Why would I buy a 4 when the 3 had so many problems?

[phatlad]

Just wondering why I would buy a 4 when the 3 had multitudes of unaddressed problems. Since those are still unaddressed, am I to assume the 4 will have the same problems?

[Heather-S]

@phatlad I've never had an issue with my Charge 3 and it's well over a year old now.  Not everyone has issues.  I'm a "glass half full" person, so I'm going to be optimistic and excited for the Charge 4. 

Also, I saw your comment on Reddit.  Curious as to why you're hanging out on a Fitbit forum and on a Fitbit Reddit when you don't seem to like or appreciate Fitbit products?

[Rich_Laue]

What type of problems are you referring to @phatlad I havent had any problems with the Charge 3, or any tracker with the exemption of the Surge. 

All my issues have been with the Fitbit App, not Fitbit hardware. 

[Oleg1975]

Well, there are lots of problems with this device that need to be addressed ot at least answered to by Fitbit staff not their AI, as all their replies look like AI and never offer workable solutions, timelines, or anything concrete... To name a few problems here are the major ones:

1. Unworkable floor counting. Everyday I get over 100 - 150 floors!

2. Steps counted aggressively even when driving, really annoying especially for those who drive regularly or professionally. I mean it defeats the purpose of wearing a tracker if for a 200 miles drive on a highway you get 3 000 - 4000 steps!

3. Syncing problems. I mean Fitbit did improve here considerably, but still...syncing CH3 takes much longer than, for example, huawei bandsthat that sync in seconds.

4. Dim screen outdoors... You'll be struggling in the sun. Time is large font is hardly legible.... stats are impossible to read. And my screen is OK, by the way.... Once again, I also have a Huawei band 5 pro (other even cheaper version are the same in terms of screen estate) and its screen is twice as bright at the medium brightness setting!

It is not to say CH3 has its merits that I love such as automatic exercise recognition, great sleep tracking and probable the best app on the market. But.... those drawbacks above would make think trice before considering buying another fitbit!

[Rich_Laue]

In most, if not all cases, sync problems is about the Fitbit app and the phone, not the tracker. 

As for floors, they will never be very accurate unless there is no weather changes or wind. Floors are not by looking at changes in height, but looking at changes of air pressure. A change of one floor is about the weight of a 2 square inch of paper. Blowing across the wrist could give you a floor. 

The tracker dies not count steps, it counts arm movements that look as if steps are being taken. 

It would be nice if a driving mode could be added, currently the app called travelbit is our best option, or drive on smother roads. 

[phatlad]

@Rich_Laue 

"What type of problems are you referring to @phatlad I havent had any problems with the Charge 3, or any tracker with the exemption of the Surge. "

Let's see, it logs thousands of extra steps daily on my commute to and from work. Their "fix" of logging driving as an activity to erase the steps is a pain in the **ahem** and when you do it, and it counts driving as exercise, which in turn counts toward your daily exercise goal. The display is super dim. Can't be seen outdoors at all. The "lines" problem at the top of the device. Lack of custom watch faces. lack of game for completing the daily challenges. My daily running route counts as 50-plus flights of stairs.

None of which were problems with the charge 2.

I've had two charge 3's. One they replaced. Both had the exact same problems. They refuse to send out another charge 3, so that makes me think the device is the problem and just not an isolated few incidents.

@Heather-M 

"Also, I saw your comment on Reddit. Curious as to why you're hanging out on a Fitbit forum and on a Fitbit Reddit when you don't seem to like or appreciate Fitbit products?"

Because everybody needs to know just how shoddy the 3 is.

The 2 was amazing. The 3 is not. And the fact that they refuse to admit it's a problem despite these forums being chock full of the same issue for hundreds of people.

Moderator edit: merged reply

[Heather-S · Accepted solution]

@phatlad This is a forum for people to try to get help with their device. Of course people are going to have issues. But out of the thousands and thousands of Charge 3 devices Fitbit sells, I’m guessing it’s a small percentage that have issues. It just seems magnified on forums like these or Reddit. 

Honestly. Seems to me like you have too much time on your hands, going around to multiple forums to complain about a company or device. 

