Any issues I should know about the Charge 5?

[lombahan]

Currently using a Charge 4, mainly for running. I want to upgrade to the Charge 5 but want to know if it's worth it? Does the Charge 5 have any issues or problems I should be aware of? Does the GPS fully work on it's own without the need to connect to a phone's GPS? Is bluetooth useable when using the GPS? (Heard they may interfere with each other) I mainly want to use it to track my running.

[Talahthas]

@lombahan Welcome to the Fitbit community!

You're asking quite a few questions and I have understanding for every one of them. But if you ask those questions about any product on any product related community forum, you most likely won't buy this product afterwards ...

Why not give it try and form an opinion? If you by a Charge 5 between November 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022, you may return it for a full refund until January 31, 2023 or 45 days from date of purchase, whichever is later.

I, myself, have a Charge 5 for a while now and am happy with it. My mum also has one and loves it.

[Annonymous1]

Do NOT get the charge 5. I've had so many issues with it. Aside from every app update and firmware update reaking havoc and making the watch useless for extended periods of time. Here's my thoughts... One second it says my HR is 85 bpm, WHEN RUNNING, the next second it says 205bpm. Can't get a consistent reading unless I stay still. When it finally does pick up its very brief. This is the only watch I've had where your HR actually goes down as you speed up or try to increase the intensity. It can't pick up the HR very well and you have to stop your workout all the time to get it to sense. Which I will not do because I'm in the zone. But guess what, if it doesn't sense your HR you don't get credit for intensity minutes. I've been shorted 40 minutes or so because it cuts in and out so much. Also, after a while, if you are sweaty it has a hard time woking correctly and you have to keep wiping off your wrist and drying off the back of the watch. Again not condusive to a good training senssion. I've attempted to replace it TWICE and I've had it leass than a year but only went through with replacing it once (cuz i had another watch to use). Still did it with the new replacement. Don't let the help or chat fool you; this watch is just plain garbage.and I wish my bf didn't spend his hard-earned money on it. If you are very serious about working out and training this is NOT the watch for you. If you are a casual walker and not much into high intensity training then this will be fine for you. I would recommend Garmin if it is the former. Just being honest, since you asked. Hope this helps. 😀 

[s-a-b-b]

The battery life is very short, I had to charge my Charge 5 everyday for the past 6 months. Even with GPS set to "phone" I would only get 1.5 days before the battery was critically low. Fitbit said they were aware of the problem and working on it, but it was never fixed. I'm no longer using my Charge 5 since I have a Samsung flip phone with Andriod 13 and am no longer able to sync and do not have any other devise to sync with.