'Why does technology just keep getting less fun?' Fitbit users are mad about losing key features as a result of the huge Google Health changes but I want to hear what you think

Date:
Fri, 08 May 2026 13:53:41 +0000

Description:
Fitbit's gone from a straight wellness hub to an AI subscription service.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Fitbit's app has completely changed it's now Google Health Many features have vanished, subsumed into
its new all-encompassing AI health coach I want to hear what you think vote in the poll below, comment, or email me at [email protected] , and
I'll publish your responses As well as the launch of the new, screenless Google Fitbit Air likely set to be one of the best fitness trackers of 2026 Google has also completely revamped the Fitbit app, changing it into a new entity called Google Health. Google Health is a one-stop shop repository for all your health data, capable of importing data from the likes of Apple
Health and medical records, as well as Google-branded wearables like Fitbits and Pixel Watches. The Premium version is now a complete AI health coach , capable of using all the information collected via the free version of the
app and supplying you with workout plan suggestions, recipe tips, photo-based nutrition tracking, and lots more. While the coach looks impressive at first glance, this enormous, all-encompassing agentic health advisor means that
some features Fitbit fans loved are being removed. Latest Videos From You may like 5 things you need to know about Google Health Fitbits Gemini-powered AI health coach is now rolling out to iOS users The Google Fitbit Air finally breaks cover, and it heralds a new era of screenless fitness tracking

Chief among them are the Sleep Animals. 'Old Fitbit' used information about your sleep to assign you an animal profile, such as a sleepy lion or
nocturnal hedgehog, and these were reassessed on a monthly basis. Badges,
too, another element of fitness gamification common in all the best fitness apps , are also going away.

Instead, Google says, "if you have Google Health Coach, your coach will help to celebrate your progress and accomplishment". The removal of this feature for free users is indicative of Google pushing users towards its premium AI subscription service. (Image credit: Google) Fans are understandably a little unhappy about this. On one thread on the Fitbit subreddit, users bemoan the loss of favorite features, with one stating, "Why does technology keep
getting less fun?"

However, longtime Fitbit users are used to this sort of loss. Ever since the brand was acquired by Google in 2021, community features were slowly stripped away while data collection was improved, with resources likely funnelled into the Google Pixel Watch series while existing Fitbit users felt left behind. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our
trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Comment from r/fitbit However, I want to hear what you think, especially if you're a longtime Fitbit user. Do you love the new agentic AI coach with its comprehensive approach to health and wellness, or do you wish Google would just leave your tracker alone?

Vote in the poll below, comment on this article, or you can even email me at [email protected] , and I'll publish your responses in a follow-up article next week. Vote in our Google Health poll Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/health-fitness/why-does-technology-just-keep-getting -less-fun-fitbit-users-are-mad-about-losing-key-features-as-a-result-of-the-hu ge-google-health-changes-but-i-want-to-hear-what-you-think


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