Google Launches $99.99 Screenless Fitbit Air

Google has launched the Fitbit Air, a screenless fitness tracker priced at $99.99 that emphasizes continuous, unobtrusive health monitoring. Preorders began Tuesday, with shipments scheduled to start May 26 in the United States, Canada, Australia, and several European countries.

The device, Google's first new Fitbit hardware in nearly three years, measures 1.4 by 0.7 by 0.3 inches and weighs 5.2 grams without its band or 12 grams with one. It features a polycarbonate pebble that snaps into swappable bands, including a recycled textile Performance Loop, silicone Active Band, and polyurethane Elevated Modern Band, all starting at $34.99. Colors include Obsidian, Fog, Lavender, and Berry. A special Stephen Curry edition, with airflow-enhancing details and a water-resistant coating, costs $129.99. The tracker lacks a display or buttons but provides haptic feedback for alerts and Smart Wake alarms, plus a status light during charging. It is water-resistant to 50 meters.

Equipped with an optical heart rate sensor, three-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, SpO2 sensors, skin temperature sensor, and vibration motor, the Fitbit Air tracks heart rate around the clock, heart rate variability,...