Are Fitbit units nonetheless price shopping for in 2024?

Google acquired Fitbit barely greater than three years ago at this point. Since then, we have seen loads of Fitbit options trickle their technique to Google’s merchandise. The Google Pixel Watch 2 is ripe with Fitbit options, a lot in order that Cam Bunton, who reviewed the Pixel Watch 2 for Pocket-lint, dubbed it a “Fitbit in disguise.”

Learn our evaluate

Pixel Watch 2: A Fitbit in disguise?

Fitbit is not the one benefit of the Pixel Watch 2, however it’s the neatest thing about it.

When Google picked up Fitbit, some surmised that it did so, partly, to fast-track its health-tracking options and profit from Fitbit’s healthcare ties. On the time, the search big wasn’t instantly competing with Apple and Samsung in that enviornment, so buying an organization that had been doing effectively within the area for many years made sense. However the place does that depart Fitbit now?

What’s going on with Fitbit?

Whereas Google’s touches are displaying up on Fitbit units, it nearly seems like an afterthought. AI is the first Google tech that has trickled into Fitbit, which is not stunning. Introduced in October 2023, Fitbit Labs (which can solely be obtainable to Premium subscribers) will use AI that will help you perceive the information it gathers, giving extra in-depth well being insights and training tailor-made to your particular wants. Google initially stated this could launch in early 2024, however as of but, there’s been no phrase on when precisely it is going to be obtainable for customers.

Past Fitbit Labs, the main focus appears to be on Google’s wearables and fewer so on Fitbit’s. There have not been many releases from the Fitbit identify, with the Fitbit Charge 6 launch in September 2023 being the latest. Whereas the Cost 6 definitely has quite a lot of wins, it’s a expensive choice for a health tracker and lags behind different choices, partly due to the reliance on subscriptions.

Associated

What is Fitbit Labs, Google’s new AI-powered personal health tool

Google simply launched new details about Fitbit Labs. Here is what we all know up to now.

Fitbit has additionally been riddled with problems over the previous few years. There have been a number of main service outages within the final yr, it sundown the extremely well-liked neighborhood options and Challenges, and it quietly stopped promoting units in over a dozen nations. Some customers additionally talked about {that a} firmware replace killed their health tracker’s battery life. Most just lately, Google removed all third-party apps and clock faces in Europe as a result of regulatory points. In speaking to mates with Fitbits, they’ve talked about what number of points they’ve had the previous few years and the way there may be restricted help for his or her merchandise as effectively.

All of these points are definitely regarding and make us query what is going on with the corporate. It seems like Google is making an attempt to push clients to Google wearables whereas borrowing the well being tech that made Fitbit so nice for thus lengthy.

Is Fitbit price shopping for in 2024?

Realizing all the problems plaguing the model, it begs the query of whether or not Fitbits are price shopping for at this level. Whereas most corporations are extra centered on higher-end smartwatches, which was not Fitbit’s forte, there are nonetheless plenty of nice health tracker choices.

Amazfit is a good price range model for health trackers (and extra superior smartwatches), and each Polar and Garmin make a handful of health trackers as effectively. Plus, Apple and Samsung, whereas extra smartwatch-focused, supply lots of the identical options as Fitbit.

With so many different choices available on the market which are actively receiving help and new options and never experiencing main outages, it is arduous to counsel a Fitbit. Plus, I’ve by no means been a fan of the subscription model of Fitbit. The choices above offer you strong entry to well being and health monitoring and steering with out paying for a subscription on prime of the payment to buy the wearable to start with. Whereas there are definitely worthy Fitbits nonetheless available on the market, we might counsel spending your cash on a tool that’s extra prone to get long-term help and means that you can use it with none extra charges.