Google Health 5.0 is being released, showcasing its strongest feature at the forefront while its most significant issues are hidden from view.

      Google Health 5.0 is currently being rolled out as a mandatory update for users of the Fitbit app, and the timing is intentional.

      Next week marks the launch of the new Fitbit Air, which is Google’s primary competitor to the Whoop fitness tracking band, and as you might have guessed, Health 5.0 is essential for its setup.

      What does the new Google Health widget offer?

      Previously, the Fitbit home screen widget featured a single circular steps counter. The updated Quick Access widget now replaces this with a more versatile option. In its largest form, the widget can expand to a 5×3 grid, allowing users to monitor up to six fitness metrics simultaneously.

      You can customize the grid to display your most important statistics: steps, distance, sleep, hydration, weight, readiness, or any other metrics you’ve chosen. When minimized, the widget reduces to show just one metric.

      For complete stats, simply tapping on a tile will provide additional details. There is also a heart icon in the top-left corner that launches Google Health, a refresh button on the right, and the time of the last update is displayed in the center, ensuring you are always aware of the data's recency.

      The Quick Access widget reflects precisely what you have organized in the Today tab, meaning that the widget and app maintain synchronization.

      What the update omits

      As noted in a hands-on review by Lifehacker, the Gemini-powered Health Coach, which Google is heavily promoting, has been reported to have hallucination problems.

      For instance, while the Health Coach praised a tester for achieving a sleep score of 99, the actual score was 85. The coach also referred to irrelevant Reddit threads as sources, including at least one answer taken from ChatGPT.

      In addition to the AI hallucination concerns, several popular Fitbit features are missing from the update, such as sleep animals, the Community Feed, Groups, direct messaging capabilities, meal plans with calorie targets, and stress-check graphs.

      Moreover, features that were previously available for free during the Public Preview, like chatting with the Health Coach and personalized fitness plans, now necessitate a Google Health Premium subscription, priced at $9.99 monthly or $99.99 annually.

      The rollout of Google Health 5.0 commenced on May 19 and is expected to be fully available by May 26, 2026.