Google Has Added New Health Features to Fitbit Air
New updates for the Fitbit Air and Fitbit Edge offer tracking for heart rhythms, sleep breathing, and insulin resistance.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Asthma
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Google has announced three new health-tracking features for the Fitbit Air, including capabilities for monitoring sleep breathing quality and insulin resistance estimation. These updates follow the original May 2026 launch of the device and accompany the release of the new Fitbit Edge.
Why it matters
These features expand the scope of wearable health monitoring, providing users with tools to track heart rate notifications, irregular rhythms, and blood pressure trends. The additions are available through the Google Health Premium subscription service.
Google reported that the Fitbit Air's automatic workout detection now features a 50% reduction in missed detections. Additionally, sleep breathing quality tracking is now available for users aged 18 and older.
The players
A technology company that develops consumer electronics, including wearable health devices and software services.
Fitbit
A brand of wearable health and fitness trackers known for monitoring metrics like heart rate and activity levels.
The details
The updated system uses the WavesFM AI foundation model to estimate blood pressure trends by analyzing pulse shape and speed. A large language model enhances automatic workout detection by identifying activity types based on movement and location data. Furthermore, the Health Guardian system operates in the background to monitor health signals and generate monthly user summaries.
Timeline
The Fitbit Air was first released in May 2026.
Google announced these new features on October 12, 2026.
Health Landscape
This integration marks a shift in how consumer wearables utilize foundation models like WavesFM to estimate complex health metrics from standard sensor data. It reflects a broader trend of incorporating sophisticated background monitoring into personal fitness hardware.
Users can access these tracking capabilities through a Google Health Premium subscription, which costs $10 monthly or $100 annually. These tools are meant for tracking trends, so any concerns about blood pressure or heart rhythms should be discussed with your physician.
The takeaway
These features provide new data points for tracking sleep and heart health through the Fitbit ecosystem. If you notice persistent trends or irregular notifications, schedule an appointment with your doctor to review your health data.
Further reading
For more information on monitoring lung and respiratory health, visit our Asthma section.
Live Poll
Do you trust the health data provided by your wearable fitness device?
