ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Google simply unveiled the $180 Fitbit Edge, a sensible watch with a slim show.
- It’s a brand new product, but it surely resembles Google’s personal Fitbit Cost, amongst different slim sensible watches.
- Regardless of a value enhance, not an excessive amount of is totally different between the units.
The Pixel Watch 5, for all intents and functions, is my excellent platonic smartwatch. Of all of the train smartwatch apps I’ve used, Google Well being is essentially the most approachable for monitoring sleep, stress, readiness, and train.
However the chunky watch was by no means my favourite to put on. At 12.3 mm, the bubbled show is just too thick and spherical for my liking — thicker than the Galaxy Watch (8.6 mm) and Apple Watch Sequence (9.7 mm) lineup. I all the time felt just like the bulbous system calls consideration to itself with its large show and thick body — not a smartwatch that disappears on the wrist, by any means.
Additionally: After one week carrying the Pixel Watch 5, right here’s what I need most
A brand new(ish) wearable
There are different sensible watches with comparable builds, like Xiaomi’s multi-generation Good Bands. However the Edge most resembles merchandise from inside Google’s ecosystem. For instance, it has a width much like the Fitbit Air, however provides a touchscreen so you possibly can test the time, provoke a exercise, or test your progress throughout a recorded train. It’s a smidge thinner than the Pixel Watch, at 11.5 mm — nonetheless not as skinny as rivals, however thinner than the Pixel Watch 5 (thank God).
Its closest sibling is the three-year-old Fitbit Cost 6, which is 11.2 mm thick, has a seven-day battery life, and the identical show because the Edge. Simply trying on the specs, there doesn’t seem like many elementary variations between them, with the exception that the Edge is Google’s first repairable Fitbit, and it’s $20 extra.
Additionally: The 5 hottest Garmin watches of 2026: What readers are shopping for most, and final likelihood Prime Day costs
Just like the Fitbit Air and Cost, the Edge additionally features a week-long battery life, with one large caveat. You’ll get seven days of battery life with always-on show disabled. With always-on enabled, the battery drops down to 2 days.
In contrast to the Cost, Google provides a facet button — much like Apple’s Motion Button — for activating exercises and choosing info. Underneath the hood, sleep monitoring improves within the Edge by 15%.
Just like the Pixel Watch 5, wearers will be capable to see their exercise particulars, well being metrics, and different messages on the Fitbit Edge. This visible steerage is displayed on a vibrant hybrid OLED display screen constructed with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It additionally syncs to your cellphone for incoming texts, Google Maps instructions, and different notifications.
My considerations
In relation to the worth, I used to be anticipating one thing equally priced to the Fitbit Cost, and am questioning whether or not the small upgrades out there on the Edge justify a $20 value enhance. If the 2 most substantial upgrades are sleep monitoring accuracy (which is software program pushed) and repairability, what a part of this system is $20 dearer to construct?
Additionally: Google’s Fitbit Air is a $99 screenless wearable that I can really take critically
The Fitbit Air was completely priced at $100, and, although I haven’t examined the Edge but, I’m skeptical the added display screen will justify the $80 value distinction between the Air and the Edge — particularly when the Air lasts seven days, whereas the Edge with always-on enabled solely lasts two.
The Fitbit Edge is offered to pre-order now, and it’s out there all over the place on Oct. 27.
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