I wore the Fitbit Air for 7 days - here's why it's the first fitness tracker I've ever given 5 stars to

After three years, Fitbit has finally released another device - and the Fitbit Air has certainly been worth the wait. This device works a little differently from the best Fitbits that have come before, losing the screen in favour of the new Google Health app (that iPhone users can also download) with a complete suite of health and fitness tracking features.

I've been testing the best fitness trackers for five years, and have had my hands on everything from the latest Oura Ring to the brand new Garmin Forerunner 170. While these are among my favourites, the Fitbit Air does something unique: it combines your health data with a path forward, and it does it for under £85, with no subscription.

Whether you're a dedicated hiker and gym-goer or just want to get fitter with more steps and better sleep in 2026, I'd recommend the Fitbit Air.

Google Fitbit Air review

Specifications

• Size: One size, 130-210 mm around
• Weight: 12g with band
• Display: None
• Material: Recycled polycarbonate and plastic with textile band, stainless steel buckle
• Battery life: 7 days
• Waterproof: Up to 50m

What is the Fitbit Air like to wear?

If you're familiar with the Whoop band, one of the first screenless devices, then you'll know this design. In the textile strap, you'll find the hub of the Fitbit Air - a bean-shaped tracker that sits flush against the wrist and monitors your heart rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen.

If you're not, then welcome to the new world of notification-free, screenless fitness trackers. Instead of viewing your steps, sleep, and other data on your wrist, you'll find it all in the new Google Health app, which you'll need to download from your phone's app store.

The textile strap (interchangeable with silicone options from Google's online store) is fully adjustable and loops around the wrist, securing with a velcro tab. I found it slightly itchy on the first day I wore it, but this feeling was gone by the third, and after that, I completely forgot it was there.

While it's not as discreet as other faceless trackers (like a smart ring, for example), it would easily be missed in casual settings if you opted for the discreet black colourway. Only those 'in the know' would know. The stainless steel buckle is a nice touch that adds a premium feel to this otherwise very budget-friendly device.

What is the Fitbit Air like to use?

I wore the Fitbit Air for 10 days before finalising my review. This gave the watch enough time to fully calibrate my Readiness Score (a gauge of your body's recovery that tells you how much effort you should put into exercise on a given day) and get used to my body, so by the end of the testing period, all my data was correct. Even the step count got more accurate as time went on.

In the Google Health app, you'll find all the data you'd normally have on your screen, including your step count for the day so far, sleep metrics, live heart rate, and calories burned so far, and more. Distance covered and days spent exercising this week are now also on the homepage's main tab, and you can log how much water you've drunk, keep an eye on your weight (if that's a priority), and set up cycle tracking.

Instead of having to tap through to your workout and manually start it, the Fitbit Air automatically picks up the exercise you're doing and logs it as an activity. This is one of my favourite features on all Fitbits, but I found it's especially accurate on this device.

All your workouts are viewable in the 'Fitness' tab at the bottom, right next to your detailed sleep and overall health data tabs.

I'd say the pivot in design makes this Fitbit the easiest to use of the bunch. There's no tapping, scrolling, or swiping needed to use this watch. You can just leave it on your wrist, and it does all the work for you - refreshing. I also appreciated the loss of on-wrist notifications. While some people won't like this, the freedom to simply live my life undisturbed by my fitness tracker, while still having all that data to hand, was joyous.

Why is the Fitbit Air so good for beginners?

The shining star of the Fitbit Air is the integration with Google's Gemini AI. This is where beginners will really get the most for their money, but even if you're a seasoned fitness enthusiast, you'll see huge benefits - I certainly did.

When you log into the app and link up your Fitbit Air, you'll be led through the start-up process, where you'll tell the platform what your goals are, how much exercise you do at the moment, and any limiting factors you have. From here, you'll get a weekly exercise plan you can follow, and Gemini will follow it with you, giving you detailed insights into every workout and updates throughout the day on your recovery.

