Recently, Google (which acquired Fitbit in 2021) released an update for the official Fitbit app, now known as the Google Health app, that redesigned it from the ground up to accompany the rebranding. However, users generally view the revamped app as a downgrade. If you check the reviews on the Google Play Store page, the reviews are mostly negative. Users think the standard dashboard is an ugly mess (and a mess overall), but the biggest problems stem from the app’s AI focus.
The new Google Health app uses AI to coach users and summarize their health metrics. Additionally, instead of simply providing the data points users want, AI displays the information it wants. think about what users want, which is often completely different. And you can’t turn off the AI either. People can always find the information they want, and when they do, the data is extremely useful. However, finding this information requires multiple swipes, and there’s no way to customize the layout, which leads to a ton of frustration.
Google Health also messed up the feature.
Several of the latest reviews on the Google Health Play Store page indicate that Google Health is having trouble cooperating with Fitbit devices. Users have complained that the app no longer accurately tracks their sleep or workout schedules and, in some cases, can’t even sync data with their phone. Some people say the update deleted metrics they were tracking in the previous Fitbit app, and one person said it completely cleared their health and fitness data history.
Some Fitbit users believe this latest update is definitive proof that they no longer need a Fitbit, prompting them to consider alternatives such as Garmin and the Apple Watch. However, the majority of reviewers are willing to stick with Fitbit… provided Google rolls back the update and reverts to the previous version. Or, at the very least, restores the ability to customize widget layouts and prioritized data, and removes AI functionality.
