There are some gadgets you buy because you want the latest technology. Then there are gadgets you buy because they solve a very specific problem.
For me, the Google Fitbit Air falls firmly into the second category.
The problem was simple: I wanted something that could track my heart rate, steps, activities and, most importantly, my sleep — without putting another screen on my wrist.
The problem with buying one in South Africa is that it isn’t officially available here. Google bought Fitbit, and with Google Pixel products no longer officially available in South Africa, getting hold of Google’s Fitbit hardware isn’t exactly straightforward.
So when I found the Google Fitbit Air Special Edition featuring NBA star Stephen Curry on eBay, I decided to take the plunge.
It took around 10 days to arrive, and after using it for approximately two to three weeks, I now have a much better idea of what this little tracker is actually like to live with.
Unboxing the Google Fitbit Air Stephen Curry Edition
The first thing that stands out is the packaging.
The box is labelled Google Fitbit Air Special Edition – Stephen Curry, and the packaging has a sporty design that reflects the collaboration. The orange detailing is designed to resemble a basketball, while other elements have a racing-inspired look.
Inside the box is the Fitbit Air tracker, the special-edition Stephen Curry wristband, a USB-C charging cable and the documentation.
The wristband itself carries Stephen Curry’s “#LOCKIN” tagline and has a distinctive orange section on the inside. It’s not just there for appearance — the material also provides some extra grip against your wrist.
The strap uses Velcro, making it straightforward to adjust, while a metal clasp adds some additional structure.
And then there’s the Fitbit Air itself.
No Screen — And That’s Exactly Why I Bought It
The biggest difference between the Fitbit Air and a smartwatch is immediately obvious: there is no screen.
And that’s exactly what attracted me to it.
I already have a Huawei smartwatch and a Samsung watch, as well as traditional watches that I enjoy wearing. What I didn’t want was another screen constantly demanding my attention.
I wanted something that could quietly collect information in the background.
Put it on your wrist and forget about it.
The Fitbit Air can track things such as heart rate, steps, activities and sleep, with the information being viewed through the accompanying Google Health app rather than on the device itself.
For someone who doesn’t necessarily want notifications and apps on their wrist, that makes a lot of sense.
A Sporty Stephen Curry Design
The Stephen Curry Special Edition isn’t simply a standard Fitbit Air with a different box.
The wristband has Stephen Curry branding throughout, including his “#LOCKIN” slogan. The orange detailing gives it a distinctive appearance and, as mentioned, also helps provide grip.
The Fitbit Air module itself can be removed from the wristband. This makes it possible to take the tracker out when necessary while leaving the strap intact.
Once the tracker is inserted back into the band, it snaps into place and you’re ready to wear it again.
I also really like the feel of the band. It is lightweight, comfortable and doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a traditional smartwatch.
Charging the Fitbit Air
Charging is handled using USB-C.
You don’t necessarily have to remove the Fitbit Air from the strap to charge it. The tracker sits against the charging accessory, and an indicator light lets you know that it is charging.
When I first set mine up, it arrived with a partial charge. After connecting it to the Google Health app, I also had to install a software update.
The setup process itself was fairly straightforward.
Setting Up the Fitbit Air
To get started, you need a Google account and the Google Health app.
After opening the app, I signed in, accepted the relevant permissions and started the Fitbit Air setup process.
The phone then detected the tracker and began pairing with it. Various permissions are required, including location access, before the device can fully connect.
Once everything was complete, the app showed the Fitbit Air’s battery level and notified me that an update was available.
The update only took a couple of minutes.
After that, I left the tracker charging and prepared to start using it properly.
One of the things I was particularly interested in was sleep tracking. Since that was one of the main reasons I bought the device, I wanted to see what information it would collect overnight.
Two to Three Weeks With the Fitbit Air
After wearing the Google Fitbit Air for around two to three weeks, one thing immediately impressed me: the battery life.
For me, the battery lasts about a week.
