Fitbit charge 4 not built to last

[ShanMost]

I have been a fitbit user since 2015 and always favoured the Charge range as its sleek design is comfy and easy to use, i have had almost every model from the Charge HR to charge 2 which lasted me  over a year, then I decided to upgrade to the charge 4 for the gps function built in as i was increasing my walking and running activities. I was very happy with the unit and although the band it cane with started tearing after awhile, i enjoyed having a variety of bands to change out, after 14 months on general every day wear the clip for the strap came loose and ever since the band wont secure in place making the watch unwearable, the plastic design of the watch was a bad choice and hoping that is improved on the charge 5. Hopefully the developers will learn that using cheaper materials is not a good idea. #stillafitbitfan #chargetracker

[Crazygamer53]

Amazon has bands that the pebble sits in that make your Fitbit wearable again. The aren’t fashionable but they work. From comments on the Charge 5 I don’t think the band attachment has changed, but I won’t be buying it because it doesn’t count floors.

[paracelsus51]

Yes, I replaced my band with a metal one from Amazon. The plastic ones irritate my skin. The Charge 5 band does attach slightly differently. It sort of inserts instead of clamps over the plastic holder, like the one that breaks on the Charge 4. So be careful if you do change the band on your Charge 4, be really gentle. Mine broke just before my Charge 4 died, so now I have a Charge 5. It came with the plastic bands too, but I replaced the band right away with the same style band I had for my Charge 4. Do read the reviews though. Some bands don't work or fit well for the device they say they will.

[EricMerida]

I like the idea of an aftermarket band that just holds the working part of the Charge 4.

To be clear, though… since my plastic band connector literally snapped off of the body, and I cannot use the device at ALL, does this band hold the watch body WITHOUT those flimsy OG watchband connectors?

Thanks!

[Crazygamer53]

Yes, the part snapped off my Charge 3 and it fits fine.  The best part about Amazon is you have 30 days to return

[paracelsus51]

You will need to search for a band that covers or goes around the device. I've not used one for a Charge, but with as many people who have the same problem, there should be a few to choose from. I've linked to a sample below.

https://www.amazon.com/GOSETH-Compatible-Breathable-Shatter-Resistant-Protective/dp/B07HN4M9LJ/ref=a... 

[ShanMost]

Just curious why do you need floors counted? Doesn't really bother me not having floors. 

[Crazygamer53]

Because I need a cane or walker to get around and stairs are a big challenge for me.  When I walk I always walk up inclines which log as floors and I try to do my stairs a few times a day as well.  I try each week to increase my floor count as a weekly goal. When I started with Fitbit with the Zip I was walking less than 1000 steps a day, now I can do 6000, for me that’s amazing. The Charge 2,3 & 4 all had altimeters, I was planning to upgraded to a 5 until I found out that there was no altimeter., I don’t use my Fitbit for all the bells and whistles, I use it to monitor sleep, heart rate, steps & floors and to encourage me to keep going. Everyone has different goals, uses and preferences. 

[ShanMost]

Thats great, glad you able to use it to achieve your  goals and well done for staying so active despite limitations. 💪🏻

[Crazygamer53]

Thank you! Every day that I can walk( pain or no pain) is a blessed day for me. I am on my second Charge 4 ( bought for less than $20 on an auction site), keeping my fingers crossed that one of the many defects that the Charge 4 has doesn’t pop up any time soon.  Whether you decide on a band that the Charge 4  pebble fits into or another device  I wish you the best. Stay well!🙂

[ShanMost]

Thanks I managed to get a good deal on Charge 5 so will see how it goes, I’m ordering a strap to hold the pebble and can hopefully sell it as its still in good condition otherwise. Keep up the walks and all the best 😊

[co840]

You have experienced a problem dozens of Charge 4 wearers know too well. There is a significant design flaw on the pebble which fitbit knows of and has known about since early in its sales life. Most seem to develop the problem of the strap not staying on shortly after the warranty  ends with nothing of real value being offered. I thought I found an acceptable solution with an aftermarket strap which didn't put as much stress on the pebble. As of today I realized the anchor on the pebble was loose. The screws did not tighten it up, and the band popped off with little to no pressure. I glued the anchor back onto the pebble and ordered a different tracker. Hopefully this will last until the new one arrives.

[co840]

When I use my charge 4 on a treadmill, its count of the floors is nowhere close to what the treadmill states. I may show 50 on the treadmill and the watch shows 10.

[EricMerida]

Paracelsus51:  Wow! This solution needs to be pinned to the top of this thread. It’s really the only viable, pragmatic solution, for most of us, and it’s SIMPLE and INEXPENSIVE. 

Hey peeps: Go look on Amazon and buy a cheap aftermarket band that just holds the device. Genius. I bought one for like seven bucks… good as new.

My Charge 4 is four months out of warranty, and I also got the 35% “offer” to spend over a hundred bucks… on a new device that has the exact same design flaws. I’m sorry, but that just seems disingenuous, and I had hoped for better from a company that is monetizing all of our 24/7/365 health data for who knows what end. (Money, most likely.)

Rant over. I’m happy with my new seven dollar solution.  🙂

[Dstar97]

This is actually a well known issue to Fitbit. They will replace it! I’ll post a link. 

[Dstar97]

Here’s a link to one of the articles I’d read about it. It contains links and info. 

[paracelsus51]

Your link is missing. Also, many people are beyond the warranty end and Fitbit will not do anything but offer some sort of discount off a new Fitibit.

[EricMerida]

They will not replace anything if it’s out of warranty, but they will give you a coupon code to buy another one which will have the exact same design flaw.

[Aquamom57]

I had the same issue, and discovered yesterday that apparently the loose clip/attachment for the watch band causes the watch to no longer be waterproof. Definitely a design flaw that a part that becomes loose under everyday usage is integral to the integrity of the waterproof design.