figures above reflect Garmin and Strava's elapsed pace. For moving pace, Strava noted 17 mins 15 secs per mile, while Garmin logged 17 mins 35 secs.

Fitbit's average heart rate metric is quite a bit lower than Garmin's — the Fitbit was on my right wrist and the Garmin on my left, which could be a factor — but both wearables recorded roughly the same max heart rate for the walk, which notably included some extra-steep terrain to get my blood pumping.

Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70: Winner

And the winner is... both wearables! This one is a tie, as both the Air and Forerunner 70 were within four steps of my actual count.

Ultimately, the Fitbit Air is one of the best fitness trackers you can buy in 2026, and while I'm still reviewing the Garmin Forerunner 70, there's a solid shot it's destined for our best Garmin watch guide as well.

This is to say, top-notch performance is not only what I hoped for from these two modern wearables, but also what I expected. And both delivered with flying colors.

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That depends on factors like your holistic and fitness monitoring needs, budget, and desire for smart features. With that in mind, here are five reasons to buy the Fitbit Air and two reasons to skip it.

Buy: The price (it’s cheap)

The Fitbit Air is just $99 with no subscription costs for core health and fitness tracking insights. However, a Google Health Premium subscription for $99 a year or $9.99 a month unlocks all sorts of heady AI-backed holistic tools and trend deep dives.

Not a subscription person? Google includes three months of Google Health Premium free with your purchase, so that you can try those premium features first before making a commitment.

Buy: All-day comfort

The Fitbit Air is the smallest and lightest screen-free fitness tracker of its kind, with a footprint that’s 35 x 17 x 8 mm and a weight of only 5.2 g without the strap. By comparison, the Whoop 5.0 weighs a wrist-crunching 26.5 g.

The straps for the Fitbit Air are also noticeably slimmer than the competition’s offerings, making the Air one of the comfiest trackers I’ve tested, particularly on the special edition Stephen Curry knit strap.

This also makes the Air an excellent choice for sleep tracking insights, especially if you’re like me and seriously loathe anything bulky on the wrist while snoozing.

Buy: Accurate health and fitness insights

I tested the Fitbit Air’s tracking performance against the Garmin Forerunner 70, a $250 entry-leving running watch, and the Strava app, my go-to for logging any outdoor workout.

After comparing the data from a 3,000-step walk and a 1.5-mile run, the results proved decisive: the Fitbit Air is as competent and reliable a wearable for measuring heart rate and metrics like speed, pace, and distance during outdoor workouts as the far pricier Garmin.

Buy: Distraction-free tracking

One of the biggest selling points of the Fitbit Air is what it doesn’t have: there’s no screen, no buttons, no mirrored smartphone notifications, and basically, no distractions to slow you down.

The device does have a built-in haptic motor that can be used to gently and silently wake you using the Fitbit’s Smart Alarm, but that’s essentially it for smarts.

Buy: Long-lasting battery

Google promises up to seven days of battery from the Fitbit Air, and that’s been exactly my experience while testing it. After seven consecutive days wearing the device pretty much 24/7, I had roughly 15% battery remaining.

Considering just how lightweight the Air is, a week of battery is darn impressive. It also recharges rather quickly, going from 0 to 100% in about 90 minutes.

Skip: A lack of GPS

I mentioned accurate fitness tracking performance, but there’s one caveat: the Fitbit Air lacks an onboard GPS for location tracking data, so you’ll need to carry your paired smartphone for insights into distance, pace, etc, along with a post-effort map.

The Air additionally lacks an onboard altimeter for elevation tracking data, but worry not! Your smartphone also has one of those, too.

Skip: No smart features

Finally, if you’re the type of person who prefers a screen, buttons, smart features, and optional smartphone notifications, the Fitbit Air isn’t for you.

Instead, I recommend taking a look at the Fitbit Charge 6, which is similar in size but with a screen, NFC payments, and other useful smarts. A little pricier than the Air at $159, it also sports onboard GPS.

More from Tom's Guide

• Garmin’s screen-less Whoop competitor could cost five times as much as the Fitbit Air
• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing
• The Fitbit app is officially dead — but don’t panic, its replacement is even better

That's right, the Fitbit app is now the Google Health app, and Fitbit Premium is now Google Health Premium. Pricing for the Premium subscription remains the same: $9.99 a month or $99 annually.

