Inflated heart rate reading

[jtlapp]

PLEASE READ BEFORE RESPONDING. Don't just react to the photos. I wore the Charge 2 by itself and the Ionic by itself before doing this test. It was their crazy differences that inclined me to then put them on at the same time -- and the crazy difference remained. Further experiments revealed the true source of the problem, as I explain in my updates below.

I've been wearing my Ionic for a few days. The heart rates I see are not similar to those I saw on the Charge 2. I can be standing in place typing at the computer, look at my watch, and see a heart rate of 130.

I decided to put some juice in my Charge 2 and go for a walk with both. I took 14 photos of the watches over the course of a hilly mile. The heart rates were only once the same. They often differed by 10, with the Ionic higher. And sometimes the differences were crazy. (See images below.)

I tried making the Ionic extra snug half-way through the walk, but the readings remained crazy. For example, I could be at 100 on the Charge 2 and 120 on the Ionic upon cresting a hill, and then hit 90 on the Charge 2 and 150 on the Ionic upon subsequently reaching the bottom of the hill.

Is something broken, or am I doing something wrong?

UPDATE #1: After more testing with a second Ionic and the present Ionic worn higher on the wrist, I found that the Ionic and the Charge 2 more closely agree on the HR when the Ionic is worn at a distance from the wrist bone. Fitbit recommends that it be worn at least two fingers above this point. Because Fitbit also recommends that the Ionic be worn loosely, Fitbit's own recommendations imply that the device will not give a reliable HR while walking with the hands swinging down at the side. Even so, the Ionic usually reports higher numbers than the Charge 2 when worn higher on the wrist. Finally, at least one person is happy with their HR numbers when the Ionic is worn low on the wrist.

People have also replied to this thread with their own experiences getting unusually high HR readings on the Ionic. I don't mean to summarize their findings here.

UPDATE #2: Apparently it is known that the devices can interfere with each other when worn on the same wrist. Mind you, I wore one device and got crazy numbers and multiple devices and got reasonable numbers on all by the bottom watch. The purpose of the test was to find out if the watches were broken. What the test told me is that the watches were not broken, but are more accurate higher on the wrist. The test told me that despite any interference there might have been. (Besides, I'm unable to peform the test on both wrists, because one hand must hold the camera.)

Moderator edit: edited title for clarity

[SunsetRunner]

I have been having these issues with my Ionic since the day I purchased it at the end of last year.  The sad part is I’ve had to contact Fitbit over and over again and their response is always “we’re having our engineers look into it”.

i never had the issues (mainly EXTREME heart rate sensor inaccuracy at rest, doing exercise...doesn’t matter) with my Blaze or my Surge.  A definite waste of money and they haven’t even offered to replace it.  I’ve spent over 900 with this company.  Very very disappointed.  Today I was even told that the Ionic  was not intended to monitor health.  I guess since the heart rate isn’t accurate, calories burned isn’t, calorie intake adjustment isn’t....etc, etc.

Sad...just sad.  Time to check out Garmin. 

[BenThere]

Yep.  Pretty disappointing overall.  I could really like this thing if I could trust it, but I can't.  As it stands, I don't recommend it when asked about it (often) at the gym, definitely suggest people go elsewhere for a monitor, and won't be buying another Fitbit product.  

I have to say, it really is surprising the company wont stand over their product and remedy the defect in some way or manner.  VERY disappointing.  Strikes me as flawed corporate ethics.  

As you said, "Sad, just sad."

[BenThere]

Any update??

[SunsetRunner]

No updates at all. Today when I spoke to them, Fitbit’s response was the unit is operating as it was designed. My question to them was”so you’re telling me it is what it is and you can’t tell me when and if it will be corrected.  The response - “yes.  Is there anything else we can help you with?”

I have been and will continue to recommend people who ask “buy something else.”

[Krissyton]

Why does my Fitbit versa record a heart rate in fat burn zone when I’m not even wearing my watch? I accidentally left my versa on the counter yesterday and somehow it still recorded (obviously falsely) heart rate data. 

[AmberDC]

I am having this same issue. Logs heart rate at night when I am not wearing it and it's causing my resting hr avg to be wrong.