Speaking to those new to exercise, as I often do in my job, and remembering what it was like myself, I know how hard it can be to get started. Simply knowing where to start is the hardest part, and the Fitbit Air takes away this problem completely. You'll get genuinely useful insights with practical steps to take forward, instead of a dump of data that's hard to know what to do with.

If you invest in Google Health Premium (£7.50 per month) then you'll also be able to access a bank of workouts to follow, including walking, running, and cycling workouts from Peloton, at no further cost.

Everyone who buys a Fitbit Air gets three months of Google Health Premium for free on sign-up - just be sure to cancel this before it charges you, if you want to. For the cost, however, I'd say it's well worth the investment if you're looking to make serious changes to your health.

Sleep tracking on the Fitbit Air

In the morning, Gemini will give you an overview of your sleep, highlighting positive areas and points for improvement. Instead of having to dig into the data yourself, it's all there, laid out in sentences on the homepage every morning.

It's so refreshing to have everything there on the screen, with the option to dive into the data if you want to.

All you have to do is wear the Fitbit Air to bed. I've tested and had trouble wearing other Fitbits, like the Versa 4, to bed as the bright screen randomly turned on in the middle of the night, waking me up. With this screenless device, you don't have that problem. I also found the thin band significantly more comfortable than most other fitness trackers I've tried.

What are the new health features on the Fitbit Air?

The 'Health' page on the Google Health app has been completely redesigned, offering five vitals at a glance, to help you keep an eye on your health. Gemini is not a doctor, so this is where the AI functionality bows out, but you'll be able to see whether it's in your personal range after wearing the device for a few days.

These vitals are your breathing rate, blood oxygen saturation, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, and skin temperature variation. Together, they can tell you a lot about your health, from the chances of getting ill in the next few days to potential heart issues.

You can then take this information to your doctor, who may find it useful to get a gauge of your symptoms over the past few weeks or months.

This tab also acts as your personal data pocket. You can store your medical records here and data on your allergies, conditions, and other history that a health professional (should they need to in an emergency) can access.

Are there any downsides to this watch?

Naturally, if you are someone who likes to use your fitness tracker as a watch as much as a health data sensor, then the Fitbit Air won't be for you. Equally, if you just want the basics without extra information (maybe because you already know what the metrics mean), then you could benefit from the Fitbit Inspire 3, which is the same price.

To make the most use of the data, you'll want to continue paying for Google Health's Premium subscription. At £7.50 per month, it's a consideration. But, of all the workout apps you could invest in, this is hands-down the best value for money. Along with all the extra health and fitness insights, you'll get access to a bank of workouts (a Peloton app subscription is at least £12.99), sleep meditations and music.

Missing from the app, however, are recipes. On the original Fitbit Premium app, there were a handful of tasty recipes you could follow, with all the calories and macronutrients already tracked. If you were looking to eat healthier or lose weight, this was a huge feature. It's the only downside I found of using this device, but it's about the Google Health platform, rather than the Fitbit Air itself.

Finally, even though the Fitbit Air takes your data into account when recommending workouts and lifestyle changes, it's not a person. It's AI, which, famously, can make mistakes. So, it's always important to listen to your body and if something doesn't feel right for you, don't do it.

Is the Fitbit Air worth buying?

When I first saw that Google was releasing a new Fitbit, I was so excited. Combining all the elements of this fitness tracker with the powerhouse technology of Google was always going to produce something good (and I've seen it already in the Google Pixel 4 and Fitbit Charge 6), but the Fitbit Air is the very best of the bunch.

To call it a fitness tracker is almost an insult as its complete suite of health monitoring features makes it a true wellbeing companion, suitable for everyone from those trying exercise for the first time through to enthusiasts looking to optimise their routine for the better. As the AI is trained to work with your data, it doesn't matter your starting point. All of this, for under £85 upfront, is unheard of.