Google's Fitbit Edge Debuts a Replaceable Battery, Brings Back the Screen (wired.com) 18
Google has introduced the $179 Fitbit Edge, a new fitness tracker with a 1.34-inch OLED display, built-in GPS, ECG support, week-long battery life, and Fitbit's first user-replaceable battery. "And unlike the Pixel Watch, it's compatible with Android and iPhones via the Google Health app," reports Wired. From the report: The Edge has a user-replaceable battery, a Fitbit first, aligning with Google's efforts to make its Pixel Watch more repairable. (Likely also due to new battery regulations set to take effect next year in the European Union.) Repair options will vary by region and availability. If you find the Pixel Watch's round face too bulky, the Edge's capsule-shaped alternative might suit smaller wrists better. If the Charge 6's 1.04-inch display was too small, the Edge upgrades it to a larger 1.34-inch screen. The difference is noticeable, and that extra real estate could make a real impact when glancing at your metrics mid-workout.
The Edge borrows a few more attributes from the Pixel Watch, including an altimeter that uses atmospheric pressure to measure elevation changes. That means it can record elevation gain and loss during outdoor activities, track floors climbed, and add more context to your outdoor stats. It also has a far-field skin temperature sensor, replacing the standard device temperature sensor found in other Fitbits. By bringing some of the Pixel Watch's more advanced hardware to a fitness-first wearable, Google is giving the Edge a compelling middle-ground position in its lineup at a Fitbit-friendly price.
The Edge inherits the Fitbit Air's improvements while restoring several Charge 6 features the screenless tracker lacks, including built-in GPS and electrical sensors that work with the electrocardiogram (ECG) app. You can also control music playback on a connected Bluetooth device, as you could with the Charge 6, and Google Maps turn-by-turn directions will arrive later this year. [...] With a Google Health Premium subscription, the Edge can track blood pressure trends without manual calibration and insulin resistance trends without requiring a blood draw. Google first announced these capabilities alongside the Pixel Watch 5's debut, but they only became available at the end of September. They're also available on the Air, keeping Google's screenless tracker up to date as its lineup expands.
The Edge borrows a few more attributes from the Pixel Watch, including an altimeter that uses atmospheric pressure to measure elevation changes. That means it can record elevation gain and loss during outdoor activities, track floors climbed, and add more context to your outdoor stats. It also has a far-field skin temperature sensor, replacing the standard device temperature sensor found in other Fitbits. By bringing some of the Pixel Watch's more advanced hardware to a fitness-first wearable, Google is giving the Edge a compelling middle-ground position in its lineup at a Fitbit-friendly price.
The Edge inherits the Fitbit Air's improvements while restoring several Charge 6 features the screenless tracker lacks, including built-in GPS and electrical sensors that work with the electrocardiogram (ECG) app. You can also control music playback on a connected Bluetooth device, as you could with the Charge 6, and Google Maps turn-by-turn directions will arrive later this year. [...] With a Google Health Premium subscription, the Edge can track blood pressure trends without manual calibration and insulin resistance trends without requiring a blood draw. Google first announced these capabilities alongside the Pixel Watch 5's debut, but they only became available at the end of September. They're also available on the Air, keeping Google's screenless tracker up to date as its lineup expands.
Cool, but... (Score:4, Interesting)
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What does that do to its IP65 rating? That being said, my Pixel 3 phone lost it's seal and had a huge gap for water to flow in, and my Pixel 3 watch just complete lost it's seal and just fell open into two separate halfs with only the flex circuit holding them together. What I'm saying is that Google never figured out how to properly seal cases without replaceable batteries, which makes me skeptical they can seal cases with replaceable batteries. Or maybe the glue they use is specifically designed to fail after 3 years.
yeah the Space Age technology of some screws and an O-ring were lost technology to the wearables space for the past 15 years... along with replaceable batteries that that allowed.
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Just because it has a replaceable battery doesn't mean it's user replaceable.
Watches and such you often had to take to a watch repair shop to change the battery because they could make sure the O-ring didn't degrade as well as ensure it still retained waterproofness by making sure it stayed clean and likely lubricated. Heck, if you
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Watches and such you often had to take to a watch repair shop to change the battery because they could make sure the O-ring didn't degrade...
Well, or for most people, because they didn't have the custom spanner at home for that brand of watch. Though usually a dexterous person could get them open with a small screwdriver and the right rotational force.
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It's IP68 rated, not IP65.
IP65 = water jets
IP68 = continuous immersion, 1m or more
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The latest Pixel Watch is screwed together, not glued. I imagine this Fitbit will be the same. As long as you properly replace the rubber seals (don't re-use them) it should be fine.
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Another candidate for the Google Graveyard. (Score:5, Informative)
Before one buys any hardware, or comes to rely on any software by Google, it's a good idea to visit Google Graveyard [killedbygoogle.com] and take a few minutes to ponder over how long it will be before Google abandons the technology it's trying to sell you, leaving you with yet another piece of e-waste.
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To be fair Google has supported Fitbit products for a long time and has been steadily upgrading Google Health. It does seem that they are in it for the long haul, although some people aren't happy with the new app and prefer the old Google Fit one.
I've had a Versa 4 for a few years and it's good. Battery life is decent, it seems accurate and proper scientific tests confirm that it is. The sleep tracking is the best you can get without spending at least 4x as much, and is accurate enough to be useful.
Perfect. I want one because... (Score:5, Funny)
They deserve that, because they're not evil.
Well, they weren't, once.
Keep the parts available (Score:2)
The replaceable battery is easily the most interesting feature here. If the tracker still does what I bought it for, declining battery life should be routine maintainance instead of a reason to buy the next model. I'd want to see the repair guide and the price of a spare cell before getting too excited, though. "Repair options will vary by region and availability" leaves quite a bit unanswered. Can I buy the battery myself, what tools does the job need, and can I restore the seal afterwards? This could make
Whats the point of a screen... (Score:2)
Whats a point of a screen when you've got a dead battery? If you skip the screen, the battery will llast and you'll look healthy. Its a hipster gadget, not a yoga class.
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If skipping the screen makes you look healthy you should probably consider taking a break from your phone for a few years. Maybe get a landline.
Fitbit Zip has replaceable battery (Score:2)
My Fitbit Zip from at least 10 years ago has a replaceable battery, so this isn't the first.
Fitbit products are trash (Score:2)
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Yeah, I had 3 or 4 generations of Fitbits.
I went with a Casio G-Shock that does all the same stuff and trickle charges from solar. The thing is damn near indestructible and I have gone a month without putting it on a charger.
I'm old (Score:2)