Fitbit gets Google Assistant, voice-to-text, phone calls and auto-SpO2

Fitbit shipped its latest smartwatches with a lot of hardware but without the software that would let users take full advantage of those. But that’s about to change because Fitbit is rolling out new software updates for Sense and Versa 3 which brings in Google Assistant, improved blood oxygen readings and other features as well.

Fitbit’s OS 5.1 is coming exclusively to Sense and Versa 3 smartwatches and the update brings in some of the features that Fitbit had promised when the wearables were launched. And one of them is finally taking advantage of the onboard speaker on the smartwatches.

With this latest update, both Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3 will be able to receive phone calls and use the mic and the speaker on the watch to handle calls from your wrist. Along with this, voice-to-text is going to be available for Android users to use for text messages on the wrist.

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The Google Assistant is also finally arriving on both the Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 with Fitbit OS 5.1. The Fitbit app gave users the option to use either Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa is the default voice assistant on the smartwatches. Alexa is also adding audible replies with the latest software update and the Google Assistant will offer this too on both models.

The latest software update also brings in improvements to blood oxygen (SpO2) readings on the Sense and the Versa 3. Currently, SpO2 readings can only be done when you are using a specific watchface and only while you are asleep. With the new update, readings can be taken automatically overnight irrespective of the watchface you are using. Fitbit is also going to roll out new SpO2 watchfaces by the end of this year.