Your Fitbit Is About to Spot 10x More Workouts on Its Own

1 hour ago

Google Health app showing an automatically detected tennis workout

Image: Google

Google is upgrading automatic workout detection on Fitbit and Pixel Watch so it recognizes more than 100 activities, up from just 10.

The update arrives later this month on Fitbit Air, Fitbit Edge and Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5. It now picks up strength training, swimming, and racket and team sports. If you’re on an iPhone, you can use Fitbit with the Google Health app, so this isn’t just for Android owners.

Google says detection now uses context like your routines, history, manual edits and, with permission, your location. That makes it nearly twice as accurate, and it cuts missed workouts by more than half. By default, anything 15 minutes or longer with a sustained elevated heart rate gets logged, and a summary usually lands in the app within 30 minutes. It also learns from the workouts you confirm or edit.

Finally, your Wednesday night pickleball gets the credit it deserves. Beer league hockey too.

Health Guardian is also coming to Fitbit Air and Fitbit Edge later this month for Google Health Premium subscribers. It gives you monthly blood pressure and insulin resistance trends if you meet the wear requirements. Google stresses it’s not a diagnostic tool.

Fitbit Air is also getting a stainless steel Metal Mesh band in Champagne Gold or Polished Silver. We’ll have Canadian pricing for the new bands shortly.

Fitbit Air with the Champagne Gold Metal Mesh band

Image: Google

On the partner side, Flo Health cycle data will sync starting early next year, and MyFitnessPal is expanding its nutrition sync so Premium users can share detailed food logs. The Abbott Lingo CGM link is US only, and so is Function Health lab results import.

Google says it has shipped more than 55 features and fixes since Google Health and Health Coach launched, including more Today tab customization, better Coach memory, deeper Apple Health integration and meal logging by photo or chat. All of this lands alongside the new Fitbit Edge.

If you’re shopping for a tracker, you can browse Fitbit on Amazon.

What workout does your tracker always miss?

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