I don’t like Apple Watches, but I don’t go around to Apple forums whining and complaining. I have better things to do with my time. 

Anyway, I’m done with this thread because you clearly aren’t looking for help with your device. You’re just stirring up trouble. Take care!

[Rich_Laue]

I disagree, I'll take the Charge 3 over the 2 any day. 

Charge 3 runs Fitbit OS

Has an Oxygen sensor 

Has many features that users wanted on the Charge 2. 

Faster processor

Has a touch screen

I can usually read it outside. 

I can pay for things with it. 

Several settings are on device, not app

I get. I more false steps with the Charge 3. 

Is what your saying a problem with every tracker, or just a few. 

Don't look to Apple or Garmin, the web is full of commplaints on both of these when it comes to steps and driving. I also see many complaints about false steps. As do sync issues, Apple seems to have less, but then theft are the only company that makes their hardware and software which does help a lot. They also do not try to make a watch that connects to Android or windows phones. 

[Oleg1975]

Well, have to disagree. Firstly, my garmin fenix 5 watch has no problem counting floors and is much more accurate counting steps when driving. I also have a Huawei band that is even more precise than garmin watch when it comes down to step tracking while driving. I compared all three devices wearing them on hand and the differencd in accuracy is astounding. So theory aside, CH3 is inferior when it comes to these function - tested in real life.

[Rich_Laue]

@Oleg1975 many of your fellow Garmin users would disagree with you. For more than 2 years. Garmin users have been requesting a car mode. Garmin users are upset that they are not being listened to. https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-5-series/147435/car-mode---s...

The web is full of Garmin users with floor count issues and Garmin admits that their floor counter is inaccurate. 

https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/vivosmarthr/EN-US/GUID-C6DD81FF-7367-484F-B117-0878495C4237....

A quick search will show that apple users also have these two issue. 

I'm glad it works for you, I would not have taken a chance. 

[Oleg1975]

Rich, I can only count on my own experience with garmin, fitbit or huawei for that matter. Why should I really care for what other users say when I have the device and can make my judgement based on my experience? Once again, Fitbit Charge 3 is a great device when it comes to sleep monitoring and exercise auto recognition functions, but it has a faulty altimeter, bad algorithms for counting steps and  few other issues developers dont seem to react to despite months and months of problems...

[ELehming]

A valid point was made. I have a Charge 3 that will not sync without having to go through an ever tedious process as outlined in the Fitbit forum. There is no ETA for a fix and frankly, it’s a pain in the **ahem** after having a Charge 2 that worked flawlessly. I’m seriously considering returning it if a fix is not forth coming in the very near future. Then Fitbit can  say goodbye to a loyal customer for life. I have a very low tolerance for crappy customer service.

[MikeN28]

I still have my charge 2. No issues works great.  Got the 3 figuring it would be better.  Well, my 3 looses conection alot, and has a much higher heart rate than my 2 during exercise. Using the same app on both. So I would believe in my case its the hardware.  I've cleared, rebooted and turned the bluetooth on and off the charge 3.  Even reloaded the app.  The 2 has no issues.  The charge 3 does.  I've returned one already. I'm in the same boat. . Is the 4 worth a shot?  I have a note 8.   

[Faithd-c]

Every Fitbit I've had has needed to be replaced at least once during the warranty period. I'm not a whiner and we shouldn't be lumped together. At some point, owning Fitbits since 2015, there is a systemic problem that Fitbit is not addressing. 

[funwithsharps]

I have been having many issues with the charge 3. At first, it was the faulty screen that died after 2.5 months. To be fair, they sent me a new one. However, most recently, it has stats that log properly, only to disappear later, step counts that erratically jump all around within minutes, exercise that fails to log even though it exceeds the required minimum duration and intensity (you can even tell through other sections on the very same device that it should qualify). The screen won’t wake when moving into the “look at your watch” position. It used to work just fine, now the only way to get the screen to wake is to gently tap it repeatedly. The connection issues have moderately improved but still happen. It used to work brilliantly, but as of late updates seem to create more new problems than they solve. Yes, I have tried every type of reboot/reset, phone reboot, turning Bluetooth off/on, logging out/in on the app, force quitting, uninstalling/reinstalling the app. Both my iOS and the app updates are what they allow me to update to. 

