Charge 3 readability in sunlight

[Walkamileiysho]

Is there a way to adjust my Fitbit in the sunlight? I have to wear my Apple watch to see any screen. Can you help???

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[Leighbird]

I have reviewed this issue on a number of your threads and it seems that Fitbit is not getting the message.  The community tells me that I am not alone in my issues with reading my fitbit Charge 3 outside. I too am ready to toss it. I have adjusted settings to normal which seems to be the brightest but it is not enough to overcome outdoor light.  To keep repeating the same instruction seems unconstructive. Please put a watch on and test it for yourself.  I was recently given a Samsung smart watch which is fully legible in all light. It does not seem like difficult technology.

[MeagBird]

I used to be able to read my charge 3 fine during the day. I used to use it all the time and it was great because the screen would just automatically light up when I raised my arm. But this last year out of the blue I stopped being able to read it during the day, even overcast days!! And each and every update just gets worse. I think they're trying to get the battery life longer so it looks better on paper. So more people buy it based on that bit of info. But really it makes it completely unusable and the last update may have been the reason my screen stopped working completely. Now oddly enough I can see it outside in the daylight, because the screen is broken and crazy bright (although half the screen is missing so I can only see the top half of the screen where the time is). They weren't helpful at all about any issue I had despite the fact that the troubleshooting made the problem worse. Basically they don't care about the people who already bought the fitbit they just want to sell more and make the stats good on paper. Until readability becomes a standard measure used to compare devices I doubt they'll change it. The crazy thing is the solution is just to have a bright setting and use the dim or normal setting for the battery life estimate. But the just don't seem to care.

[SunsetRunner]

I thought it was just me getting older. 2 years ago I could struggle to read my Fitbit on a not such a sunny day, but now I can't even use it if I stand in a shady spot. It's useless as a watch.

[eHertwig]

After many many years as a loyal Fitbit user, and upgrading every 2 years, I was fed up with this screen issue and poor reliability across models. Customer service said I needed a new watch. So I finally gave up and invested in an apple watch and I’m so much happier. So many more features and I can read the screen! Sorry Fitbit, but you lost another customer. 

[Leighbird]

Agreed!

Sent from the all new AOL app for Android

[HighTechnology]

Like many here, we have screen issues with a Charge 3, where the screen has gotten so dim, it's barely readable inside our house (nevermind outside in daylight).  Fitbit offered a 35% off coupon, since it was >12 months old (about 18 months), but otherwise told us (paraphrasing) "too bad, out of warranty, not our problem". 

I VERY RELUCTANTLY agreed to buy my wife a Charge 4 for $85 after the coupon because she is not ready to move to an Apple Watch, but we both agreed this experience left us with a very dim (pun intended) view of Fitbit and this is the last Fitbit we'll be buying (we have 2 daughters with Charge 2s that when they die, we're getting them Apple Watches, and my Charge 2 from a few years ago died after 15 months and I bought myself something else and just tossed it in the e-recycling pile).

So Fitbit can have this one last purchase from us, but there won't be another due to the poor product quality and shameful customer service.

[Leighbird]

It is a shame that Fitbit is not listening to their customers. It sounds like a lot of us will be going to other technologies as soon as our watches wear out or before. I would rather have a watch that I can read outdoors for 3 to 5 days between charges then one that is useless but maintains a charge for seven days. The leaderboard was good motivation but I am guessing that Samsung has a similar community aspect. My Samsung smart watch is very easy to read in all conditions.

[SunsetRunner]

Fitbit already replaced my watch at 11 months old due to vibration stopping working so this replacement is just over a year old. Seeing such technology as disposable isn't in keeping for what we need to do for the planet. I've reverted to using a normal watch. 

[GB2020]

I broke down and decided to get a new watch. I researched and considered the fact that I didn't want to give Fitbit anymore of my $$ because of their crappy design - that they keep using! I bought an apple watch. After about 3 weeks use, I decided to take it back (purchased from Costco) because it is great for technology reasons but I DID NOT LIKE their fitness display/app. I really like the Fitbit premium subscription. I bought an app that will convert the apple data to the fitbit app but it wasn't detailed (sleeping stats, etc.)

I purchased a Fitbit Sense from Costco. I feel more comfortable in it - not so techie with all the apps. But........ I am already having problems with it syncing and staying connected to my bluetooth!!! I am so FRUSTRUATED right now. I haven't been able to sync in 3 - 4 days and have spent at least 30 minutes - 1 hour trouble shooting off and on.... ARGGGGG ...... FITBIT.... Get your #$%^ together! Do one thing and do it well...

[EstherP210]

I thought I cannot read my Versa 2 outside due to abe, too. And that may have something to do with it as my young co-worker can read my watch easily. I cannot even read it if I cup my hand all around the watch & peek in at the thumb/index area. But I can read it easily anywhere else. But outdoors? Any day lately? Nope. Not on your life. I am sure I could read it in the fall, but now? Late spring? I have nothing. Perhaps it has to do with the angle or strength of the sun. Contrast is what it doesn’t have. Young eyes (20-something) seem to be able to read my watch easily. I cannot read it even in shade. 

[EstherP210]

Brilliant, as long as no gorilla glue gets in your hair. Sadly, I have to wear arm guards at work, and this fix will not fit under the arm guards.

[EstherP210]

I just discovered that I CAN read the screen if I have a watch face with WHITE numbers. I canNOT read my screen in daylight to save my life if I have a screen with green numbers. This is a sanity-saving EUREKA!

[EstherP210]

Switch your watch face to one with white numbers and see if that helps.

[GB2020]

I cannot read it in daylight. I have to move to the shade and can barely see it. 😞 

[Ladybugdd77]

Ditto. Tried Normal and Auto Brightness along with different clock faces and it doesn’t help!! Please help us FitBit!!!

(Charge 3)

[BeanieSteps]

Hi there, I have a Fitbit Charge 3,  I wonder if there's been any development on this issue with screen brightness? My screen is really dim, even more so in daylight. It was ok when I first purchased it, but I noticed a change a few months ago (and not just because we are heading towards summer). My Fitbit is now of no use outdoors as a watch and I can't see to change any settings unless I am indoors, so not great for fitness tracking either.

[Ladyh25]

They aren’t interested in replacing the charge 3 Fitbit for anybody. They know we all have the problem but they’ll only offer to give you a discount off another one of their products.

Shame on you Fitbit surely you can see from the numbers of unhappy owners on this Forum that you should take ownership of the problem 

[Leighbird]

I have the screen with the biggest white numerals and still can't see it in sunlight. I'm not sure I see any with green numbers.

[Leighbird]

Please explain the steps you took.

[Leighbird]

Please review this thread. You will find you have many disgruntled customers who are or will be turning to other technologies.