GitHub

Screenless connected bracelets are enjoying new popularity with the arrival of the Google Fitbit Air. In addition to the sobriety of the design, don't be fooled, it is above all the software suite with Google Health and its new version which makes the success of the product. Is that enough to recommend it to everyone? Unfortunately no, because a product of this type meets very specific expectations which are not all met by the Google bracelet.

Who isn’t the Google Fitbit Air for?

Unlike classic connected watches or bracelets on the market, the bias of a product without a screen can divide many people. Our test of the Google Fitbit Air highlights several weak points and some details which we will explain to you below:

- The absence of GPS tracking. The real big weak point of the bracelet, especially when faced with standard use of this type of product. The best sports watches offer very precise GPS tracking. Overall, if you are looking for analyzes of raw data on specific moments – in short, if you are an athlete who is keen on analyzing your data – then move on.

- If you need to have a relay from your smartphone, the Google Fitbit Air does not have a screen. It is therefore impossible to read your messages, let alone the time. If you need a watch that supports your daily life, it is better to turn to standard products.

There are no offers at the moment, find out

Before the arrival of the Google bracelet, the industry benchmark was the Whoop. It is first distinguished by its fairly sober design without screen with only an LED to indicate the battery level. You can install it on your wrist, your bicep or on compatible clothing.

As with its Google rival, the Whoop bracelet is designed to be worn all the time without interruption. The Whoop companion app displays multiple sleep, recovery, and effort scores. General health monitoring is just as effective, with fairly precise support. It's just as good as what Google offers.

The operation of the Whoop connected bracelet is based on a subscription which is nevertheless quite expensive. This is undoubtedly the only weak point of Whoop, but it is also the price to pay if you want to do without Google services.

In the world of wearables, competition is not limited to bracelets and watches. Connected rings are also relevant in health monitoring and this is the case with the Oura Ring.

The sleek design of the product can be adjusted to the size of your choice using a ring sizer before your purchase. It is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Battery life is comfortable over a full week.

It is especially at the level of health monitoring that the connected ring succeeds in making a proposal identical to that of the Google Fitbit Air. The software allows the monitoring of numerous data: HRV, temperature, SpO2 and even heart rate. She is a little further behind in sports monitoring.

Still, the bill is a bit steep for an already expensive ring that works hand in hand with a subscription. Subscription will be necessary if you wish to go further than just the scores offered and consult all of the health data measured.

While most of the time the universe is partitioned between Android and iOS, the Google bracelet is open to iPhone owners. However, if you have an Apple Watch, it can be a great alternative and allow you to do without Google Health. To do this, we recommend the Bevel app.

Apple Watches remain tracking watches, especially for everyday use. The product is thus able to monitor your health indicators. Everything is sent to Apple Health, but remains quite under-exploited for anyone wishing to deepen the analysis of their data. This is where Bevel comes in.

Above all, if you subscribe to the paid subscription, the application sets up an AI coach. This remains relevant even if we still have doubts about the language model used. This is the best proposition for people who don't want to leave their Apple Watch while waiting for Apple to launch its own solution.

Before the Google Fitbit Air, we also tested the first rival of the Whoop bracelet: the Amazfit Helio Strap. In terms of design, this one remains quite standard but remains elegant to wear.

In terms of autonomy, the bracelet is capable of lasting 11 days without the slightest recharge. During our test of the Amazfit Helio Strap, we appreciated convincing heart rate monitoring, but that's not all. Sleep tracking and associated metrics are also very nice.

The big strong point of the Amazfit bracelet is its price positioning. The bracelet costs 99 euros and works without a paid subscription. It is of course possible to subscribe to a paid option (Zepp Aura for sleep), but it is not necessary. On the other hand, in comparison with the Google Fitbit Air, we regret the absence of long-term analyses. We recommend this bracelet to occasional athletes who want to understand recovery without paying a subscription.

Within the category of classic sports connected watches, we recommend the Coros Pace 4. It is undoubtedly the most effective watch among the cheapest models for sports monitoring.

As mentioned above, while the Google bracelet is relevant in many categories, it remains weak in GPS tracking. This is precisely where the Coros watch stands out while tracking sports metrics with plenty of interesting scores for you to track.

Outside of sport, however, it is not really recommended. You will have understood, the Coros Pace 4 is almost placed opposite the Google Fitbit Air. It still remains useful on a daily basis since it is a light watch, with a very bright screen and comfortable battery life. But it is mainly aimed at athletes... and will not offer AI support from Google Health, Oura, Bevel or Whoop.