My experience with Versa devices

[PS25]

If anyone is considering a Versa watch, please be aware the product is a very unreliable.  I had purchased the Versa Special Edition about a year and half ago.  I thought the features it claimed were great.  However, as I found out the watch is unreliable.  For a $200+ watch, it has died three times already and I am in need of another watch.  The first time the watch displayed just died.  The second time the battery died, and lately now the bluetooth has died and will not even allow me to connect it.  After 30 correspondences to the help desk in India each one saying to do the same things I had already ready done, they confirmed the watch is defective.  Now that it is out of warranty, they will only give a pity 20% discount to by another one crappy.  Heck even this discount is inferior than what you can get buying the watch outright. I also bought my wife the Charge 3 and it also recently had a battery issue.  To me this speaks to poor quality something like you might expect from a cheap knock off.  Very disappointed.  Mind you I have always taken good care of my watches- never dropped them, never bang them, and never exposed them to water either.  

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[SimplyAdventure]

Yeah, I’ve had 3 Versa’s die. Went through several Charge 2’s and a Charge 3. I consider Fitbit’s to be disposable products. Expect to get 4-6 months of average use out of them at best. 

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @PS25 and @SimplyAdventure , although I really do understand your frustrations, I want to let to hear a positive experience with the Fitbit Devices. Already use the Fitbit products since the Surge and aftet that the Blaze, Ionic, Versa and now Versa 2. Although it's hard to believe for you, I never, and I mean never, had any problems with one of these products. To elecudidate that: I just updated my Versa to the newest Firmware version on a non-supported mobile device, e.g. the Oppo Reno 2, whithout any problem and the entire procedure of updating lasted 10 mins. See: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Versa-Smartwatches/Little-guide-regarding-updating-Versa-Versa2-to-v.... Regards kuzibri

[PS25]

Wow!  You must have gotten one in the million that was actually made right.  Congratulations.  

[SunsetRunner]

Many thanks, but I'm not just a lucky guy, cause after 5 years you always run out of luck sooner or later. Fortunately, this did not happen yet for me. Regards kuzibri

[PS25]

Kuzibri,

I am truly happy for you.  I wish you luck going forward.   I have to ask with that many watches changes.  How long are you actually keeping one?  Full disclosure I’m an expert in battery chemistry and quality.   I have extensive background in both.  I also have a black belt in six sigma product quality. With as many failures I am seeing,  it is a very serious issue.  I am disclosing the issue to hopefully make sure everyone is informed before making a decision.  Like I said the features of the watches are great, but Fitbit can deliver a robust product. 

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @PS25 , I use a Fitbit product at least one year before changing it to another one. As a matter of fact, U used the Blaze almost two years before the Ionic was released as Fitbit's first smartwatch. It was released a bit earlier, but I waited for the reviews and experiences from other users before I bought it. regards kuzibri

[SimplyAdventure]

Yes @SunsetRunner, some number of them work well. I have a charge 2 that’s still kicking after several years. I went through about 7 Blazes, worst product ever, most of the rest were good for 6 months of use at least.

Just for a reference point one of my previous office’s gave out Blaze’s at launch to everyone. Within 6 months roughly 25% had issues or died. Some number of Fitbit’s work well and last forever but there’s been a marked decline in longevity starting with at least the Blaze for me. Prior to that my fitbits never had issues.

Mostly I think it’s just luck. I give it 50/50 chances you get a dud with a Fitbit. If you do then you’ve likely got 3-6 months of usage. If not you’re likely set for a couple of years, shorter than the upgrade cycle at least. So far every free replacement I’ve gotten has turned out to be a dud but I suspect that’s just bad luck. It’s not all bad tho. They are good about replacing them within the warranty period at least so it’s not the end of the world. 

