I recently purchased a Charge 5 to replace my Charge 4. While there are some things I really like -- the easier to read screen, the infinity band and the ability to check charging status without unplugging -- I'm finding on balance that the Charge 5 is both less functional and harder to operate than its predecessors (I've also had a Charge 2):
• The Built-in GPS is very slow to kick in (and didn't kick in at all when set to Dynamic, even though I never had my mobile with me). On the Charge 4 I could improve this by tapping a Start Now command; this seems not to exist on the Charge 5.
• It is very difficult to turn off timers and alarms. On the Charge 4, a gentle squeeze sufficed to stop the vibration, and then I could push up my sleep mask to select pause or dismiss. Even after three weeks of daily use on the Charge 5, I find it very difficult to get the device's attention, so I am generally thoroughly jangled by the time I manage to shut the thing up. This undoes much of the benefit of the (greatly appreciated) Smart Wake feature.
• I really miss the Relax app. I didn't use it often, but there were times when it was just the thing to help me settle down for sleep. When I'm trying to sleep is not when I want to be fussing with apps on my mobile; I want to lie in bed and let my watch walk me through the wind-down. What's maddening is that the Relax app shows as something that still exists and is presumably still compatible, but the Install button doesn't work and it's labeled Not Available. It should be made available.
• Meanwhile, there are two real nuisance apps on my tracker I would cheerfully get rid of but can't: I have to scroll past Notifications to get to Exercise (which is, after all, a primary purpose of a fitness tracker!); and Pay is in the way of all the tracker settings, including Sleep Mode. (And if it weren't for Notifications, there wouldn't be a need for Do Not Disturb, either, which also comes before other settings.) Even if I could move these clutter items so they weren't at the head of the list, it would be nice; and I would just as soon uninstall them altogether, as I have no interest in using them. I bought a Fitbit because I want to look after my health. While I appreciate that some users do want features like Notifications and Pay, that doesn't apply to all of us; and putting these apps that have nothing to do with the primary purpose of a tracker where they block access to apps that do pertain to fitness is a real nuisance. If you won't use tracker design to prioritize fitness, please at least give your users the ability to do so.
Thank you for your kind attention to these matters.
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