Does Charge 5 have connected GPS?

[mpyusko]

Does the Charge 5 support Connected GPS?  The Charge 4 did not, initially, but was added later. (I believe).

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Giampi71]

According Fitbit Blog yes, it does (and there is no fineprint and so it should be available straight away)

If you have your phone nearby, Charge 5 connects to your phone’s GPS to help extend your tracker’s battery.

[mpyusko]

I didn't see it listed on the product page or in the announcement. Lack of
connected GPS is a major reason why I didn't upgrade to the Charge 4. By
the time they added it, I figured I would just wait for the next model.

[SilviaFitbit]

@mpyusko Hi there. Thanks for your interest on Charge 5. 

As mentioned by @Giampi71 if your phone is nearby, Charge 5 connects to your phone’s GPS to help extend your tracker’s battery. However, it also has built-in GPS, this will let you see your real-time pace & distance without your phone using built-in GPS during outdoor activity, then see a map of your workout route in the Fitbit app.

More information about it can be found on the Charge 5 features here. 

See you around. 

[nihahi]

SilviaFitbit, Fitbit moderators need to CLEARLY state if the Charge 5 GPS is the same as in the Charge 4 regarding battery drain, connectivity issues, "guesstimates of distance/route" vs actual GPS measurement, etc. There have been endless queries and issues regarding GPS problems with the Charge 4 that have been unanswered or unresolved.

[Rich_Laue]

@nihahi maybe fitbit should be more clear, but it is unlikely we will get an answer untill users are able to test out their Charge 5's. 

This is after all a community forum. 

Personally I don't think that it will change much, currently the tracker uses the best of both logics. 

The Charge 4 has the ability to auto determine the users stride, I'm hoping that this feature gets added for walks. 

[nihahi]

Thanks Rich_Laue...yes, I realize this is a community forum. The point of my post was to highlight the issues that many in the Fitbit community have with the current GPS "platform" that moderators/Fitbit appear to have no interest in addressing. It's nice that you're happy with the current "logic"...I have issues with Fitbit "auto determining" that I have walked straight lines across rivers, busy roads or through buildings. Since my stride length changes with significant incline changes, and the Charge 5 will not have an altimeter feature, I am less than thrilled that an already inaccurate GPS will somehow now magically ascertain what my stride length is while hiking or walking in hilly areas. If Fitbit is going to continue to market products as "reliable trackers using GPS"...I feel they should clarify what that truly means prior to purchasing.

[Rich_Laue]

I'm not sure who the Fitbit is that you want to get an answer from. Is it the support? 

When it comes to the moderators, who are not developers, do they really know your answer? Have they even seen or have a pre-release? Even if they do, would it include all k the options found in the final release? Would their NDA allow them to comment on this? 

[nihahi]

Not expecting to get answers from Fitbit or moderators, Rich. As I stated...there's a history of user issues, disappointments and frustration with the current form of Fitbit GPS that have never been properly addressed. The Charge 4 community is full of users who write that "they wish they had known" about the inaccuracies, failures, battery drain, etc. Fitbit doesn't appear to care. But I know if I am considering purchasing a product, I'd appreciate knowing beforehand what the manufacturer has done to resolve previous problems. The Charge 5 info certainly promotes how much they have improved the "brightness", so it can be read outside (which was a long term Fitbit issue for many users)...so they know how to market improvements. The absence of any reference to changes in the GPS accuracy is quite telling, and I think potential buyers have the right to be aware of that.

[Ziga]

I agree with @nihahi. Im still on Charge 3 doing its 2nd year and still running ALMOST without problems (had to reset it 4times in two years becouse touch screen didnt respond) but the battery is still good 5-6days (with doing 45min tracked exercises 5times a week). But the biggest problem was tracking my cycling, Assisted GPS function works 15-20min then looses connection to the phone and just does a straight line from lost location to finish. Thats whay I decidec to skip gen4 and go for gen5 ergo Charge 5. Hope Ill get an accurate route and distance with Charge 5 alone or with assisted GPS.  

[TheoK]

I had my Charge 3 die twice in 2 years.  On my first the display started losing pixels until I could no longer figure out what was on the display.  Same thing started happening with the second one until it just died one day on the smiley face startup screen.  No replacement offered the second time but they did offer a discount on any Fitbit other than the Charge 5, which was the only one I would have liked as a replacement.  I don't like their watch lineup.

So I picked up the Charge 5 locally and am happy so far.  I did read on DC Rainmaker that the GPS and heartrate monitor features don't play well together.  Apparently you can have heartrate or GPS, but not both.

Personally I don't care as the only thing I want GPS for is cycling and I have a Garmin headunit for that.

So, ultimately I am not sure if it will be useful for GPS while cycling, but would be interested to know how that works out for you.

[DinDin77]

@SilviaFitbit  my GPS may have issue. I tried to use both with my iPhone nearby and no phone, the map showed in Fitbit app is not correct, not complete all my route. How can I fix it?  (Also my current running pace is inconsistent and seem can not trust, however overall distance is correct)

[Wuist]

I'm also disappointed about Charge 4. I cannot track my activities that will be terminated as soon as there is a temporary loss of Phone GPS signal (which generally occurs several time during a day of hiking, biking or mountain biking).

And I have no other choice but to use the Phone GPS signal as the built-in GPS will drain the battery over one day.

I also need to have moderato to CLEARLY state if the Charge 5 GPS fonction (in particular with Phone GPS) is the same as in the Charge 4 regarding battery drain, connectivity issues, "guesstimates of distance/route" vs actual GPS measurement, etc.