Heart rate readings too high in Fitbit Versa

[tiim]

I just went on my first run with the Versa and found the heart rate wildly off. I've had several other Fitbit devices that have registered a peak rate between 160-165 bpm for the same run, on the same wrist, with the same wrist placement. This run shows a lengthy section where my heart rate peaks at 209. I'm in my late 40's... No way that is accurate. Anything I can do to fix this?

Moderator Edit: Updated Subject For Clarity.

[1Melissa]

My heart rate shoots up to 180 if I make the slightest exertion. I can see this post started April 2018 and not a single fix has been created for this because the product is defective and it cannot be fixed.  This makes the product worthless to me, generating hundreds of calories that I haven’t burned, let alone not knowing what my appropriate heart rate really is while exercising. I’ve matched the heart rate at Versa’s 180, which would be impossible for me in real life, against my Polar that reads 100. I was going to buy an Apple Watch after my Charge 2 but went for the Versa cheaper option, plus I’ve had the same FB friends for 7 years and didn’t want to give that up. But next up cannot be a Fitbit if I want accurate stats for my health, and not have the other never ending issues

[bmoliver]

Welcome to the club!  Unfortunately, the limitation of the Photoplethysmography (flashing green light) method for measuring pulse is more evident in the Versa than in other watches, likely due to the minimal  number of lights and sensors that the Versa uses as compared to other watches.  Therefore, the effectiveness of the Versa depends a lot on the size and shape of your wrist and other physical factors.  For me, the watch does the same thing that yours does - i.e., it overestimates the pulse by up to 20 to 30 bps, and also gives spurious readings when walking.  It appears to do ok when doing minimal activity or sleeping (see below).  I read someplace that Fitbit was going to have a major software update in December, but I am not holding out too much hope that the pulse situation will ever get fixed.

Also, keep in mind that the graphs you see on the Fitbit Dashboard and on the phone app are "averaged" over 5 minutes even though the Fitbit outputs pulse data every 5 seconds (I think).  Therefore, the spurious peaks don't look as bad as they actually are.  The actual "raw" data (and thus the data sent to other apps like Strava) have much more variation.

Minimal Activity (looks ok)

Walking (random spikes)

[Konaneil]

Now that Google is buying Fitbit for over 2 billion dollars I'm hoping a decision maker at Google will take a look through the forum and see how the end-user community is crumbling in bitterness. If they knew about this situation they might consider that the investment to alleviate it might be a good investment in the future of their acquisition.

[Konaneil]

drnod10, will you please give us the name of the velcro band? The Amazon link you put up last month no longer works.

[TexasSix]

Yeah. I doubt it though. Really sad. Its useless as a fitness tracker. Just a cheap digital watch that cost nearly $200.00......and then, here comes the Versa2 and paid memberships that lead to nowhere...lol

Ive seen my heart rate reported as high as 211 while walking a treadmill.

Actual would be 85 to maybe 115...

[Konaneil]

Duplicate post

[Konaneil]

Dear JuanJoFitbit,

What happened to the fix  you promised in this thread back in March?

[1Melissa]

Hi, bmoliver—I don’t have random spikes. I have sustained heart rate readings over 60 bpm. 

[bmoliver]

1Melissa - So your 180 bpm values are sustained?  Mine kind of follows my Wahoo chest monitor, but  usually 20 to 30 bpm higher.  Surprisingly, however, on my ride yesterday, the Versa actually read lower than my chest monitor.  That's the first time, I believe, that that has ever happened.

[Savikam53]

I converted to the fruit. However, I had to purchase an app for my sleep
analysis. Which was my favorite thing on the Versa. Also, the fruit’s
battery life is nothing close to the Fitbit. I actually kept my a Fitbit to
monitor my sleep while the fruit charges occasionally. Still not convinced
the fruit’s ECG is accurate since it gives inconclusive as the analysis
when I suspect I am in AFib. I sure do miss my Fitbit, and not sure if any
of them do all that they advertise with any accuracy. Working my way around
it with TOO many devices.

[Tollyron]

I have given up. Heartrate doesn't work at all now. No sleep tracking and uses battery very quickly.  Went for Galaxy Watch - so far so good. Wouldn't go near a Versa again. Will try for replacement to keep as a back up - won't hold my breath.

