Gemini coaching and more than 50 workout modes are on the spec sheet, but they aren’t the most notable thing about Google’s new Fitbit Edge. That honor goes to its replaceable battery, a rare feature on a tracker priced at $179.99. At this price, most wearables end up in the trash once their batteries degrade.
Google teased the Fitbit Edge’s name on its social media channels before officially announcing the device. Preorders are open now through the Google Store, and the tracker reaches retail shelves on October 27.
A battery built to outlast the band
A 65mAh battery powers the Edge. According to Google, a full charge takes 90 minutes and lasts a full week. If you’re in a rush, Google says five minutes of charging gives you a “full day of battery life.”
Those figures come from Google, and we haven’t put them to the test yet. Over the long run, the replaceable battery is the feature that counts, since Google included it to extend the device’s lifespan. The Edge also carries an IP68 rating, which offers a degree of protection against dust and water.
Where it fits in Google’s lineup
In Google’s lineup, the Edge slots in between the Fitbit Air and the Pixel Watch. It offers more features than the Air while keeping a slim design and a minimal OLED display. Anyone who wants the Pixel Watch's full feature set should look elsewhere.
That said, the Edge does borrow one of the Pixel Watch’s biggest features: the Gemini-powered Google Health Coach. The catch is that it requires a paid Google Health Premium subscription. The coach combines your fitness, health and medical data to create weekly routines and workout plans, and it can adjust them automatically to fit your schedule.
Google says the Edge tracks more than 50 exercise modes and gives real-time visual cues that tell you when to push harder or when to take a break. The company also claims the built-in GPS tracks 40 percent more accurately.
The health features need a skeptical read
Google’s Health Guardian is meant to flag major changes in health metrics over time, including blood pressure and insulin resistance. That’s a big promise for a tracker worn on the wrist, and the phrase “designed to detect” is carrying much of its weight.
The more established features are easier to believe. Continuous heart rate monitoring and rhythm assessments from the ECG app can warn you about dangerously high or low heart rates. On sleep, Google says the Edge identifies sleep stages 15 percent more accurately than earlier generations, which should mean better sleep summaries and coaching.
You can also quickly switch between new clock faces and customize the complications to show the information you care about, such as step count, sleep score or the weather.
The Curry tax is $40
The standard Edge sells for $179.99 and comes in Obsidian, Fog, Olive and Canyon. The Stephen Curry Special Edition starts at $219.99. For the additional $40, you get a Rye colorway, a basketball-themed clock face and a water-repellent, moisture-wicking band.
Band choices include the sweat-resistant Active Sport, the Performance Loop designed for all-day comfort, and the dressier Metal Links and Magnet bands.
Every Edge ships with three months of Google Health Premium. After that, plan on paying for the subscription, because Premium unlocks the Gemini coach, and the coach is the biggest thing that sets the Edge apart from cheaper trackers.