Google is preparing to take on Whoop with a screen-free Fitbit

While smartwatches have become a core part of mainstream culture, there are many people still looking for alternatives. The prevalence of scree-free wearables like smart rings showcase that emerging market.

For those who don't like to wear rings, there are devices like the Whoop or the Polar Loop. Those are designed more like a bracelet, with tracking capabilities inside akin to what you'd find in a smartwatch.

Now, it appears that Google is preparing to enter that space, with a Fitbit-branded product. That was spotted on the wrist of NBA legend, Steph Curry, in an Instagram post.

The video clip shows Curry training with a band on his wrist, and says "a new relationship with your health," before displaying the Google logo at the end. The official Fitbit account was quick to comment, too, fuelling the idea that this will be part of that umbrella.

The band itself appears to be quite slim, with a grey central potion flanked by orange sides. It's difficult to get too much more information from the brief appearances it makes, though it looks like it might sit quite proud on the wrist.

Even so, I'm really excited by the prospect. As someone who wears a lot of traditional watches, I struggle to wear a smartwatch without looking a little silly.

That doesn't mean i don't want the ability to track my health and fitness, though, which makes devices like these really appealing.

There's no word yet on the pricing or even when the device will be available. Based on the pricing for other devices in the Fitbit range, I'm hopeful that this will be a more budget-friendly piece of kit.

According to a report from Bloomberg, the model will include basic features out of the box, with a paid subscription tier which can unlock extra functionality. That's slightly disappointing for anyone who has become disillusioned with modern subscription culture, but probably not unexpected.