Fitbit Air and Pixel Watch 5 get 100 workout types in Google Health 5.11 update

Google is pushing a major update to its health ecosystem this week, targeting the wearable devices that compete directly with Apple’s Watch and Fitbit’s standalone trackers.

The core of the release, version 5.11, expands the number of workouts the software can identify automatically from 10 to 100 categories. This includes strength training, swimming, and team sports. Google claims the new system is nearly twice as accurate as the previous version and reduces missed logs by more than half.

The update is live now on Fitbit Air, Pixel Watch 3, 4, and 5. Fitbit Edge users will receive the feature on October 27, coinciding with the device’s launch. The detection engine uses contextual reasoning based on user routines and historical data. It automatically logs sessions that meet a 15-minute duration threshold and show sustained elevated heart rates. A summary appears in the app within 30 minutes.

For Google Health Premium subscribers, the update introduces two new Health Guardian tools: blood pressure trends and insulin resistance trends. The first reports are scheduled for early November. Blood pressure data is available to users who wore a Fitbit Air for at least five days in October. Insulin resistance data requires seven days of wear time during the month.

The app also rebrands its glucose tracking section, renaming "Blood glucose" to "Glucose." Users can now set custom time-in-range goals for data from connected continuous glucose monitors. In the United States, the update allows direct integration with Lingo by Abbott. Glucose readings from this device will appear in the app within 30 minutes. Premium members can also ask the Google Health Coach about their specific glucose trends.

Sleep tracking has been adjusted to account for step data, which helps capture short nighttime awakenings. Users can now delete naps directly from the nap card if the data does not match their day. Version 5.11 is currently available on iOS and is rolling out to Android devices.

The update targets the $50 billion wearable health market, where accuracy and data integration are key differentiators for consumer adoption. Google is positioning the app as a central hub for data from multiple hardware partners.