Our first Pick of the Week is the Google Fitbit Edge, the new screen-equipped tracker that goes on sale October 27 and drew more reviews this week than any other wearable. We haven’t tested it ourselves: this pick is based on specs and independent reviews from Engadget, The Verge and Android Authority. For the full launch details, see our Fitbit Edge launch coverage.
What the Fitbit Edge is
The Edge sits between the screenless Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch 5. It has a small, rounded AMOLED touchscreen (about 1.3 inches) with an always-on mode, a single physical button, built-in GPS and an altimeter. Health tracking covers heart rate, sleep, SpO2, skin temperature and ECG readings, and it is rated IP68 and 5 ATM for water. It runs its own software rather than Wear OS, pairs with both Android phones and iPhones, and uses the new Google Health app, which includes a three-month trial of Google’s AI health coach.
Google rates the battery at up to seven days. Android Authority finished day seven with a little over 10 percent left, while Engadget, with the always-on display turned on, got just over two days. The Edge uses the same charger as the Fitbit Air, and Engadget confirmed Google’s claim of a full charge in about 90 minutes.
What reviewers liked
- Comfort. All three reviewers found it light and easy to forget on the wrist, including in bed and under long sleeves.
- The screen. Engadget and Android Authority both describe it as bright, easy to read outdoors and quick to respond, a big step up from older Fitbit displays.
- A real button. The Verge and Engadget were glad to see a physical side button instead of the touch-sensitive ones on earlier Fitbits.
- Smarter automatic tracking. The Verge and Engadget say Google’s updated activity detection correctly picked up walks, runs and bike rides without starting a workout.
- Works with iPhone and Android. Unlike the Pixel Watch, you don’t need an Android phone.
What reviewers didn’t like
- No tap-to-pay and no calls. There’s no NFC for Google Wallet and no microphone or speaker, so you can’t pay, take calls or reply by voice from your wrist.
- Limited workout tools. Android Authority found no vibration alerts for splits or goal progress, no way to customize workout screens and no tracking of sets and reps for strength training.
- GPS distance. On one Android Authority run, the Edge measured noticeably less distance than Strava and another watch. The Verge, on the other hand, found its distance estimate pretty decent.
- Bands. The Edge uses a new band system. One of Android Authority’s bands had to be forced to attach, and The Verge notes the official metal band costs almost as much as the tracker itself.
- Value. All three reviews say it costs more than the Fitbit Air and rival trackers for what it offers.
- Settings live in the app. Watch faces, tiles and most settings have to be changed from the phone, and there’s no calendar app on the tracker.
The verdicts are split. Engadget gave it 9 out of 10 and called it the right balance between a basic band and a smartwatch. The Verge enjoyed it as a simple, low-key tracker. Android Authority was the most critical, saying the Edge feels “stuck in the middle.”
Who should buy it
The Edge makes the most sense if you want a comfortable, simple tracker with a real screen, close to a week of battery and built-in GPS, without a full smartwatch, and you like the idea of Google’s health coaching. It also works for iPhone owners who want a Fitbit with a display.
Skip it if you want to pay with your watch, take calls, or if you train seriously: runners who rely on precise GPS and people who log sets and reps will find it limiting for now.
Alternatives worth a look
- Fitbit Air: the screenless option with very similar health tracking for less. Android Authority thinks it’s the better choice for casual tracking.
- Samsung Galaxy Fit3: a bigger screen and even longer battery for less, but no built-in GPS and best with Android phones.
- Amazfit Active 3: a more traditional smartwatch shape with much richer workout tracking, according to Android Authority.
- Pixel Watch 5: if you want Google Wallet, apps and calls, a full smartwatch is the better fit, with shorter battery life.
Why it’s our pick this week
The Fitbit Edge is the most talked-about new wearable this week, and it’s a return to the simple Fitbit band many people miss. It isn’t perfect, and the reviews say so: read the cons above before you buy. If they don’t matter to you, it’s one of the most comfortable trackers with a screen you can get right now.
Sources: Engadget, The Verge, Android Authority
Where to buy
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