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 Pixel Watch 3 exist Today’s Made By Google event. Fitbit, in the meantime, hasn’t launched a brand new smartwatch because it unceremoniously launched a brand new one. Sense 2 and Versa 4 launch Two years in the past. For years, it has been thought that Fitbit may cease making smartwatches and as a substitute deal with 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 would 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 might be targeted on the less complicated, extra sturdy trackers for which the model has change into synonymous.
Whereas the Sense 2 and Versa 4 will proceed to be in the marketplace, 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 instructed 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 price sensor information for deeper insights. In accordance with him, Google brings machine studying experience and supplies “superior fashions that won’t in any other case be available externally.” In fact, Fitbit has a deep understanding of issues like information and sign acquisition and the right way to translate that into how your arms transfer or what you are doing. “HIIT has a really completely different coronary heart price algorithm [and] It is extra essential than operating,” Wallach defined.
There is no query that the Fitbit model stays precious to Google and the trade as a complete, as its identify is mainly a catch-all time period for exercise trackers. Whereas it is perhaps uncomfortable to see the Fitbit identify and app in a tool just like the Pixel Watch, the place the mixing ought to really feel extra seamless and unified, Waraich instructed 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 section of people that need one thing easy to assist them preserve their total well being. As trackers and the Pixel Watch mature into gadgets that do an ideal job of recording your exercise, Waraich mentioned, “There’s an enormous alternative from monitoring to teaching, together with on-the-fly 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 personalized exercises generated by synthetic intelligence primarily based on their exercise and restoration. Of all of the options Fitbit Premium has supplied (and paid for) previously, this looks 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 looks like a wise transfer.
Get all of the information Google Pixel Watch 3 launch event is here!
