Google launches Fitbit Edge at $179.99 with a replaceable battery and Health Guardian

Google made the Fitbit Edge official on Monday, and the price matches what the leaks said. The new tracker costs $179.99, preorders are open now on the Google Store, and it goes on sale in stores on October 27, according to Engadget. The Fitbit Edge sits in a new middle spot in Google's wearables lineup, with a small OLED screen, built in GPS, an ECG app and a battery that you can replace, which is unusual for a device this small.

Last week we covered the leaked Fitbit Edge specs and the October 12 launch date. Now the details are confirmed, along with a few things the leaks left out, such as a Stephen Curry edition and new health features that depend on a paid plan.

What Google announced

The Edge is a slim band with a screen. Google is placing it above the screenless Fitbit Air and below the Pixel Watch, which keeps the bigger display and the full smartwatch features. You can switch between clock faces quickly and add complications that show things like your step count, sleep score or the weather.

Here are the main confirmed details, as reported by Engadget:

• Price: $179.99 for the standard model.
• Stephen Curry Special Edition: from $219.99, with a basketball themed clock face, a Rye colorway and a band that repels water and wicks moisture.
• Colors: Obsidian, Fog, Olive and Canyon.
• Availability: preorders on the Google Store now, in stores October 27.
• Durability: IP68 rating.
• Extras: three months of Google Health Premium come with every purchase.

Bands are part of the pitch too. There is an Active Sport band that handles sweat, a Performance Loop band for all day wear, and Metal Links and Magnet bands for people who want something dressier.

Fitbit Edge battery: small cell, big claims

The battery is the headline feature. The Edge uses a 65 mAh cell, and Google says a full charge, which takes about 90 minutes, lasts up to a week. Google also says five minutes on the charger gets you a full day.

The bigger story is that the battery can be replaced. Most fitness trackers end up in a drawer once the battery fades after two or three years, because there is no practical way to swap the cell. Google is presenting the replaceable battery as a way to keep the Edge going longer. It has not said yet how replacements will be sold or what they will cost, so that is worth checking before you treat it as a long term plan.

Leaked specs reported by 9to5Google last week pointed to about seven days of battery with the always on display turned off and roughly two days with it turned on. Google's launch claim of "up to a week" lines up with the first number, so expect much less if you keep the screen lit all the time.

Health and fitness features

On the fitness side, the Edge supports more than 50 exercise modes. Google says the built in GPS is 40% more accurate. It does not say what that figure is being compared against, so treat it as a company claim until reviewers test it. During workouts, the screen gives you visual cues to push harder or ease off.

For health tracking, the Edge covers the basics people expect from a current tracker:

• Continuous heart rate tracking, with alerts if your heart rate is unusually high or low.
• Heart rhythm checks through an ECG app.
• Sleep tracking, which Google says detects sleep stages 15% more accurately than earlier Fitbit devices.

The leak report from 9to5Google also listed SpO2, VO2 Max and blood pressure and insulin trends, a 1.34 inch AMOLED screen, a weight of 17.7 grams and Bluetooth 5.4. Google's launch materials covered by Engadget did not repeat every one of those numbers, so think of the leaked list as a likely spec sheet rather than a confirmed one.

Health Guardian comes to the Edge

The most ambitious feature is Health Guardian. Google launched it on the Pixel Watch over the summer and is now bringing it to the Fitbit Air and the Edge, according to a separate Engadget report. It watches your metrics over time and looks for major shifts, including in blood pressure and insulin resistance. Each month, the Health app shows a summary of those trends, and the Health Coach suggests lifestyle changes and gives you points to raise with your doctor. Google calls it "a check engine light for overall well-being."

Health Guardian is rolling out later in October, and it requires a Google Health Premium subscription. It is not a diagnosis. It is a trend tracker that tells you when something may be worth a conversation with a professional.

Gemini powered coaching

The Google Health Coach, built on Gemini, uses your fitness, health and medical information to create weekly routines and workout plans that adjust to your schedule. That also requires Premium. You get three months free with the Edge, and after that you will need to pay to keep the coaching features.

Better workout detection is coming too

Google is also pushing an update to automatic activity tracking later this month for the Fitbit Air, the Fitbit Edge and the Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5. Engadget reports that Google says the update nearly doubles accuracy and increases the number of recognized workouts from 10 to more than 100, including fast activities like tennis and HIIT that trackers often miss. Google says that in its tests the update "cut missed workouts by more than half." Along with heart rate, the system now takes into account your movement, your routines, any edits you make by hand and your location.

Who the Fitbit Edge is for

The Edge is aimed at people who want more than a screenless band but do not want to wear or charge a full smartwatch. According to 9to5Google's leak report, it supports Android 11 and later and iOS 16.4 and later. That matters because the Pixel Watch line does not work with iPhones, so the Edge may be the only current Google wearable with a screen that iPhone owners can use.

If you are trying to decide between a band and a watch, our guide on how to choose a fitness tracker you will actually keep wearing explains the trade offs. If you are leaning toward something with more apps and a larger screen, start with our guide on how to choose a smartwatch.

What to do before you preorder

A few practical points before you spend $180:

1. Budget for Premium. Health Guardian and the Gemini coach both require Google Health Premium. Plan on paying for it after the free three months if those features are why you are buying.
2. Check the battery replacement terms. The replaceable battery is a real plus, but Google has not said how replacements will be sold. Look for details before you count on it.
3. Wait for reviews if accuracy matters to you. The 40% GPS and 15% sleep improvements are Google's figures. Independent testing will show how they hold up.
4. Pick your band carefully. The Curry edition costs $40 more, mostly for the band and the clock face.

What to watch next

The next date to watch is October 27, when the Edge reaches stores and the first full reviews should appear. Health Guardian and the activity tracking update are both due later this month. Google also has more hardware competition this week, with Apple expected to show new home devices, as we reported in our story on Apple's October 13 smart home hub launch. For more launches and reviews, visit our gadgets section.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Fitbit Edge cost?

The standard Fitbit Edge costs $179.99. The Stephen Curry Special Edition starts at $219.99. Both come with three months of Google Health Premium.

When can I buy the Fitbit Edge?

Preorders are open now on the Google Store. The Edge goes on sale in stores on October 27.

Does the Fitbit Edge need a subscription?

The core tracking features work without one. Health Guardian and the Gemini powered Health Coach require Google Health Premium, and three months are included with every purchase.

Does the Fitbit Edge work with iPhone?

Leaked specs reported by 9to5Google list support for iOS 16.4 and later as well as Android 11 and later. Check the compatibility notes on the Google Store before you buy.