Google delays Fitbit Air sleep breathing quality feature promised for Health Guardian suite
Google confirmed the Fitbit Air lacks the sleep breathing quality metric available on Pixel Watches, stating the feature will arrive soon without a specific date.
Key points
- Sleep breathing quality is currently available only on Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5.
- Google told Android Authority the Fitbit Air will receive the feature soon.
- The Your Health Guardian suite includes blood pressure and insulin resistance trends.
Google has confirmed that the Fitbit Air does not yet support the sleep breathing quality feature, which launched for Pixel Watch devices last month. The company reiterated its commitment to adding the function to the Fitbit Air line in a recent statement, though it did not provide a specific release date for the update.
According to 9to5Google, Google addressed the missing feature in a statement to Android Authority. The company stated that sleep breathing quality, which debuted on Pixel Watches, will come to the Fitbit Air soon. This communication serves as a follow-up to earlier announcements regarding the Your Health Guardian umbrella of features, which was introduced recently for Google’s fitness tracking portfolio.
Feature Availability and Timeline
The Your Health Guardian suite encompasses several health metrics, including blood pressure trends, insulin resistance trends, and sleep breathing quality. When Google initially announced these capabilities, it specified that the Fitbit Air and the newly announced Fitbit Edge would receive the features later this year. However, the initial press release did not distinguish which features would launch immediately versus those delayed for the screenless tracker.
Currently, only the Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Watch 4, and Pixel Watch 5 offer access to all three metrics within the Health Guardian framework. Fitbit Air users have received blood pressure and insulin resistance trends but are still waiting for the sleep breathing quality functionality. Google’s recent statement to Android Authority was more pointedly aimed at this specific missing function, acknowledging the gap in feature parity between the device lines.
Device Support and User Expectations
Google originally managed user expectations by noting in its press release that the Fitbit Air would get the features later this year. The company ensured that detail was included to prevent Fitbit Air users from assuming immediate access to all Health Guardian capabilities. Despite this caveat, the lack of a detailed timeline for the sleep breathing quality trends specifically has left users uncertain about when they can utilize the metric.
The distinction in feature rollout highlights a staggered release strategy for Google’s wearable ecosystem. While the Pixel Watch series has full access to the suite, the Fitbit Air remains partially updated. Google has not provided a firm deadline for the Fitbit Air update beyond the vague "soon" designation in its latest communication to Android Authority.
What should you do?
Users of the Fitbit Air who rely on sleep breathing quality metrics should monitor the Fitbit app for software updates that may include this feature. Until then, they can continue using the available blood pressure and insulin resistance trends provided by the Your Health Guardian suite. Checking device settings regularly ensures that new features are enabled automatically once deployed by Google.
What to do and how to stay safe: Google
- Check the Fitbit app settings for any pending software updates that may introduce the sleep breathing quality feature.
- Review current Health Guardian features on the Fitbit Air to utilize available metrics like blood pressure and insulin trends.
- Monitor official Google or Fitbit communications for specific release dates regarding the delayed feature.
- Ensure the device firmware is up to date to receive features as soon as they are pushed by the vendor.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
Which devices currently support the sleep breathing quality feature?
The Pixel Watch 3, Pixel Watch 4, and Pixel Watch 5 currently support the sleep breathing quality feature.
When will the Fitbit Air receive the sleep breathing quality feature?
Google stated the feature will come to the Fitbit Air soon, but no specific date has been provided.
What other features are included in the Your Health Guardian suite?
The suite includes blood pressure trends and insulin resistance trends, in addition to sleep breathing quality.
