Fitbit Edge shows Google finally gets the brand's role

9to5Google reports that Fitbit, now a Google division, is preparing a new tracker called the Edge. It would follow up the Charge series, which hasn't seen an update since 2023.

The news comes just months after the Fitbit Air, a $100 screenless tracker, became a surprise success. Many users wear it alongside a smartwatch, and some hide it in places a watch can't go. The Air proved there is still demand for simple, cheap fitness trackers.

Google bought Fitbit in 2019 for its technology and team. For a while, Fitbit's main role was providing the health software inside the Pixel Watch. That integration is now tight: Fitbit's algorithms power Google's health features across devices.

But the Edge shows Google isn't giving up on Fitbit as its own hardware line. According to leaks reported by 9to5Google, the Edge will include notification support, Google Maps, music controls, and Find My Device. It will also offer health tracking, and with a Google Health Premium subscription, an AI-powered fitness coach that has performed well in recent months.

The Edge won't have the same cultural impact as the Air, but it signals that Google sees Fitbit's future in accessible hardware that does enough to keep users happy. That's a clearer strategy than the brand had right after the acquisition.

• Fitbit
• Fitbit Air
• Fitbit Edge
• fitness tracker
• Google
• Pixel Watch