Why are some devices not/less compatible?

[Neerie79]

I just upgraded my phone to a Moto Z2 Play, great device, but my Charge 2 wont sync. I've given all possible access to the app, gps is active in the phone, I've removed the Charge 2 from my list of devices, and managed to put it back while plugged.

That's the only moment the app detects the Charge 2, after that it won't detect it at all.

As far as I know, Motorola's OS is close to stock Android, so I'm having trouble understanding/accepting the incompatibility, especially with just syncing the data.

[USAF-Larry]

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@Neerie79 wrote:

As far as I know, Motorola's OS is close to stock Android, so I'm having trouble understanding/accepting the incompatibility, especially with just syncing the data.

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@Neerie79, it may be close, but every single vendor uses unique code and unique hardware to, 1) avoid patent infringements, and 2) to create marketing opportunities to outsell their competition. So, there are always unique things about the way they implement simple processes such as access to the Bluetooth antenna. This is why each device and operating system version has to be tested for compatibility and the app software or tacker firmware have to be modified to handle exceptions.

[luca85]

That's very weird @USAF-Larry. Every single other smart watch vendor, from very cheap ones to very expensive ones, is compatible with almost all android phones....

[USAF-Larry]

Is that really true, @luca85?  Have you ever looked at the Garmin Android Compatibility List, and noticed the footnotes for it? There are a lot of non-compatible Android phones on that list. Here are the footnotes:

1 - Pairing may timeout without finding the Garmin device, requiring additional attempts to pair Garmin devices. Once initial pairing has been completed connections between the device and this phone are stable.
2 - Garmin Connect Mobile may notify you that your phone or Garmin device need to be restarted when an unstable BLE connection occurs, or when the app cannot reconnect to a previously connected BLE device.
3 - Reconnection times between this phone and Garmin devices are longer than other Garmin device and phone combinations.
x - Device and phone combination did not pass our internal tests. The phone and device may work together, but will likely require regular Bluetooth troubleshooting.
* - Device and phone combination have not been tested.

Is your phone not listed? Garmin will attempt to keep this list up to date with the most popular Smartphones that feature Bluetooth Smart technology however it will be possible that a particular model may work but not be listed as compatible.

If your Smartphone is not listed above, it is possible for it to be compatible if it meets the following requirements:
• Android 4.3 OS and above
• Bluetooth 4.0 capable
Last updated: September 2017

[luca85]

 yes, it's really true @USAF-Larry. The Garmin list says it's perferctly compatible with many dozens of 2017 android smartphone and might have glitches with others.

For fitbit, the compatible devices list is ridicolously short to begin with, and when you read it, it turns out that most phones there are 2015 or earlier. In the whole 2017 there were just 2 models added. 

Most phones that have the highest market share (Huawei!) don't even sync at all!!!

[SunsetRunner]

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Most phones that have the highest market share (Huawei!) don't even sync at all!!!

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In the whole 2017 there were just 2 models added. 

my Moto G5s 2017 is not in the list, but works fine.

not in the list = not tested

nothing else.

[luca85]

If that's the case, it's very, very, very, weird that it happened that they were able to test just 2 android phones over the whole 2017. Don't you think?

BTW, find the topics in this same message board about Moto compatibility. It appears that it's like a 50-50 chance of having it working for most users.