Fitbit Edge review: standalone GPS and a week of battery, with calls and payments left out
The Verge has published a review of the Fitbit Edge, a $179.99 wearable that runs Fitbit OS rather than Wear OS, Google's smartwatch platform. The review covers the hardware, battery life and software changes that accompany the launch.
The core of the device is a 1.34-inch always-on OLED touchscreen. Earlier coverage of the device, including a Verge leak report from early October, described the same display. The Edge also includes an altimeter, a sensor that measures changes in elevation, and the Verge's earlier report listed it among the pre-launch specifications. Its built-in GPS lets it record walks and runs without a phone nearby. Automatic workout tracking and GPS are described as improved over the Charge 6. The unit weighs 17.7 grams without its band, according to Mashable.
Battery life is the figure the review leads with. The Edge lasts about a week on a charge, or about a day and a half with the always-on display enabled.
The feature omissions are equally specific. The Edge cannot take calls on the wrist and has no microphone or speaker. It does not support contactless payments, the tap-to-pay function used at card terminals. Andy Abramson, head of product at Google Health, said that less than one percent of Charge 6 owners used the contactless payments feature.
Bands are sold separately. A metal link bracelet costs $150, and a silicone magnetic strap costs $60.
The software side has changed as well. The Fitbit app has been replaced by Google Health, which includes an AI coach. Buyers receive three months free with the purchase of the device. After that, the service costs $10 per month.
In my view, the Edge's trade-offs follow directly from its design. Standalone GPS and a week of battery life address the two most common complaints about fitness trackers, but the device gives up voice, payments and third-party platform support in exchange. Running a proprietary OS rather than Wear OS keeps the Edge outside the app ecosystem that most smartwatch buyers already know, so its value rests almost entirely on Fitbit's own software and the Google Health subscription.
The broader context here is a product line that is narrowing its scope on purpose. The Edge is a dedicated training and health device rather than a general-purpose wearable. Buyers who run or walk outdoors without a phone, and who want several days between charges, have a clear reason to consider it. Buyers who expect payments, calls or a wide app catalogue will find the spec sheet answers their questions quickly.
