Whoop’s $149 jewelry band costs more than Google’s entire Fitbit Air

Whoop's $149 Meridian jewelry band costs more than Google's entire Fitbit Air. The sleek metal mesh band with magnetic clasp and four finishes aimed at a more jewelry-like appearance, contrasts with the standard silicone band of traditional fitness trackers. Unfortunately, Meridian cannot be charged continuously due to its metal construction, requiring it to be removed for charging.

The company highlighted the design in its announcement, positioning it closer to jewelry for occasions like dinners, events, or travel. The Meridian costs $149 for the band, while compatible Whoop hardware and an active membership (starting at $199 per year) are still required. In comparison, Google's $99.99 Fitbit Air screenless health tracker offers 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, workout detection, up to seven days of battery life, and compatibility with Android and iOS, all without a subscription.

So for $50 less, users are getting the full tracker. The two products target slightly different customers: Whoop focuses on detailed recovery, strain, and performance data, while Fitbit Air emphasizes simpler and cheaper passive health tracking. With Apple expected to refresh its AirPods this fall, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests the AirPods 5 could debut around the same time as the foldable iPhone and iPhone 18 Pro lineup.

In the smartwatch market, Google's Pixel Watch 5 seems to be their strongest attempt yet, featuring Insulin Resistance Trends and Breathing Emergency Detection. However, the real question is which device implements features better or creates something new from existing sensors among the Pixel Watch 5, Samsung's Galaxy Watch 9, and Apple's Watch Series 11.