Fitbit Inspire 3 vs Fitbit Air: I've tested both of these £84 trackers - here's the one I recommend
The Fitbit Air was only released a few months ago, bringing the new Google Health app with it, but is it better than the classic Fitbit Inspire 3?
Slimline, lightweight, and complete with expert everyday health tracking features, the Fitbit Air and Fitbit Inspire 3 both make excellent fitness trackers. At around £80 each, they are also the most affordable.
In fact, the Fitbit Inspire 3 was the only fitness tracker I recommended under £100 for a very long time. That was until the Fitbit Air was released and quickly took the top spot in our guide to the best Fitbits overall.
I've worn them both for a few weeks at a time, comparing their design, health and fitness tracking, and sleep features, wearing them night and day to find a favourite between the two. It was a tough task, but I eventually arrived at one conclusion.
The Fitbit Air comes in three colours - this sleek and discreet black, the blue colourway that I tested, and a bright coral, so there's a shade for every preference.
Read my full review of the Fitbit Air here
The Fitbit Inspire 3 comes with a little more choice: a regular black shade as pictured, pastel pink, white, and a bright orange I have been wearing.
Read my full review of the Fitbit Inspire 3 here
Specifications
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Fitbit Air | Fitbit Inspire 3 |
Size | 130 - 210 mm around | 39.32 mm x 18.6 mm x 11.75 mm |
Weight | 12g with band | 17.69g with band |
Materials | Recycled polycarbonate and PBT. stainless steel and textile | Plastic and silicone |
Battery life | 7 days | Up to 10 days |
Waterproof | Water resistant up to 50m | Water resistant up to 50m |
GPS | No | No |
Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3: Design
The key difference between the Fitbit Inspire 3 and Fitbit Air is the design. The Inspire 3 is classic. A small plastic body sits on the wrist and holds the sensor, a touchscreen, and a haptic button on the side. There's a silicone band and buckle to secure it. You can use it to tell the time and check the date at a glance, as well as record your workouts and step count. If you're familiar with other Fitbit types, you'll know the look.
The Fitbit Air is completely different. There's no screen. On first glance, it just looks like a textile strap with a stainless steel buckle and Velcro tab. The sensor is held underneath it, flush against the skin. You can wear your regular timepiece with it as it looks more like a fashion accessory than a fitness one.
The key difference between the Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3 is the screen - one has one, the other doesn't.
The design of the Fitbit Air means it's the more versatile of the two. When testing the Inspire 3, I'd take it off when wearing more formal outfits. This meant I missed out on health data every time I went out for the evening, skewing my step count, stress, and heart rate insights. The adjustable strap on the Air means you can wear this Fitbit on your ankle or arm, out of sight, and keep logging data.
Winner: Fitbit Air - unless you want to tell the time
Fitness and health tracking with the Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3
If you're a runner, the decision between the Fitbit Air vs Inspire 3 is a no-brainer. When I run with the Inspire 3, I can see my live pace, distance, and heart rate data at a glance. I need this to see how my run is going. As the Air doesn't have a screen, you can't do this. You'll only be able to see your insights when you're finished, in the Google Health app.
For those who don't do cardio or don't mind not seeing their workout data live, this isn't a problem, but it means the Fitbit Air won't be for everyone.
The Google Health app was released at the same time as the Air, completely replacing the original Fitbit app. Regardless of the device you buy, the Google Health app will be the one logging data for insights into your fitness, sleep, and stress. It's an excellent replacement that makes fitness, sleep, and stress data clear and simple to understand
It is free to use, but I would recommend upgrading to the Premium version (after the free trial). With the £9.99 monthly subscription, you have access to Google's Gemini AI overviews of the day, workout programs, and daily suggestions. While I was initially sceptical about upgrading, the daily suggestions really impressed me. This takes factors like your completed workouts, plan, energy levels, and even the weather and temperature into account to suggest a plan for the day in one notification.
Winner: Fitbit Inspire 3
If you are a runner, I'd recommend the Fitbit Charge 6 over the Air and the Inspire 3. It's one of the best running watches, with more workout insights and features for cardio lovers available.
Sleep tracking on the Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3
The Google Health app stores sleep, workout, and other health data to view in detail.
The design of the Fitbit Air makes it more comfortable to wear overnight. The sensor fits flush against the wrist so I can't even feel it when I wear the device, and the Velcro is secure enough that it doesn't catch on pillows or bedding. The strap was a little itchy for the first couple of days, but I quickly got used to it, and it was never a problem in bed.
To wear the Inspire 3 overnight, you first have to turn off the sensors that wake the screen when you move your wrist. The strap also has to fit perfectly - tight enough so it can record the data, but not so tight that it's uncomfortable. As the body sits on top of the wrist, it's also bulkier than the Air, and I have caught it under my pillow in the past.
Aside from this, there's very little difference between the two. Both devices record how long you sleep for and the quality of that sleep (REM, deep, and light sleep stages). If you subscribe to Premium, Gemini will write an overview of your night, highlighting the positives and how to improve.
One underrated feature on both is the smart wake alarms. I started using this with the Fitbit Air, but the Inspire 3 has it too. With this feature, you can set a morning alarm and the watch will gently vibrate to wake you up. No sound alarm and no grumpy bedfellow woken up earlier than they want to be.
Winner: Fitbit Air
If you're looking for a sleep tracker (and you have more budget to spend), then I'd recommend weighing up the Fitbit Air vs Oura Ring. While more expensive, the Oura Ring 5 is a smart ring that's even more low-key, comfortable to wear overnight, and has more extensive sleep insights.
Price of the Fitbit Air vs Inspire 3
If price is top of your priority list, you're in luck here. The Fitbit Air and Fitbit Inspire 3 are the same at full retail price (£84.99), and hundreds of pounds cheaper than many other popular fitness trackers - including the latest Apple Watch (Series 11) and the best Garmin watches.
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is an older model. During seasonal sales and on Black Friday, it's more likely to be discounted than the Fitbit Air. If my experience with these sales is anything to go by, it could be knocked down to as little as £65 during these periods - but there aren't any on the horizon for now.
Winner: They are both the same price
The w&h verdict
When weighing up the Fitbit Air vs Fitbit Inspire 3, there's only one key difference to consider: design. The Fitbit Inspire 3 has a screen so you can use it as your regular timepiece as well as a fitness tracker. The Fitbit Air doesn't have a screen.
Choosing between the two ultimately comes down to personal preference, but I like the distraction-free, discreet design of the Fitbit Air best. It's a welcome new era for Fitbit. The brand has elevated its design and technology to offer an option for the new age, competing with smart trackers from the likes of Whoop, Oura, and Amazfit.
Overall winner: Fitbit Air
