Inaccurate heart rate Charge 5

[Sparrow68]

The heart rate monitoring in the Charge 5 is terribly inaccurate with exercise. It often take several minutes to figure out that I’m exercising and my heart rate has been quite elevated for some time. Then, with strenuous exercise, it simply doesn’t pick up the higher heart rates. I’ve manually checked that I’m above 185 and the charge 5 reads in the 140s. Is there any way to get a more accurate heart rate out of this device or is it I it useful for general monitoring?

Moderator edit: format

[DavideFitbit]

Hi everyone, I'm sorry to see that many of you are still having the same problem with the heart rate information. 

As mentioned, there are some general recommendations to improve accuracy of heart rate, like the steps provided here earlier. However, if you're still having this problem, please make sure to get in touch with the Customer Support team so they can provide you with the next steps or let you know what are the options available for you. You can click here to get connected. 

Thank you again for the information and for the feedback provided; our team is always working to enhance your experience and your feedback is a big part of that process. 

[dmor20]

These things simply suck and don't work. Then they make suggestions that simply don't work and try to make it seem like it's on the user end because they can't admit they made a failure of a product. 

"We got your money, leave us alone."

[IgorR11]

Unfortunately this is the same problem that you have in the sense and versa 3 model, since 2020 we are waiting for fitbit to release a solution but so far everything has resulted in nothing.

[DavideFitbit]

@dmor20 @IgorR11 Thank you for your comments and for sharing your experience. 

Since you already tried all the steps shared in the forums to improve accuracy, it would be necessary to continue the assistance process with the Support team so they can let you know how to proceed. I appreciate all the feedback that you've shared about the quality of the product. 

I'll be around. 

[AnnMargu]

Davide,

My device tracks my HR during light and moderate activity without issues, but tracks incredibly low when I’m doing the most strenuous activity. There have been multiple times during CrossFit workouts where I’m redlining (HR is likely close to 180+) and the Fitbit shows my HR is 100 to110 BPM, which is around what my HR is when I’m leisurely walking around. 

I’ve followed all the steps you provided and then reached out to customer support for additional help. Twice now, they’ve just recommended that I run through all the tips and tricks that are listed on this forum and on the links you provided. 

Please advise a permanent solution or send a new device that works. I cannot keep going in circles with these tips and tricks and find out AGAIN in the middle of a workout that they did not work… and have to start over. 

Thanks,

Marissa

[jboogie]

I bought a charge 5 whenever i start pushing myself the Fitbit fails to track my heart rate accurately. It seems like after 162bpm it quits just drops to 80bpm to 90bpm. I called Fitbit and they said someone will contact me to help in 24 to 48 hrs but nobody called.

[Spytap]

Count me amongst the same folks having the same issues. Actual heartrate at the peak of my workout was 175, as measured both by a chest strap and manually with a stopwatch, but the charge5 says it's 70. What's most frustrating though, is that when I used the ECG, it read almost perfectly accurately - saying that it couldn't get a proper ECG reading because my heartrate was above 165. And then when I go back to the main menu, it's still showing 71 and stayed between 70 and 80.

So I'm assuming the core issue here is "this is a known issue, and there is no solution"?

[jboogie]

I need to call support again and get an rma, it's been trash when it comes to my hr during workouts. 

I bought one for my brother for Christmas his works well. Definitely a defective batch of something 

[MonicaBarreto]

Exactly the same thing has been happening to me. I’m in training with a trainer and I’m supposed to get my heart rate above 135. I do it for 12 minutes and then my report back shows peak for 2 minutes and barely over 135. I did it again on the elliptical for 50 minutes elevated heart rate and it gave me 8 minutes only. So frustrating because the trainer made me do it until I got 40 minutes at peak…took 3 hours! I’m dead. That was today. Then we realized that it was the Fitbit. 

[Rameyafb]

For what it’s worth, my cardiologist told me that Fitbit is completely inaccurate and useless for heart rates above 120.

Not sure where he’s getting that from but he’s caring for me so ok,,, I guess 💁

[jboogie]

I've had a fit bit since 2012. I used compare them up my polar and my ant Hr and they were always in sync. The device i have is definitely defective piece of trash but in general Fitbit report great readings for me.  Not withdraw Darker skin, hairy arms and tattoos.

[Sparrow68]

An update: I decided to get rid of the Fitbit. It’s just getting worse: this week I did a run of moderate intensity- my HR was in the mid 150s for 45 minutes. Fitbit said it was less than 115. It’s just pointless. I got a Garmin Venu 2S. Way more expensive, but it’s supposed to actually work!

[LouWanda]

Yes, I was gifted Charge 5 for Christmas. This is my third Fitbit over a period of approximately 6 years. I am experiencing similar frustrations expressed in this forum. For the same HIIT workouts my previous fitbits would register 20 to 25 minutes in peak.  Charge 5 registers 5 minutes at most often zero. Any cardio workout now registers approximately 1/4 of what it used to register.  Also the sleep reporting simply does not make any sense and it's quite frustrating. Those are the two functions I use predominantly which unfortunately now Fitbit rendered quite useless for me. I have as many have on here followed all of the tips several times in hopes of correcting the problem. No luck. I will follow up now after reading here to call customer service I  wanted to register my similar issues in support of others having similar.

[DavideFitbit]

Hi everyone, I appreciate all the comments and feedback that you've shared so far. 

It seems the majority of users have tried all the basic steps shared in the forums. If you haven't done so already or if you're new to this thread, please try the steps mentioned here earlier. If you continue to have any issues with the heart rate accuracy, please get in touch with the Customer Support team so they can let you know what are the options available for you. 

[Purple_wellies]

I’m having this issue too.  I swapped to a charge 5 at the end of last year and it worked fine for a time. I then realised that my zone minutes were decreasing for the same workouts and that despite working hard my device wasn’t measuring HR. I do aerobic activities every day and know exactly what my HR should be doing. Today for example I tried a brisk walk. It picked up the increase ok, then just dropped out and said my HR wasn’t even elevated. I took it off, put it back on, it said I was in peak then dropped out again, worked for two mins at cardio then dropped again. And all the time I know my HR is elevated. I’ve tried wearing it up the wrist, down the wrist, inside the wrist, tightly, less tightly, with a sweatband, resetting (including the three presses on the charging cable) and I’ve concluded that this thing cannot accurately measure HR. I’ve had fitbits for 5 years and I like the charge 5 but it’s not performing as it should. I’m getting so frustrated with this because I have to keep stopping my workouts to let it catch up and then my HR drops because I’ve had to stop. Totally fed up and I’ve only had it a few months. 

[Lzvolk42]

I’m having same issues, comparing to iWatch 5 & during a echocardio/stress test. My Fitbit Charge 5 tracks ok until HR gets >144. Then plateaus there, while HR is accurately in 150+. Tried all recommended fixes, even cleaning wrist and back of Fb. My cardiologist commented iWatch is superior to Fb (he’s also an athlete). Have used fitbits for >decade, but their reliability is tumbling. It’s up to Fitbit crew to step up to the plate. 

[Lzvolk42]

That’s not reassuring. One would think they would acknowledge and work to improve their products.