Fact Check: Google is Not Ending Its Fitbit Smartwatch Line

In response to recent speculation about the future of Fitbit smartwatches, Google has issued a clear denial of reports suggesting the discontinuation of these popular wearables. A Google spokesperson, in a statement to Ars Technica, affirmed that the company has no current plans to discontinue either the Fitbit Sense or Fitbit Versa product lines.

This clarification comes in the wake of a TechRadar article published on Sunday, dramatically titled “RIP Fitbit smartwatches—an end we could see coming a mile away.” The piece drew connections between the recent announcement of the Google Pixel Watch 3 and the perceived future of Fitbit devices.

The Pixel Watch 3, a product of Google’s 2019 acquisition of Fitbit, notably offers users free access to the Daily Readiness Score—a feature previously exclusive to Fitbit Premium subscribers. Additionally, Pixel Watch 3 owners receive six months of complimentary Fitbit Premium service.

While these developments led TechRadar to speculate that Fitbit had been “consigned to wearable history,” Google’s statement firmly contradicts this interpretation.

Last week, Engadget also published a similar report that sparked widespread speculation about the future of Fitbit’s product line. The article cited a conversation with Sandeep Waraich, the senior director of product management for Pixel Wearables, who reportedly stated, “Pixel Watches are our next iteration of smartwatch for Fitbit.”

This comment led Engadget to conclude that Fitbit’s future offerings would primarily focus on “the more minimalistic, long-lasting trackers the brand has become synonymous with.” The implication was that Fitbit might be moving away from full-featured smartwatches, instead concentrating on simpler fitness trackers that have long been a cornerstone of the brand’s identity.

However, Google has since confirmed to ArsTechnica that none of this is true. Here is the statement:

We are very committed to Fitbit, and even more importantly to the customers that use and depend on those products and technology. Many of the health and fitness features we launched in Pixel Watch 3 were because of Fitbit’s innovation and ground-breaking fitness advancements. In addition, we just launched Fitbit Ace LTE, [a smartwatch for kids released on June 5], and you’ll continue to see new products and innovation from Fitbit.

Source: ArsTechnica