Fitbit Air, Edge Join Health Guardian, Blood Pressure and Insulin Monitoring Acts Like a "Check Engine Light"

Google describes the feature as "like a check engine light for your overall health." That line comes straight from the company's official description of Health Guardian—a health monitoring service that debuted on Pixel Watch this past summer and is now expanding to Fitbit Air and the newly launched Fitbit Edge, provided users subscribe to Google Health Premium. Google says the update will roll out later this month.

Rather than real-time alerts, Health Guardian generates a monthly blood pressure and insulin resistance trend summary within the Health App. The app's built-in Health Coach then offers lifestyle recommendations based on this data, along with talking points users can bring up with their doctors. In other words, it's not meant to replace a doctor's visit—it's designed to flag "here's something worth watching" ahead of time.

This system runs on the new Health App that Google launched just a few months ago, replacing the original Fitbit App. It consolidates health, fitness, and sleep data, connects with third-party apps like Peloton and MyFitnessPal, and can even sync with a user's medical records. Separately, Google Health has partnered with medical tech company Abbott to bring its continuous glucose monitor, Lingo, into the ecosystem. Google says this integration will be available to U.S. users soon.

Automatic exercise recognition is also getting an upgrade in this same update, rolling out to Fitbit Air, Fitbit Edge, and Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5. Google says the update specifically targets fast-paced activities that the system previously struggled to recognize, like tennis and HIIT. Beyond heart rate, the devices now factor in movement patterns, daily habits, manual corrections from users, and location data to make a more informed call. Google states that "these updates make automatic exercise recognition significantly smarter, more stable, and more accurate," expanding the number of recognizable activities from 10 to over 100. According to Google's internal testing, missed workout logs have dropped by more than half.

Rounding out the announcement is a new band: the Metal Mesh, a flexible stainless steel woven design available in Champagne Gold and Polished Silver, priced at $70 on its own. Bundled with a Fitbit Air in Obsidian and paired with the Champagne Gold band, the set runs $150, available through Target and the Google Store. Preorders open next week, with the band itself shipping on October 27.