Google debuts Fitbit Edge with ECG, repairable modular design and subscription bundle

Google on Monday introduced the Fitbit Edge, a new $179.99 fitness tracker that expands the middle of its wearables lineup between the roughly $99 Fitbit Air and the higher-end Pixel Watch smartwatch range. The company said the device is available for pre-order now through the Google Store and retail partners and will reach stores on Oct. 27. Google is also selling a Stephen Curry Special Edition for $219.99.

The launch is notable not just for the new hardware, but for how Google is positioning it. The company is bundling three months of Google Health Premium with each purchase — “You’ll get three months of Google Health Premium on us when you purchase Google Fitbit Edge,” Google said in its product blog — underscoring a broader push into subscription-based coaching and health services. Google also said the Edge is its first repairable fitness tracker, with a replaceable battery and a modular internal design, a rarity in the category.

Google described the Edge as its “all-new smartest fitness tracker ever” and said it features a hybrid OLED display with 46% more viewing area than previous trackers. The company said the device is 11.5 mm thick, uses recycled aluminum and delivers up to seven days of battery life, based on pre-production testing. Google also said five minutes of charging provides enough power for a full day. Fitness features include built-in GPS, an altimeter, support for more than 50 exercise modes and automatic recognition of up to 100 workouts, according to the company.

On the health side, Google said the Edge includes an on-wrist ECG app, continuous optical heart-rate monitoring and a skin temperature sensor. It also adds what Google calls Health Guardian tools for blood pressure trends, insulin resistance trends and high- and low-heart-rate alerts. The company said those trend features are intended for informational and wellness use, not as medical devices, and noted that availability varies by country.

The product also arrives as Google continues folding Fitbit more tightly into its broader health platform. In May, the company rebranded the Fitbit app as the Google Health app and introduced Google Health Coach, helping explain why the Edge launch puts as much emphasis on coaching and subscriptions as on sensors and workout tracking. Google completed its acquisition of Fitbit in January 2021 after announcing the roughly $2.1 billion deal in 2019. European regulators cleared the transaction with conditions that included limits on how Fitbit health data could be used for advertising, a privacy issue that has shadowed Google’s wearables business since the deal.

Google said the Edge is rated for 5 ATM water resistance and IP68 protection, while cautioning that water resistance can degrade over time. The tracker works with Android 11 or later and iOS 16.4 or later, according to Google. Some features require a Google Account, the Google Health app and, in some cases, a Google Health Premium subscription. Pre-orders opened Monday, with retail availability set for Oct. 27.