[Review] Is the Google Fitbit Air Worth S$189? Our Take on the Screenless Health and Fitness Tracker

The Google Fitbit Air takes a very different approach from the increasingly feature packed smartwatches competing for space on our wrists. There is no screen, no stream of notifications and no temptation to constantly check messages, weather updates or other distractions.

Instead, it is a small tracker designed to quietly collect health and activity data while you go about your day.

At S$189 in Singapore, the Fitbit Air sits in an interesting position. It is more affordable than many premium smartwatches, while offering a simpler experience aimed at people who mainly want to monitor their health, exercise and sleep.

Google positions it as a device that can be worn around the clock, with the companion Google Health app handling the heavy lifting.

The first thing you notice when wearing it is how little there is to notice.

Available in four colour variations, the tracker and band together weigh just 12g, and the absence of a display makes it considerably less intrusive than a conventional smartwatch. I have been using it for over a month now and found it particularly comfortable at night, where a bulkier smartwatch can sometimes become annoying when sleeping.

That lightweight approach is also one of the Fitbit Air’s strongest selling points for me. My own view is that less is more here. The tracker feels simple and lightweight, making it well suited for exercise and sleep without demanding attention every few minutes.

There is a trade off, however. The blue band I tested looks functional rather than particularly stylish, and after some time it reminded me more of a hospital tag than a piece of wearable technology. The Velcro fastening also raises some concerns about long term durability with repeated use. Replacement bands are available at $49 apiece on the offiicial Google store.

The hardware itself is surprisingly decent for such a small device.

The Fitbit Air monitors heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, sleep, steps and daily activity. It also supports features such as Cardio Load and Readiness, which use activity and recovery information to give users a broader picture of how prepared they may be for exercise. It can also provide irregular heart rhythm notifications, although it does not offer a manual ECG function.

Battery life is another major advantage. Google rates the Fitbit Air for up to seven days on a charge, with a full charge taking around 90 minutes. A quick five minute charge can provide roughly a day’s worth of use. This tested out reliably accurate based on my experience, having only charged the device about once a week.

For sleep tracking, the screenless design makes a lot of sense. You do not have a bright display lighting up in the middle of the night and there are no notifications demanding your attention. The tracker can also wake you with a vibration alarm.

The real differentiator, however, is not the hardware. It is the new Google Health app and its Gemini powered AI Health Coach.

The basic Fitbit Air experience does not require a paid subscription. Users can access activity, sleep and health tracking, including metrics such as steps, calories, distance, Cardio Load, Readiness, heart rate, heart rate variability, breathing rate and blood oxygen. Google also provides three months of Google Health Premium with the device, giving users access to the AI Health Coach and additional fitness and sleep features.

The AI Coach is the most interesting part of the whole Fitbit Air experience.

It can interpret your health data, answer questions, create fitness plans and adjust recommendations according to changes in your routine. It can also help with food logging and provide more detailed sleep insights.

While the screenless design is a deliberate key selling point, do note what you are in for. Almost everything beyond bare basic interaction with the band happens through your phone. You cannot glance at your wrist during a run to check your heart rate or pace. Starting a workout and viewing detailed information also requires reaching for your phone.

The absence of built in GPS is another limitation. The Fitbit Air relies on your phone for GPS data, which means serious runners and cyclists may find it less functional than a dedicated sports watch. This makes the Fitbit Air more suitable for general fitness than serious training.

If your priority is counting steps, monitoring sleep, keeping an eye on heart rate and understanding your overall activity, it does the job well. If you are training seriously for a marathon, cycling event or other endurance sport, a device with built in GPS and a wider range of training metrics would make more sense.

It would be fairer to position it more as a health tracking device than a serious sports performance tracker.

There is also a setup consideration for old Fitbit users. In my case, I ran into an issue because I had previously used Fitbit devices and had a family account connected to my son, who was under 12 at the time. Consent requirements complicated the transfer of my data. I eventually had to delete the child account before I could approve the data transfer and complete the move to the new Fitbit Air experience. The process took several days.

For Singapore users, there is an additional advantage. The Fitbit Air can work with the Healthy 365 ecosystem, which means users can continue tracking relevant rewards and activities without needing to wear a separate device. This makes it more practical for people already participating in Singapore’s national health programme.

Overall, the Google Fitbit Air seeks to occupy a niche segement and is clear on where it’s key propositions are. It is not trying to replace your smartphone, smartwatch or dedicated running watch. Instead, it is a quiet health tracker that collects useful information without putting another bright screen on your wrist.

The S$189 price will be deemed as reasonable if you value comfort, sleep tracking and long battery life. The free tier also makes the proposition more attractive because you can use the core tracking functions without committing to another monthly bill. However, the Google Health Premium subscription at around S$12.98 per month in Singapore becomes an additional consideration if you want the full AI driven experience.

For me, the biggest appeal remains its simplicity. Put it on, forget about it and let it quietly collect the information you need. The Fitbit Air is at its best when treated as a health tracker rather than a smartwatch.

That makes it a good choice for people who want to exercise, sleep better and understand their health without another screen competing for their attention. If you want notifications, maps, payments and detailed workout information directly on your wrist, there are better options. However, if your philosophy is that a fitness tracker should stay out of the way and simply do its job, the Fitbit Air makes a compelling case for keeping things simple.

Find out more about the Google Fitbit Air on the official Google website.

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