Fitbit offers very smart free upgrade but there is a catch for UK users

Fitbit has had a topsy-turvy time of it since it was acquired by Google in 2021. We’ve seen the release of the Fitbit Versa 4, Sense 2, Charge 5, Charge 6 and Inspire 3 in that time, but some devices got fewer features than older models, and Google has all but confirmed it won’t make another Versa or Sense-style Fitbit smartwatch again.

Faithful Fitbit users have also been up in arms online about the redesigns to the Fitbit app for iPhone and Android, as well as the removal of some of the social elements of the app.

But Google is continuously updating the Fitbit app, partly because it’s the app Google Pixel Watch owners must use to track their health and fitness stats, part of the reason Google acquired Fitbit in the first place. That means whether you have a Pixel Watch or a Fitbit, you are getting the same app, and as well as redesigning the interface, Google is finally adding new features.

The company has announced three new features via its Community Blog that are available to people signed up to Fitbit Labs. This is Fitbit’s opt-in service where Fitbit and Pixel Watch owners can test features early, provided they agree to Google viewing anonymous user data so it can develop the features for all Fitbit app users.

The first new feature is called ‘Medical record navigator’, which the Fitbit Community team says "can help turn complicated lab reports into clear health summaries."

“Once signed up and enrolled, you can securely upload recent lab results to the Fitbit app, the team said. "Then with the help of Gemini, Fitbit can summarise the information and present the data back to you in clear, accessible language, complete with educational resources. Use this lab to quickly understand any complex medical terms and get a better understanding of your results.”

That mention of Gemini is telling. Google is trying to integrate its Gemini AI into the Fitbit app to help people translate the often-complicated mound of fitness data into more understandable forms.

Alongside this, the blog post said two more Fitbit Labs features are coming soon, called ‘Symptom checker’ and ‘Unusual trends’. The first appears to also be an AI-infused tool where you can tell the app something such as “my head hurts”, in an example given, and the system will ask you a few more questions.

“After answering, it can give you possible reasons for what's causing your symptoms,” Fitbit said. “Use this lab as a starting point to help you understand why you’re feeling off, so you can then decide whether you should do more research or consult with a doctor.”

‘Unusual trends’ meanwhile promises to learn which of your health metrics are “normal” for you, and then pipes up if and when your wearable device detects something abnormal.

“This can help you realize when something is off, make a connection as to why it might be off (Is it stress? Am I getting sick?), and whether additional steps are needed to address it,” Fitbit said.

A big catch here is that Fitbit Labs appears to still only be available for select Fitbit app users in the US. A Google Help page also says you must use the Fitbit app on an Android phone and be at least 18 years old.

https://support.google.com/fitbit/answer/14566053?hl=en

That means UK Fitbit fans might have to wait until these features are integrated into the Fitbit app for everyone before they can use them - which could be never. As the name suggests, Fitbit Labs is a bit of a testing ground, and not everything makes it past the experimental stage.

But these three new AI-driven features being tested clearly show Google really wants to put Gemini into everything, with Fitbit the latest Google brand to get a taste.