Charge 3 - actually waterproof?

[RRad18]

Just wanted to see if anybody else out there has successful swam or gotten their charge 3 wet without any issues? I’m a little wary on it actually being waterproof. 

Success stories, or fail stories, I want to hear them!

[StellaH]

Hi all, I have been reading your replies. P{leased for the people with no problem, sorry for those with problems.

So, on holiday. Watch comes off for showering, washing clothes, swimming etc. It has been treated like a Princess. Today it was working fine all day, then stopped. A black screen, no reset possible. Nothing.

Lizzy. Please help! I don't want another Fitbit Charge 3 thank you

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @StellaH, it's nice to see you around.

Thanks for taking good care of your Charge 3, and I'm sorry to hear that the screen isn't working correctly. You've done a fantastic job with the restart. May I know if you felt a vibration when holding the left button? Also, have you tried changing the clock face? If not, please give it a try, and let me suggest to perform a long restart with the following steps:

1. Plug your device back into the charging cable and hold the button down for 15 seconds.
2. The device turns on and shows a battery icon. Two vibrations occur: first a short vibration, then a medium vibration. 
3. The device turns off.
4. The device turns on and shows a progress bar and short vibrations occur. The progress bar completes. Note: A total of 7 short vibrations occur. 
5. Remove the device from the charging cable. The device shuts down.
6. Important: Plug the device into the charging cable again.

Keep me posted. 

[Kellynolan]

Oh I did all that it got progressively worse and got more more lines on it
it was definitely busted I've received my replacement now and I'm very
happy with it and I hope that it continues to work correctly

[StellaH]

Thanks Lizzy, nothing happened when plugged in or anything. Black screen and no green light at the back

Sent from my iPad

Moderator edit: removed personal information

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Kellynolan and @StellaH. I'm glad to see you again. Hope you're having a good day.

@Kellynolan, that's fantastic news! Thanks for the update and I'm sure you'll have a great experience with your replacement. I'd like to invite you to visit our Discussion Board where you can share your experiences, meet people and create new topics.

@StellaH, thanks for trying the steps from my previous post, and I'm sorry that your Charge 3 isn't responding. Since our troubleshooting steps were exhausted, I've contacted our Support Team and shared all your information so they can work with you on this situation. They'll be sending you an email with more details, keep an eye on your inbox.

I'll be around if you need anything else.

[StellaH]

Thanks Lizzy, I am currently away but once home will return the Fitbit to the retailer.

Sent from my iPad

Moderator edit: removed personal information

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @StellaH, welcome back!

You're welcome and thanks for the update. It's great to hear that you'll return it, and I truly appreciate our patience while troubleshooting your Charge 3. We'll make sure to work on our products to improve them, feel free to let me know if you need anything else.

See you around.

[Maestra44]

I had a similar experience but they did send me a new one without issue. just had to wait over a week until it arrived. 

[KStacey412]

I swim with mine and had to get a replacement under warranty recently. Don't know if it was water damage or not but it stopped working on a non-swim day.

[Mamajana]

I wore my Charge 3 during an aqua Zumba class yesterday and so far no issues. Gonna use it during my water aerobics class tomorrow 

[StellaH]

Hi all, after my third Fitbit charge 3 died, I haven't got another one
--

Moderator edit: removed personal information

[Mamajana]

---

@RRad18 wrote:

Just wanted to see if anybody else out there has successful swam or gotten their charge 3 wet without any issues? I’m a little wary on it actually being waterproof. 

Success stories, or fail stories, I want to hear them!

---

I wore my Charge 3 during an aqua Zumba class yesterday and so far no issues. Gonna use it during my water aerobics class tomorrow 

[depepsi]

I've worn my Charge 3 into 9 Aqua Zumba classes. In general, I wear it around my neck over the carotid artery (where you feel for a pulse) and it's doing well. I got a pair of extension straps from Amazon, so the Charge is on the original Fitbit strap with an extender. I did wear it on my wrist once, and it auto-entered the activity as "swim" and told me how many meters I swam. It's never done that with it on my neck, and it picks up steps fairly well. Usually it either auto-detects the activity as "walk" or does not auto-detect anything. 3 classes/week but with two different instructors is likely a factor in the varying interpretation of the auto-detect activity feature. 

[Mamajana]

Wore my Charge 3 during water aerobics four days ago and no problems. That’s two days of water activities with no problems

[ZiggyNagy]

Just spent the last three weeks at a lake house. Swam in the lake, jumped into rapids, jumped from a bridge into a river. All while wearing my Charge 3, zero problems. Tho I don't wear my Charge 3 in the shower, it seems to hold up pretty well to water activities.

[Mamajana]

I agree. Took another aqua Zumba class today, did water aerobics twice last week, so far so good!

Sent from my iPad

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Maestra44. Welcome to the Forums. @KStacey412, @Mamajana, @StellaH, @depepsi and @ZiggyNagy, I'm glad to see you here. I'm sorry for my delayed response.

@Maestra44 and @KStacey412, thanks for sharing that you received replacement devices, as well for letting me know that they've worked fine. That's great news!

@StellaH, thanks for getting back. I'm sorry that your Charge 3 didn't work correctly, and I understand how you're feeling. If you'd like to continue working with our team, let me know so I can share your information and request a case.

@Mamajana, @depepsi and @ZiggyNagy, I'm glad that your Charge 3 have worked wonderfully during your water activities. Thanks for your comments, as I'm sure they'll be very helpful for other users.

Catch you later! 

[Mamajana]

Well, as I’m sure you know the charge 3 update issues now supersede any concerns about the charge 3 and water.   I’m hoping to get a replacement for mine because right now it’s pretty useless. 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Mamajana. It's always great to see you here. I'm sorry for my delayed response.

I'm glad to hear that you'll receive a replacement, and thanks for keeping me updated. I understand how you're feeling about this, and I'm sure you'll be back to crush your steps after receiving it. I'd like to invite you to visit our Discussion Board where you can share your experiences, meet people and create new topics.

Catch you later! 

[SunsetRunner]

I purchased a Charge 3 as replacement for a Charge 2 which had a broken screen (my fault). The Charge 3 worked fine for three months and I was very happy with it. No problems with showering. I did not use it during swimming. After 3 months I had exactly the same experience as reported in this response recently after showering. Irregular spontaneous screen scrolling, followed by a lot of noise from the device leading to an empty battery in less than one hour. I managed to reset it with the charger, had it fully charged and the next day, after a shower, the same problem. This time the unit bricked completely and I was unable to revive it. I just exchanged it under warranty with the local seller (Coolblue) within a couple of days, no further questions asked.  

I believe the problem was caused by moisture given the effects occuring after showering. I do not intend to wear it anymore in wet conditions. It is a SE, by the way. Although the device should be waterproof, I now believe mine was not. Production issue or just bad luck?