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  ARM Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life (Terry Pratchett, Jingo)

Google's Fitbit Edge Debuts a Replaceable Battery, Brings Back the Screen (wired.com)

(Monday October 12, 2026 @05:00PM (BeauHD) from the new-and-shiny dept.)


Google has [1]introduced the $179 Fitbit Edge, a new fitness tracker with a 1.34-inch OLED display, built-in GPS, ECG support, week-long battery life, and [2]Fitbit's first user-replaceable battery . "And unlike the Pixel Watch, it's compatible with Android and iPhones via the Google Health app," reports Wired. From the report:

> The Edge has a user-replaceable battery, a Fitbit first, aligning with Google's efforts to make its Pixel Watch more repairable. (Likely also due to new battery regulations set to take effect next year in the European Union.) Repair options will vary by region and availability. If you find the Pixel Watch's round face too bulky, the Edge's capsule-shaped alternative might suit smaller wrists better. If the Charge 6's 1.04-inch display was too small, the Edge upgrades it to a larger 1.34-inch screen. The difference is noticeable, and that extra real estate could make a real impact when glancing at your metrics mid-workout.

>

> The Edge borrows a few more attributes from the Pixel Watch, including an altimeter that uses atmospheric pressure to measure elevation changes. That means it can record elevation gain and loss during outdoor activities, track floors climbed, and add more context to your outdoor stats. It also has a far-field skin temperature sensor, replacing the standard device temperature sensor found in other Fitbits. By bringing some of the Pixel Watch's more advanced hardware to a fitness-first wearable, Google is giving the Edge a compelling middle-ground position in its lineup at a Fitbit-friendly price.

>

> The Edge inherits the Fitbit Air's improvements while restoring several Charge 6 features the screenless tracker lacks, including built-in GPS and electrical sensors that work with the electrocardiogram (ECG) app. You can also control music playback on a connected Bluetooth device, as you could with the Charge 6, and Google Maps turn-by-turn directions will arrive later this year. [...] With a Google Health Premium subscription, the Edge can track blood pressure trends without manual calibration and insulin resistance trends without requiring a blood draw. Google first announced these capabilities alongside the Pixel Watch 5's debut, but they only became available at the end of September. They're also available on the Air, keeping Google's screenless tracker up to date as its lineup expands.



[1] https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/devices/fitbit/google-fitbit-edge/

[2] https://www.wired.com/story/googles-fitbit-edge-debuts-a-replaceable-battery-and-brings-back-the-screen/



Cool, but... (Score:2)

by Locke2005 ( 849178 )

What does that do to its IP65 rating? That being said, my Pixel 3 phone lost it's seal and had a huge gap for water to flow in, and my Pixel 3 watch just complete lost it's seal and just fell open into two separate halfs with only the flex circuit holding them together. What I'm saying is that Google never figured out how to properly seal cases without replaceable batteries, which makes me skeptical they can seal cases with replaceable batteries. Or maybe the glue they use is specifically designed to fail a

Another candidate for the Google Graveyard. (Score:2)

by AgTiger ( 458268 )

Before one buys any hardware, or comes to rely on any software by Google, it's a good idea to visit [1]Google Graveyard [killedbygoogle.com] and take a few minutes to ponder over how long it will be before Google abandons the technology it's trying to sell you, leaving you with yet another piece of e-waste.

[1] https://killedbygoogle.com/

Perfect. I want one because... (Score:2)

by greytree ( 7124971 )

Google do not already track me enough. I really want them to know where I am every minute of the day, as well as recording my voice and keystrokes.

They deserve that, because they're not evil.

Well, they weren't, once.

Keep the parts available (Score:2)

by CustomBuild ( 2891601 )

The replaceable battery is easily the most interesting feature here. If the tracker still does what I bought it for, declining battery life should be routine maintainance instead of a reason to buy the next model. I'd want to see the repair guide and the price of a spare cell before getting too excited, though. "Repair options will vary by region and availability" leaves quite a bit unanswered. Can I buy the battery myself, what tools does the job need, and can I restore the seal afterwards? This could make

The most delightful day after the one on which you buy a cottage in
the country is the one on which you resell it.
-- J. Brecheux