Why does Blaze require disassembly to recharge when Charge and Surge don't?

[litetaker]

I mean come on! Surge is practically the same form factor as Blaze and is similarly sized. Clearly Fitbit knows of ways to make devices that don't require you to break them apart in order to recharge. And I don't think a major hardware redesign would be necessary either. They just had to put in a socket which is identical to the one in Charge HR or Surge and we would have been set. I mean why was this considered a great idea to begin with?

I am completely clueless on this quirky design decision and I worry it will eventually damage the Blaze for no good reason. 😞

[SteveH]

It is a little frustrating but I wonder if this design allows the Blaze to be a little thinner. The clamshell charger only requires the contacts on the back of the Blaze whereas there has to be a socket on the back of the Surge.

I guess fitbit are confident that the Blaze can be repeatedly removed from the frame as they stress the ability to swap bands and frames regularly.

I find it more frustrating that the models that use a socket charger still have their own charging cable. In fact, every fitbit has its own charging cable. Not ideal for those who have multiple fitbits.

[ThePreacher]

Im guessing its to combat the problem of the charge where after a few months it didnt lock on properly and required it to be manipulated until it got a good contact.

I would have thought some sort of clip mechanic would have been better like the Alta. 

It is a bit silly that you have to take it apart but im confident that if it causes wear and the thing doesnt hold right after a while that fitbit will just replace the unit as they did with my Charge HR when it wouldnt lock on properly.

Better yet, NO MORE PROPRIETARY CHARGERS!!! Remember how EVERY time Nokia released a phone it needed a new charger and then one year they had an idea. Make a standard charger ALL their phones would then use. Genius.

[MikeS1971]

They should of just put a micro USB port on the side of the device. Other fitness trackers of similar size and function have it. Or at least a cradle that the entire unit can rest on to charge without taking it apart. 

My guess is there there is a guy that comes up with the bad idea of the charging methods FitBit uses and everyone is afraid to say anything. I can imagine how those meetings go. "Bob" says I have a great idea, let make it so you have to take the Blaze apart everytime it needs to be charged and use the cheapest, low quality materials to make the charger. Then everyone else in the meeting looks at each other, rolls their eyes, then says, "sure Bob, sounds like a great idea. Our customers will love it!".

[Rich_Laue]

So for every phone I have has had the micro USB port fall. No thank you

[MikeS1971]

Fall? How did they fall? Do you mean fail? Never happened to me. All my old cell phones still work fine. But then again I take care of my stuff. My original Motorola Droid still functions and looks brand new. As well as my Droid Bionic and Samsung Note II.

I can understand the micro usb port breaking if you're not careful. I know plenty of people that either dropped their phones or hit them with something with them plugged in and broke them. But that's carelessness, not a problem with design.

[AngelaMa]

Hello everyone! Thanks for taking the time to visit this thread. 🙂 The Community it's a great place to share your opinion about your Fitbit experience just remember to keep it productive and spread the wealth. 

Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 

[SunsetRunner]

I can't bear with the original charger any more. So I made my own.

[litetaker]

Cool solution! I should try doing something like that. Actually, now that I think about it, it should be very easy. I have a ton of rubber bands and I can just take the top part off a spare charger and fasten it with rubber bands!

[SunsetRunner]

@litetaker wrote:
Cool solution! I should try doing something like that. Actually, now that I think about it, it should be very easy. I have a ton of rubber bands and I can just take the top part off a spare charger and fasten it with rubber bands!

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Taking the top cover off isn't enough. You have to sand it down a lot. I mean a lot.

[SunsetRunner]

Awesome Charger @SunsetRunner 

[AngelaMa]

Hello @SunsetRunner, thanks for sharing the image of your Blaze charger, I'm sure it required a lot of efford to create this design. 🙂 @litetaker and @SunsetRunner it's great to have you here! 🙂 

[fudge22 · Accepted solution]

A micro usb port for charging would also limit the ability to be water resistant to a degree i would think. Sure it would be standard, but a docking base seems like a better solution.

I don't mind having to take it out to charge the blaze. At first I had a hard time getting it back in but then I found out a few tricks to make it easier. 

[SunsetRunner]

I had my Blaze for less than 2 months. Now, without much effort, I can move the watch up and down inside the frame. It is just a matter of time for the watch to fall out. To me, the design is flawed.

[fudge22]

Really? That does seem odd. Mine is nice and snug. I did notice times where I had to push against the inside of the buttons on the frame with the tracker since it wasn't fitting when trying to put it back in the frame, so I had to adjust the tracker to get it to pop in easier without the added stress on the inside of the buttons. Perhaps customer support can get you a replacement frame. It's worth a call in my opinion.

[MikeS1971]

The frame loosens up over time. Just how it is with something you need to take apart as often as you do to charge it. I now have an aftermarket matte black frame, but the original FitBit frame was pretty loose by the time I got the new one. It went from being snug in the beginning to only needing light pressure to remove the tracker.

Having a micro usb port would of been a much better design. Since the Blaze isn't waterproof, having the port wouldn't be an issue. Heck, a small rubber flap or plug could be used if moisture was an issue.

[Rich_Laue]

There was a disguising apt 1-2 months ago about the Blaze skidding up and down in the frame with a newly purchased Blaze. Looking at the design or the frame farriers the Frame to be sliyhtly distirted while the Blaze is being inserted or removed..
I noticex this on the second day of ownership.

[fudge22]

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@MikeS1971 wrote:

Having a micro usb port would of been a much better design. Since the Blaze isn't waterproof, having the port wouldn't be an issue. Heck, a small rubber flap or plug could be used if moisture was an issue.

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My Samsung galaxy s5 had a rubber flap for the usb. It never sealed correctly ever and eventually broke off. I definitely think some type of docking station would be way better than the usb charger. 

[Rich_Laue]

My rubber flap on the Galaxy disappeared 3 months after purchase, meaning tge phone is no longer water resistant.

[bbarrera]

Two words: inductive charger

No ports, and no awkward gymnastics to get it plugged in.