Summary
Google’s Fitbit could return to its roots with a screenless, WHOOP-style fitness band.
Basic tracking could be free with deeper metrics via Fitbit Premium.
A simple screenless band could revive Fitbit’s appeal and make smartwatches less necessary.
It looks like Google is finally returning Fitbit to its roots as new reports suggest the company will soon announce a screenless Fitbit wearable more akin to the WHOOP, which has been taking the world by storm in recent years. Not only would it be a return to form, but it would finally make buying a smartwatch with fitness capabilities less important for many people.
Related
Should You Buy a Fitbit? 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Do
Should you buy a new Fitbit? A Fitbit may or may not be worth it for you. Here are some important questions to ask before investing in one.
Google teases a ‘new relationship’ with your health
A screenless Fitbit that rivals WHOOP might be on the way
Image taken from the Whoop press packImage Credit: WHOOP
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Google could very soon reveal a proper WHOOP rival (seen above) with a new Fitbit that is missing one of the most distracting parts of the smartwatch experience — the screen.
Fitbit originally exploded back in the early 2010s, quickly becoming one of the premier fitness trackers that you could purchase as it transitioned from a simple pedometer to a full-fledged fitness wearable. However, somewhere along the way, the company sort of lost track of its roots in the craze to keep up with the growing trend of smartwatches, especially with the launch of the Apple Watch in 2014.
This led Fitbit to lean heavier on displays to help provide more information about fitness data, and the last screenless Fitbit we saw was 2016’s Fitbit Flex 2. Now, almost 10 years later, could we finally see a return to form? That seems to be the case, as the report from Bloomberg also corresponds with a new sponsored post by Stephen Curry on Instagram.
In the new post, which is a quick video showing Curry messing around with a basketball, the only thing of real note is the simple band that he wears on his wrist. The band looks very similar to a WHOOP, and is front and center in several of the shots. Considering how much we’ve seen Fitbit compared to Apple Watch and other smartwatches with fitness tracking capabilities, going the same direction as WHOOP could open new doors for the brand to appeal to people who want a simplified fitness tracker that still comes with plenty of features.
A welcome return to form for Fitbit
Exactly what the brand needs to stand out again
Credit: Jerome Thomas / MakeUseOf
It is important to note that we don’t have any concrete details about this new device yet — such as a launch date, exactly how it will work, etc. However, based on the reports and the video from Curry, it looks like the new Fitbit device will be very similar to a WHOOP band, which lets you track your health and fitness data without a distracting display being attached to your wrist. Additionally, it sounds like you’ll be able to use it both with and without a subscription.
Bloomberg’s report specifically notes that it will offer basic functionality for free, and that a premium subscription, which will likely be some variation of Fitbit Premium, will be available for those that want to go more in-depth. Considering how popular WHOOP has become and the fact that there isn’t a free use option available for it, means a new Fitbit that fills that gap could be a big win for consumers and Google alike. The band will require an up-front purchase, though, unlike WHOOP, which operates solely on its subscription fees.
While previous Fitbit options like the Fitbit Charge 6 have reviewed well, this new option sounds like it could be exactly what many people have been asking for: screenless Fitbit more akin to what made many of us fall in love with the brand in the past.
