When will the Spo2 sensor will be available?

[Coachalan]

Has there been any update when the spo2 sensor will be available for use. It was the only reason I chose this watch over the others I was looking to buy.

Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity 

[JLHumbert]

To be forced to pay for a "Premium" subscription to see the information
(sleep tracking) generated by the device we paid good money for (with said
features) is a pile of crap as far as I'm concerned. They advertise the
device as having all these features (Fitbit Coach, sleep tracking, etc),
but then want to charge extra. My previous fitness tracker/smart
watch ($70 Amazfit)
included a Sleep Score in their free app. This is my first Fitbit device, and
it will be my last.

[jt11]

Same here. Feel that I have been played by Fibbit

[pbug56]

Sleep score without a spo2 readings a joke. 

[AddyRazz]

Yep but it isn't going to be coming, already decided my next watch is Garmin

[AddyRazz]

---

@t.parker wrote:

@pbug56 yes to both. According to Fitbit, the sleep score is available in the Premium:

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/2437

---

Where. Does it say that spo2 is included with premium as I cannot see it, I think you are making it up!

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delayed reply. 

I appreciate the time that each of you took to continue participating in the Forums. Your feedback and comments are appreciated. 

As mentioned earlier, in the future, this sensor could give consumers the opportunity to identify potential health issues like sleep apnea. We are still exploring how this would appear in the consumer experience, but such technology would use this sensor.

I don't have any information about SPO2 sensor being included in the Premium Membership. You can learn more about this service by checking this article: What should I know about Fitbit Premium?

I'll be around if you have any additional questions. 

[pbug56]

Hi,

Right now we need it added to the fitbit app in a few ways.  Included in the sleep data; apnea being the big issue.  You know that.  And you know that the sensor has existed in a variety of models for a couple years now.  Without O2 data it's hard to take the sleep info seriously, even ignoring the problems where for hours at a time it says you were awake when you were not.

We also need at a given moment to look at our watch and see our current SPO2 and heart rate and time and footsteps and distance.  Not just for fitness.  I could use a warning when my O2 is too low, and dropping.  If Fitbit decided today to finally do all this, you could have viable apps and faces in a week or two.  Plenty of us would be happy to beta test.

[t.parker]

@AddyRazz what am I making up? I think you just misunderstood what I wrote. I never said SpO2 is available in the Premium. I said the sleep score is available in the premium and this is written on the Fitbit help website. Now, the sleep score was supposed to be using SpO2 as it has been loudly announced and one could read about it on many wearable related websites. For example:

https://gadgetsandwearables.com/2018/12/15/fitbit-sleep-score-2/

https://www.wareable.com/fitbit/fitbit-sleep-score-review-guide-6846

Clearly, the articles specified the use of SpO2 in order to figure out the sleep score. Some users were lucky enough to be able to sign up for the beta tests, too.

Now, when the beta program is closed the sleep score feature is finally released but it doesn't use SpO2 at all. It may mean that SpO2 sensor doesn't work the way Fitbit expected hence they abandoned it and released feature without it. The only use-case of SpO2 sensor that Fitbit ever came up with for real has been reduced to small premium feature. To me, it looks like SpO2 isn't happening and if it didn't fly for sleep score then I'd consider it quietly scrapped. Placing sleep score in Premium zone may also be interpreted in a few ways. For one, the new Premium zone is supposed to come to the rescue of melting cash. Putting sleep score there was possible as it doesn't use SpO2 (imagine what rage would happen if SpO2 would be released in Premium!). It was also a very quiet release. So quiet that many users didn't even notice (some report they don't even see it in the app). I am not sure if there is any other way of interpreting that but there will be no SpO2 for Ionic, Versa and Charge 3 because if there was any chance of it to happen it would come with the sleep score (and potentially, could make a financial situation better for Fitbit).

[jt11]

Still waiting for you to answer this question. Until then we would only
be wasting our time. Time better spent looking for a fibbit replacement
that has what we bought this one for.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @pbug56 @t.parker and @jt11 nice to see you around. Thanks for posting your feedback about this option for our Fitbit devices. My apologies for the delay.

Thanks for keep sharing your feedback. We understand how you feel about not having this option after a long time. We're sorry about the time this is taking. We'll let you know as soon as it changes.

@t.parker thanks for your clarification. We hope to have this option in a near future.

Thanks for your understanding. 

[Ruddabagger]

My last post was removed so I guess all I have to say. IT IS 2019!!!!! this was a promised feature on this device and is missing. Talk about getting ripped off and lied to. One of the major reasons I went with Fitbit. Could have gone Apple, Garmin, whatever. They didn't blatently lie about features on their devices.

[AddyRazz]

lol you mean never!!

[Sunny12]

How the matter is considered solved by Fitbit when they have not yet given any estimated date for SPo2 work-ability?

Make it functional first before announcing that the matter is solved.

Kind Regards.

[pbug56]

Fitbit tells us, essentially, that they are trying to determine how to apply the sensor.  Now we've all agreed that after a couple of years, that sounds rather hokey, plus existing devices that sense SPO2 exist and display it and perhaps record it.  Plus they may be attached to systems that can do more with the data.  Fine.  But they say it anyway.  So I suggest that instead of trying to figure it out, provide an API to 3rd party developers so they can come up with concepts, faces and apps.  For instance, someone could develop an independent sleep analyzer.  And it relieves Fitbit of the task of figuring out what to do with the data!

[Sunny12]

"Hi Friends,  

For a simple query on a firm date for SPO2 integration/ activation,  I have  received only vague answers about legality of Fitbit advertisement(s).

There is No response from Fitbit about estimated date of a functional Spo2 sensor on Charge 3.

Is this too much to ask?

Kind Regards "

[JLHumbert]

Fitbit is just stalling to keep from telling us the bad news...  that is if, or when, they ever use the SPO2 data, we will have to pay a "Premium" subscription to see that data or any other useful data (i.e. Sleep Score) from the expensive trackers that we paid hard earned money for.

[Jlmemt]

Not to mention at the current rate there won't be any ionics still working by the time they, maybe, get around to it. 

Nice gimmick to put a sensor in that you have no idea how to develop a use for!

[cleebriggs]

Are the Fitbit Ionics being discontinued?

[GTOJim]

This may not be  very good news regarding Sp02 for existing devices.

From a  press release for the Versa 2.    The article does not list the Estimated Oxygen Variation Graph coming for  any device other than the Versa 2.  It does list other new features coming to the Ionic and Versa.

Estimated Oxygen Variation Graph : Coming soon, this graph will provide users with an estimate of the variability of oxygen levels in their bloodstream. The data is derived from a combination of the red and infrared sensors on the back of your device. Being aware of short-term variations in the oxygen levels in your bloodstream may indicate variations in your breathing during sleep.

A couple new features coming for the Ionic and Versa, Sleep Mode, Smart Wake, and Sleep Score on-wrist.

https://investor.fitbit.com/press/press-releases/press-release-details/2019/Fitbit-Launches-Versa-2-...

[Jlmemt]

Ionic is essentially end of life, they are teasing the ionic 2, so I'm actually surprised they are giving us anything.