Google says Fitbit Air will get sleep breathing tracking after all

Google has confirmed that the Fitbit Air, its screenless fitness band, will get a sleep breathing feature after all. The company gave no release date. Fitbit Air owners will also need a paid Google Health Premium subscription to see the results.

What changed

In early October, Google added insulin resistance trends, blood pressure trends and sleep breathing quality to Pixel Watch 3, 4 and 5. Google had said these would reach the Fitbit Air later. Then doubts grew. Product pages left out breathing quality, a Google Store comparison page listed it only for Pixel Watches, and the Google Health app said "Not available on this tracker."

A Google spokesperson settled it in a statement to Android Authority: "Sleep Breathing Quality launched first on Pixel Watches and will come to Fitbit Air soon."

What the feature does

It uses changes in blood oxygen overnight, plus software, to estimate how long you breathe in a healthy way while asleep. It cannot diagnose sleep apnea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep. It may help you understand your own patterns.

What is not known yet

• The exact release date for Fitbit Air.
• The price of Google Health Premium, which the material does not give.
• Whether the Fitbit Edge gets the feature. Google did not say, though it uses the same hardware.

Android Police notes the Edge could see it when it launches later this month.