Versa 3 is not tracking my heart rate accurately

[Aged]

I was given a Versa 3 for my birthday in September after having a Flex and a Charge 3 for years.  I can’t tell you how disappointed I am with this.  The heart rate during exercise just doesn’t work properly.  I am a creature of habit and I tend to do one of three routes twice or three times a day.  I was regularly recording excellent cardio minutes with the Charge 3 but with the versa I am getting no cardio and sometimes no fat burn, but the walk is still completed within the same time.  I’ve tried resetting and that hasn’t worked.  I’m exasperated and am about to bin this device.  My daughter told me not to get a Fitbit; how I wish I had listened.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[MarreFitbit]

Hi there, @Aged. Thanks for stopping by in the Community Forums and trying to troubleshoot the issue with your Versa 3 before posting here. I understand where your concern is coming from and how you must be feeling. 

I've seen you contacted our Support Team after posting here and they've already assisted you. If you still need help or have any questions/concerns regarding the outcome of your case, please feel free to contact our team back for further assistance.

See you around. 

[LZeeW]

@Aged   There is a significant difference between your Versa 3 and your previous devices.  Your previous devices give active minutes and your Versa 3 gives active zone minutes.  Fitbit updated this in response to CDC and WHO recommendations for physical activity.

Active zone minutes use a different equation to calculate your zones.  It isn't as simple as the active minute equation, because it uses your resting heart rate in the equation.  You can see your personalized heart rate zones by tapping on the zone minute icon on your mobile app.

This is very confusing for users who upgrade to the newer devices.  Fitbit still calls these zones fat burn, cardio, and peak.  The CDC and WHO calls these zones moderate, vigorous, and peak.

A common question from users who upgrade is why Fitbit doesn't let users choose between active minutes and active zone minutes.  Active minutes are a very out of date method for measuring activity.

[Stuct]

Aged,

I have the same issue using Surge and versa 1 and now my heart rate is under 100 vs 120 doing a 3.5 mile walk. It’s confusing using new device and no help from customer service. 

[Stuct]

@LZeeW I am totally confused. I do a 3.5 mile walk every day for 3 years and since last week with new versa 3 getting 0 minutes in active zone vs around 60 minutes in cardio and or fat burn. My heart rate is down from 120 to around 100. So it’s detecting a lower rate and I also get no active zone minutes. Was old versa 1 and surge inaccurate and new one accurate or is new one just off? Maybe the versa one is better for a regular person vs an athlete in training?

[LZeeW]

@Stuct   I know from experience that the Surge, Versa, and Versa 3 have different optical heart rate monitors.  They all have different hardware.  The difference in your average heart rate for the same walk might be due to those hardware differences.  I have no way of knowing which of the three is the most accurate.

The Surge gave active minutes, not active zone minutes.  The Versa gave active minutes when it was released, but got updated to active zone minutes in a firmware update.  Are you sure that your Versa 1 was giving you zone minutes before you upgraded to the Versa 3?  Please make sure you are comparing apples to apples.