Considering Fitbit - reliability concerns

[ForIron]

New (potential) Fitbit user here, have been considering getting a Charge 3 and now an Inspire HR over the last few months.

At first it seemed like a great idea, but seeing here all of the issues of over-counting, bad heart rate detection, weird sleep tracking, SpO2 sensor that isn't utilised and the lack of official comms around it, logging steps while driving. Step over-counting especially seems prevalent, compared to other devices (Apple Watch, Samsung's Watch)

I totally understand the forums here a just a chunk of the user base -- customers don't often make accounts just to praise the product -- But problems described here seem frequent and consistent.

Has anyone had a great experience? Or found the light at the end of the tunnel after some patches? Is Fitbit & the Inspire HR specially worth a try? 

[marcindpol]

I am new to Fitbit and honestly I am already disappointed and kind of regret my purchase of inspire hr.100 euro for a totally plastic device with bad battery life and terrible step counter. If I were you I would consider some of the cheaper Chinese products which actually are much better spect. 

[sailorbear510]

Well, nothing is ever perfect and that's why community forums and tech support plus customer reviews exist to give thoughts and get help on products when they are released. I know that it's upsetting and always the easy way out is returning an item but any company loves when users step in to help troubleshoot a defective item and so forth. 

I've been there, wanted to return things several times because I thought they were wrong but rode it out and found that the issues were resolved and the company came up with solutions for those affected. 

[Ohnoetry]

I honestly suggest getting a free activity tracker app on your phone first to see if it's sufficient for you. I just got the new inspire hr and it's almost more trouble than it's worth because of steps logged while driving. i'm extremely disappointed and have been reading online about this obsessively since I got it. The theme seems to be that people have been asking for specific updates and have been suggesting ways to make their devices more efficient for several years with no positive action taken in response by fitbit. They just keep making new trackers with the same problems.

I think this company is getting greedy, cutting corners, and coasting on its brand name. 

[DramaQueenDiva]

I must be one of the lucky ones then: 7 Fitbits, never had an issue with any of them.  As for the driving, you can add it as an activity and it won't count those steps.

[noyogirl]

I just did 50 minutes of aerobics and it says I burned 47 calories.  WTF?

[ForIron]

Thank you all for the detailed feedback, good to hear people's thoughts - both positive and negative! Will have to have a think on what I want to do going forward.

[Ohnoetry]

Logging driving is NOT a solution, as it negates the goal setting feature. Any time I go for a drive it counts toward my activity goal, making it a useless tool.

You probably have just not noticed this issue. My mom has had her versa for some time and had no idea it was counting steps while driving until I told her about mine. Now that she's properly checked it turns out hers does it too but not quite so drastically. The forums are littered with similar experiences, but it's totally possible that you're one of the lucky ones with a functional fitbit collection.

.

[noyogirl]

I was wrong. It was not the fitbit but my poor quality phone. I would
like to repost.

[SunsetRunner]

I am taking my Inspire HR back. Too many issues. I have been trying to get it to work properly for 3 days. 1) It has bad sleep tracking. 2) it rarely syncs with my BlackBerry so it can't use it's GPS, 3) I have been unsuccessful getting the FitBit app to load on my BlackBerry, 4) the step count is way off, counts steps when I sleep, 5) every morning it starts with more than 500 calories burned, 6) the app for Windows 10 is not well done and difficult to understand.

[Iudyedens]

For me, it's really just a pedometer. 

[BernieWatson]

I've had an Alta HR & Surge ... both failed (lasted approx 2 yrs each) + problematic synching

Customer service sucks wrt spending lots of money for something that lasts only 2 yrs.

Surge: not recommended for sporting people because a wide rubber band results in lots of sweating directly underneath it and strap tends to repeatedly bubble (probably due to sweat) + charging port/connection was probably one of the worst implementations I've seen (subject to early wear/tear ... by way of comparison the Alta HR approach to charging is infinitely better)

I shall NEVER ever be buying another Fitbit device ... their product designs, quality & lifetime reliability badly suck (great ideas & concepts ... crappy implementation)

[sugglew]

Hi, please list your models.

[Bandmama]

Fitbit original from 2012 - wore it out!

Fitbit One - accidentally washed and dried it (my bad)

Fitbit Charge HR - lost but then found and gave it away after buying a .....

Fitbit Charge 2 - flat out died 

Fitbit Charge 2 - now dealing with the infamous cracks in my screen and considering a .....

Fitbit Inspire HR, maybe?
Less screen to crack is my hope.  I am currently waiting on a response from customer service regarding the screen cracks on my Charge 2.  I have loved, loved, loved all of my Fitbits and the Fitbit app BUT I feel like I paid a lot for my Charge 2 models and don’t see the value (or point in spending more for the higher priced models) if they keep breaking though.  

ETA: I bought a Charge 3 and in the second day it had the battery drain issue and died.  I took it back and bought a Garmin.  BEST DECISION EVER!  

[sugglew]

Oof best of luck with support.

My charge 3 has been gradually getting weaker and weaker Bluetooth sensitivity. Right now it only syncs when I submerge in water (I guess the water conducts the signal or something). It’s very obviously a hardware issue since submergence corrects it consistently. Support have been sending me round in circles for days, different os, different devices, different restart routines, declaring it solved every time it syncs (inside a cup of water!), and ignoring my requests to enact the warranty. It’s probably the worst customer service I’ve ever experienced. It’s probably not even legal in europe what they’ve been doing with me in the last week. 

[flightofhoenix]

I have made a decision to stop buying Fitbit altogether since I had a Fitbit I think was a 2 and it failed so, I got another fitbit named charge 3 and it will not charge after only having if for less then a year. Tired of having to replace every single year. Searching for a different tracker completely. With the dogle failing as well. Frustated and tired of wasting money on failed devices that claim works but, not long enough. Goodbye Fitbit. You have suckered me in far to long! 😞 😞

[Bandmama]

@flightofhoenix Go and get you a Garmin.  I’ve had mine since May and it’s a night and day difference!  Excellent quality.  Everything is 1000 times better.  I’ve never been happier with a tracker and I’ll never buy another Fitbit again.  

[flightofhoenix]

Not sure of the Garmin. How does one charge a Garmin? Maybe I did not look well enough. I am going to try the Letscom Fitness Tracker HR. Guess I will see if I need to get a Garmin after all. Thanks for the advice! 😀

[BernieWatson]

I switched to a Samsung Galaxy Watch = I can't imagine myself going back to a Fitbit again!!Sent from my Mobile

[flightofhoenix]

I do not have a whole lot of money, working part time, live alone,
financing a vehicle, etc. etc. Needing something low cost only effective.
Many positive reviews on LETSCOM trackers. All ready ordered I see how it
goes. I appreciate all the advice I've gotten. Thank you! 😇