At the current $125 price the Versa 2 is correctly marked. Pick up two and you’ll get at a minimum of a year or so if service out of them, for less than you’d normally have paid for an original Versa SE. Get lucky and you’ll be set till Versa 3 at least, if there is one.

i popped back to the forums today thinking about doing just that but it looks like they still haven’t enabled the Pulse Ox sensors yet, somehow, so I’ll stick with my Apple Watch until I hear that’s live or the next big Fitbit comes out at which point I’ll check the forum again. 

Good luck!

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks @SimplyAdventure , but as I stated before: luck runs our sooner or later, but even after 4.5 years I'm still a lucky guy, it seems. regards kuzibri

[Tanya2019]

Oh my gosh! This sounds exactly like my story!  My original watches screen went out within a few months, then they sent a replacement watch in August 2019 - about 6, month ago and this replacement is dying out already with a battery drain that will not last an entire day... Everyone I know that has owned this watch has had similar issues and most of them will never purchase another Fitbit again and have switched over.  I am not qualified for a replacement but they did send me an offer for a discount on a new purchase. I won't be able to make ant major purchases for a while and the offer expires in 30 days which is fine because by the time I can afford another one I can probably go to best buy and purchase it for even more if a "discount".  I will say that their customer service is top notch and everyone has been so friendly when I have had to deal with these issues. Unfortunately the device itself will not last you more than a few months... You are lucky if it lasts you a year. I am so bummed about this. 😭

[TonyCuk]

I'm the same had a versa with no issues at all and this march 2020 My wife got me the versa 2 constantly miss reading heart rate while exercising very unresponsive, rang the store I purchased it from in April, and store only just opened ( Due to COVID)they have replaced no issues so let you know how I get on, My old versa works perfectly so lucky enough I been using that while I waited for store to reopen

[normsmusic]

Thanks for writing this. I can hardly see I am so angry. I had fit bit 1,2,3 all after a while they all failed except for Fitbit 1.

Customer service is a joke. They make you do, useless things over and over until you give up. Conclusion There product is crap and they don't care about the customer. My problem was syncing them. If you like spending weeks trying to figure out why they are not working, buy one or just save yourself the time and don't buy their junk. They really just want to sell subscriptions. Scientific evaluation is they are not accurate anyway. 

[normsmusic]

That is asrare as a neutrino colliding with a particle while traveling through the earth.

[normsmusic]

What I have noticed about these posts is they last a long time if you bought the original models my first Fitbit never had any problem. I just wanted new features instead of giving it away.

[Tanya2019]

I purchased a Letsfit (the model that is similar to the versa) I am so pleased with it.  I think I have had it almost a year now and LOVE IT!  The battery life lasts a full month and I have NEVER had one little issue with it. It cost about $30 with tax.  It's just the best.  I did have to purchase another fitbit this year for my husband because he uses it with his glucose monitor for diabetes but I included the 2 year warranty this time.  I hate that they costs so much and lasts no more than 6 mos.  I pray this model is improved and it lasts him at least a full year. Makes me so sad, I vowed never to buy another one but it's the only fitness watch that syncs with his glucose monitor so.... Crossing my fingers.  But for myself, I will NEVER purchase another fitbit ... I have gone through 4 of them and not one lasted over 6 months and battery life never lasted a full week. This letsfit is phenomenal I am truly amazed at the quality.. not one issue at all the entire time I've had it. Maybe I'm lucky but I don't think so.  I think it is a wonderful product and $30 well spent. 

[Omispirit]

yes very poor quality . I have had many types of FitBit watches they are pathetic in comparison to Apple Huwai, Samsung

stay away from then. funny they charge arm and leg.. then play games sending you refurbished watches during warranted period

[Omispirit]

stay away , poor cheap product

Update:

wow go buy a lottery ticket. you are a lucky man

Moderator edit: merged replies

[WillEat]

I totally agree that Fitbit makes a very inferior product. I went though 3 versa 2's in two and half years. With electronics as advanced as they are now. I think this is totally unacceptable. I do like the features the watch has to offer is why I put up with inferior quality. This will be the last Fitbit I own though. I have a $30.00 watch that I have worn for years. I will go back to that.