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.

[mprague]

If it is under warranty, I don’t think they have a choice. 

[GH2000]

They told me it’s a bug and because they are working to fix it they won’t replace it. The only reason I am now getting a replacement is because mine died a few days later..... maybe coincidentally, maybe not.
I have seen many posts from others saying they have not been sent a replacement and some who have. Fitbit don’t seem to be consistent.

[mprague]

I think when you call, you need to say you have tried every reset, including a factory reset, more than once. I told them this and that it was of no value to me if the heart rate was incorrect. I hope my replacement keeps working because I really like everything else about this product. I do hope they find a solution if it is a bug. 

[GH2000]

I did but thanks.

[Savikam53]

I stopped relying on Fitbit for heart rate. I have an OMRON BP monitor and a pulse ox meter that is more reliable. Fitbit matches sometimes. Today I was driving and HR was 163. I panicked. It went back to 90s range within seconds. Can’t depend on it. Anymore. A broken clock is correct twice a day. So Versa coincidentally matches other monitors about 10% of the time. I had high hopes of staying with them but considering Apple since I have Afib and need accuracy and reliability. Let us know what you decide.

Sent from my iPhone

[Andy43]

Mine's going back.

I don't think paying well over £100 for a product that misbehaves almost from day one is acceptable, and neither do I plan to re-start, re-boot and factory-reset my new device every few days because there's a hardware or software problem that should have been detected and fixed before launch.

It's a real shame, as I searched for quite a while to find a good quality, good looking and acceptably small watch (most are too big for my wrist) which would help me keep fit without a load of fiddling.

It just isn't good enough. A £100+ product should just work. If it's misleading me as to how much exercise I'm getting, then it won't do.

[Savikam53]

Not far behind. Looking at Apple though the short battery life is not a positive.

Sent from my iPhone

[Andy43]

You're right, Savikam. The Apple watch is very pretty, but it's a lot of money and I don't need all those features and as you say the battery life is pitiful.

My options are severely limited as I have to find a watch that will sync with Windows on my PC (I don't have a mobile phone). The Garmin Forerunner 35 (outgoing model) looks passable and will - I am told - work with Windows. Although not as attractive as the Fitbit, it gives a long battery life and is simple to use.

So I'm once again about to spend days in front of my laptop looking at what might fit the bill! Good luck!

[RatedE]

Just not sure what to think...I’ve had my Versa for a couple weeks now and I want to like it but the heart rate readings are too high during exercise whether it’s walking the dog or lifting weights. Today during weights it was regularly between 150-160 at the beginning of my workout including in between sets when I was sitting still and resting. Checking my pulse by hand it was nowhere near this. About half an hour into my workout it finally settled down into the 120-130 range which is more accurate. 30 minutes to figure itself out??? I played with the tightness of the band, location on the arm, etc. Ugh. 

[Andy43]

Hi Rated. Welcome to the club. That's exactly what mine did. I found it was accurate until it reached about 80 bpm, then it seemed to develop a life of its own, often going up to 130 or more. A manual wrist reading would confirm my real pulse rate was 80 to 90.  The reading would then stay high for a few minutes and finally come down, often getting stuck before finally letting go and reading properly again. Mine has been returned now.

[RatedE]

Did you exchange yours for another Versa, or are you switching to something else entirely different?

[mprague]

I was sent a replacement Versa and happily it is working fine! 

[Jenaenae1]

I’ve called customer service a few times- super disappointing... I think today I will ask for a manufacturer refund or replacement 😞

Sent from my iPhone

[Jenaenae1]

Yes! I think today I will have to call and ask for a refund or replacement… I’ve called a few times in the past and was very nice I think that may have been the problem… They weren’t too concerned about fixing it. They did say this is a common problem and took my name and a case number but they also did say it would take months to figure out maybe?! I’ve referred countless people to my versa and now I can not do that anymore 😞 Super disappointing! 

[NurseLovesFarme]

This is STILL happening in May 2019. It's beyond frustrating. I love everything about my Versa, but it's less than 3 months old and the touch screen isn't working anymore, I cannot swipe, the screen flickers my resting heart rate is in the high 170s and clearly not accurate. I logged 250 active minutes because my heart rate reading was off when I only walked about 20 minutes. I'm very glad Fitbit is replacing mine for free under limited warranty, but what happens when this happens with the next one?

[Andy43]

Hi again RATED. I got a refund as I'd read so many reports of bad HR results.  I tried a Garmin Forerunner 35 but the setup procedure had me going round in circles and I couldn't press the (four) buttons on the watch without fumbling. That went back as well. I'm now awaiting a cheap Chinese one, a Kungix. We'll see how it goes on.

[RatedE]

I think I’ll be returning mine for a refund. My Versa rebooted mid-walk during a connected GPS walk again last night (my Versa has rebooted during nearly half of my connected GPS walks in the 2 weeks I’ve owned it). My frustration is that I’m coming from an Ionic that failed after about 16 months which seems to be a common occurrence - and the Versa has issues with the heart rate monitor (which for me is the whole point of having this watch) dating back over a year - just look how long this thread is...19 pages and counting. I really want to like the Fitbit brand but these quality control issues are so discouraging....

[SomeGuyYouKnow]

Hi Andy. I'm just trying to work out what to spend my refund money on! I wanted something good for swimming, so I didn't need to wear a chest strap, so was thinking of the new Samsung watch active - or maybe just the watch. 

But then again, there have been some flakey reports about that too! Anyone here had experience of Samsung's waterproof watches (i.e. not the S3 gear)?

[RatedE]

So I just finished a workout with both my Versa and my old Ionic (which works except for the altimeter). Lower body workout so no flexion of the arms doing bench presses, curls etc so you think it should be a better test for both watches. I did a quick warmup on the elliptical then took my first reading which had the Ionic at 118 and the Versa at 97. Three minutes later after my first leg set the Ionic was still higher at 138 compared to 116 on the Versa. At the 30 minute mark the Versa was 135 and the Ionic 110. 38-minute mark Versa 120 and Ionic 140. 46-minute mark the Ionic drooped to 98 while the Versa was at 129. 52-minute mark Versa 144 and Ionic 121. It’s just all over the map...but my experience is the Versa tends to get an incorrect reading more frequently then takes longer to correct itself.

[AD1971]

Hello, my fellow Versa fans! I apologize in advance if someone has already suggested the solution I'm about to give - this is a reallyyyy long thread and I don't have time to scroll through all 19 pages. But I just wanted to throw this out there anyway in hopes that it helps someone. I had the same problem with my Versa suddenly giving too high heart rate readings. It would suddenly show my heart rate around 100 bpm when I was just sitting down using my computer. I restarted it (press the back and bottom buttons simultaneously and hold them for about 10 seconds or until you see the blue Fitbit logo on the screen, then let go and let it start back up). This solved the problem for me and my heart rate is now where it should be (around 75 bpm) while awake but doing low-key things.

This also seems to have solved the resting heart rate miscalculation as well. It was suddenly showing my resting heart rate at 76 bpm when I know my RHH is around 69 bpm. Now that I've restarted my Versa, it's back to normal. 

Hope this helps! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone. 🙂