Charge 6 vs. Charge 5

[Drec]

• Hi all,

Recently, after an 'update', my charge 5 went to the green screen of death, and could not be recovered.

It was replaced with a charge 6, and I seem to be having some accuracy issues with the new device.

Namely, it doesn't seem to capture heart rate data very well. For example, I can walk very quickly, 17:00/16:50/mile, and it takes a long time now for my heart rate to come up. Then, when it finally dies, I am used to seeing 110/115bpm over the course of a walk which is usually 90 to 120 minutes.

With the charge 5, it would log all of this. With the charge 6, it, for no apparent reason l, drops to 85/90, 20 - 35 minutes into the walk and will not come back up.

It goes the other way to, sometimes before dropping off, it'll jump up to 127. -  135, which I know is not accurate because that's what I see on the elliptical or rowing machine.

It behaves in a fairly stable manner on the elliptical, but because my right knee isn't the greatest, my primary mode of exercise is walking and I'm finding it super irritating that I seem to be missing so much heart data that I wasn't missing before.

I have tried adjusting the strap, moving the dominant wrist, adjusting heart rate zones but none of this is helping.

Is there anything else I should be doing? I fully expected the charge 6 to be more accurate than the charge 5, but it does not seem to be the case.

I welcome any and all input.

Cheers,

[Drec]

Anyone....?

[Jobber]

I have the same problem and tried the troubleshooting steps received through the help chat function to no avail. This included pressing the heart rate on/ off function in settings, , ensuring the watch is properly fitted to wrist, restarting the watch and reinstalling the watch. None of these work. Very frustrating as my charge 5 worked great and only upgraded to 6 due to a good sale price. Some deal. Sorry I couldn’t offer any more solutions but just want you to know you are not alone and hopefully they can fix the problem some time

[Drec]

No, this is great, the more data the better.

What I am truly have a problem with is there is clearly something wrong with the software, and, or, processing of health data.

As you noted, the charge 5 seemed completely on point and I would not have changed it except for it asked to do an upgrade, then died, which I am very suspicious of as my charge 4 still works great, and has not been upgraded.

Hopefully we will get a software fix soon.

I'm logging other issues as well - not tracking my sleep properly either. But the one that really bothers me is the heart data as it is somewhat critical to my exercise regimen.

Cheers,

[Lilleore]

Getting a little puzzled here... My Fitbit charge 5 screen also just died after an update... have been very happy Fitbit user but got a little chocked to learn that the screen can die like this... more worried to learn that many users have had the same experience... actually went in here to see if I should upgrade, but now see that the dead screen is a common issue after updates. Wonder if this is a sales strategy? Maybe it is time to try another brand... 

[Drec]

Yep, am no longer doing updates, and I bought a spare charge 5 for when the current one dies. Don't really want to go to another brand because all my data is here, but if it is a plot to get people to upgrade their devices, it's a pretty shady practice.

[Atlaok]

Hi I agree. I bought a 6 earlier in. 2024 and it’s not nearly as accurate as the 5 for heart rate both when exercising and sleeping heart rate.  Very disappointing, I don’t understand how a product can be tested and put on the market like this.  I have had Fitbit’s since the 3 and this is the first one I can’t rely on. 

[Jobber]

Understood. I also gave up on the heart rate monitor. I’ve tried all the tricks and still getting erratic readings. They wanted me to send pictures while working out…kind of hard to do when working out in cardio mode. They just don’t believe it. Yes I wish I would have stayed with charge 5
Sent from my iPad

[Aingano]

I'm late to this thread but 100% agree, last week had a charge 5 that finally died. Went from multiple years of workouts with an average heart rate in the 130s or more to not being able to get an average over 100. Really thinking I need to return this junk. Tried all the "fixes" I've read on here, nothing has worked.  I think I have another few weeks in my return window so I may keep trying. 

[Jobber]

Sorry you’ve had a similar experience. Best of luck to you
Sent from my iPhone

[HappyChg5User]

Thank You for you valuable insights.  My Charge 5 is failing after 2 years, but I carefully cleaned the contacts and it is still mostly working ... but I get a few miles into my hike with my wrists sweating and it wigs out with the 12-dot blue Logo that stays permanently on the screen. With all of the negative app issues and BP issues these reviews for the Charge 6, and the more accurate BP/less app issues Charge 5, I am convinced and will get another Charge 5. Thank You for your input! 🙂

[Jobber]

Yes I believe your smarter move is to purchase another 5. Don’t be duped by a next gen that fails miserably on recording heart rate, and really doesn’t have any different features than what you own today.
Sent from my iPad

[Drec]

Agreed, I have more story to add now.

[Drec]

Well, been twenty two months since I started this thread....

My last charge 5 has died, so I got a new charge 6, thinking it would be updated.

Nope, did exactly the same thing, wouldn't record heart data correctly, gave me zone minutes in the shower, and kept my heart rate at 92 when I was doing 10k steps.

Started a ticket with fitbit.

Frustrating as this is, I bought a inspire three.

Used it this morning, works perfectly, captures data, steps and most important, correct zone minutes.

This has led me to believe, because these purchases were so far apart, that there is a fundamental problem with the charge 6, software probably.

This means that everyone that has bought a charge 6 is getting robbed minutes and data, in some way or another.

For example, it usually takes me between 82/90 minutes to walk 10k steps. I usually get a zone minute for every minute, I keep moving pretty fast.

The other day, I got thirty zone minutes for the first ten k steps. I am missing sixty.

I believe that Fitbit should get a fix out for everyone so we don't have to keep buying different equipment.

Cheers,

[HappyChg5User]

Personally I have several reasons to appreciate the Charge 5 I still have
over the Charge 6 (when I had issues I caused, I still bought the Charge 5
"again" over getting the Charge 6),
not the least of which you are being "forced" to purchase the software when
you get a Charge 6, to get the same info you get from your Charge 5.

I do not understand why the company does "not" prefer slightly increasing
the price to cover the "basic" software/tracking the Charge 5 already has
for free. This would upset fewer users ...
and just like with the Charge 5 they could "upgrade" to the more extensive
tracking/info "if they so choose".