Fitbit Unveils Blaze faux-Smartwatch, And Wall boulevard would not seem To love it

Fitbit announced a new tool at the client Electronics show in Las Vegas today—a new wearable called the Blaze that appears so much like a smartwatch—and Wall boulevard doesn’t seem to like Fitbit’s apparent move towards Apple Watch territory.

Fitbit’s announcement took place very first thing Tuesday morning, and as of this writing at 2 p.m. ET, Fitbit inventory is down 12.77%.

The $200 Blaze, whereas having a look like a smartwatch (and not an awfully beautiful one), is mainly a fitness tracker. The accelerometer and software inside of tracks workouts and sleep patterns. The Blaze is the primary Fitbit device to sport a color display. The physique of the software pops out so that the proprietor can easily use a couple of bands.

but unlike different smartwatches, such because the Apple Watch, it doesn’t run 0.33-celebration apps or make cellphone calls. not like the Fitbit Surge earlier than it, the Blaze relies on a paired cellphone for GPS tracking (to map run routes). It also outlets no music, but quite controls playback from a paired telephone.

to start with seem the Blaze appears to be a clumsy entry into a space someplace between health tracker and smartwatch. Even at $200, customers might have trouble finding reasons to purchase a tool that’s less streamlined than last 12 months’s Fitbit Surge, yet lacks the features commonly associated with smartwatches.

this will likely explain the road’s response these days.