“Guess you have too much time on your hands?” While I am not the original person that you are referring to, I will

respond to that snotty remark. As a matter of fact, I do, since there is a global pandemic and my only outlet is exercising at home. Would you not be irate if you had a device that is failing at nearly every basic task it is supposed to be doing? Would you not be irate that the issues are not only continuous, but no acknowledgement is received from the company after multiple posts? 

[Crisilton]

Never had the synching issues with the 3 that I am  having with the 4. I am tired of doing all the running around solutions offered by the experts!. What is the issue?

[Alyoung]

Hold on. I thought it was a good question and have come to the conclusion that you have no idea what your talking about Heather. You said a small percentage? No wrong thousands and thousands have same problems and never get a resolution. I have the charge 2 and 3.  The 3 has had way more issues and if your feeling really smart Google: What fitbit has the MOST issues and you shall learn it's the charge 3. With that being said I called about my messed up Charge 3 and guess what.... There's no solution. Why should a company sell products if they do not know how to fix any of them?  Also I got offered a discount well because there is no solution YET, but I can't see anything on it so what's the point in wearing it? So I myself thought maybe a newer version like the Charge 4 would not have so many issues. You clearly have too much time on your hands and if you did not have an answer then why say anything? I would like to know the answer to what he asked. You just have an attitude and want to gripe. No one hear needs your opinion, we would like actual answers. Run along now. Take care! 

[fritzmom]

I have a question, how on earth does ‘Heather’s’ ANSWER, SOLVE the problem? 

And there is a problem. Lots of problems.

I’ve only had my Charge 3 for 5 weeks. Never owned a fitness tracker before this. 

- I cannot read it outdoors during the daytime - impossible it’s so dim

- advertised as using phone’s GPS but in reality it DOES NOT. I don’t know exactly how it thinks it’s using the phone’s GPS, but the mileage is ALWAYS WRONG. Confirmed with a dedicated GPS device and other apps that track mileage via the phone’s GPS. 

- yes, it’s worn on the wrist but the technology it uses, is also used by other pedometers which keep accurate count of steps. 

- the same technology used in other pedometers does NOT count driving as steps. Tested that.

- what’s the point of having a HR when you can’t see the screen outdoors when exercising? 

- when the battery starts getting low, pixels starts disappearing. 

- as for counting ‘stairs’, I can get ‘stairs’ counted by walking around my bungalow. No wind, no change in Barometric Pressure from one room to another. 

- being told to ‘reset’, ‘reboot’, ‘restarts’ ‘make sure height and weight are correct’ are useless. There should NOT be any reason why one would have to ‘reset’, ‘reboot’, restart’ their fitness tracker. Plus, if this device is using your height and weight to measure distance, then it sure isn’t using the phone’s GPS.

Good for people who have no problems with this tracker but there are many who do. 

And for those who want their tracker replaced, during warranty period, should be getting NEW DEVICES, not something that someone has already returned. 

I so much wanted to be happy with this tracker so I could retire other devices that monitor my HR, count my steps, track my mileage. Use 1 device as opposed to 3. Too bad I can’t retire them if I want accurate stats. 

My .02 on this subject.

[Afortune]

Sadly you will be past your warranty when you can no longer see your screen then. I am within warranty but if I get a replacement it’s only good for the remainder of previous warranty and I’ll probably lose the screen again right after that. If I take the 50% off (And spend more money when I should be able to get a free replacement that isn’t going to crap out which is highly likely since they don’t know how to fix it and there are a ton of people on here saying it happened to them too) a different small select choice of fit bits I want to know that it doesn’t have the same issue and being that it’s the next Charge model that they’ve added to it could very likely could have the same issue.

Hopefully, this helps you understand a little better why someone would ask? It helps to try to imagine if you were in our shoes before condemning.

[Afortune]

I’m not sure if it only happens with the update, but I’d either do it while under warranty or not do the update. A lot of us can hardly see our screen after the update a few weeks ago.