Experience with the Fitbit Charge 3

[jdyorkster]

Based on the various topics on this forum, it seems like everyone is having problems with the Charge3. I understand it's a new tracker and that there will be minor glitches, but I have total confidence that Fitbit will work them out. I've had virtually no issues with mine since I bought it three weeks ago <knock on wood>.  Syncs perfectly, tracks my steps, tracks my sleep, tracks my exercise, etc., etc.  Sure I wish the font was a little bigger, but that's more my problem due to my age. A decent pair of reading glasses takes care of that for me. I sure would like to see more positive posts on this forum.

Moderator edit: Updated title for clarity

[seantnash]

I'm the same as you @jdyorkster - I've had no real problems with my Charge 3 either. The most major issue I've come across is the erroneous floor tracking but, as I don't rely on that data, it's no drama for me.

Like you say there are some niggles and bugs but nothing that's made me want to give up on the Charge 3.

What's most interesting is my friend has an Alta HR and a Flex 2. Due to her phone being so old she is forever having problems with syncing both of these Fitbits. It's not the Fitbit devices that are the issue but the mobiles.

What's more frustrating for me is, when I report the bugs directly to Fitbit Support, I have to go through being told "reset your Charge 3" for every bug report I try to make.

[Jan89]

same here 🙂

I am owning the charge 3 for 2 weeks now and I am happy so far as the tracker is in fact an improvement to the charge 2. No issues whatsoever.

I am excited to see what the currently rolling out firmware update will bring and am positively excited about future updates altogether.

[jdyorkster]

I agree. I'm willing to bet that the syncing problems that people are experiencing have more to do with the mobile device being used than the actual Charge 3.

[JillyJane]

The only issue I have had thus far was having to restart it because it would not clear a text notification. I was not sure how to do this initially, but found a pinned topic with clear instructions. Other than that, it has been a nice upgrade from my previous Charge HR Fitbit. 

[SunsetRunner]

Is your new one more accurate then in terms of flights of stairs and fake steps? My stairs seems much improved with the initial update although still waitin for the newest one 😊

[seantnash]

I'm going to be testing out the rogue steps / floor issue tonight funnily enough @SunsetRunner. Pre-Firmware 1.44.33 I would gain about 40 floors at an indoors Zumba class!

@JillyJane- notifications clear automatically in firmware 1.44.33 - once you've looked at them on your phone they vanish completely off your Charge 3. A massive improvement and bug fix I would say.

[KPJGPM]

Thank you for starting this thread!  I agree, I am really liking my Charge 3.  This is my 4th FitBit device and each one has gotten better.  I even had an Apple Watch and I'm liking this better.  I've always been an early adopter but I've actually had no problems with this device.  A few extra steps and a few extra floors is better than it not recording a floor.  I wish all the whiners would just quit complaining.  I can't wait to get the newest firmware update!

[Machabit]

I purchased and have used mine since Friday. So 3 days after having previously had a Charge 2 for over a year. I've not had any problems with it syncing, tracking steps, etc. My complaints have been about the interface on the device. While some things are a very nice improvement over the Charge 2, other things - I feel - are a step backward. As a positive, I do feel the Charge 3 is far more comfortable on my wrist than the Charge 2 was.

[YossiStarz]

I love my Charge 3.
It's great. So great, that I have bought another one as a gift (cause me and my wife enjoy the challenges so much).

For the most of it, I don't have a lot of issues, and I can clearly see that the fitbit guys are working hard to improve this product as fast as possible. I really love the smart part of the band. I do have some great ideas for how to even make it better based on what is already present here (I did posted a suggestion 🙂 -> Please Vote here ).

Also, the interface is great. I used to have a polar device (which I really love), but the weight of this device, the fact that it is ready to use without any special accessories, and the App makes the Fitbit charge 3 a better product overall (for my, although for some of the exercises I still might use the H10 and my fitbit together).

And to add to this all, the price compare to the things we get from the device is really good.

Guys, keep it up. I think this product can easily be the best value product 🙂

[Rich_Laue]

There are many people that love there fitbits. 

This is a community hardware board to help those with problems, people that are not having problems seem to not have a need to post here.

I suggest hanging out in the lifestyle boards if your looking for non-member complainers

[jdyorkster]

This is my 3rd Fitbit and I agree that each has gotten better.  I started with the Charge HR back in 2015 right after back surgery and beat it into the ground. Then I picked up the Charge 2 and now the Charge 3.  I'm happy to say the Charge 2 was passed on to another family member and is still working like a champ. I'm really looking forward to when the SpO2 becomes functional on the Charge 3.    

[jdyorkster]

While I agree with your assessment of this community board, my concern is that someone that is shopping around for a Fitbit will naturally gravitate to this forum to see what others have experienced with the Charge 3.  With so many negative posts, I can only assume that the potential buyer would decide to buy a different product.  I just think it would be nice to have a few positive posts showing there are actually numerous individuals having positive experiences with the Charge 3.

[josef92]

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@jdyorkster wrote:

I agree. I'm willing to bet that the syncing problems that people are experiencing have more to do with the mobile device being used than the actual Charge 3.

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I think app support for Fitbit is not as great as it could be. Technical glitches are far too common with the app, which is rather infuriating since the watch relies so heavily on it.

[descendingangel]

I absolutely love mine and can't wait for the firmware update that is coming soon! 

[CLTGreg]

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@jdyorkster wrote:

While I agree with your assessment of this community board, my concern is that someone that is shopping around for a Fitbit will naturally gravitate to this forum to see what others have experienced with the Charge 3.  With so many negative posts, I can only assume that the potential buyer would decide to buy a different product.  I just think it would be nice to have a few positive posts showing there are actually numerous individuals having positive experiences with the Charge 3.

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I think people are going to get their first impressions at Amazon and places like Best Buy. But even with the huge number of bad reviews the tracker is still the number one selling fitness tracker at least as Amazon reports it. If they end up here they will be more influenced by us beating each other up because it shows the visitor that that could happen to them if someone doesn't like the way a post smells.

[WendyB]

No problems for me I love the Charge 3 its my favorite wrist model

[SunsetRunner]

I like my Charge 3, @jdyorkster. It’s small, lightweight, has been counting my steps and tracking my sleep just fine. I use the alarms and timers on a daily basis. No problem. Like you, I would like to see different clock faces, especially ones where the steps, date, etc are the same brightness as the time. But I’ve heard from Fitbit that they are working on it. 

On a side point, I did not wear it to sleep the night of the time change. Put it back on on the morning. The time was correct and my alarms were still set correctly. 

[Machabit]

Well, I think honest reviews are best. The bad AND the good if the consumer
feels there is either or both. In all honesty, I trusted that the Charge 3
would be an improvement over my Charge 2. Now that I've had the Charge 3 on
my wrist for several days, I'm thinking I probably should have stuck with
my Charge 2 a little longer until more reviews were out. I may have gone in
a different direction based on what I know now and what I've experienced.

[Hoppy59]

I was thinking of doing this myself. I really like my Charge 3 and touch wood have had no problems that I know of in the 4 weeks I have had it. 3 firmware updates and 3 new faces in that time prove to me that Fitbit are working hard to address the issues users are having.

I was a very active poster when Charge 2 and HR were first brought out, but I got fed up of answering the same questions over and over again because people do not search for posts. I'm sure if you actually count all the separate faults there are not that many different ones it just looks bad because of all the repeats rant over MINES GREAT LOVE IT well done Fitbit 😀