Charge 4 is poorly designed

[chuffmonkey]

I am on my second Charge 4 after each one broke away from the strap. First time they offered me a discounted product this time they have replaced. There is clearly a design fault. It is worn but not abused and not used in a pool or exposed to chemicals that might affect the product materials. If the fault occurs again I will be seeking out other manufacturers' products

[macaroni-rage]

I’m so frustrated they are designed to break like this. I’m not interested in having an otherwise functional product be worthless immediately and sending it to the landfill and then paying the same company money to rip me off again. I’ve taped the Fitbit to the band with gorilla tape. It looks like crap. People ask me about it and I get to tell them about how the Fitbit is designed to break. I hope they know that their design flaw is helping me educate potential customers about what exactly is going on with their product. I’ve made a few decide to go with other trackers instead. After the electronics break I’m never buying Fitbit again. I was a loyal customer (tracked every day since 2016) but I am disgusted by the planned obsolescence of this product.  

[Ch0ngma]

 Does it look something like this? The plastic that attaches to the watch has broken off? This has happened to mine after 2 yrs... but I'm more surprised that it lasted 2 years in the first place, as all my previous Charges die in about 18 months!

[macaroni-rage]

That’s exactly the deal! Designed to break off. 

[Sortemax]

I got the same issue, except it happened to me after just 4 months... 

[Ch0ngma]

You should be able to have that replaced as it's within the warranty period. 4 months is definitely unacceptable.

[Sdnative73]

Mine also just literally fell off my device.  A device that I took painstakingly good care of for the one year I had it.  This occurred a week after my FitBit became useless from the latest firmware update.  Great timing.

[Sortemax]

I agree, so I handed it in where it was bought today. They insist on trying to repair it even though it's useless. It will be interesting to see how long it is gonna take them to come to the same conclusion and just replace it. 

[Thelastangryman]

I'm on my second Charge now and this has happened again, the plastic tabs have broken off making the watch unwearable, this is totally rubbish and I won't be giving them anymore money.

[Ch0ngma]

Seems like the Charge 5 has a metal case with a redesigned strap attachment so they may have learnt their lesson on that.

I'm on my 5th Charge in over 6 1/2 yrs, but fortunately, some of those have been replaced under warranty. Recommend keeping receipts and buying the accidental cover so that if Fitbit won't replace the watch under warranty, the shop will without any questions.

So why am i still using them? Because my life insurance policy gives annual premium discounts if you walk 10k steps per day and the only wearable devices allowed are Apple or Fitbit... and the Apple Watch battery is not much better than a Fitbit with a new software upgrade.

[BooBooFit2Fab]

My plastic piece has not broken off but it is cracked and on it's way to breaking.  Bands will not stay on and fitbit wont even light up.

[Ch0ngma]

Fitbit won’t light up? Check the Brightness setting. It may have changed to Dim. 

[chandni19]

I have the same issue. I got 2 bands replaced within a year and exactly after 2 years, the plastic connector came loose. Now, no band would stay in place 😒

There is no more claim to be filed since it is no longer in warranty. And the worst part, none of the local repair shops can fix this.

There really is no solution I can think of any more but to throw this device away.

[filipacfa]

It also happened to mine: it was replaced and the second charge 4 after 6months of regular use broke as well. When I bought the charge 4 I gave my charge 2 to my sister and it's still working perfectly and hasn't broke: it has 5 years and still going strong!

Meanwhile, I bought from amazon a bracelet that envolves the fitbit and doesn't use the plastic conections, so I can wear the Charge 4 even though it's broken....it's not as pleasing to the eye, but it works!

[Gloved]

happened to me too.  I didn't like the straps that hold the pebble as a solution.  So instead, I repaired mine.  Search, "Broken strap connector: Successfully repaired! DIY"

[Thelastangryman]

Fitbit sorted this problem by upgrading me to Charge 5 and it's so much
better, the strap feels alot stronger