Now that Google owns Fitbit, its AI helper is becoming a top notch citizen on Fitbit devices. Fitbit brings out an update for Sense and Versa 3 smartwatches, which among other things provides audio responses from the Google Assistant.
When you send a command to the Google Assistant, your Fitbit watch can optionally speak back. For example, it will confirm that you have set an alarm or tell you how long you slept. So you don’t have to stare at your screen to wait for a text confirmation.
Continue reading: Fitbit buying guide
Fitbit has also introduced some long-overdue practical changes that go beyond Google Assistant. To begin with, it’s a lot easier to see your blood oxygen levels. You can check it on your watch’s Today dashboard instead of using the SpO2 watch face or health data from the phone app. High and low heart rate alerts are now also coming to the Versa 3, and everyone gets two new fitness goal celebrations.
An update may be known to Apple Watch owners: you can now change watch faces by long-pressing the watch and selecting one of five watch faces. This can be helpful when switching to a workout-oriented face after a long day at work or wanting a simpler watch for the weekend.
Google Assistant feedback and other changes don’t suddenly make Fitbit a more compelling option if you’re already anchored in a different smartwatch ecosystem. They do harmonize Fitbit’s lineup, however, and may give you a reason to stick with your Sinn or Versa if you’d otherwise switch to an alternative like Wear OS.