- Google appears to be building a screenless Fitbit-style tracker
- The revelation came when Google’s ‘performance advisor’ Steph Curry posted on Instagram
- The teaser video showed Curry wearing a screenless bracelet
Google is jumping on the same trend as Polar and Amazfit to make what we refer to as a ‘Whoop clone’: a screenless fitness tracker.
Curry can be seen wearing the band, with his voiceover saying, “I’m excited about what this is going to mean for the world, for health and wellness. It’s kind of the first of its kind. I don’t want to spoil it, you kind of have to see it for yourself.”
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The video doesn’t address the band directly, but you can see him wearing an orange bracelet with a metal clasp, very prominently, in the footage. No release date or other information is given other than ‘coming soon’.
If Google is already releasing official videos about the device, ‘soon’ probably means ‘later this month’ rather than a date later this summer, the time frame when Google typically shows off new Pixel devices.
Watch the video below:
Analysis: The latest Whoop clone
Google’s new Fitbit (if it’s actually a Fitbit, rather than a Pixel Band or something) enters the screenless wearable category in good company. Once dominated by the premium subscription-oriented Whoop, screenless tracking has grown to include the Polar Loop and Amazfit Helio Strap.
Even Garmin is throwing its hat in the ring with the long-rumored Garmin Cirqa band. Change with the screenless options in the best smart rings from e.g. Oura and Samsung.
It’s safe to say that these ‘focus’ wearables are having a real moment. Whoop just raised a huge amount in investor funding as the company is now worth $10 billion according to TechCrunch.
