Fitbit Air guide: price, Premium subscription and which phones it works with

Fitbit Air is Google's screenless fitness band, and Google's May 7 post prices it at $99. Its Gemini coaching is part of a separate subscription, Google Health Premium, which is free for the first three months. Google hasn't made clear which phones the band works with, because two of its own pages give different answers.

This guide is based on Google's blog posts, its Google Store listing (read through an Oct. 7 archived copy, because the live page sits behind a consent wall) and Google's support page on Google Health app requirements.

What Fitbit Air is

Google describes it in its May 7 announcement as a "discreet, screenless tracker" that is "simple, affordable and comfortable enough to wear 24/7." There is no display, and the band sets up and pairs with the Google Health app. That app is the renamed Fitbit app: Google says "The Fitbit app is entering a new era and leveling up as the Google Health app."

Google's store page lists battery life of up to a week and says "Advanced sensors and new algorithms power more accurate, precise tracking within a thin, lightweight design." The pages we read don't give water resistance, weight or a full color list, so we leave those out.

Price and editions

The blog says $99 and the store says "From $99.99." Google doesn't explain the gap. Two Special Editions exist, the Stephen Curry edition and the Pokémon Sleep edition. The store page says Fitbit Air is HSA and FSA eligible, excluding the Special Editions. Our HSA and FSA guide covers how those accounts work with wearables.

Google also sells accessories. Its Oct. 12 post lists a Metal Mesh band in Champagne Gold or Polished Silver, open for pre-order at $69.99. A bundle of the Champagne Gold Metal Mesh band with an Obsidian Fitbit Air costs $149.99 at Target and on the Google Store.

Google hasn't given an on-sale date in the pages we read. Check the store for current availability. Outside the US, we found no confirmed pricing or availability.

Does Fitbit Air need a subscription

Google puts its coaching behind Premium, and the pages we read don't spell out what the band offers without it. The store copy says: "Unlock personalized coaching built with Gemini, included with a Google Health Premium membership."

• Google Health Premium is the new name for Fitbit Premium.
• Plans start at $9.99 per month or $99 per year.
• Every Fitbit Air comes with three months of Premium.
• You must be over 18 to enroll, though the band itself is intended for people 13 or older.

Premium also gates newer health features. Google's Oct. 12 post says Health Guardian features "are rolling out to Fitbit Air and Fitbit Edge for users with a Google Health Premium subscription later this month." The store page lists three of them as coming soon: blood pressure trends, insulin resistance trends and sleep breathing quality trends. Google hasn't said whether Health Guardian reaches people without Premium.

Automatic workout detection is listed for Fitbit Air too, along with Fitbit Edge and Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5, also "later this month."

Which phones it works with

This is where Google's pages conflict.

• The store FAQ says the Google Health app runs on Android 11.0 or newer or Apple iOS 16.4 or newer.
• Google's support page, read Oct. 28, says the app "requires one of the following devices": an Android phone with Android 14 or higher, or an iPhone with iOS 26 or higher.

The support page is undated, and the store text comes from an archived copy, so we can't say which is current. If your phone runs an older version, check the requirements shown in the Google Health app or on the live store page before you order.

Account setup

A Google account is required. The store FAQ says "a Google account is required to set up and pair your Google Fitbit Air with Google Health." Existing Fitbit users have a deadline too. Google's support page says that "Beginning May 19th, Fitbit account users need to move to a Google Account in order to access the Google Health App."

Who it fits

Fitbit Air suits people who want sleep and activity tracking without a screen on the wrist, and who are comfortable with a subscription for coaching. If you want a screen on your wrist, Google's watch lineup is covered in our Pixel Watch guide, which also explains the Premium fee. For a comparison of screenless bands against rings and watches, see smart ring vs smartwatch.