Google is denying a latest report that it’s not making Fitbit smartwatches. An organization spokesperson advised Ars Technica in the present day that Google has no present plans to discontinue the Fitbit Sense or Fitbit Versa product traces.
On Sunday, TechRadar revealed an article titled “RIP Fitbit smartwatches—an finish we may see coming a mile away.” The article famous final week’s announcement of the brand new Google Pixel Watch 3. Notably, the watch from Google, which acquired Fitbit in 2019, provides customers free entry to the Each day Readiness Rating, a characteristic that beforehand required a Fitbit Premium subscription (Pixel Watch 3 house owners additionally get six free months of Fitbit Premium). The publication mentioned that Fitbit has been “consigned to wearable historical past” and reported:
Google quietly confirmed that there would by no means be one other Fitbit Sense or Versa mannequin produced. To any extent further, Fitbit-branded units will probably be relegated to Google’s greatest health trackers: the Fitbit Encourage, Luxe, and Cost ranges. The smartwatch kind issue could be solely reserved for the Pixel Watch line.
When reached for remark, a Google spokesperson advised me that the TechRadar story is “not appropriate” and shared the next assertion:
We’re very dedicated to Fitbit, and much more importantly to the purchasers that use and depend upon these merchandise and expertise. It is also value noting that most of the well being and health options we launched in Pixel Watch 3 had been due to Fitbit’s innovation and ground-breaking health developments. As well as, we simply launched Fitbit Ace LTE, [a smartwatch for kids released on June 5], and also you’ll proceed to see new merchandise and innovation from Fitbit.
Whereas the corporate rep advised me that they may not verify a particular upcoming Sense or Versa mannequin or every other specifics about Google’s product street map, that Google hasn’t discontinued the traces.
Fitbit fears
TechRadar’s issues about Fitbit smartwatches dying additionally stem from the Sense 2 and Versa 4 missing some options of its predecessors, together with methods to regulate music or entry music apps. The Pixel Watch, in the meantime, has music app help, like YouTube, Spotify, and Pandora. “As soon as Google accomplished its acquisition in January 2021 and debuted its first Pixel Watch in 2022, the Versa and the Sense watches had been holdovers of a bygone period,” TechRadar wrote.
Google additionally has greater than its justifiable share of lifeless merchandise, prompting Fitbit followers to be cautious about the way forward for the smartwatch model.
Nevertheless, Google’s spokesperson famous that “a part of all the things that we simply launched from Pixel Watch is predicated on Fitbit expertise, so it isn’t going wherever.”
Whereas Fitbit tech and maybe its title could dwell on, it is cheap to query the model’s longevity. Considerations about Google discontinuing Fitbit smartwatches have been fueled by Google taking Fitbit options and incorporating them into Google-branded watches. Google has additionally discontinued varied beloved Fitbit options, together with the Fitbit.com on-line dashboard, social options, and the power to sync with computer systems. Google additionally beforehand introduced that it is closing all Fitbit accounts (forcing customers onto Google accounts) subsequent 12 months and in addition shut down the Fitbit SDK for app growth. Google’s Fitbit popularity has been additional broken by broadly reported battery issues that some Cost 5 customers have skilled. Google denied that the rapidly dying batteries stemmed from a firmware replace however by no means publicly confirmed what it believes the issue is. This Google-fication of Fitbit has led long-term clients to publicly complain about Google allegedly lowering buyer help and care about Fitbit customers.
Right now, Google is not asserting the tip of any Fitbit product traces. But it surely stays potential that if future units arrive, they could lack the options of earlier Fitbits or Pixel Watches. The Fitbit model is not lifeless, however Fitbit, as folks knew it earlier than Google’s acquisition, is not any extra.
