Is it even worth buying a new Fitbit product?

[kaynebr1]

I have an ancient Charge 2 I have been using since 2017 or 2018. The face is cracked but hey it still works. I am considering buying a newer model since my Fitbit is so old.

However it seems like there are a ton of negative reviews/ warnings about the Fitbit charge 5 and potentially 6. I saw Google bought the company and the price for a charge 6 is high

Is it even worth buying a new Fitbit?

[Odyssey13]

Hi @kaynebr1 Google completed purchasing Fitbit January 2021 and have slowly transitioned things. If you don't need all the extras, why not consider the Inspire 3, which is still a great little device. It does more than I need and is reliable. As for answering your question - it's no different than asking people their opinion of the latest movie. Some will sing the praises and some will bash it to pieces. Sure, read the reviews, but then form your own opinion. Return policy from most retailers is at least two weeks, so you'd have time to see if you like any device you purchase - just be sure to use it and see if it's really something you like.

[DeasRunner]

I have a charge HR that works fine except for the dim display that just came suddenly.  It is now useless. This product could have last longer but this would only serve the customers. I will not purchase another Fitbit product.

[LZeeW]

@kaynebr1   You mentioned the price of the Charge 5/6.  Both models have hardware that you might not want or need.  I agree with @Odyssey13.  The Inspire 3 is a good option as a Charge 2 replacement (except it doesn't have an altimeter and can't count floors). 

Hi @DeasRunner.  I'm not a Fitbit employee, just a fellow user.  LED display screens can fail over time.  Your display lasted a long time -- many other newer Charge series monochrome screens have failed or are getting dim.  The Charge HR was released in 2015, meaning its battery is over nine years old.  Rechargeable batteries, like those in a Fitbit, have an average lifespan of around 3-6 years.  You obviously treated your Charge HR with TLC for it to last this long.  You got far more than the expected lifespan of any brand monochrome screen fitness tracker.

[DeasRunner]

A few minutes ago I found a YouTube video that explains how to open the charge HR without breaking it so, since I use to be an electrical engineer, I could not resist. Anyway, the watch was useless so nothing to lose. I went ahead and followed the procedure and ''voilà'' opened the watch. The battery voltage at around 4,1 volts seems ok...no schematics available, but I guess it's a 4,2 volts fully charge. I guess it's a 4,2 volts fully charge. The display looks so bright now that's it's not in the casing.  I ended up removing the window casing and now I can see the display outside without a problem. Hence, since the watch is no longer sealed this is not a long time solution but just a temporary one while I shop around.

[LZeeW]

@DeasRunner   Funny thing, my son is an electrical engineer and that’s exactly what he would have done.  😉