Fitbit Edge Leak Shows the Screened Band Google Has Owed Since 2023

Photo credit: Android Headlines
Retail assets that reached Android Headlines yesterday put a name and a face on a tracker Google has been circling for months. Fitbit Edge is the label on the listings, and the hardware reads as the next step after the Charge line, which last saw a full update in 2023.

An oval screen is packed closely near the outside of the shell, much closer than the display on any previous Fitbit band. The face is simply a Pixel Watch layout squashed into that shape, with the time and date displayed directly next to each other, as well as a heart rate, step count, and a button to start a workout. There are extended buttons on both sides. To remove the strap, click the pinched points on the rear, which is similar to how the Pixel Watch Active bands work. Underneath, there’s a sensor stack that resembles the Fitbit Air rather than the Pixel Watch 5, with enough room for a few additional measures. The metal strips along the left and right borders resemble the pattern Fitbit utilized for ECG readings on the Charge 6, albeit the marketing materials do not explicitly state that it includes that capability.

Now let’s have a look at the color options: Obsidian, Olive, and Canyon, which are the same names as on the Pixel 11 Pro. The Olive features a rather subtle two-toned frame, whilst the Canyon has a stronger gold accent on the case. Some write-ups claim five distinct color options when you consider the component bands, and none of the images we have show a Stephen Curry edition.

Don’t expect the Edge to run Wear OS. It’s limited to its own software, even if it does let you do some basic stuff. It just has Bluetooth, not Wi-Fi. Notifications are available, as are a few basic apps such as Google Maps, video and music controls, and Find My Phone. Android Headlines even mentions YouTube Music in the article. On the fitness front, it has built-in GPS, an altimeter for tracking elevation, and recognizes when you’re exercising. The battery life is meant to last up to seven days, which is the same as what Google claims for the screenless Air.

So far, compatibility has been somewhat a mystery. The Edge appears to be compatible with both Android phones and iPhones, at least through the Google Health app. The Pixel Watch 5 on the other hand remains Android-only. This places the Edge midway between a $99.99 tracker with no screen and a smartwatch starting at $399.99. No official pricing has been released yet, but Android Headlines predicts it will cost between $149 and $199, based on the previous Charge prices of $129 to $179 and the Air’s $99 price tag. A release this month would still give it enough time to hit the market before the holidays. Google is keeping tight-lipped about the situation.
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