[SantiR]

@Krissyton @AmberDC Welcome to the Fitbit forums! Thanks for taking the time to report the situation you are experiencing with your watches recording hear rate while not being worn.

This is very strange. By any chance, the surface in which the watch was placed on; was it vibrating or was something vibrating them? 

Something you can do is turning off the heart rate option (on your Settings app) whenever you take your watch off.

Also, please perform a restart on your watches. This should help out.

Keep me posted! 

[oat_bran]

I've had a similar issue with my Charge 2. It showed a spike in my heart rate in the beginning and at the end of my workouts, sometimes peaking when I was simply walking briskly. Then it stopped doing that for many months and was showing accurate readings all the time, Now it's back to overestimating (and sometimes underestimating) my heart rate at random moments during workouts. Not sure what could have changed.

I was considering getting myself a fitbit charge 3 but I'm scared its reading won't be accurate. I mainly wear my fitbit to have an accurate TDEE estimate and adjust my intake based on that. When my Charge 2 was showing accurate heart rate reading, TDEE estimates were spot-on (checked it over 5 months on two different spreadsheets). But since more advanced trackers like Ionic have a heart rate tracking accuracy issue I'm afraid the charge 3 might have it, too...

[SunsetRunner]

My ionic is always wrong. I ignore the heart rate if i run because its not accurate. I use it to track my distance only. This is my 3rd and my last fitbit.

[SunsetRunner]

I just bought an Ionic yesterday, my first ever smart watch. I wanted something I could use in the gym and walking at lunchtime without needing to bother with my HR strap.

In a word - it's utterly useless.

I recorded a walk today at lunchtime and was expecting to see my HR between 70-80. Apparently I averaged 129.

I wore it tonight during my workout on a Wattbike along with my Garmin chest strap.

It's so far out it may as well be strapped to the dog.

Actual resting HR 52, Ionic=69.

Actual HR 100, Ionic 118.

Actual HR 104, Ionic 137.

Actual HR 106, Ionic 171.

Actual HR 111, Ionic 184.

You get the idea, it's crap, see pics here:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KiqJHFS2Wq2zqATV7

I'm going to be returning it at the weekend as not fit for purpose.

Really disappointed with it!

[SunsetRunner]

I have had my ionic for more than a year. When i jog my hr is 29 bpm higher than my chest strap. The ionic is an ok watch but that's all its good for.

[SunsetRunner]

I'm sure its clock is accurate, in which case yes it's ok in that regard. But I'm sure most people who buy one didn't pay 200+ quid for just a watch LoL.

I actually looked at a few and in reviews, this seemed the one to go for.

Feeling hoodwinked 

[tinbucket]

My resting heart rate is 52. I know this because I take a bp reading a few times a week. At rest the ionic also confirms this reading. The moment I commence any form of exercise the ionic is often seen reading 142-165 I’ve begun wearing a wrist sweat back between my hand and the watch so as to keep it higher but make little difference. My surge, blaze and charge 2 have all had better values than the ionic. A frustrating development in my Fitbit journey. 

[Harry222]

I've been dealing with heart rate inaccuracy for a while.  Decided to leave it on the night table last night next to my phone.  And this happened.  Any thoughts?

[tsm4sh]

Clearly it had a very intense dream!

[Harry222]

lol

[BenThere]

OK, so what was going on on the night stand?? 

All joking aside, I'm really disappointed with this whole Ionic heart rate issue and Fitbit completely ignoring the issue as if it doesn't exist.   

And yes, I have no problem telling potential customers to walk - no - RUN - away from this product.   And I'm not trying to be punny.  

[tinbucket]

I’m considering a return to store based on not Fitbit for purpose. 

[BenThere]

I see what you did there...…..

[Whistler888]

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@Harry222 wrote:

I've been dealing with heart rate inaccuracy for a while.  Decided to leave it on the night table last night next to my phone.  And this happened.  Any thoughts?

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Yep the device simply is wacky!  This is what mine read sitting on my night table on Wed.  But since reading about the recall and EMF concerns have now turned off the device most times of the day.  Only turning it on to track Exercises.  So inaccurate is a gross understatement here.  But oddly the device gives ok looking data in Exercise mode with and without GPS.  In that way use the device now to track data like sleep and HR etc for set time periods for comparisons purposes only.  Limiting exposure to on body contact.