Worst Fitbit - touch sensitivity & menu design

[selenb]

I have been an avid fitbit user for a while now and enjoy upgrading devices to test new features.

I recently purchased a luxe after my charge3 died. At first the slim design a colour screen really drew me in as I have also wanted a Fitbit that’s a bit more stylish and easy to read in the daytime (oh and waterproof was also a bonus).

That’s where my positive comments end.

this Fitbit is by far the worst I have ever used.

* the clock face designs are hard to read the time and limiting in design. Why not have options to just show step count or heart rate.

* the touch sensitivity is terrible - sometimes I’m tapping the screen 10 times to try and wake it up and when it does it instantly turns off/goes black before I can even swipe. Other times I just have to blink and it turns on.

….swiping reactivity is poor, with the device not recognising the side to side action no matter how many times you try…..but boy does it love the up & down swipe action. taking you to settings you had no interest in getting to and then you have to make sure you haven’t accidentally changed a setting or set an alarm trying to get back to the Home Screen.

….talking of Home Screen it is frustrating when I have managed to record a workout and carry on with my day only to find that the Fitbit chose that moment to be ultra sensitive and start recording another workout without me asking because it was still on the exercise tab. Why does it not return to clock face/Home Screen after a certain amount of time has pass like previous Fitbits?

- GPS tracking doesn’t work properly and even when I had changed all the settings on the app/phone/Fitbit to track at all times the app was still asking me if I wanted to turn on gps tracking. In the end I had to turn off all gps/location tracking just to stop the annoying pop up.

my summary of this Fitbit is it’s all looks and no functionality - I really hope there might be a software update which will allow more personalisation/ the option to simplify things.

[TerriLH2k2]

4/11/2022 update:  It took 30 days for FitBit to receive the return from the authorization they sent (talk about SNAIL mail). As soon as they received mine, they sent out a replacement that day, which I had the next day. The new one actually works fine. I am updating the very lengthy post

on this message board about how terrible the device is and how unsatisfactory my experience with customer service and FitBit in general have been as a result of buying the Luxe. I still like the aesthetics of this device. Still don't care for the watch face selection (some of those are just weird). But I do like the more streamline device. And I don't use it to receive texts or messages, as I always have my phone, so why would I? Anyway, if yours is still under warranty I encourage you to reach out to them and have them replace it. Plan on a long wait. But I have had the new one for 4 days now and it works exactly as I expected--the other one never worked properly. My frustration level has gone from 11 to 0 on this now.  Good luck.

4/7 update: I contacted fitbit after 6 weeks of this thing not working. After working with them to reset it several times, they finally had me return the luxe. They emailed a return authorization. It took a full 30 days for them to receive the luxe using their shipping label. I got an email this morning that they had received it and have shipped my replacement. I bought the thing 3 months ago, and I have only had it in my possession for 6 weeks. Who knows how long the replacement will take to arrive? I have never been so disappointed in a product or its service ever.... other than the cable company. Boy! That's something to aspire to:  be better than cable. Anyway, unless this replacement is better than I could have imagined, I will never buy another FitBit product again, and will be spreading the word about how poor the product and customer service are.

I could have written the above review myself! I just received my Fitbit Luxe yesterday, and I am already frustrated. I, too, wanted the sleeker version, with a pretty band. I don't really even need the watch, as I prefer to wear my own. I just want a darn fitness tracker. This morning, without even trying, I got it stuck on the stupid timer, and I finally had to just leave it alone for several minutes before it switched back to the watch face. I don't even WANT a timer. I am so disappointed with this. I have to bang on the **ahem** thing 8-10 times to get the display to appear. Swiping sideways is almost impossible (maybe works 3 out of 10 times). App on phone and web steps don't align with the device. Phone app counts my calories 2-4 times per meal when linked with MyFitness Pal (To be fair, apparently, this has been a problem with FitBit linking to MFP since as early as 2016--when I found the earliest complaint about it. You'd think they would resolve that by now. I suspect it has to do with the number of times that I log a meal or water on MFP). I don't so much care about the watch face options, although they are very limited, and difficult to read. I don't want/need a watch face. I just want a fitness timer. Today, I have a 90 minute yoga class. If it doesn't register it as I think it should, I'm going to box it up and return it. After one day, if I could give it MINUS stars, it would be at MINUS 5 right now. Before "Support" reaches out and asks, yes, I fully charged it, and ran it through all the updates before wearing.

UPDATE: I did find the watch face that has steps. Step progression in a circle, time and date. 

[Lynn3333]

I absolutely agree. Not having the options to automatically recognize an aerobic workout, yoga, or an echelon/ exercise bike are a rip off. I have purchased different incarnations of Fitbit for years & never been disappointed.  For all the reasons previously stated I don’t like mine & want to replace it.  I’m irritated that Fitbit didn’t say upfront that this sleek thin design did not come without a cost.  I’m contemplating getting an Apple Watch next time around because of this.  

[RuthEneurys]

Most definitely agree. Although the HelpChat talks you through it and it works when I am on to them, as soon as I am at the gym or out and about I get problems. It gets stuck on a screen or just flashes a display for .5 of a second.

I’ve just been onto the Chat now and he told me to set the display screen to manual - then I sent him a vid to show it wasn’t working and so he said to set it to Auto!

Is it possible do you think to send it back? I am very disappointed - I’ve paid £100 for a digital watch and a pedometer. 

[MayBeeSheWrites]

Could not Agree More with You. This is the WORST Fitbit I have every owned! I wanted the Luxe because it was a smaller, lighter and more feminine looking than the previous Fitbits I had owned.

My previous Fitbit was a Charger 2, a wonderful no-nonsense easy to use fitness tracker. I had it for several years but it was large and clunky on my wrist. My husband offered to purchase be a new Fitbit and after reading what the Luxe offered and how delicate it looked ... I made the Worst choice by choosing the Luxe.

