A gray textile bracelet, without a dial or notifications, made a discreet appearance on Stephen Curry’s wrist in a video published at the end of March. For tech and sports fans, this detail is not trivial: behind this prototype lies Google’s next bet in health monitoring.
According to Bloomberg, Alphabet is indeed preparing a Fitbit bracelet without screendue later this year, designed to rival ultralight models from Whoop and Oura. The device would be limited to basic free functions, with advanced analytics reserved for subscribers. It remains to be understood how this minimalist sensor intends to stand out in an already highly coveted market.
Stephen Curry scouts Google’s screenless Fitbit bracelet
In his video, the Golden State Warriors leader talks about a “new relationship with your health,” said Stephen Curry, quoted by Bloomberg. The basketball player does not mention Fitbit or Google, but the gray fabric bracelet with orange lining that we see is strongly reminiscent of Whoop’s screenless models. The message is clearly aimed at performance and recovery.
Google confirms behind the scenes that the NBA star has “worked with the team to concoct something special“, that the company will share more information “soon” and that it “collaborates with the R&D team on a special product“, indicated the company, cited by Bloomberg and Pause Hardware. The launch would be linked to a new AI health coach integrated into the redesigned Fitbit app, which began public preview in October.
Health bracelets without screen: Google’s response to Whoop
The future bracelet targets the same niche as the Whoop trackers or the ring Oura Ring : sensors worn 24 hours a day, without screen, which measure sleep, training load and recovery. According to Bloomberg, Google will charge for the hardware, where Whoop includes its bracelet in a subscription plan. This model is based solely on the recurrence of monthly payments.
The rise of Whoop illustrates the challenge: the start-up raised $575 million (around €533 million), for a valuation of $10.1 billion, or nearly €9.4 billion. It is aiming for an IPO within the next two years. On the other hand, Apple is still banking on screen watches like theApple Watchwhile Google already has the more traditional Pixel Watch and Fitbit bracelets.
What we already know about the Fitbit bracelet without screen and its launch
The Google bracelet would remain very simple: a gray textile body with orange lining, without display, designed to be forgotten on the wrist. According to Pause Hardware, it would offer a base of included functions, while extended metrics and analyzes would remain reserved for subscribers. No price has been filtered yet, either for the bracelet or for the associated subscription.
According to Bloomberg, this fitness bracelet without screen is due to arrive later this year and integrate with the new AI-powered health coach in the Fitbit app. The idea is to continuously monitor sleep, mental well-being, nutrition or hydration, without imposing a screen on the wrist. Many details are still missing, but the battle for ultra-discreet health bracelets is now underway.