Google Launches Fitbit Edge: $179.99 Tracker With a Screen and GPS

Google has officially announced the Fitbit Edge, a $179.99 fitness tracker that sits between the screenless Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 5. Pre-orders are open now through the Google Store, and it reaches stores on October 27. After last week’s teaser, here is what the tracker actually offers.

A screen without going full smartwatch

The Fitbit Edge pairs a slim band with a wide, pill-shaped AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass 3. According to 9to5Google, the screen is 46% larger than the one on the Fitbit Charge 6 from 2023, and the 11.5mm-thick body is made of aluminum. A large button on the right side gives you physical control, which helps when the screen is wet, and the tracker is rated IP68 and 5ATM, so it is water-resistant to 50 meters.

The display is used for map directions, phone notifications, weather and music controls. Music controls work with any app on your paired phone, and the Edge supports both Android and iOS, although quick replies to messages are limited to Android. It also offers Google Maps navigation. One thing it lacks is NFC, so there is no Google Wallet for tap-to-pay.

Health and fitness features

Google says the Fitbit Edge can automatically recognize and log up to 100 activities, including runs, bike rides and walks, and it supports more than 50 exercise modes with on-screen prompts during workouts. The built-in GPS is 40% more accurate than the previous generation, the company claims, and sleep-stage detection is 15% more accurate than on earlier devices. There is also a dedicated altimeter for elevation tracking.

On the underside, the sensors include heart rate, skin temperature, ECG, and red and infrared sensors for blood oxygen (SpO2). The Edge comes with Google’s Health Guardian feature, which is designed to spot notable changes in health measurements over time, including indicators related to blood pressure and insulin resistance.

Like the Pixel Watch and the Fitbit Air, the Edge works with Google Health Coach, powered by Gemini, which can build weekly routines and workout plans and adjust them around your schedule. That part is not free: it requires a Google Health Premium subscription.

Battery life and a replaceable battery

Battery life is rated at up to seven days with the always-on display turned off, and around two days with it turned on. The Edge uses the same magnetic USB-C charger as the Fitbit Air: a 5-minute charge gives you a day of use, and a full charge takes 90 minutes. As on the Pixel Watch 5, the device can be opened to replace the battery, which is unusual for a tracker at this price.

Price, colors and availability

The Fitbit Edge costs $179.99 and comes in Obsidian, Fog, Olive and Canyon. A Stephen Curry Special Edition with a custom band is priced at $219.99. Pre-orders opened on October 12, with availability set for October 27.

What this means for buyers

The leaks pointed to a price close to $180, and that turned out to be right. For that money you get a tracker with a real screen, built-in GPS and a week of battery life, without paying for a full smartwatch. The trade-offs are clear too: there are no contactless payments, and the Gemini-powered coaching sits behind a subscription. If you want tap-to-pay on your wrist, the Pixel Watch 5 is still the Google wearable to look at.

The bottom line

The Fitbit Edge is Google’s first new tracker of this size since the Charge 6 in 2023, and it fills the gap between the $99 Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 5. It goes on sale October 27 at $179.99, with pre-orders open now.

Sources: TechCrunch, 9to5Google