Another Charge 5 brick.. after 30 min GPS tracked run

[bryb_1]

Just adding yet another topic about my bricked Charge 5 that was working perfectly up until around 8:30am ET this morning.

I had it on early this morning, checked my sleep score, everything normal. Went for my morning run and 30 minutes later I ended the run. I checked it out on the app, everything synced and I could see the run on the app. Great! That was all by 8:15am ET.

15 minutes later I noticed the Charge 5 screen would not respond. 

I plugged it into it's charger and all I got was a vibrate and blue logo flash. Nothing else, no response. It did that for a few minutes every time I connected it.

I also noticed the battery was down to 26% on the app (which was very odd to me because I just charged it to 100% on Saturday and my Charge 5 has never drained that fast. I had only tracked this one morning run with it! Prior to this point, I could easily gps track 5 runs a week and never have to charge it. Maybe by day 6.).

So...

I tried the clock face update: It seemed to work, the app shows it updated. But then... no more blue logo flashes/vibrates. Feels dead.

I tried the 3 button press. Nothing. I don't even get the blue logo flash and vibrate anymore. Nothing. It is like it is completely dead. Now it is completely unresponsive.

Not sure is this is firmware update related as my app shows it is still on a 188. something version.

Now it's sitting here, on the charger. I guess I will come back later today and see if it has any signs of life.

Best part is how do I even know if it is charging? Fun times.

But the truly really best part is: just passed the 1 year purchase date for the warranty a week ago. I have opened a case ticket with support. But man, this is frustrating. 

We all are posting the same thing here. All with similar stories. This truly is something,

[bryb_1]

So I had it charging all night.

Today, I noticed the green light flashes when I touch it. The fitbit has life, but still nothing but a black screen. And the fitbit blue logo flashes every time I do the 3 button press. But that's it, nothing else.

Also, unfortunately I ended up unpairing my device. with the screen never turning on, I cannot re-pair it because it never shows the 4 digit code. So, again, it's alive, the app detects it instantly and then asks for the 4 digit code. But the screen never shows it. Nothing but black. 

None more black than this screen I tell you.

I am sooooooooooo curious how many Charge 5 devices suddenly did this within the past few weeks. And how many just yesterday (7/24) alone like mine.

[bryb_1]

Well, I am done with Fitbit. I have no more faith in these devices lasting any amount of time, when they work perfectly, and then suddenly just die out of the blue.

99% sure my device did what it did due to attempting the firmware update, but failed to do it and failed to recognize it. But how would I really ever know as its nothing but a black screen and entirely unresponsive.

But thanks Fitbit, for bricking an otherwise healthy Charge 5 that had NO problems prior.

I am off to Amazfit.

Feels so much better paying those CHEAPER prices for the equivalent of what/how I used the Charge 5, plus more features.

[bhallsy]

This exact same thing happened to me on August 6. My Charge 5 is 16 months old. 4 months after warranty.

I felt a series of long vibrations on my wrist and then had a black screen. It seemed to charge and still track steps but the battery drained very quickly. I still had the responsiveness and the green light. It seemed to still be tracking everything, so I called the support line and the tech told me to unpair it which was HORRIBLE advice because you can't re-pair it if you can't see the screen. He didn't want to take accountability for his faulty instructions so he opened a ticket for my complaint.

One day later I receive the typical, "We're sorry but since the watch is no longer under warranty, there is nothing we can do. But here's a 35% discount to buy another faulty watch."

I let it sit for 2 days and then charged it up and the screen came back. Managed to pair it again and thought it was working. Everything seemed to be the same. But the battery was toast. It completely drained in 3hrs and then the screen went black again and haven't been able to get it to light up again since. The 3 button reset doesn't do do anything other than make it vibrate. It's been bricked for a week now.