3 reasons why I'm already obsessed with the $99 Fitbit Air

Hands-on with the Fitbit Air on the orange and brown Stephen Curry strap — (Image credit: Dan Bracaglia/Tom's Guide)

I’m currently reviewing the new Fitbit Air, and after four days wearing it, I’m already obsessed.

While the Fitbit Air is far from the most advanced fitness tracker on the market today — it doesn’t even have a screen or onboard GPS — a $99 price tag, playful design, and simple-to-use disposition make it a potentially compelling choice for wrists far and wide.

With that in mind, these are the three biggest reasons why I’m smitten with the new Fitbit Air, so much so that it just might be my favorite wearable in 2026, at least, so far.

1. Accessibly priced; plays well with others

The Fitbit Air is accessibly priced at $99. That cost covers the tracker and one band; additional straps start at $34.99 via Amazon and come in a wide range of colors, and your choice of silicone or woven knit.

Speaking of accessible, the Fitbit app… excuse me, the Google Health app (new name) plays nicely on both Android and iOS devices, offering users the same experience regardless of their OS preference; how democratic!

2. Subscription and distraction-free tracking

With no screen and no buttons to get in your way, not to mention a diminutive footprint (more on that below), the Fitbit Air is the antithesis of wearables like the Apple Watch 11, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8, or the Google Pixel Watch 4, and that's the point!

There’s also no NFC for mobile payments, no speaker or microphone for taking calls, and ultimately, nothing to distract you from living in the moment.

Additionally, unlike other popular screen-free trackers aimed more at advanced athletes, most notably the Whoop 5.0 and MG, the Fitbit Air is subscription-optional. So, aside from the cost of the device itself, you never need to shell out any additional cash to make use of its primary tracking features.

That said, Google does offer an optional subscription plan for the Fitbit Air and Pixel Watch series called Google Health Premium (previously called Fitbit Premium). Priced at $9.99 a month or $99 for the year, a subscription unlocks all sorts of additional holistic tools, perhaps most notably, access to the tech giant’s new personalized wellness ‘Coach’ that turns your health data into surprisingly actionable insights.

3. Easy-wearing and addictively customizable

After roughly four days with the Fitbit Air on my wrist, I can say with certainty that this thing is comfortable as heck, a sentiment shared by my colleague Jane McGuire. Not only that, it barely resembles a piece of nerdy wearable tech; rather, it looks more like a stylish little bracelet, depending on which strap you opt for. I’m currently rocking the slick, limited-edition Stephen Curry jawn, and I’m hooked.

It’s also addictively easy to pop the little tracker out of the strap housing and swap it into a different setup. This is, of course, intentional on Google’s part. The idea is to make it easy for users to match their Air strap to their outfit or mood.

The official Google Fitbit Air straps start at $34.99, but I don't doubt that cheaper, third-party options will start popping up on Amazon in the coming weeks and months. When that happens, you can bet I’ll be purchasing a variety to test out.

What do you think of the Fitbit Air? What features are you most impressed with (or not), and are you considering buying one? Let me know in the comments below.

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Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. With 15 years of experience as a consumer technology journalist testing everything from Oura Rings to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others.

An avid outdoor adventurer, Dan is based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where he takes advantage of the beautiful surroundings every chance he gets. A lover of kayaking, hiking, swimming, biking, snowboarding and exploring, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions. When not assessing the sleep tracking and heart rate accuracy of the latest tach gadgets, you can find him photographing Seattle’s vibrant underground music community.