Fitbit's CEO confirms its next smartwatch will run Google Wear

By Jeramy Johnson
published

Google Io 2021 Keynote Fitbit Wear
Google Io 2021 Keynote Fitbit Wear (Image credit: Google)

What you need to know

  • Google announced a host of updates to its Wear OS platform, including greater Fitbit services integration at I/O 2021.
  • Fitbit CEO James Park confirmed that the company's next smartwatch would run the Wear operating system.
  • Neither Google nor Fitbit provided any specific details on the new watch or launch date.

At the information-dense Google I/O keynote earlier today, we were treated to all manner of updates on Google search, shopping, Maps, and Android 12, but one of the most highly anticipated sections of the presentation was on Wear OS (now referred to simply as Wear).

During the Wear section of the keynote, we learned that Google is developing the latest iteration of its smartwatch platform in conjunction with Samsung. In the process, it is reimagining a number of its most popular apps for smartwatches. Apps like YouTube Music, Google Maps, and even Fitbit will be updated and available to all OEMs who wish to develop for the platform.

Now that we're a part of Google, we're working on bringing the best of Fitbit to Wear, and we'll be making some of Fitbit's most popular features available on Wear watches, including tracking your health progress throughout the day and on-wrist celebrations to keep you motivated." — Fitbit CEO James Park

Google Io 2021 Keynote James Park

Source: GoogleFitbit CEO James Park (Image credit: Source: Google)

In addition to commenting on the Fitbit feature sharing, Park also slipped in a little teaser about upcoming Fitbit hardware.

In the future, we'll be building premium smartwatches based on Wear that combine the best of Fitbit's health expertise with Google's ambient computing capabilities.

Park didn't divulge any further details such as the smartwatch's design, price, or launch date, but this news has many excited about what might be coming from Fitbit and Google later this year. Is this the rumored Pixel Watch we've been expecting? Or is it something else entirely? And how will it compete with whatever Wear-powered Galaxy watches that Samsung is working on? Either way, it's sure to be the best Fitbit we've ever seen. We'll just have to wait to find out what that looks like.

Fitbit SenseBest Fitbit Smartwatch

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Fitbit Sense

Best pre-Wear
The Sense is Fitbit's most advanced smartwatch and fitness tracker to date, with an array of advanced sensors and a premium build. It also comes with Google Assistant onboard.

Jeramy Johnson
Jeramy Johnson
Editor-in-chief

Jeramy is the Editor-in-Chief of Android Central. He is proud to help *Keep Austin Weird* and loves hiking in the hill country of central Texas with a breakfast taco in each hand. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeramyutgw.

14 Comments
  • Nah... Fitbits are awful
  • So are you
  • That's not what your mum said...
  • I heard FitBits are great and I want one.
  • They're awful. Activity/Health trackers that don't track activities very well at all. The health stuff is decent but kinda pointless if you can't do the main things right 🤷🏻‍♂️
    Stick to Garmin, Polar, Coros, Suunto or even Apple Watch if you're serious about it
  • I have the Versa 3, it is not bad, the problem is none of the watches on the market are great unless they have different sensors. come on a few sensors on the wrist is not going to get accurate data, the only way you are going to get accurate step data is by sticking sensors on your lower legs and counting when they pass each other and then there will still be some errors. These watches are more for motivation. My one worry is that Fitbit will cease to support the ones they have already got.
  • Gosh I hope Google wear has fixed their battery life...
  • I was going to get one of the tick watches, it had good reviews and looked nice, but the battery life put me off and also the other small problems with Wear OS, saying that My fitbit Versa 3 can be problematic sometimes, certainly with synchronising to my phone.
  • All of you GROW UP, are you all 12 or something?
  • This is a bit hypocritical lol.
  • I never bring
    Anyone's mother into any "banter"
  • One good thing abut this is that Google Pay will be on Fitbit devices instead of Fitbit Pay.
  • I love my fitbit sense but still wish it was a little more smart watch. I have the galaxy watch and the battery is terrible. My fitbit can goes an easy 2 days and that's with the always on display.
  • Hmm, might have to consider the options that Withings has available. Had a Versa 1 and 2. I go to the gym 5-6x/week which taxes the Versa's battery, it also has trouble staying connected to/syncing with my Surface Duo. Withings seems to be priced similar, if not cheaper, and their batteries go for weeks instead of days...and then there's the whole concern about privacy with Google...