Google has announced the Fitbit Air, the first new Fitbit tracker since 2023’s Charge 6. The tracker is a return to Fitbit’s roots as a device nestled in a strap with no screen, designed to collect health data via its sensors 24/7.

It has an attractive price of £84.99, and goes on sale on May 26th. As part of its launch, Google, which acquired Fitbit in 2021, has decided to completely overhaul the Fitbit app – so much so that as of May 19, the Fitbit app will be completely renamed to Google Health.

“The app has been redesigned and rebranded to align with this next step in our evolution,” Google said. “The new redesign makes it easier to find what you’re looking for, so you can quickly find and track your progress towards your sleep, fitness, and health goals.”

The Fitbit Air and existing Fitbit trackers will all continue to function as usual via the renamed app, which is also rolling a brand new interface design. This is geared towards using AI to give users more personalised insights and fitness recommendations.

However, it has emerged that with this redesign, Google is killing off some Fitbit features, which will disappear when the app updates on May 19. As spotted by eagle eyed Reddit users, and confirmed by Google on an official Fitbit help centre webpage, there are a slew of changes coming to Google Health that could result in you losing Fitbit functionality you’ve come to enjoy.

Among perks that will disappear on the Fitbit app for iPhone and Android soon is skin temperature minute-by-minute data, which will now only be displayed in daily and weekly terms. Estimated oxygen variation is no longer available, and you won’t be able to add blood glucose symptoms or check reminders.

Setting calorie targets is going away, as is the recipes feature.

Groups and community feeds are going away, as is direct messaging to other Fitbit users. Fitbit usernames and profile pictures will be replaced by your Google account information, which is now the only way to sing into the Google-owned Fitbit app.

In a move sure to upset Fitbit fans, badges are also being discontinued, and any badges you;ve gained are being deleted. These were fun awaerds given usually when you covered lifetime milestones in distance, for example, when you’d walked the length of the Nile over the course of your Fitbit wearing.

“If you have Google Health Coach, your coach will help to celebrate your progress and accomplishment,” Google said.

“Badges will no longer be supported. New badges won’t be generated, and your historical badges will be deleted.”

In a similar fun-killing move, Fitbit will no longer generate sleep profiles at all, and users won’t be assigned sleep animals. This was a feature that likened your monthly slumber patterns to those of an animal, complete with in-app visuals and corresponding watch faces.

“Sleep Profile will no longer be available and you won’t receive monthly sleep animals, Google said. “Premium users can ask the Google Health Coach questions about what type of sleeper they are and get personalized responses.”

These changes also seem to reflect Google’s move to push its users into using AI.

Along with the name change to Google Health, the £7.99 Fitbit Premium subscription will be renamed Google Health Premium.

You can view a full list of the feature changes on this Google support page.