It has been three years since Google accomplished its acquisition of Fitbit. The corporate has since launched three new smartwatches beneath the Pixel model, together with the Pixel Watch 3 at present on the Made By Google occasion. In the meantime, Fitbit hasn’t launched a brand new smartwatch for the reason that unceremonious launch of the Sense 2 and Versa 4 two years in the past. For years, it has been thought that Fitbit would possibly cease making smartwatches and as an alternative concentrate on low-profile, sturdy exercise trackers. Engadget can verify that that is certainly true.
In an interview with Sandeep Waraich, senior director of product administration at Pixel Wearables, I requested if we’d see one other Fitbit-branded smartwatch quickly. “Pixel Watch is a part of our smartwatch portfolio,” Waraich mentioned, confirming that each one of Fitbit’s enterprise will likely be targeted on the less complicated, extra sturdy trackers for which the model has grow to be synonymous.
Whereas the Sense 2 and Versa 4 will proceed to be available on the market, a Google spokesperson mentioned, “Pixel Watch is our subsequent era of smartwatches from Fitbit.”
As for the gadgets Fitbit continues to provide, “trackers are the place customers have clearly advised us they need one thing discreet,” Waraich mentioned. “They need longer battery life, they need a easy expertise, and we’re very pleased with the Encourage collection.”
Waraich additionally described how the Google and Fitbit groups labored collectively to create the Pixel watch, citing the previous’s synthetic intelligence capabilities and the latter’s experience in decoding coronary heart charge sensor knowledge for deeper insights. In line with him, Google brings machine studying experience and gives “superior fashions that will not in any other case be available externally.” In fact, Fitbit has a deep understanding of issues like knowledge and sign acquisition and how you can translate that into how your palms transfer or what you are doing. “HIIT has a really completely different coronary heart charge algorithm [and] It is extra essential than operating,” Wallach defined.
There is not any query that the Fitbit model stays useful to Google and the trade as an entire, as its title is mainly a catch-all time period for exercise trackers. Whereas it could be uncomfortable to see the Fitbit title and app in a tool just like the Pixel Watch, the place the mixing ought to really feel extra seamless and unified, Waraich advised me, “It isn’t an app within the Pixel Watch.” .
Along with the Pixel product portfolio, the Fitbit app and Fitbit Premium nonetheless exist amongst a big phase of people that need one thing easy to assist them preserve their general well being. Waraich mentioned that as trackers and Pixel watches mature into gadgets that file your exercise nicely, “there’s an enormous alternative from monitoring to teaching, together with real-time teaching.”
It’s time to introduce everybody’s favourite buzzword and development of 2024: synthetic intelligence. With Pixel Watch 3, Fitbit Premium customers can get AI-generated custom-made exercises primarily based on their exercise and restoration. Of all of the options Fitbit Premium has provided (and paid for) previously, this appears like a greater match for utilizing synthetic intelligence and charging for it. Fitbit and Fitbit Premium are unlikely to vanish, and whereas we in all probability will not see a Fitbit-branded smartwatch once more, it appears like a wise transfer.
Get all of the information Google Pixel Watch 3 launch occasion is right here!
