❯ Google launches the $179.99 Fitbit Edge tracker with a display, standalone GPS and a replaceable battery

The tracker with a screen is backGoogle announced the Fitbit Edge on October 12 at $179.99. Pre-orders opened the same day and it goes on sale October 27, alongside a $219.99 Stephen Curry special edition. Google positions it between the Pixel Watch and the Fitbit Air tracker. According to a Bloomberg report relayed by Techmeme, it replaces the Fitbit Charge 6.

Track a run without a phoneThe Edge’s screen has 46% more viewing area than earlier Fitbit trackers, and built-in GPS records a run or ride without a phone. It continuously tracks heart rate, nightly skin temperature and sleep, supports ECG, lasts up to seven days on a charge, is rated 5 ATM for water resistance and comes in four finishes. Google calls it the first repairable Fitbit tracker, with a modular interior and a replaceable battery.

Health features need a subscriptionFeatures called Health Guardian monitor blood pressure trends, insulin resistance trends and unusual heart rates in the background, and Google says they are for general wellness, not diagnosis. Personalized guidance from Google Health Coach requires a Google Health Premium subscription, with three months included with purchase. The hardware is sold once and later revenue comes from the subscription, so buyers should count the long-term subscription cost too.

▮ SIGNALA replaceable battery lets the tracker last longer, and the recurring health subscription is what Google really wants to sell with this hardware.