New name, same basic app, better design

The new app was built based on feedback from longtime Fitbit wearers, and organizes everything into four cour tabs: Today, Fitness, Sleep, and Health. Rather than inundating users with numbers and graphs, the most relevant wellness metrics are presented front and center.

Of course, users can customize the dashboards on each page to their heart's content. Available for both Android and iOS, the new Google Health app plays nicely with a ton of other popular health and fitness apps, like Run Club, AllTrails, MyFitnessPal, and the Oura app.

A new 'Leaderboard' feature lets users compete in fitness challenges head-to-head with friends and family, which is somewhat ironic, given the fact that Google nixed a similar community challenges feature from the Fitbit app back in 2023.

What does this mean for Premium subscribers?

As noted above, Fitbit Premium is now Google Health Premium. The price is the same, but your subscription now unlocks a whole lot more.

With the launch of Google Health Premium, Google's AI-powered, personalized health and fitness concierge officially moves out of beta and becomes a full-blown part of the Premium experience.

When I tried Google's AI fitness coach back in November — which started with a casual conversation about my health and fitness goals — I was impressed. And the Coach has only gotten better over time. What exactly does it do? The Coach can generate custom workout plans, suggest daily exercises, help you eat and sleep better, generate all sorts of trend reports with actionable insights, and much more.

Other new features for Premium users include the ability to upload medical records, giving the Google Health app an even more complete understanding of your wellness. Google says that this data is encrypted end-to-end and that users have complete control over their data privacy.

How to update from the Fitbit app to Google Health

Google started rolling out the new app last week, on May 19th.

If you search for the Fitbit app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, you'll likely be redirected to the 'Google Health (Fitbit)' app instead.

For folks who already have the Fitbit app downloaded, simply update your app to the latest version to unlock the newer Google Health layout and expanded features.

The Fitbit name lives on elsewhere

As noted in the intro, there's no need to pour one out for the Fitbit brand just yet. While the Fitbit app may be dead, the brand lives on via the outstanding and affordable ($99) new Fitbit Air, a screen-free, long-lasting wearable that's nothing but a pleasure to use.

Read my complete Fitbit Air review, and stay tuned for a full review on the new Google Health app, including the premium features.

More from Tom's Guide

• Garmin’s screen-less Whoop competitor could cost five times as much as the Fitbit Air
• The Fitbit Air is basically just a screen-less Fitbit Inspire 3 — and that’s a very good thing
• Forget the Whoop 5.0 — The new Fitbit Air is a screen-less, subscription-free fitness tracker for the masses

Thankfully — and much to my surprise — Google’s Fitbit draught ended in early May with the debut of the ultra-petite, screen-free, and subscription-optional Fitbit Air.

Priced at just $99, the Fitbit Air is designed to be a set-it-and-forget-it, ultra-discreet health tracker with 24/7 heart rate monitoring, detailed nightly sleep reports, basic fitness tracking, recovery recommendations, women’s health tracking, and perhaps most notably, zero buttons or smart features.

I tested the Fitbit Air for over a week, and I may never take it off. The Fitbit Air is easily the best no-fuss, bang-for-your-buck, screen-less fitness tracker on the market in 2026. That's right, forget the more advanced, serious-athletes-only, wallet-draining Whoop 5.0, here’s why I’ll be recommending the Fitbit Air to users far and wide for the foreseeable future.

Fitbit Air: Specs compared

Fitbit Air value: 5/5

• At $99 and subscription-free for core features, the Fitbit Air is one of the best value screenless trackers available in 2026
• An optional Google Health Premium account unlocks personalized AI-backed health and fitness insights, along with deeper dives into your holistic trends; it's $9.99 a month or $99 a year
• Cost-wise, the Fitbit Air is the same price as 2022's entry-level Fitbit Inspire 3 tracker, which is still sold by Google (but often for $79); the Air is less than the GPS-sporting Fitbit Charge 6 ($159)

The Fitbit Air is $99, the same price that the Fitbit Inspire 3 debuted at in 2022. This may have you thinking that the Air replaces the Inspire 3 in the brand's lineup, but that's not the case. Google will continue selling the Fitbit Inspire 3 for $79-$99 and the Fitbit Charge 6 for $159 for the foreseeable future.

The Fitbit Air will set you back $99 paired with one of Google's standard silicone or kniy straps or $129 paired with the special edition Stephan Curry strap (which I'm a big fan of, more on that below).