I started wearing it on a Friday, and almost exactly a week later I would receive a notification telling me that it needed to be charged.
For a small wearable that is constantly collecting health and activity information, I found that very convenient.
The other thing I really like is that there is nothing to interact with on your wrist.
You don’t have to tap the screen.
You don’t have to swipe through menus.
You don’t have to worry about notifications.
You simply wear it.
The data is collected in the background and then presented to you through the app.
What Does the Google Health App Track?
After several weeks of wearing the Fitbit Air, the Google Health app had accumulated a substantial amount of data.
The app provides an overview of different areas of your health and activity.
These include:
- Steps
- Heart rate
- Sleep
- Activities
- Cardio
- Energy burned
- Resting heart rate
- Heart-rate variability
- Distance
- Active Zone Minutes
- Blood oxygen
- Breathing rate
- Skin-temperature variation
- Fitness information
- Sleep quality
The amount of information available is surprisingly extensive for such a small device.
Sleep Tracking
Sleep tracking was one of the biggest reasons I wanted the Fitbit Air, and this is probably the feature I’ve been most interested in using.
The app provides information about sleep duration, time awake, restfulness and different sleep stages, including REM, light and deep sleep.
It also provides a sleep score and other key sleep metrics.
The app includes additional sleep and meditation features, including audio designed to help you relax or fall asleep.
Fitness and Activity Tracking
The Fitbit Air also automatically records activities.
After several weeks, the app had built up a history of activities and fitness information.
You can view metrics such as cardio, energy burned, heart rate, steps, distance and hourly activity.
The advantage of having the tracker quietly working in the background is that you don’t necessarily have to remember to interact with it every time you do something.
Health Information
The health section goes even further.
The app provides information relating to resting heart rate, heart-rate variability, blood oxygen, breathing rate and skin-temperature variation.
It can also provide notifications for unusually high or low heart rates and monitor for irregular heart rhythms.
There are additional areas covering nutrition, hydration, glucose tracking, mindfulness, stress and resilience.
Some information, such as glucose, can be manually entered into the app rather than being directly measured by the Fitbit Air itself.
The Fitbit Air’s Biggest Advantage
For me, the biggest advantage isn’t necessarily one particular health metric.
It’s the fact that I don’t have to think about it.
I’ve always liked wearing traditional watches, but smartwatches can sometimes feel like another screen that you’re expected to interact with throughout the day.
The Fitbit Air is different.
It’s designed to disappear into the background.
You put it on in the morning, leave it there throughout the day, sleep with it at night and then check your information through the app when you actually want to.
That is exactly what I was looking for.
Is the Stephen Curry Edition Worth It?
The Stephen Curry branding is obviously going to come down to personal preference.
I didn’t initially buy it because I’m a massive Stephen Curry fan — in fact, I had to look up who he was when I first came across the special edition.
But I liked the design, found it at a good price and didn’t mind having the Stephen Curry branding on my wrist.
The special edition also gives the otherwise minimalist tracker a bit more personality.
My Verdict After Three Weeks
After approximately two to three weeks with the Google Fitbit Air Stephen Curry Special Edition, I’m very happy with it.
The week-long battery life is one of my favourite features, while the lack of a screen is arguably the biggest reason I enjoy using it.
It does what I wanted it to do: track my health, fitness and sleep information without becoming another distraction.
The Google Health app also provides a huge amount of data, giving me a much more detailed picture of my activity and sleep than I would get from simply wearing a traditional watch.
The biggest downside for South African buyers is availability. Because the product isn’t officially available locally, getting one requires importing it — in my case, I bought mine through eBay.
But if you’re looking for a discreet wearable that tracks a huge amount of information without putting a screen on your wrist, the Google Fitbit Air is an interesting option.
For me, it has become one of those gadgets that I put on and simply forget about — which, ironically, is exactly what I wanted from it.
And after several weeks of wearing it, I’m looking forward to seeing what else I can learn from all that data.
