Fitbit Edge Is for People Who Don't Want to Be Completely Screen-Free

The Fitbit Edge may not be Google's best-kept fitness tracking secret, but as of today it's official. The tracker sits between the recently launched Fitbit Air and the more powerful Google Pixel Watch 5 in the company's current wearables lineup. Essentially, if you're tired of smartwatches but don't want to give up notifications, [...]

The Fitbit Edge may not be Google's best-kept fitness tracker, but as of today, it's official.

The tracker sits between the recently launched Fitbit Air and the more powerful Google Pixel Watch 5 in the company's current wearable lineup. Basically, if you're tired of smartwatches but don't want to give up notifications, this is Google's answer to the old Fitbit Charge 6.

Much of the Edge's specs have already been leaked, but the tracker has a 46 percent larger OLED display compared to the Charge 6, a physical side button, and is 11.5mm thick. It also has a replaceable battery that lasts about a week on a single charge, though that estimate drops to two days if you enable the always-on display. The tracker uses the same proprietary charger as the Air and can also get a full day's battery in five minutes. (A full charge takes 90 minutes.) For health tracking, the Edge has an EKG sensor to detect atrial fibrillation, a skin temperature sensor, SpO2, and optical heart rate sensors, plus the usual sensors that track your movement. As for dust and water resistance, the Edge is IP68 rated and safe for swimming up to 5ATM.

There are a few notable hardware flaws. The Edge doesn't have a microphone or speaker, so you can't make calls from your wrist, even though you can see who's calling on the screen. Also, unlike the Charge 6, it lacks an NFC chip for contactless payments. The latter is a bit disappointing, as the Edge essentially replaces the Charge 6 and is $20 more expensive at $179.99. However, this price includes three months of Google Health Premium.

The new Fitbit offers automatic exercise tracking and GPS compared to the Charge 6. The first model is a modified motion model that also comes to Air. Beyond supporting racket sports, it uses location data and routines to make inferences about activities. For example, if you go to a tennis court, it assumes there is a recorded tennis activity. If you regularly do yoga on Tuesday mornings, you'll find that this is your activity. Google says the new model means automatic activity tracking is twice as accurate and supports more than 100 activities.

The Edge's GPS tracking is also reportedly 40 percent more accurate — though it doesn't use the same software-based post-processing update that Google introduced with the Pixel Watch 5. This increased accuracy comes mostly from improvements on the device. It also supports step-by-step directions.

The Edge and Fitbit Air also have metal fittings and mesh straps for a jewel-like look.

In terms of features, this device is designed for people who want visible information, with some but not all the bells and whistles of a smartwatch. Edge borrows much of the Pixel Watch's design language as far as widgets and user interface go. It doesn't run Wear OS though. This is a redesigned Fitbit OS. It also gets the same Google Health software updates for features like blood pressure trends and insulin resistance levels. As far as non-fitness tracking features go, it has a clock, timer, alarm, media control, and push notifications. It also supports heart rate streaming to specific sports equipment

Despite the screen, the overall look is more in line with the Air. The Edge launches with several types of straps so you can adjust the style to fit different situations, including metal links to give it an extra jewelry feel. (As for the jewel-like look, the Air also gets a new metal mesh band for $69.99, available on October 27.) Like the Air and Pixel Watch 5, there will be a Stephen Curry version of the Edge for $219.99.