Compared to the competition, the Fitbit Air is the same price as the Amazfit Helio Strap and half the price of the Polar Loop, both of which are also subscription-free. The Fitbit Air is additionally less than half the price of the cheapest annual Whoop subscription.

Speaking of subscriptions, some of the more advanced features, like AI-backed recommendations and trend insights, require a Google Health Premium (previously Fitbit Premium) subscription for $9.99 a month or $99 for the year; full review of that coming soon.

Ultimately, the Fitbit Air ships with a three-month trial to Premium to help you decide whether those additional features are worth it to you, something I appreciate.

Fitbit Air value: 5/5

Fitbit Air design and comfort: 5/5

• The Fitbit Air is smaller, lighter, and more comfortable than the competition
• Better water resistance than Whoop 5.0
• Designed to be swapped from strap to strap with ease
• The special edition Stephen Curry strap is the comfiest of Google's initial offerings

The Fitbit Air doesn't have a screen or any buttons; however, it does have a haptic motor, which can be set to vibrate for a limited number of use cases, most notably as a way to gently and silently wake you up via Google's Smart Alarm function. You cannot set it to vibrate to alert you to incoming texts, calls, or other smartphone notifications.

The Fitbit Air is noticeably smaller, thinner, and lighter than all of its competitors, including the Whoop 5.0, Polar Loop, and Amazfit Helio Strap.

Weighing just over 5 g and with a tiny footprint, the Fitbit Air is not only extremely comfortable, especially on the special edition Stephen Curry strap, but it also doesn't really resemble a fitness tracker... like, at all. Instead, it looks more like a sporty bracelet than a tech gadget.

Water resistance is 50 meters, which beats the pants off the Whoop 5.0, and should be enough to protect the Air during short surface-level swims, showers, hand-washing, etc.

The tracker itself is nothing more than a small plastic pebble with some sensors and charging contacts on the underside. However, because it's protected by the strap, it's nearly impossible to damage the tech components, even if you slam your wrist unintentionally into a wall.

Customization is a big selling point of the Air. The tracker itself, which looks like a slimmed-down Inspire 3 without straps, pops with delightful fashion in and out of its housing with a firm push.

Google is selling a fairly wide selection of straps, starting at $34.99, in all sorts of eye-catching colors. Choose from sporty silicone or stretchy knit fabric. Meanwhile, wallet-friendly, third-party straps have yet to materialize on Amazon and the likes, but give it time.

It's worth calling out the Steph Curry strap, because it feels a lot more premium, breathable, and less scratchy than the standard knit strap Google offers with the device for $99.

Health tracking: 4/5

• Lots of sleep tracking insights on par with the best fitness trackers and best smartwatches
• User-friendly app for tracking holistic trends like resting heart rate, average calorie burn, step count, heart rate variability, menstrual cycles, and daily readiness
• Some health tracking features require a Google Health Premium subscription, like AI-analyzed sleep trend recommendations (via Google Coach)

The Fitbit Air sports an onboard continuous heart rate tracker, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) reader, and body temperature sensor for keeping tabs on all your core holistic metrics, including heart rate variability trends, breath rate, cardio load, and daily readiness, a numeric score out of 100.

For a $99 wearable, the Fitbit Air provides detailed sleep reports on par with some of the best smartwatch models in 2026, with insights into your sleep duration, time spent in sleep cycles, restlessness, and daily sleep quality rating and score, also out of 100.

I tested the Fitbit Air against the Garmin Forerunner 70 nightly for a week straight. The chart above shows recent results, logged during the same night from each tracker. While the data doesn't match perfectly, the results are pretty darn close across the board, suggesting that the Fitbit Air is just as capable of logging sleep quality as a device 2.5 times its cost.

Google completely overhauled the Fitbit companion app, now called 'Google Health,' and the results are an easy-to-navigate experience with quick and easy access to whatever metrics you value most — the app is highly customizable — along with just the right amount of context and analysis to prove useful but not overwhelming.

Fitbit Air fitness tracking: 3/5

• Reliable fitness tracking performance when you carry a paired smartphone for location and elevation data
• Auto workout mode only starts tracking after 15 minutes and is limited to a handful of common exercises
• Similar heart rate tracking reliability to entry-level Garmin watches; no apparent performance differences between tracking on left vs right wrists
• Personalized AI-backed adaptive fitness plans require a Google Health Premium subscription

Like nearly every screen-less wearable, the Fitbit Air lacks an onboard GPS for location data and an altimeter for elevation insights. This means that you'll want to carry your paired smartphone when performing outdoor workouts for the Air to piggyback off of, to ensure reliable distance, pace, and elevation gain metrics.

