When will the ECG app be available on Charge 5?

[PdVL]

I just received my Charge 5 but unfortunately no ECG app is available in The Netherlands. I cannot find any information about the release date of the ECG app for the Charge 5. It is a pity because Fitbit is advertising with the ECG feature as one of its main features. Why then is it not available with the release of the device itself? That is a bit disappointing I must say. At least give us a possible release date so we can look forward to this release! This would be highly appreciated!

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[SleepyxEquus]

They had it listed as a coming soon option for the charge 5. It will possibly be in one of the upgrades for the device down the road…but don’t hold your breath.

[Mont-Sly]

Hi,

I went through this with ECG availability with the Sense (I'm in Canada).  Basically, each individual country must approve every ECG device.  Fitbit files for approval with each countries health agencies (in my case Health Canada).  Once approval is given the function is added shortly after - within a few months.

If I remember, it took a few months longer for the approval in Canada than, let's say, the US.  However, again, it depends on each individual country.

[N8teGee]

This is a list of supported countries, but as @SleepyxEquus mentioned it lists it as coming soon.

Charge 5 Availability* COMING SOON

American Samoa

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Canada

Chile

Czech Republic

France

Germany

Guam

Hong Kong

India

Ireland

Italy

Luxembourg

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Puerto Rico

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Singapore

South Africa

Spain

Switzerland

Sweden

United Kingdom

United States

US Virgin Islands

[AnnaFZ]

I saw that the UK was listed as coming soon, but took that to mean it would be released with the Fitbit when I pre-ordered. Feeling a bit like I've been scammed right now. Tempted to pack my device up and send it back. 

[DavideFitbit]

Hi, welcome to the Community forums, @PdVL @AnnaFZ. 

Thank you for you inquiry about the new Charge 5. 

As @N8teGee mentioned earlier, there's a list of availability for the ECG feature, but it is one of the features that will be coming soon for the Charge 5 with a future firmware update. Fitbit announced this product including the ECG option, so they're excited to implement this soon. However, we can't provide a specific date, so I recommend that you keep an eye on the app to look for future firmware updates and make sure to sync regularly as well. 

Here you can check the list of countries where this feature will be available soon: Heart Rhythm Assessment with Fitbit ECG app. 

Have a great day. 

[AnnaFZ]

Thanks. On live chat I was told that it will be implemented in November 2021, which is still frustrating when it was the very reason I bought the device. I'm still in two minds about returning it and buying a device that already supports ECG. 

[marishka_ny]

Update: today, Nov 9, once the firmware update was completed,  the ECG function appeared on my Charge 5!

Charge 5 is advertised having the ECG app; however, it isn't there... I searched the Fitbit app to install the ECG app on my new Charge 5 (with no avail), since it didn't appear on it... I checked the Fitbit website to verify that Charge 5 IS being advertised having ECG; however, once I went through help on my Fitbit app, it clearly shows that the ECG app is only available on Sence.

Is it a false advertisement?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[JohnnyRow]

Coming but not ready yet.

[marishka_ny]

Thank you! Let's hope it is 😊

[sjtpawar8]

I am located in Germany and I cannot see EKG app on my fitbit charge 5. Any idea why?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[JohnnyRow]

EKG is coming to Charge 5, but will be added later.

[JurjenR]

Hi,

Indeed one of the reasons for me to buy the Charge 5. I thought it the availability was on the device and not on the ECG app. A bit disappointing indeed. Also, not being able to pair the device as a heart rate monitor.....another thing I overlooked.

I would probably go for another device if I understood both points better when reading the specs and reviews.

Anyway, let's hope the feature is available soon.

[Jannis1980]

I guess it will happen sooner. Wasn't the same situation with the sense regarding ECG and the phone function? They told months until it will come, but I guess in the end it happened quite fast after all the pressure of the clients. 

[SleepyxEquus]

You would think the same pressure that got the ECG fixed…would get the HRM fixed. Yet that is a work in progress, only because I feel they don’t know why it’s happening.

I think it’s because of the sweat/skin detection they added on to the new devices. 

[DavideFitbit]

Thank you for taking the time to share all your feedback, @AnnaFZ @JurjenR @Jannis1980. 

I hope too that this feature can be implemented soon, and the team is working constantly to improve the user's experience, especially with this new product. Thank you again for sharing your feedback and experience with the device. 

Have a great day. 

[BrendonHolt]

David, et. all;
Very dissapointed that the ECG Feature that was advertised is not in the unit.  It was my goal to compare it to other commercially available and marketed devices for our Cardiology End Users at eMedRec, an EHR.  If it compared in feature we were going to move to the next step of seeing how we can integrate the data for EHR Patient and Portal use.

I bought one for myself in great excitement for this feature and now I own it and am in dissapoinment.   Now I will see if Version 1.0 of this actually works in comparisons to other devices, when I can, but not a good start.

Further, how is it that there is documentation on how to use the feature but there is no existing feature in production.  Marketing really got the cart before the horse on this feature/module.

Moderator edit: format

[fionac]

On all the advertising I saw, it said that the ECG app would not be available immediately but would be coming soon.  Nowhere did it say that the device would come with it on launch.  This is a common thing with Fitbit; they release a device and then new functions are added over time.  It happened with the 4 with the alarm range thing, the oxygen sensor and health metrics, dynamic GPS.  All of those arrived eventually.

[ted2xusz]

Hello, 

I have seen on Fitbit instagram a question about ECG in Charge 5 and the answer from Fitbit is:

“it will be available sometime in November. “

Let’s hope it will. 

[BrendonHolt]

I have reviewed statement not advertised, this is correct, unfortunately all reviewers apparently were mostly not aware of this as they have reviewed it as if the feature existed.  Tells you how much time they really spend on each feature.

--------------------------

It was a primary purpose for my purchase, I will have to wait, plain and simple. 

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Correction some have wording about this for the Charge 5 but show it on other new units in the same article.  
ZDNET
"The Charge 5 also promises to let you take an ECG from your wrist, another feature Fitbit first introduced on the Sense. At the time of this writing, the ECG app is not available on the Charge 5, but Fitbit says it's coming this fall. "

Surprise it was not on release but I am sure they will go out of Beta and it will be stable when released in November, look forward to it.