False heart rate spikes on Charge 3

[SunsetRunner]

I’ve had to reboot the device twice tonight because it’ll randomly begin displaying a steadily increasing heart rate that is absolutely not accurate. This is the first time I’ve encountered this particular bug, but I have to say, this is probably the buggiest overall rollout I’ve ever seen from Fitbit, and I’ve previously owned the Charge, Charge 2 and Alta HR.

I hope this is a firmware bug and not a hardware issue.

Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity. 

[SunsetRunner]

Now it’s doing a thing where it’ll briefly show a sudden, completely false heart rate spike, then abruptly go back to showing my accurate heart rate. Is it time to return this thing to Amazon? It’s been mostly fine until now.

[SunsetRunner]

I went ahead and had Amazon send me a replacement just to be on the safe side.

[Schipper]

I've been trying to get to know my new Charge 3. I too had a huge spike in my heart rate tracking today. When I saw it it almost caused my heart rate to rise in horror. Also. Heart rate tracking has just stopped recording heart beat rate. I should I give this Charge 3 another day to get its act together?

[SunsetRunner]

Initially, I had the same problem. However, after ensuring that it was positioned correctly, all major spikes stopped and, having checked the smaller spikes, it appears to level out after a minute. 

[SunsetRunner]

So I’m lying here in bed and my Charge 3 (my second Charge 3, since I returned the previous one because of this issue) has been registering a heart rate in the 120s for three hours now. I’ve allegedly burned 700 calories just lying here. (My Apple Watch correctly displays a heart rate in the upper 50s/low 60s).

These spikes happen from time to time (clearly it’s a software isssue), seemingly only at night, but never continuously for this long. I’ve already rebooted the device, it’s running the latest firmware, this is not good.

[SunsetRunner]

A short while after posting the aforesaid, my HR readings began to normalize. This is beginning to resemble Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle.

[thunderwagn]

Just my opinion, but if the charge 3 is showing these issues, get a refund and be done with it. The same issues have cursed the Ionic and it's never been addressed. I stand by my previous statements in other threads that the charge 2 is still fitbits best device as far as having and being a reliable health/activity tracker. 

[SunsetRunner]

Mine indicated a 20 to 30 beat UNDER maxHR, when in fact my HR was 150-155. I know, because I used a Polar FT2 with strap to verify on many runs. That's downright dangerous. In any event, I returned the Charge 3 to FitBit and obtained a Garmin Forerunner 3. It's not as trendy looking at a Fitbit, but I'd rather live than die trying to prove how much Fitbit cares about its customers.

[SunsetRunner]

The thing is, overall I’ve found the Charge 3 sensor to be more accurate than both the Charge 2 or Alta HR. I just find these occasional nocturnal spikes mystifying. There’s no rhyme or reason to them, besides the fact that they only seem to happen late at night.

[SunsetRunner]

Now it’s started doing this thing where the HR reading on the display will just freeze for thirty to ninety seconds, just a static solid heart and whatever the last HR was but not actually taking any readings. Again, this is only happening late at night.

With my Alta HR, I could just put it on and forget about it. With the Charge 3, I’m constantly checking to make sure it’s behaving normally. What is up with this firmware?

[Daisy12345]

I know this is an old thread now but the same thing keeps happening with my Fitbit charge 3. I’ll be stood brushing my teeth in a morning and my heart rate will shoot up to 126bmp but when I’m fast walking it’ll be 114bmp. Mine also freezes and just shows the heart rate symbol and the latest reading and is sort of “greyed out”. Good to hear that others have experienced this though because I was beginning to think I had an irregular heart rate.

[Jsapp1211]

I know this is kinda old now but i have been having the same problem. I will laying down on the couch and my heart rate will be in the high to low 70s which is normal then i will sit up slightly or move and my heart rate will spike into the 120s. Then it will keep climbing for a second then just got right back to to my normal resting heart rate. If i walking throughout the day my heart rate will be 115 120 while walking or at work. Sometimes while im up at work it will say my HR is in the low 70s which i know is not correct cause i work on a assembly line and am constantly moving 

[Abbott14]

My charge2 does the same. I did have a thought,can these spikes be due to a slight /minor heart arrhythmia? Everyone or at least most people do experience the extra beat thing even if you dont feel it. Totally harmless and if the charge2 or whatever device detected it,it would register as an increase in your BPM fit that instant. Just a thought.

[MJdunn]

I have Charge 3 that is creating great concern. I begin on treadmill with 70’s, after it jumps by 20-30 beats per minute until it hits 178. The treadmill is reading 86. I step off the treadmill for several minutes and it drops to 110. So I start over and 5 minutes later it does it again. I don’t have any faith in the accuracy of Fitbit. What is the fix?

[Abbott14]

So sorry to hear that things aren't working out for you. I'm still thinking
that the device may register PVCs which would look like spikes. According
to a cardiologist that I know we all have them sometimes many hundred in a
day. Mist of the time they are harmless. This happens in my Charge 2 and my
Samsung watch.

[EileenMcG]

OMG this happened to me this morning saying my hr was 123 when brushing teeth made me believe was there something wrong throws your off in a panic!!!

[Abbott14]

Only crickets when you ask FitBit.I do have a suspicion that it could
register our extra beats as a sped up heart rate.My cardiologist friend
tells me everybody has extra beats even himself and they are generally
nothing to be concerned about.

[Brendiea]

mine was doing this too... then I started feeling dizzy around the time it would happen. (After a brief dizzy feeling

 I would look at my Fitbit and see a spike of 170-185). Long story but went to cardiologist and now on heart meds.  
Same Fitbit... never shows a spike of over 140 now.

[kithurston]

I’ve never seen this before. It just started on my device. Really aggravating. Did you return your device? I”m assuming it’s tied to the Fitbit itself rather than being a software issue.