The Fitbit Air automatically tracks a small selection of workout types, including walks, bike rides, 'sports,' and 'other activities.' It does so whether you carry your paired phone or not, but there's a catch. For an activity to be auto-logged, you have to do it for at least 15 consecutive minutes.

I'm a newbie runner who jogs roughly 1.5 miles several times a week. That often takes me less than 15 minutes, which means that I have to manually open the Fitbit app on my phone and start a running workout session to ensure the Air actually logs it. This is less than ideal, IMHO, and Google should instead lower the auto workout threshold for the Air to five minutes instead.

The selectable tracking modes for the Fitbit Air in the app are also somewhat limited compared to the competition, with just 41 to choose from. For example, there isn't even a pickleball mode!

When carrying a paired smartphone, fitness tracking performance from the Fitbit Air is top-notch. I walked 3,000 steps — manually counted — with the Fitbit Air vs Garmin Forerunner 70 vs Strava running on an iPhone 16, and the Air proved just as accurate across the board as the others (though its pace data was a little sluggish).

To ensure similar heart rate tracking capabilities on either wrist, I performed 50 jumping jacks with the Air on first on my left and then on my right wrist (giving time for my heart to return to a resting rate in between). I also wore the Garmin Forerunner 70 on the opposite wrist of the Air during testing for an additional data set. The results: The Fitbit Air tracks your heart rate with similar reliability to Garmin's top entry-level smartwatch, regardless of which wrist you wear it on.

In addition to testing the Fitbit Air while walking and doing aerobic workouts, I also tested it against Garmin and Strava while going for a 1.5-mile run. In this test, the Air's results once again line up nicely with the competition.

Of course, for the most valuable insights into your fitness trends, you'll want to take Google Health Premium for a spin, which notably unlocks Google's Gemini-backed 'Coach,' a personalized, holistic concierge that is far more helpful, in my testing, than Apple's 'Workout Buddy' or Samsung's 'Running Coach.'

For example, after a week of less-than-ideal sleep and more workouts logged than normal, the Coach not only advised I take it easy, but also gave me targets for how much sleep to get in the next few nights, low-key workout suggestions that target muscle groups I didn't utilize in recent days, and big picture advice based on my fitness goals and recent performance.

Fitbit Air battery life: 4/5

• The Fitbit Air lasted over a week in my testing, meeting its advertised rating
• It also recharges quickly: 0 to 100% in roughly 90 minutes
• Whoop 5.0 boasts double the battery life of the Fitbit Air

The Fitbit Air is rated to last up to seven days per charge. After exactly one week of testing the Fitbit Air on my wrist, I still had 15% battery remaining. During my time wearing the device, I recorded around a dozen workouts and only took the tracker off while showering.

Google says you can fully recharge the Air from 0% to 100% battery in roughly 90 minutes, a claim that also proved true in my testing.

Sure, the Whoop 5.0 offers double the advertised battery life of the Fitbit Air, but it also weighs roughly five times more. Besides, a week of battery is more than enough in my opinion, especially when you consider that some of the best smartwatch models only last for one day per charge... cough, cough, Apple Watch 11.

Fitbit Air review: Verdict

I tested the Fitbit Air for a week, and I have no intentions of taking it off anytime soon. In fact, it's hands down my favorite screenless, subscription-free tracker on the market today and a great choice for anyone looking to learn more about their health trends without breaking the bank or straining their wrist. In short: It's a Whoop 5.0 for the rest of us.

Smaller, lighter, and overall more comfortable than alternatives from Whoop, Amazfit, and Polar, it may not have the best-in-class battery life, but at over a week per charge, it's good enough for me. While you'll find more in-depth fitness tracking insights from the best GPS sport watches, the Fitbit Air covers all the basics well, even if the auto-workout tracking could use refinement and an expansion of exercise types.

Ultimately, the combination of a completely distraction-free user experience, an affordable price, reliable holistic features, excellent comfort, impressive battery life, and no subscription requirement all add up to the Fitbit Air being my new favorite fitness tracker in 2026, and a wearable I'll be recommending to all sorts of wellness and fitness enthusiasts.

Fitbit Air final score: 21 out of 25