Google Says Fitbit is Not Discontinued, Versas and Senses to Still See New Releases

Google is now clearing up the air regarding a rumor that claimed that it is discontinuing its Fitbit smartwatch development. The company has assured that the public can expect new Fitbit releases in the future.

This clarification comes after it has been reported that the tech giant will no longer prioritize Fitbit as it focuses on its self-branded Google Pixel Watches.

Pixel Watch will still see significant developments from Google alongside Fitbit, particularly for similar form factor wearables like the Versa and Sense.

Fitbit is Not Discontinued, According to Google

A Google spokesperson has shared a statement to Ars Technica, which dispels the earlier rumors and false claims surrounding Fitbit's development, clarifying that the company is not discontinuing its flagship models. The spokesperson claimed that Google is still "very committed" to Fitbit and that it will continue to provide its customers with future Fitbit releases.

This was after reports from the likes of TechRadar and Engadget revealed that Google is discontinuing the flagship models of Fitbit, particularly those that share a similar form factor with the Pixel Watch. Notably, TechRadar's report came after the Pixel Watch 3 announcement.

It should be noted that Fitbit is known to focus on fitness trackers like Inspire, Luxe, and Charge.

Fitbit Versa, Sense to Continue on Alongside Pixel Watch

Among the models that reports claimed to be affected are Fitbit's Versa and Sense models, which are close to the Pixel Watch's form factor. While it has not been revealed by the Google spokesperson if the Versa or Sense will see a new release soon, the update from Google at least guarantees that these wearables will not be discontinued.

Google teased that more developments and innovations are coming for the Fitbit wearables, and these will take place alongside its development of the Pixel Watch series.

What Does Fitbit Offer to the Market?

Fitness trackers have made massive waves in the tech industry since the mid to late 2000s with Fitbit among the top-known names in the market, alongside Garmin. However, it was not until the early 2010s that Fitbit debuted modern smartwatches that introduced Bluetooth connectivity to smartphones and sharing data with other devices.

It was in 2020 when Google completed its acquisition of Fitbit, which brought significant opportunities for the wearable company to tap into the tech giant's resources as well as its software. This development made Fitbit the central wearable for Android. However, it remains to be compatible with iOS.

Notably, this merger brought significant new features to Fitbit wearables, such as the addition of GPS to the Versa 3 and Google Assistant integration, which Android users to answer calls via the smartwatch.

Fitbit is turning 20 years old in three years, but recently, it has been subjected to claims and rumors that it will no longer be continued by its parent company. Google's recent clarification has let the world know that this is not the case.