Google launches Fitbit Air in India, though its high price might deter the masses

Google connected Wednesday launched the screen-less Fitbit Air fittingness tracker successful India, but is pricing astatine ₹13,999 (roughly $146), ostensibly positioning it arsenic a premium device. Comparatively, the instrumentality costs $99 successful the U.S.

Unveiled successful May, the Fitbit Air features wellness and fittingness tracking, similar 24/7 bosom complaint monitoring, bosom bushed monitoring with A-fib (atrial fibrillation) alerts, humor oxygen level, resting bosom rate, bosom complaint variability, slumber stages, and duration.

The device’s screen-less signifier is simply a bid to pat into the increasing popularity of screen-less devices arsenic radical shy distant from screens, opting for distraction-free wellness gadgets similar Whoop’s fittingness bands and Oura’s rings — though the caller Fitbit is much pocket-friendly.

The wellness tracking abstraction present has screen-less devices from Garmin, Fitbit founders’ caller company, Luffu Link, arsenic good arsenic from Indian startups similar Noise and Urban, which person been trying to undercut their Western rivals connected price.

Research steadfast IDC noted successful its global wearables study that contempt a declining fig of wristband shipments, screen-less trackers are carving retired a niche. India presently accounts for lone 5% of the screenless wearable market, per Counterpoint Research, and a wearable priced similar a premium instrumentality mightiness not marque a dent successful wide numbers, contempt having a large sanction similar Fitbit oregon Google down it.

The Fitbit Air is disposable for acquisition connected the Google Store and retail partners, including Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital and Vijay Sales, from October 2. Google is besides offering a free, three-month Google Health premium rank with the caller band.