[drnod10]

Yes, I see the band is no longer available on Amazon. Maybe you can get it elsewhere. Made by bayite.

https://www.amazon.com/bayite-Compatible-Breathable-Replacement-Accessories/dp/B07CNRMPRC

I am guessing this one might work.

https://www.amazon.com/AK-Compatible-Replacement-Wristband-Adjustable/dp/B07X55RBLG/ref=pd_sbs_200_t...

Just buy a normal watch or cheap fitbit and use the Polar Oh1 strap--works perfectly for all types of activity with the Polar App.

[1Melissa]

 This has been off my wrist for 5 minutes, showing 171 bpm. Before I took it off my wrist I lightly jogged across the living room, which normally might be 80-90 bpm at most. It’s like taking $200 and setting a match to it. 

[HLewis90]

I bought my Versa right after Christmas 2019 and immediately notice how off the heart rate was. I thought maybe it needed a little time to adjust, find the best wrist placement, etc. That wasn't the case. Yesterday I did an update, which took several hours, and I also did a factory reset. The heart rate does seem to be much more accurate today, but I'm not 100% convinced the problem is corrected. I only have another week or so to return it otherwise. 

Has anyone else done the software update and noticed a difference? 

[Konaneil]

While correct heart rate is crucial for all the health data the watch gives us I think this problem has been overshadowed by the problems the new firmware update has given to many users. If your watch is working properly after the update you've been rather fortunate. Still, you may want to take a look at the following thread: 

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Versa-Smartwatches/Fitbit-OS-4-1-Firmware-Release-70-7-14/td-p/39319...

Because of the problems talked about here many long-term users have been afraid to do the update until it is debugged.

[Belbrown]

Hi, 

RobertoME, very interesting that fitbit has been aware of this problem for more then a year, it's been in the process of being resolved since "early" 2018, we are in Feb 2020 and customers are still having the same issue and being fed the same line. I for one am very unhappy and I'm guessing I'm not the only customer that feels that way. My Fitbit versa was a gift for Christmas in 2018 so it's out of warranty by just over a year, my mom passed in Dec so paying attention to that little detail was not a priority , 1 year use and it's done, no good .... can it even be repaired, or would it be cheaper to just buy a new one, seeing as they come at such a good price! Sarcasm, I know the lowest form of wit, but when you are frustrated with a service that is non existence witty is not what you are feeling.  

I called customer service this morning after I send a mail, you know, be thorough, first when I was being told they are aware of the problem the engineers are working on the problem, the new firmware might be available next week for update I should then update my Versa and then call back if the issue is not resolved, calmly excepted the "excuse" but when I found this thread, I popped a blood vessel, how many people have been told this over the year and a half, how many people just accepted this and moved on to Garmin, because that is what is happening. I will rather pay more for a product that works then sit with something that does not and a company that has not problem leading their customers on with false promises. 

[Konaneil]

If you are considering updating your firmware you may want to first read from the following thread:

Fitbit OS 4.1 - Firmware Release (70.7.14)

So many end users were complaining about having problems with the latest firmware update that the company closed the thread saying that most people's problems have been cured and the thread was no longer necessary to be added to. If this one gets active again I imagine they'll close it too.

[Belbrown]

• Hi Konaneil, 

It's so frustrating, I received a mail back from fitbit stating they are aware of the problem and working on solving the issue, they apparently don't replace divices with this problem due to risk of recurrence.... WHAT!!! Thit means they are knowingly selling defective Versa's and it's a luck of the draw, maybe it will maybe it won't. 

[Konaneil]

If when you say "the problem" you mean the fact that you get an incorrect heart rate at most times, this appears to be a problem in all Versas not just some. Thus, they can't send you a unit without the problem because they all have the problem. 

Not every owner is complaining because many haven't checked their watch against another device that clocks heart rate.

[Sloganor]

Hi I am having the same issues with astronomical heart rates since yesterday, not in agreement with my blood pressure reading. Anyone else out there experiencing this? I see the posts from a April

2018. I will also contact customer service.