Lifespan of Fitbit Charge 2 or Fitbit Charge HR?

[BarbaraH.]

What do you consider the lifespan of a Fitbit Charge HR or Fitbit Charge 2?  I purchased a Fitbit Charge HR and it lasted 1-1/2 years.  I think they should hold up better than that.  Is this something that you have to plan of buying a new one yearly?  I also think the Customer Service has the attitude that it is just too bad...so sad.  That is very poor.  They cost too much to fall apart that fast.  A cheap Timex watch lasts for years and years. 

[castaways]

Thanks for your info.  Appreciated.   Sent via the Samsung Galaxy Note5, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone

[Rich_Laue]

A lithium battery is best to not charge above 80% or let drop below 30%

[janetrivera20]

That is a very good question.  Even through the customer service at FITBIT is excellent I think is time I move on to another fit tracker.  I will admit I am very active , but not sure if that should have any impact on how long the Fitbit last.  Honestly I have gone on three fitbit charger 2 in that last four to five years. Granted i have had warranty coverage and had to pay only the deductible for the replacement.  Right now I am waiting for a replacement because my current fitbit does not hold the charge. I hate being without my fitbit tracker for even a day.  Once this warranty & fitbit die, its time to move on.  I think we spend to much on these device for them not to last longer. 

[oyvaris]

I totally agree.  I've turned off the notifications and many of the bluetooth features to preserve battery life.  Mine is two years old and starting to track un reliably and holds a charge for only one day.  I'm hoping it will make it til Christmas so I can find a watch that will last!

Battery replacement for Charge HR 2, is complicated and most of us don't want to take that on. You can have it replaced professionally for $55.00 which is half the price of a new watch. The foreign Charge 2's are not warrantied. So that leaves Fitbit with an existential crisis! Please create a watch with easily replaceable, cheap batteries. Go back to the Charge HR 2 - the 3 has fewer features and no improvements....it went backwards.  We are not stupid.  Fitbit owners will move on, once we find another watch that is either just as good as the HR2 (including the app), or we'll find one that is very good and way cheaper.

Moderator edit: merged reply

[mysterytheater3]

My Charge 2 screen just cracked from the top to bottom and it lasted just short of 1 1/2 years.  I did not hit it or scratch it.  Google this issue or check the forum and you will find that spontaneous cracking of the screen from top to bottom is a common issue just after the 1 year warranty expires.  May other electronics have only 1 year warranty, but last well beyond the year.  That is your customer's expectation.  Definitely overpriced for only lasting 1 1/2 years. I don't plan to buy another fitbit.  Plenty of other options out there.

[janetrivera20]

I agree time to look else where for a fitness tracker.  Looking into garmin Viviot 

[mterz · Accepted solution]

It’s called Planned Obsolescence.

My Charge 2, just recently, will no longer sync with my iPhone. Nothing wrong with the watch workmanship. I went through restarting, turning Bluetooth on & off, deleting Fitbit app & reinstalling, then finally walking through with Fitbit help chat. Excellent customer experience, by the way. They finally offered 25% off next purchase due to expired warranty.

As I read these posts coupled with my experience, I realize that Fitbit does not make quality watches to last for years because they just want to continually make money on repurchases. 

[mterz]

They’re not made to last...hence, Planned Obsolescence.

[oyvaris]

Not only that, looks like Fitbit is trying to capitalize on their popularity by offering the same watch, with more problems and fewer features, than their previous watches. Just plain stupid. We will find the next best thing.  Anybody know of another manufacturer selling a watch just as good as the Charge HR 2?

[janetrivera20]

I am looking at the Garmin Vivosport. Look really nice.  

[Rich_Laue]

I don't know about the lifespan but many still are using their Fitbit Ones, Zips, Charge, Charge HR, etc without issue. Of course when it comes to a support site few of these people will be posting here. 

However the king of planned destruction is the AW which causes apple to get upset if it makes it through its third year. 

[oyvaris]

No doubt. We’re just saying that we need tech that lasts or can be easily fixed. I love my Fitbit. I’m not happy that I’m going to have to get a new one in a few months. I don’t trust the Charge 3 as all reviews say it is inferior to the two. Advice to Fitbit: Just make the Charge HR 2 again and offer it with a nice metal band.

Sent from my iPhone

[Rich_Laue]

@oyvaris like reviews from Rizknows  who say that it is the best tracker. 

Or super review

[Fittergirl]

I would never get another one. 1 year and then it dies. no way, Too much money for that. I will look elsewhere in future.

[Rich_Laue]

I still ocaisionly see people wearing there Charge and Charge HR. This is nice to see considering they are at least 3 years old by now.

[Milar1959]

My Charge 2 is dying now, after 1.5 years... not holding a charge for longer than 8 hours and less. A one year warranty, as with all electronic devices, is aimed at flawed parts, assembly, etc. It never implies that the product will last only one year. I love my Fitbit, but I would not be willing to spend that kind of money each year. I just saw a competing product for $29 with almost all the bells and whistles. I would be willing for that each year. 

[HondaFan69]

My wife’s Charge HR is still working perfectly at 4 yrs old. Mine lasted 2 years before the plastic by the charging port broke. 

My charge 2 is still working fine but my wife’s died yesterday both  are 19 months old. Purchased 11/27/17

[nubinstud]

My 3rd fitbit and have the insurance to replace.  they are lasting only a year, with no problems to indicate something is wrong. Charge stays at 5%, have been charging it for a week now, cleaned the sensors and everything. Never mover past screen with fitbit.com/setup.  looking for something else

[Rich_Laue]

Seeing that you have the setup screen, it is telling you to setup the tracker to your Fitbit account. 

[Jameskalvin]

They why fitbit is not providing paid service after 1 year warrenty ?