Google announces new Fitbit Air Special Edition with Pokémon Sleep [Hands-on]

The first follow-up to the Fitbit Air is a new Special Edition that integrates with Pokémon Sleep. Available in the US and Japan, it’s meant to make sleep tracking feel like a “daily adventure,” while celebrating Pokémon’s 30th anniversary this year.

On the hardware front, this is the same Fitbit Air that launched in May with a special Performance Loop Band. The Sleepy Blue colorway is quite nice and different from Google’s existing lineup, while there’s a “custom silk print label of Sleeping Pikachu right on the strap.”

Meanwhile, the retail packaging features some rather nice touches.

The software integration lets you connect this Fitbit Air — along with all other Pixel and Fitbit wearables — to the Pokémon Sleep app on Android and iOS. The game takes your overnight sleep and any naps during the day to unlock “interactive rewards.” This covers Google Health sleep duration and stages.

• Gather Pokémon around Snorlax: When you wake up, Pokémon with sleep types similar to yours gather around Snorlax. Research their sleeping styles to complete your Sleep Style Dex and befriend new helper Pokémon to your team.
• Calculate your Drowsy Power: The Pokémon you befriend collect Berries to raise Snorlax’s Strength. When you wake up, your Sleep Score, calculated from sleep duration tracked from Google Health, multiplies Snorlax’s Strength to generate “Drowsy Power.”
• Discover rare sleep styles: The higher your Drowsy Power, the more Pokémon — and rare sleep styles — will appear around Snorlax the next day.

In some ways, this is another take on Fitbit’s Sleep Animals in the old app. Behind the scenes, Health Connect on Android and Apple Health on iOS are leveraged. The sync occurs automatically every morning. 

Pre-orders begin today at the Google Store and Target (with in-store availability). The $129.99 Fitbit Air Special Edition Pokémon Sleep starts shipping on September 15.

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