Google has said it is “very committed to Fitbit” despite reports this week that the company will not release another Fitbit-branded smartwatch.
Express.co.uk previously reported comments from a Google executive to tech site Engadget that the recently released Google Pixel Watch 3, which uses parts of the Fitbit software and requires the use of the Fitbit app, would be Google’s smartwatch focus from now on. on.
Sandeep Waraich, Google’s senior director of product management for Pixel Wearables, told Engadget that “Pixel Watches are our next iteration of the Fitbit smartwatch” and claimed that “trackers are where users clearly tell us they want something discreet” because of longer battery life and “simple experience”.
Google still sells the Fitbit Charge 6, Inspire 3 and Luxe, as well as the kids’ Ace 3, all of which have slim activity trackers.
A Google spokesperson told Express.co.uk: “We are deeply committed to Fitbit and, more importantly, to the customers who use and depend on these products and technology.
“It’s also worth noting that many of the health and fitness features we launched on Pixel Watch 3 were inspired by Fitbit’s innovations and pioneering fitness developments. We also just launched Fitbit Ace LTE, and you’ll continue to see new products and innovations from Fitbit.”
Notably, the spokesperson didn’t directly answer our question about whether the Versa 4 and Sense 2 would be the last Fitbit-branded smartwatches, nor did they confirm how long existing Fitbit devices will receive software support, despite insisting on a commitment to customers.
But the fact that Fitbit is releasing “new products” suggests that Google isn’t completely decommissioning Fitbit hardware.
Google acquired Fitbit in 2021 and released the Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2 smartwatches in 2022, although these products were criticized for removing features from older versions. That same year, the original Google Pixel Watch was released and required users to use the Fitbit app to track health and fitness metrics.
The same goes for the Pixel Watch 2 and the recently announced Pixel Watch 3, which runs Google’s Wear OS and has more functionality than Fitbit smartwatches that run a custom OS.
The advantage recent Fitbit smartwatches have over the Pixel Watch lineup is battery life. The Versa 4 and Sense 2 can last four to seven days on a single charge, while the Pixel Watch models need a charge every 24 hours or so. The Pixel Watch line can run Android apps, while the Fitbit watches can’t, although Google recently added Google Wallet and Maps support to the latest Fitbits.
The Fitbit Sense 2 also has the exact same sensors as the Pixel Watch 2, with optical heart rate, SpO2, ECG, continuous EDA and skin temperature sensors.
