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Google’s screenless Fitbit Air made a splash, but it’s been three years since the company updated its display-equipped Charge 6. That older tracker is showing its age, lacking newer automatic workout detection, deeper health metrics, and an IP68 rating. That’s where the new Fitbit Edge comes in.
Announced on Monday, it is the successor fitness tracker fans with a screen preference have been waiting for. It sits in a sweet spot at $180—not as costly as a Google Pixel Watch but offering a similar experience in a slimmer, pill-shaped design. And unlike the Pixel Watch, it’s compatible with Android and iPhones via the Google Health app. Preorders are available now, and it goes on sale on October 27.
The Fixable Fitbit
The Edge has a user-replaceable battery, a Fitbit first, aligning with Google’s efforts to make its Pixel Watch more repairable. (Likely also due to new battery regulations set to take effect next year in the European Union.) Repair options will vary by region and availability.
If you find the Pixel Watch’s round face too bulky, the Edge’s capsule-shaped alternative might suit smaller wrists better. If the Charge 6’s 1.04-inch display was too small, the Edge upgrades it to a larger 1.34-inch screen. The difference is noticeable, and that extra real estate could make a real impact when glancing at your metrics mid-workout.
The Edge borrows a few more attributes from the Pixel Watch, including an altimeter that uses atmospheric pressure to measure elevation changes. That means it can record elevation gain and loss during outdoor activities, track floors climbed, and add more context to your outdoor stats. It also has a far-field skin temperature sensor, replacing the standard device temperature sensor found in other Fitbits. By bringing some of the Pixel Watch’s more advanced hardware to a fitness-first wearable, Google is giving the Edge a compelling middle-ground position in its lineup at a Fitbit-friendly price.
