Google Launches $100 Screenless Fitbit Air with Gemini AI Health Coach at $10/Month to Rival Whoop's $10B Wearable Business
May 7, 2026 - 2:46 pm
Image: Google Fitbit Air
TL;DR: Google launched the Fitbit Air, a $100 fitness band that rivals Whoop’s hardware design but undercuts its subscription by more than half. Paired with a Gemini-powered AI health coach at $10 per month, the device launches alongside a forced migration of Fitbit data to Google accounts by May 19th and a rebranding of Fitbit software as Google Health, raising privacy questions.
Google’s Strategy:
- Acquired Fitbit for $2.1 billion in 2021.
- Discontinued Fitbit brand over three years.
- Released a screenless, buttonless $100 device on May 26th with preorders starting on May 7th.
The Device:
- Weighs 12 grams with the strap and 5 grams without.
- Battery life is 7 days with a 5-minute fast charge providing a full day of use.
- Offers four color options: obsidian, fog, lavender, and berry.
- Features haptic feedback for alarms and an LED indicator for battery status.
- Supports voice input for logging activity and meals but cannot audibly respond.
- Detects atrial fibrillation, a standard feature in recent wearables due to regulatory clearance.
Design Influences:
The Fitbit Air closely resembles Whoop’s hardware architecture, mirroring their screenless approach focused on recovery, strain, and sleep data with premium subscription revenue. While Whoop charges $200 per year for hardware, Google offers the device for $100 with a $10 monthly AI health coach subscription.
Key Features:
- Tracks heart rate, steps, sleep, blood oxygen saturation, and heart rate variability.
- Designs workout plans, analyzes meal photos for macronutrient content, and provides personalized coaching.
- Does not display notifications, make calls, or show the time.