Google unveiled a new Fitbit wearable for the wrist, its first in four years.
Google said on the 7th (local time) it will launch the screenless smart band "Fitbit Air." Preorders begin the same day, and the price is $99.99 (about 145,000 won).
Fitbit Air measures 34.9 mm long, 17 mm wide, and 8.3 mm high, and the body weighs just 5.2 g. It lasts up to seven days on a single charge, and even a five-minute charge can power about a day of use.
The device is equipped with sensors to measure heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, temperature, and acceleration, along with a vibration motor for silent alerts. The body is designed as a module to fit various bands. The design is seen as similar to early products such as "Fitbit One" released more than 10 years ago.
Google said it is "the smallest wearable tracker (a device for measuring health and exercise data) ever released," adding that "its thin and light design makes it so comfortable you can forget you're wearing it."
Fitbit was founded in 2007 by Korean American James Park, who ran the company as chief executive officer (CEO), and Google acquired it in 2021 for $2.1 billion (about 3 trillion won). James Park continued to lead the company for a time after the acquisition, but Google replaced Fitbit's leadership during a restructuring in early 2024.
Alongside the launch of Fitbit Air, Google will end operation of the Fitbit app. Instead, it will consolidate all related health data into the "Google Health" app. The app includes "Google Health Coach," powered by Google's artificial intelligence (AI) Gemini, which analyzes users' sleep patterns and exercise habits to offer personalized advice.
Google's move to introduce a screenless smart band comes as similar smart devices have recently gained popularity, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. According to market research firm Circana, from early last year through September, U.S. sales revenue of wearable fitness trackers rose 88% compared with the same period in 2024, and unit sales increased 35%.
Amid this trend, in the smart band institutional sector, Whoop and, in the smart ring institutional sector, Oura each surpassed a corporate value of $10 billion (about 14 trillion won).