Charge 3 Issues

[Rcturk262]

Have had a Charge 3 for about 2 months and have already had more issues with it than the entire time I used my Charge 2. What is Fitbit doing to address the ongoing issues we all seem to be having. Definitely wouldn't recommend that anyone purchase a Charge 3.

[Gaily2000]

I bought mine in October when it came out. Had to get a replacement in December because it would continually vibrate and then drain the battery. They sent a replacement but now my replacement is doing the exact same thing.  .. very frustrating.  Think I'm going back to the charge 2. No problems at all with that one.  Had it for years before "upgrading "

[Tronj]

I keep having the same issue. Sync not working, restarting, removing it, adding it, then same thing all over again. Sometimes it takes the app all day before it recognizes my sleep. It is a great watch but it definitely is frustrating. I am hoping they fix it’s sync issues.

[SunsetRunner]

I’ve had my Charge 3 for less than a week & I’m not impressed.  It is definitely not accurate! I walk to work & with my old Charge 2, I would get one, maybe 2 floors. With Charge 3, walking the same route, NINE. floors! It gives me floors walking on level surfaces! 

It also is very unreliable in syncing! I leave the app open to allow for continual syncing & it still won’t sync properly! I have signed out of the app & logged back in, but that does nothing. I have also restarted my Fitbit which didn’t work either. I have been cheated out of numerous 250 steps /hours because it won’t sync. Frustrating thing is my Fitbit says I have 9 of 9 hours, but the app says the opposite. Seriously considering taking it back & my recommendation to anyone thinking of buying one is DON’T!! Save your money!

[heypaleblue]

@Roadrunner90speaking from experience with an ionic, this seems to be the bluetooth chip in the tracker going out. Upon recieving a replacement ionic all the sudden sync happened much more reliably. I have no doubt this is the same issue I faced with my ionic, but on a charge 3

On thing you can try is enabling "all-day sync" but with all the power issues being reported on the forum your battery life will likely crash.

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks for trying to help but All day syncing has been enabled since day one. Discovered that if I don’t sync it after reaching 250 steps/hour, the app won’t recognize that hour. Same with any exercise. Also, drove 6 hours one way last week & it gave me 30 floors & over 1000 steps just for sitting in a car! And I’m not going to go in and manually change my activity (what activity?! I was driving!!)  Being forced to keep app open in order to allow for the nonexistent syncing is also eating up my data! I hate this thing & Fitbit has had plenty of time to address these issues based on the dates of previous posts. It’s going back! 

[murrraymints]

I should have read all the reviews first.  I used to have an alta, before it got stolen along with my handbag.  Loved it.  Charge 3 is awful!!!! I've had it less than a week.  I'm going to give it back and get a refund.  Come on FITBIT get your act together.  Really regret wasting my money on this stupid thing.  It won't sync properly, doesn't show up on my bluetooth, doesn't track sleep, basically non-existent. What a useless piece of gadgetry.  DON,T BUY.....steer well clear of this device.

[Rcturk262]

Completely agree, total waste of money.  Shocked that they would release this into the market.  Doubt that I'll buy another Fitbit product. 

[SunsetRunner]

Finally returned it & am now happily back to using my Charge 2. No syncing issues at all with it & stats are much more accurate. Advice to anyone considering a Charge 3...DON’T!! Save your money!! 

[SunsetRunner]

Agreed! Charge 3 is a piece of junk! Tried to work with mine for a month. Went through an update, restarted it, logged in & out of the app, even deleted it from my phone & reinstalled it. Nothing worked, so I finally took it back & went back to my Charge 2. Fitbit really blew it with this upgrade!!!

[CJBX1]

Just bought a Charge 3 to replace my old Charge 2. I have had nothing but problems with my Charge 3. And based on all the research I have been doing on Charge 3, I believe Fitbit needs to recall these devices and give us back our money or replace these devices with devices that work as advertised.

If Fitbit doesn't do anything to fix this issue I will not buy another Fibit device again. And would encourage everyone to stop buying Fitbit products!!

[Rcturk262]

Similar decision. Stopped using the Fitbit, now only use my Suunto Ambit 3.

[ReneeLK]

I have had the same issues and am expecting a replacement today 

Have a new one coming hope it will work better!

Moderator edit: merged reply

[CJBX1]

Please let me know how the replacement works for you.

Chris B.

[Roadrunner90]

Completely agree. Never had an issue with my Charge 2, nothing but problems with the charge 3. Now no longer doing notifications or waking when I twist my wrist and constantly going from syncing fine to saying no device found. Useless!Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

[Rcturk262]

Good luck, they sent me a replacement... had the same issues.  No longer wasting my time with it.

[41gasser]

I was so frustrated with the charge 3 I just gave up and its being returned. The 3 wont track exercise accurately. its synced then its not constant issues. It wont receive messages and now I read that not functioning properly is normal. I feel like an idiot for ever opening the box.

Agreed mine is being returned. The product clearly wasn't ready for release.

Moderator edit: merged reply

[TripleCreekRay]

Have had the Charge 3 since Christmas. It stopped working in March and had to be replaced, stopped working again the end of June, and was again replaced. I figure if it only lasts 3 months before quitting, I will get one more replacement before the warranty is done. Maybe that's why it's called Charge 3...3 months and it's done! Fitbit is great about replacing it so I have to wonder if they have had to replace so many that they expect this problem. Other than that and the very short screen time, I really like the tracker.

[ReneeLK]

My first replacement seems to be working even better than the original purchase. I consider that the warranty starts when I got this replacement! NOT from the original purchase! Each one should have the warranty... anybody know anything about that? I had a friend that had it replaced 4 times too

[41gasser]

I returned my device and will search for a diffrent product the 3 seems to have too many problems to overcome based on my and  others experience.Sent from my T-Mobile 4G LTE Device

[scpdgearhead]

I have had a Fitbit Charge 3 for about three months now and I would not recommend getting one. I have a Charge 2 that I wear at work and it takes a beating I'm a mechanic by trade And wear it all day and it has never failed me. The Charge 3 on the other hand is no where near as good as the Charge 2. The Charge 3 will not connect to my Motorola Z3 and I have to always tap the watch to display. In my opinion Fitbit has made a real loser here. It looks great but works very poorly. My suggestion is find a Charge 2 you will be much happier !