Now what?  Money spent and a few months later I'm as frustrated with the Luxe as I initially was about a week into using it. I reached out to Fitbit via Facebook and was told to "read the user manual" and given a link. No, that did not help. I'm not stupid but now own an extremely flawed Fitbit product. 

It's hard to check information from the screen. I have to tap,tap, tap tap tap, tap to get the screen to wakeup/respond. If I tap again to soon it flashes on and then right back off.  When scrolling to see other (itsy bitsy) tiny stats the screen often turns off as I touch the screen to scroll/switch to the next set of stats.

I also believe that the Luxe counts random fast hand/arm movements as steps and I have it set for the correct wrist.

Fitbit should acknowledged the Luxe is a flawed product and offer to refund or upgrade users to a working tracker.

I thank you for writing a true assessment of the Fitbit Luxe fitness tracker.

[rust]

Where did you find the screen that only displays steps? I have had my luxe for about three hours I’m ready to box it up and return it cannot figure how to get it to vibrate or receive text! Once you do turn screen off when you touch it to go to the next screen it turns the **ahem** thing back on I had the charge 4 I think it was  for for the last few years I loved it just wanted something sleeker, So far this one is not working out, I’ve watched three or four YouTube videos googled dozen things cannot find the microphone on the Fitbit app that it says to turn on notifications, so far not a fan

[TerriLH2k2]

The clock face that counts steps is on the web app, under clock faces. It
doesn't really show what I wanted...just a shoe with a circle that fills on
as it registers steps. I didn't want notifications, so I can't help you
with that. I don't have them turned on. But a lot of the settings are on
the website.

[LoveMyDogMom]

My Luxe face has the same problem.  I tap, punch, cajole and plead for it to come on, but it has a mind of it's own.  Unfortunately I waited too long thinking it would get better and cannot return it now.  I used to have a cheap $30 tracker which at least showed me steps and the time of day without be having to beat it out of it.  Very, very disappointment.  I agree with one of the writers; Fitbit should either fix the problem or give us all a refund/replacement.  Maybe a notice to the BBB will help?  

[KaeCeeBee]

Could not agree more.  So frustrated with this.  It certainly is NOT user friendly and you can hardly read the tiny screen,  This is my first fitbit

and I do NOT plan to try any others at this point what a waste of money.

[AllieCat1226]

I absolutely agree with you!  I *hate* the Luxe.  I don't like all the other smartwatches/fitness trackers out there because they're so big & clunky - I don't want to wear my phone on my wrist.  I wanted something slim & feminine - lo and behold, the Luxe came out.  I had GREAT luck with the Flex and Flex 2 (also, so many awesome bands to change around with) but they don't make the Flex or Flex 2 anymore.  Anyway, the Luxe SUCKS.  Response is poor, battery life is dismal, notifications come through when & if they want to, etc etc.  Now, after my Luxe battery completely died, it will not turn back on.  Even after charging for two days straight.  My Luxe is approximately 6 months old.  I am an office worker who enjoys a pretty sedentary lifestyle (haha-jk.  I don't enjoy it.  Trying to get better about it.) so it's not that I have put the Luxe through it's paces.  It's enjoying a pretty cushy life just sitting on my wrist, occasionally telling me the time when I ask.

TL;DR Luxe sucks.

[RuthEneurys]

With deep regret I have returned my Luxe got my money back. It was fortunate that I’d kept the box and all the accessories. I have bought a cheaper tracker which is better than the Luxe, but not better than my previous FBs unfortunately.

[TerriLH2k2]

Wish I had saved the box. I had FBs before, and really thought I would love this one. Ugh.

[JRC114]

Same issues! Wish I would have returned it. 

[aperol]

Same here, It is frustrating, the screen turns on whenever it feels like, did all the steps and tried to fix it. 

Just too fussy for a sports tracker. 

I am a fitbiter since the beginning but this is really bad. 

Not sure how I proceed, but I will get rid of it for sure.

[Auntiekn]

I totally agree.  I have had to switch to the Luxe because the charge 3 wasn’t available anymore.  The clock faces are poor and there are such poor options.  It is super sensitive sometimes and I can’t get back to the clock face. Lately my luxe decided to go to zero steps before the day was done. Another time it switched time… it went from 12:40 to 5:10 PM.  I have found if I put it on the charger it goes back but this is not always possible or convenient. 

[Ladiletta734]

I just searched “worst Fitbit models ever” wondering if I were the only one. Sounds like Luxe is a perennial un-favorite. Bummed. 

[Kms6406]

I agree , had the Luxe 2 weeks before screen went haywire, customer support sent a new one which took a week. Replacement was classed as a ‘refurb’ which I wasn’t too happy about but they assured me that it wasn’t one that had been repaired. When I came to connect to app would do so and was stuck on message asking me to download app. Customer support now want me to return it before they will look at replacing and sounds like this is going to be lengthy process

i might just be unlucky getting 2 faulty Luxe but now just want a refund and try something else 

it is clearly not fit for purpose 

[rust]

Yes, not a fan I think it was the charge to that I had that I loved, dislikes does not count stairs, It is hard to set anything Like notifications you tap and it never turns on and if you do get it on it somehow gets turned off. They went backwards in technology on this model
MARY ⚜:sun_with_face:

[Stern_D]

I have a Charge 5 and i got exactly the same problem.

[AnnaS345]

thanks for that Stern_D, I wasn't sure if Luxe were worse than other fitbits, or just was all newer fitbits.  Disappointed that my failure was at 5 weeks, and outside the refund window, and just having the option of fighting with support (not sure i can keep this up for the 2 years of my guarantee!)