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10-07-2018
13:41
- last edited on
11-17-2020
15:47
by
MatthewFitbit
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10-07-2018
13:41
- last edited on
11-17-2020
15:47
by
MatthewFitbit
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Hi, so I bought my first ever Fitbit (Charge 3) as a way to help me measure and monitor my level of activity (mainly at the gym). I need to keep my heart rate at a constant rate for fat burning.
Wore it today for the first time at the gym and it just sat at no more than 80bpm. I checked using the gym monitor and I was up at 140bpm. How can something called a Fitbit that is supposed to be about monitoring levels of activity be so inaccurate?
PS: after about 30-40 minutes of session it suddenly shot up to 150bpm.
I’m hoping this was a one off and net time it is more accurate otherwise I think I’ll have to be emailing Fitbit directly.
Is this a common issue and if so has anyone found a way to increase accuracy?
thanks
Answered! Go to the Best Answer.
02-13-2020 07:23
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02-13-2020 07:23
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02-13-2020 07:24
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02-13-2020 07:24
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I am not comparing it to other devices but to my actual heart rate. I am wearing it in the correct spot. I had Charge 2 for years and NEVER had this problem.

02-13-2020 07:26 - edited 02-13-2020 07:27
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SunsetRunner
02-13-2020 07:26 - edited 02-13-2020 07:27
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No, I understand that. That was their reply to me comparing it to my chest strap. Which is not a medical device.
its made by Polar. Used to measure heart rate during exercise. Used by athletes for all types of exercises.
Also, all of the "wellness" that they monitor is based off heart rate. So if the heart rate is inaccurate, well their wellness algorithm is inaccurate.

02-13-2020 07:34 - last edited on 02-20-2020 15:40 by LiliyaFitbit
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02-13-2020 07:34 - last edited on 02-20-2020 15:40 by LiliyaFitbit
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Hey people, this discussion has been going on for more than a year. The Charge 3 does NOT work as a heart rate monitor. Period. Full stop. Move on.
Moderator edit: personal info removed
02-13-2020 07:37
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SunsetRunner
02-13-2020 07:37
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Thanks for your wonderful insight. It is truly appreciated.
I haven't even had my charge 3 for a year. So perhaps I wasn't there for
the beginning of it.
If it does not measure heart rate accurately. Literally every function of the device is flawed except telling time and steps.
You knew that though right?

02-16-2020 19:39
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02-16-2020 19:39
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Sent from my iPhone
02-16-2020 23:08
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02-16-2020 23:08
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The thread continues because new people keep discovering this and we're seriously disappointed since this was one of the primary reasons many of us bought it. If we'd been warned about this, we would have made a different choice. We were misled and we're seriously distressed that Fitbit has not seen fit to correct this. Contacting them has only gotten lame responses that we're not wearing them right, which is nonsense. There's no apology and no effort to solve the problem.
02-22-2020 09:51
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02-22-2020 09:51
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My charge 3 seems to drop off after I start sweating no matter how high on the wrist of how loose or tight I have it. Pretty worthless other than counting steps.
03-17-2020 14:26
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03-17-2020 14:26
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Has my charge 3 about 6 weeks. Initially it was perfect for heart rate during vigorous excersise but recently it's just getting stuck waaay to low, showing around 100bpm when I'm at 150, sometimes as low as 80. I've loosened it, tightened it, slid it up down, even spun it to the opposite side of my wrist but nothing fixes it.
Looks like it is going back.
03-18-2020 16:26
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03-18-2020 16:26
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Sent from my iPhone
05-19-2020 04:39
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05-19-2020 04:39
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I've given up on it being an accurate heart monitor during exercise. I bought a heart monitor chest strap device for that and given the charge 3 doesn't even send notifications, it is effectively now a glorified step counter and watch.
Waste of money
06-11-2020 19:35
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06-11-2020 19:35
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I always run outside and I've had the same problems getting an accurate reading. Tried all of the "recommended" techniques. Maybe my wrists are too slim or I flex them too much. I also noticed that the reading was close when running in the shade, but way off when running in sunlight (as if I could have 185 BPM peaks when I'm not pushing very hard). Finally have a solution that works for me. Make the band as long as possible and push the device as far up my lower arm as possible, ends up being a hand width up instead of two fingers. Then I cover it with a sweat band to keep the sunlight out. Haven't had a problem since. Does look kind of weird when I

03-30-2022 11:36
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03-30-2022 11:36
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I've seen this exact same issue with the Fitbit Alta years ago. And more recently with my new Charge 5.
Neither is able to discern a HR above 160, they would always read high heart rates as 130. When using the Alta, I was predominantly into cardio, so it was completely useless. I threw it away because it wasn't worth the $9 to replace a broken wristband.
After 4 years of avoiding their products, I bought a Charge 5, and it seems they never fixed the issue.


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