The Fitbit Air offers a neat answer for people who want modern health tracking without giving up a familiar analog watch. The $99.99 screenless tracker can attach to a traditional watch band, placing the watch face on top of the wrist and the Fitbit sensor underneath.
That setup keeps heart rate, exercise, and sleep tracking on one wrist instead of forcing you to wear a separate device on each arm. The data appears in the Google Health app, while the watch still provides the dial you already know. You get health tracking without adding another screen to your day.
How to attach the Fitbit Air to a watch
The easiest method uses the Fitbit Air’s 18mm Performance Loop as a replacement strap. Remove the watch’s existing band, but leave the spring bars in place. Then slide the Fitbit band underneath both spring bars, much like a NATO-style strap, so the watch rests above the wrist and the tracker sits below it.
An 18mm lug width is the best match. Watches with 19mm or 20mm between the lugs can also work, though small gaps may appear on either side of the band. Anything narrower than 18mm will not fit the stock strap, and an especially wide watch could look a little ridiculous. The space between the spring bars and the watch case also needs to be large enough for the band to pass through.
People have already tried the arrangement with different watch designs. One user connected a Fitbit Air to a Seiko wristwatch, while an influencer demonstrated a setup using a Hamilton Khaki Field King and its original strap.
Keeping the original strap requires a custom approach. Some users have designed 3D-printed adapters that hold the Fitbit Air’s removable sensor underneath a regular watch band. The adapter must match the strap width and keep the tracker secure, especially during exercise. If it comes loose during a heavy workout, the whole setup loses its appeal.
The tradeoffs before wearing it every day
Google recommends wearing the Fitbit Air on top of the wrist for the most accurate readings. Google has not said whether positioning the tracker underneath works just as well. The lower position may also feel uncomfortable when you lean on a desk or type for a long time.
Water creates another concern. The Fitbit Air is water-resistant up to 50 meters, but a traditional watch may not be. Older watch cases and leather straps can struggle with moisture or perspiration, so swimming with both devices requires more thought. For exercise, the original Fitbit band may be the safer choice.
The attachment does not change the Fitbit Air’s requirements. You still need a Google Account and the Google Health app to view fitness data. Basic activity and sleep tracking do not require a subscription, while Google Health Premium adds personalized coaching for $9.99 a month or $99 a year.
When restarting helps, and when resetting hurts
The old “turn it off and turn it on again” trick can help when a Fitbit misbehaves. Restarting may fix a failure to sync with the Google Health app, a frozen or unresponsive screen, missed swipes or taps, delays, or stats that do not track properly. It may also help when the device stops registering steps, sleep, notifications, or reminders.
There is no limit to how often you can restart a Fitbit, and doing so should not harm the device. Still, there is no reason to restart it on a regular schedule unless a problem appears. Restarting gives you a troubleshooting step without deleting your data.
Do not confuse a restart with a reset. A reset deletes all your data and makes sense only when you are giving or selling the device, or when a serious problem continues after a restart. Google also warns you never to insert anything into the small holes used by sensors such as the microphone or altimeter. Fitbit models do not use the recessed paper-clip reset buttons found on some other devices.
The restart process depends on the model. On the Versa 4 and Sense 2, open Settings, choose About, then Shutdown and Yes. On the Charge 5, Charge 6, and Inspire 3, go to Settings > Restart Device > Restart. The Charge 3 and Charge 4 use Settings > About > Reboot Device, while the Inspire 2 uses Settings > Reboot Device.
For the Fitbit Edge, hold the side button for up to 10 seconds, then select Settings > System > Restart. For the screenless Fitbit Air, connect the tracker to its charging cable and plug the cable into a power outlet. Hold the back button for about 10 seconds, then release it when the side light flashes white.
What the Fitbit Edge and Amazfit offer
The Fitbit Edge takes a different path from the screenless Air. It has a 1.34-inch AMOLED screen for starting and stopping workouts, checking stats and vitals, viewing notifications, and accessing Google apps such as Google Maps. It also adds intelligent automatic activity tracking, improved GPS tracking, a replaceable battery, and Health Guardian features in the updated Google Health app.
But the Fitbit Edge does not include an NFC chip, the short-range technology used for tap-to-pay connections. Google says fewer than a single percent of Fitbit Charge 6 owners said they used NFC, so the company focused on other requested features instead. The Fitbit Air also lacks NFC, while the Charge 6, Charge 5, Charge 4, special editions of the Charge 3, several Versa models, the Sense models, and all Pixel Watches include it.
Fitbit Pay shut down in 2024 and was replaced by Google Wallet, which is the only tap-to-pay service available with Fitbit. Fitbit devices can connect to the Google Health app on an Apple iPhone, except for Pixel Watches, but they cannot access Apple Wallet.
Amazfit offers another route for shoppers who want a lower price. Its watches, made by Zepp Health, include models such as the Amazfit Bip 6 for as little as $80, with some watches lasting up to 25 days per charge. They support over 100 sports modes, track heart rate, sleep, temperature, and GPS data, and work with both iPhone and Android without a data subscription.
The tradeoff is Zepp OS. It limits access to third-party apps, with only a few productivity apps and games available through the Zepp Store. Amazfit watches integrate with Strava, TrainingPeaks, Komoot, and Runna, but they do not offer Google Wallet, Google Maps, Uber, Starbucks, Gmail, banking apps, or a Spotify app. The Amazfit Bip 6 has 512MB of storage, and the company provides three years of software and security support.
Based on
- You can attach your Fitbit Air to almost any old-school watch — engadget.com
- How Often Should You Restart Your Fitbit Watch? — engadget.com
- 5 Unexpected Uses For Your Old Smartwatch — engadget.com
- The Fitbit Edge Lacks A Useful Contactless Feature — engadget.com
- The Pros And Cons Of Using An Amazfit Smartwatch — engadget.com
