Google Pulling The Plug On Fitbit Smartwatches, Focus On Pixel Watch. What Does It Mean For You

Google has officially stated that it will no longer introduce new smartwatches under the Fitbit brand. Instead, the company plans to concentrate on the Pixel Watch series as a replacement, says a report by Engadget. Google’s director of product management for Pixel wearables said in an interview with Engadget: “Pixel Watch is our smartwatch part of the portfolio,” when asked about future Fitbit-branded smartwatches, emphasising that Pixel Watch represents “our next iteration of smartwatch for Fitbit.”

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Fitbit To Continue Bringing Trackers

This development indicates that Fitbit will no longer be recognised as a smartwatch brand, but it will continue producing fitness trackers with extended battery life. Waraich mentioned that Fitbit-branded products will focus on trackers that are “more minimalistic” and designed for long battery life.

While it is disheartening to see the end of Fitbit’s smartwatch lineup, but it is not surprising.

For many users who were not deeply involved in the latest tech trends, Fitbit was the go-to wearable. The big question now is what Google plans to do for those who have invested in devices like the Fitbit Sense 2, Versa 4, or other recent Fitbit smartwatches. Google has already begun encouraging users to migrate their Fitbit accounts to Google accounts, promising support for Fitbit accounts until 2025. However, the longevity of support for the devices themselves remains uncertain.

To recall, late last month, Fitbit announced a big software update which contradicted its plan to kill the wearable lineup. Google had launched a major software update for several trackers, including the Fitbit Charge 6, Fitbit Versa 4, and Fitbit Sense 2. This update was being rolled out in a phased manner, the company said.

Earlier in May, Google introduced the Fitbit Ace LTE, a new smartwatch tailored for children. Unlike previous Ace models, which were simplified versions of Fitbit’s fitness bands, the Ace LTE runs on WearOS. In addition to standard fitness tracking capabilities, the new Fitbit Ace LTE smartwatch includes features such as calling, messaging, and location sharing with parents. The Fitbit Ace LTE also comes with pre-installed interactive 3D games that encourage physical activity, according to Google and children can earn more game time by being more active.