Fitbit OS 4.1: Always-on display, new sleep tools

Fitbit has announced several new software updates, bringing advancements to its smartwatches and Fitbit Premium membership service. The release of OS 4.1 for its smartwatches powers new sleep features and greater app functionality. Fitbit Versa 2 will boast an enriched always-on display mode, and a new advanced heart rate algorithm featuring improved tracking, while providing 6+ days of battery life.

Fitbit is also continuing to roll out new content and tools to enhance its Fitbit Premium membership, including a personal wellness report, developed in consultation with leading medical professionals from institutions like University of California Los Angeles, and University of California San Francisco. In addition, over the coming months, Fitbit will be rolling out new programmes, challenges and wellness content, as well as workouts from global brands like Daily Burn, Down Dog, Gaiam, POPSUGAR and Whil.

“Staying motivated to maintain your health and fitness routine is really hard around the holiday season,” says James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit. “We’re focused on making it more achievable through a combination of affordable devices, engaging software and our Premium membership to help you stay on track. The new Fitbit OS update and added Premium features give users even more support with innovative smartwatch tools, fresh workouts, new programs and more, setting users up for success going into the new year.”

The OS 4.1 update brings highly-anticipated features announced with Versa 2 to Fitbit Ionic. Among the latest in Fitbit’s innovative sleep tools, OS 4.1 delivers smart wake, a silent on-device alarm to wake users with subtle vibrations at an optimal time in their sleep cycles. Users will also receive a nightly Sleep Score on-device, giving them a glanceable view of the quality of their night’s rest, alongside sleep stats.

One of the most requested updates, a new clock face switcher, lets users store up to five clock faces from nearly 4,000 available in the Fitbit App Gallery directly on-device, for quickly swapping clock faces to match an outfit, activity or mood. A new five-star rating system has been updated within the Fitbit App Gallery, allowing users to rate and recommend apps and clock faces with the Fitbit user community.

Specific to Versa 2 users, Fitbit has doubled-down to enrich the recently-launched always-on display mode to deliver five additional clock face options. Now in colour, these feature full health and fitness stats, with faster transitions between always-on and active views, powered by the device’s AMOLED display, featuring a 2+ day battery life.

Fitbit’s advanced 24/7 PurePulse heart rate tracking keeps users motivated and informed by tracking heart rate throughout the day. The technology also powers essential Fitbit features, such as Sleep Stages and Cardio Fitness Score, that provide deeper insights into one’s overall health and fitness.

Fitbit has announced it has been working on an innovative algorithm that will deliver the best heart rate tracking experience yet on a Fitbit device to Versa 2 as part of the OS 4.1 software update. The new PurePulse algorithm, designed in-house by Fitbit R&D experts, uses machine learning to recognise the unique signature of heart rate in the optical sensor, leading to higher accuracy overall.

Fitbit OS 4.1 will begin rolling out to Fitbit smartwatch users the first week of December.