It hasn't been a great time for Fitbit fans since Google's big acquisition in 2021, and the recent removal of the popular feature from the brand's web dashboard is the latest in a list of many hits.
But in the first positive news in a long time, Google is now rolling out some big software updates to trackers including the Fitbit Charge 6, Fitbit Versa 4, and Fitbit Sense 2.
The updates, which are rolling out in phases, aren’t exactly on the scale of a revamped web dashboard, but they promise to bring some genuine quality-of-life improvements and improved accuracy. Charge 6, Sense 2, Versa 4, and Inspire 3 are all being updated to version 210.26, and Google recommends checking the app to see if it’s arrived for you, then plugging your device into a charger during the update.
First off, the Sense 2, Versa 4, and Charge 6’s Auto Detect mode will now be more versatile. It’ll automatically track your rowing, elliptical, and spin class exploits. This adds to its existing ability to automatically recognize your runs, walks, and cycling. All three devices will also gain improved GPS accuracy thanks to a new ability to switch between built-in and connected GPS modes during workouts.
Older trackers aren’t getting as big of a revamp as today’s best Fitbits, but they’re not being completely left out, either. The Fitbit Charge 5 and Luxe, for example, will now let you see your Daily Readiness Score on the tracker, while the Versa 2 and 3 are getting an injection of bug fixes and other improvements. For a full list of features coming to your checker, head over to Google’s official update page.
A well-deserved break
Since its acquisition by Google, Fitbit's direction of travel has largely been downward, at least according to fans of the brand on its community forums and Reddit.
From removed features to seemingly botched firmware updates, Fitbit fans haven't exactly been enamored with Google's approach, which appears to involve bringing Fitbit's fitness trackers closer to the Pixel Watch and abruptly ditching older features.
This big batch of software updates is, then, a welcome relief for Fitbit owners, with Google's presence seemingly bringing some positive benefits for a change, such as better accuracy in heart rate tracking thanks to its machine learning algorithms.
With Fitbit's “AI-powered chatbot” also coming “later this year” to Android users, Fitbit owners have reason to remain cautiously optimistic. But owning a Google-owned device always comes with the nagging fear of a one-way ticket to the Google graveyard.
