The New FitBit Air vs. Whoop 5.0: Which One Is Better?
In a few short years, Whoop has become the new fitness tracker everyone wants. Its lightweight band where the tracker itself is a small module that can be placed into different straps to accommodate the user’s comfort during exercise and sleep is, apparently, what the people crave—aka no screens.
Google’s new Fitbit Air is the first serious competitor to really threaten to make a dent in Whoop’s market. The device, that has only been out for a few weeks, comes at a value-level price and with lots of updates. In case you forgot, Google acquired Fitbit in 2021 and has finally made some big updates to the Fitbit’s classic features. But are they enough to compete with Whoop? Here’s my verdict.
- Comfortable and easy to wear on the same wrist with a watch
- Basic insights in all categories included in the free tier
- Three free months of Premium included
- A simple, straightforward app
- Letting your Premium trial lapse will feel like a downgrade
- None of the bands scream stylish yet
I’ve been wearing the Fitbit Air for the past two weeks and can tell you which device I prefer, as well as which one I think you should buy based on your needs and preferences.
Here’s what you should be paying attention to. The user interface and app ecosystem, and the design of the device itself. That boils down to two questions: is it comfortable and do you like using the app?
The answer with the Fitbit Air is a resounding yes on both counts. Google’s new wearable is really as light—as the name suggests. The form factor means you can wear it with a watch and not feel weighed down. Personally, I’ve never found the Whoop to be very comfortable (especially not for sleeping in), but I’ve already found myself dozing off at night forgetting the Fitbit is there. And about the battery life? I haven’t charged mine in a week and I just checked—I’m at 50 percent. Honestly, it’s all top-notch, I just really wish it launched with sexier band options. Even my “luxe” one is plastic gussied up with a little stainless steel.
To answer the second question, yes. Even on an iPhone, the revamped Google Health app works well as a simple hub for keeping track of your activity, recovery, and sleep. It’s more straightforward than the Whoop app. You can sync medical records, lab results, and medications, but all of that is more off to the side in the “Health” tab, while your current day’s status, fitness, and sleep are all fairly light on modules, only highlighting the essential info. For the right person, this will be great. Others may appreciate Whoop’s approach more.
- Accurate, screen-free realtime workout tracking
- A dense app, full of insights and data
- A solid selection of sporty and luxury straps, including bicep bands
- The subscription business model is still too aggressive for many
- All features saved for top tier price
The Whoop 5.0 with the Whoop One membership is the lowest tier you can buy in at, and that costs $200 a year. That’s the same price as getting a Fitbit Air with a year (plus the free months) of Google Premium, but with the Fitbit you’re saving $100 each subsequent year until you get a new device. Technically, you have to pay $360 a year to get all Whoop has to offer in its Life tier (sold with the Medical Grade Whoop MG).
But in turn, the ceiling is much higher. Whoop members get way more out of digging deep. The higher tier features like Advanced Labs and ECG-taking are still on the cutting edge of health monitoring. In short, I don’t see serious athletes switching from a Whoop 5.0 or MG to a Fitbit any time soon.
And then there’s the whole “it’s a useless brick without the subscription” part of the equation. The Whoop business model is unfortunately upfront enough about it to give folks the ick. On the other hand, the Fitbit Air has a premium subscription Google wants you to buy—it’s a lot of the same stuff for the same price—but they just aren’t as in your face about it. Ultimately, the Fitbit is usable without a subscription, and the Whoop isn’t. That makes a difference.
All this makes the Fitbit Air my preferred screen-free wearable. But I can’t speak for everyone. Here’s how I’d break it down in just one sentence each:
Buy the Fitbit Air if you want something that tracks your steps and sleep in the same comfortable device, or if you are trying to build a workout plan. All without the commitment of an expensive subscription.
Buy the Whoop 5.0 if you want to go deep on metrics or you already have an established training routine you want more data on. And you’re okay with paying for all those great features.
esquire
