On the likelihood of a Fitbit Ring and another Pixel Tablet

We asked what Google products you wanted the other day and there were some clear demands. I’ll repeat at the top that I think the Pixel brand is currently in a more cautious phase.  

I think one indicator of whether Google makes a smart ring is whether we see a new Fitbit Inspire 4 in 2026. New Fitbit products are due this year, and my main suspicion is that the operating system (Fitbit OS) that powers the Sense 2 and Versa 4 smartwatches is no more. If Fitbit makes another larger-screen wearable, it presumably runs Wear OS to conserve resources. 

Inspire 3 vs. Charge 6

Trackers run a lighter OS. On paper, a hypothetical Inspire 4 would serve as the cheapest device ($100 price range) to access Fitbit Coach. Google arguably needs that, while I don’t see them discontinuing the popular Charge lineup. The Charge 6 has smartwatch capabilities like Google Wallet, Google Maps, and YouTube Music controls, while basic notifications are the only thing that fit on the Inspire 3. 

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Does Google want to make Fitbit products that have no other first-party tie-ins in this current market? If a Charge 7 is the only new Fitbit product this year and it continues those integrations, the answer is no. If there’s no Inspire, Google would be wise to drop the price of a new Charge below $150. 

Smart rings excel at collecting heart rate data when you’re at rest and other passive measurements, like sleep tracking. Watches are better at tracking steps and other exercise. The fact that rings aren’t as well-rounded to capture everything in your day gives me pause. 

That said, people are savvy enough to maintain multiple devices as their day progresses. (Google, please re-add simultaneous device support in the Fitbit app.) I don’t mind wearing a watch to sleep, but the subtlety of a ring would be nice. 

In terms of other smarts, there could be features like double-pinch to take a photo/video and dismiss alarms, like on Samsung’s Galaxy Ring. Using those gestures in conjunction with smart glasses could also be interesting for voice and hands-free control. 

Finally, I hope Google makes a cool charging case (that can power up via Qi2) for a ring rather than offering a dock. 

I don’t think Google is making another Pixel Tablet that’s primarily a content-consumption device anytime soon. (The next large-screen device that happens to have a touchscreen is presumably a desktop Android laptop that might be a 2-in-1 rather than detachable.)

With the 2023 Pixel Tablet, Google saw the Charging Speaker Dock as the differentiator to have it double as a modern Smart Display. I do believe that Google was planning a second selling point with a keyboard and pen that would boost the Pixel Tablet’s bona fides, especially following work to update Workspace apps for the large-screen form factor. 

Tangent: I use my Pixel Tablet as a bedside Smart Display that tells the time and lets me control Google Home. However, in public/common areas, I still use the Google Home Max. At the end of the day, I think Google’s premise was wrong. Smart Displays are best served by being cheap and persistent.

If Google were to try again, there should be no differentiator. Something that matches the base $349 iPad or slightly undercuts it would probably be enough. 

The design of today’s Pixel Tablet is fine, while removing the contacts on the back and the stronger magnets for the dock would surely help reduce the price. 

The Pixel software experience on large screens has been pushed by the existence of the Fold, while Android tablet apps (especially Google’s) are in a pretty good place.  

Google really shouldn’t be averse to a simpler Pixel Tablet.