The Pixel Watch is stuffed with features to boost your productivity and track your health. But because of this, Google has started competing with one of their own brands: Fitbit.
Advertisem*nt
The Pixel Watch makes the Fitbit look obsolete
Google acquired the fitness electronics company Fitbit in early 2021. And since then, they've released three new Fitbit products: The Versa 4, the Inspire 3, and the Sense 2. But those Fitbit bands pale in comparison to the Pixel Watch.
The Pixel Watch includes all the features of a standalone Fitbit band, like heart rate meters, activity and exercise tracking, and fall detection. But it also includes the features of a premium smartwatch — you can get directions, pay for purchases, make phone calls, and more.
In other words, once the Pixel Watch comes out on October 13, there isn't much of a reason to buy a standalone Fitbit. The Pixel Watch is just a strictly better and more feature-filled product.
This is especially true for the Fitbit Sense 2 and Fitbit Versa 4, which are nearly as expensive as the Pixel Watch. The Pixel Watch starts at $350, while the Sense 2 and Versa 4 are $300 and $230 respectively. The Fitbit Inspire 3 is $100, making it a decent budget option.
The only feature that Fitbits have that the Pixel Watch doesn't is the ability to sync with an iPhone. The Pixel Watch is an Android-exclusive device.
At this point, if you own an Android phone, the only reasons to buy a standalone Fitbit are if you can't afford the price increase, or for whatever reason only want a fitness tracker. And none of these are particularly compelling reasons for Google, as a business, to keep manufacturing the standalone bands.
Advertisem*nt
Will Google stop making Fitbits?
When asked about the future of Fitbit, Andrea Holing — a communications and public affairs manager at Google — firmly told Insider that "Fitbit smartwatches and trackers will not be phased out or replaced by Pixel smartwatches."
But things can change quickly, and the Pixel Watch technically hasn't hit the market yet. Depending on how well the Pixel Watch sells, Google might decide to shift all their resources to the Pixel line.
It might not make much business sense for Google to keep manufacturing new Fitbits. Yet, for the time being, they're going to keep making and selling standalone Fitbit bands.
William Antonelli
Tech Reporter for Insider Reviews
William Antonelli (he/she/they) is a writer, editor, and organizer based in New York City. As a founding member of the Reference team, he helped grow Tech Reference (now part of Insider Reviews) from humble beginnings into a juggernaut that attracts over 20 million visits a month. Outside of Insider, his writing has appeared in publications like Polygon, The Outline, Kotaku, and more. He's also a go-to source for tech analysis on channels like Newsy, Cheddar, and NewsNation. You can find him on Twitter @DubsRewatcher, or reach him by email at wantonelli@businessinsider.com.
