Google Fitbit Air Launched in India at Rs 13,999

Google has launched the screenless Fitbit Air in India at Rs 13,999. It offers heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, SpO2, activity detection and up to seven days of battery life.

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Fitbit Air, a screenless fitness band by Google has finally been released in India. As compared to regular fitness bands and smartwatches which make use of the screen for displaying notifications and other relevant details, Fitbit Air works quite differently. This wearable device has been designed keeping in mind those people who wish to stay healthy and fit but without using a screen.

This latest launch is significant not only for Fitbit, but also for Google as a company because Fitbit is primarily known as a manufacturer of fitness tracker and smartwatch devices which come with a screen.

Google Fitbit Air Price in India and Availability

The Google Fitbit Air price in India has been fixed at Rs 13,999. The new smart band will be available for purchase starting October 2nd onwards from the Google Store, Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital, Vijay Sales and other retailers across the nation.

Besides, Google is also offering some payment offers during the launch of the fitness band to make it affordable for consumers. Users can get a cashback of Rs 1,000 if they purchase the smart band through either full payment or six months interest-free EMI via select HDFC and ICICI Bank credit cards. In addition, buyers can opt for 12 months no-cost EMI schemes using consumer loan facilities.

Fitbit Air will be available in four color variants – Obsidian, Berry, Lavender and Fog. Besides, Google is also providing some other band options, letting people have an option between fitness-oriented bands and regular bands.

The Performance Loop Band comes bundled with the Fitbit Air. There is also an Active Band, which uses sweatproof silicone and is aimed at users who regularly exercise, while the Elevated Modern Band is designed for consumers looking for a more stylish appearance.

As part of the purchase experience, Google is also offering a three-month trial of Google Health Premium with the Fitbit Air. The subscription provides access to the Google Health Coach experience, which uses health and activity data to provide more personalised guidance.

Fitbit Air Takes a Screenless Approach

Undoubtedly, the main point when discussing Fitbit Air is the absence of a screen in it. First of all, from the outside perspective, this gadget looks as a wrist band but inside of it, everything works just like a regular fitness tracker does.

Users do not need to consult the screen in order to see all the stats since they can use the Fitbit environment and their phone to see all the necessary data regarding health and sports activities. The absence of the screen can be a plus for those who do not like traditional smartwatches.

It should also be noted that such a design is in line with the overall trend when wearable gadgets pay much attention to health monitoring but provide less notifications and other distractions for users.

Fitbit Air Health and Fitness Features

Even though the Fitbit Air has a simplistic design, it provides many features when it comes to health monitoring. The device is capable of measuring continuous heart rate, as well as resting heart rate and heart rate variability.

The user is also able to receive notifications about irregular heart rhythms that are associated with atrial fibrillation (Afib). Blood oxygen (SpO2) measurements are also possible with this tracker. One of the other features provided by Fitbit Air is sleep tracking.

In this mode, users can measure and analyse their sleeping patterns as well as their general sleeping behavior. Another important feature available to the user is automatic activity detection. It means that the tracker will be able to recognize certain types of activity without needing users to start each session of training.

Google Health Coach Brings More Personalised Insights

Google Health Coach experience and Fitbit Air are deeply connected with each other. Instead of just showing users the numbers and graphs, Google wants to use all the collected health information in order to create something more personal and useful.

Users can see their activity and health reports via Google Health Coach experience and use that data to analyze their exercise routines, recovery and general activity level.

One of the interesting features is that users can take pictures of the gym equipment and their workouts using their phone camera. It will help to simplify the process of logging all of those activities and exercises.

That smartphone-oriented solution is especially crucial in the case of Fitbit Air as a screenless wearable because a phone will serve as the primary device where users can see their data.

Fitbit Air Battery Life and Fast Charging

Battery life is yet another critical element of the Fitbit Air. It is reported by Google that the wearable device will last for up to seven days after being charged once due to usage conditions.

In addition, the device offers quick charging capability. As mentioned on the official website of Google, just five minutes of charging will be enough to get an entire day of battery life. This may be especially useful for individuals who use the wearable while sleeping at night without keeping it plugged in for too long.

It should be noted that the absence of a screen along with its battery life can make the Fitbit Air superior to other traditional smartwatches requiring regular charging for one or two days.

Fitbit Air vs Whoop

Fitbit Air at Rs 13,999 comes to the Indian market as another possible choice that may compete with screenless fitness trackers like Whoop.

Whoop is a brand which is very focused on health and recovery, on sleep and fitness monitoring, however, the prices of Whoop products in India are notably higher, starting from Rs 21,000 up to Rs 46,000 or even higher.

Thus, the Fitbit Air becomes an affordable solution for consumers who like the idea of using a screenless tracker, but don't want to pay a lot of money for an expensive device.

On the other hand, the two devices may attract different types of customers due to different software and subscriptions which will be available along with the fitness and health monitoring function. In particular, the integration with Google's ecosystem and Google Health Premium for three months can be attractive for the current Fitbit or Google customers.

Is the Fitbit Air Right for You?

Evidently, the Fitbit Air is not meant for those wishing to use the watch to completely substitute their smartphones. The absence of a screen means that it will be impossible to quickly see notifications, to send messages, to operate applications or to track the results of your training just by looking at your wrist.

Indeed, the product is targeted at individuals seeking ways to monitor their wellbeing in an environment free from the distractions of a screen. It can attract fitness fans wishing to be focused on training, people spending too much time in front of a phone or anyone preferring minimalistic wearables.

To such customers, the Fitbit Air can provide an interesting alternative to modern watches with various functions. The fact that the device has seven days of autonomy, health monitoring features and compactness makes the case even stronger.

At the same time, there are certain users who regard the presence of a screen necessary for sending notifications, navigating, monitoring workouts or operating applications.

The Fitbit Air from Google is bringing some change to the course Fitbit has taken. Rather than increasing the number of features in the device's wrist screen, the brand has gotten rid of the screen and concentrated solely on its health capabilities, battery, and personalized information.

Fitbit Air, available for Rs 13,999, is a device that offers the user heart-rate monitoring, sleep monitoring, SpO2 readings, activity monitoring and many other health-oriented features without having any screens. Not everybody might like this kind of product, but those tired of smartwatches would find something special in it.

Available for sale starting October 2 in India, the Fitbit Air is now going to be competing in a new market of health-oriented wearables.