3rd Party Apps on Sense 2 and Versa 4

Restore the ability to install 3rd party apps on the Versa 4 as was possible in previous versions of the watch.

 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and label.

754 Comments
HelloLauRo
First Steps

I can't believe we have to make a SUGGESTION to get some absolute basic features like controlling your music?? Like, excuse me? Will be returning & going for an apple watch instead

Elejota50
Recovery Runner

I am very dissapointed in myself for not checking the reviews prior to purchasing the sense 2 with my credit card rewards points.

 

Having bought the sense for my wife a year or so ago, I automatically assumed that the sense 2 would have all the features of the original + new ones.

 

Now I've come to find there's no spotify support, no third party apps.

 

seeing as I can't return it, I'll be trying to sell it on facebook marketplace.

jwm12
Jogger

I spoke with someone from Fitbit support on chat and they said that this feature was coming next. I take that with a huge gram of salt. Is there any way to confirm this is actually being worked on?

 

Otherwise, I'm going to have to take this device back because I rely on third party apps for the activities I do. 

SunsetRunner
Not applicable

@jwm12 even if they made the SDK available to third parties today, or any time soon (highly unlikely if you ask me), those companies would still need to adapt their apps to Sense 2/Versa 4, which would take a fair amount of time on itself. All in all, I think your best option now is to ask for a refund if possible, and perhaps buy it again in a few months when those promises are fulfilled, if they're telling you the truth.

VanBoren
Jogger
This is the only time I have heard that they are actually planning to allow
3rd party development for Sense 2/Versa 4. I don't think you can plan on it
or any of the other functionality. Fitbit has made the ridiculous decision
to deprecate this generation of products in favor of the Google Pixel
watch. I would also be careful on returning the product with the intention
of repurchasing it later. I'm >45 days waiting for a refund on my Sense 2.
Fitbit says they have issued a refund, but my bank has no record of it and
I'm now disputing the original charges on my credit card to get my money
back. Fitbit no longer cares about their customers or what they want. Just
go to Garmin or Apple. They don't care about their customers either, but at
least they have their act together.
jwm12
Jogger

I totally agree this is nerfed to help sell inferior Pixel watches. It would be a shame if they don't release the SDK and open 3rd party support as it would effectively kill Fitbit and the user base. You'd have to imagine they know that, but we all have seen how Google handles products.

Justcruzinthru
Recovery Runner
I'd suggest returning it now or the return window could easily run out before 3rd party apps are available, if they ever are... Just my perspective. 
AuntieKim
Base Runner

Can one of the moderators comment on the status of third party apps being next to roll out?  Apparently some customers are being told that.

 

Maquejing
First Steps

Seriously?! Versa 4 can’t install 3rd party apps? Then why it is called 4, which makes people feel it’s an upgrade from versa 2.

I enjoyed versa 2 until battery died. Appreciate Fitbit’s battery compared to Apple Watch.

Will return it..disappointing..

SunsetRunner
Not applicable

People buy Sensa 2, because it upgrades - and right now those Fitbit CS answers are ridiculous. 

We want smartwatches  - smartwatches have apps, and right now we are limited to just basic features available in so much cheaper bands. 

No maps, no google assistant, no google wallet? No even the basic Agenda app that is on your marketing materials No saying that apps that are obviously available in older versions are totally removed from newest devices. you shouldn't release unfinished products!

sgreenlee66
Jogger

It's hard to believe I'm saying goodbye to Fitbit after all these years. I'm returning my Sense 2 and have moved on to a competitor - not a Pixel although I have a Pixel 6 Pro that's great. 

 

Hey Fitbit and Google. NEVER make your customers make concessions on a product. Especially your PREMIUM product. What aweful hubris and greed would it take to think that a loyal customer would pay a premium price for a  now inferior product so that you could shore up sales on a half-baked Pixel watch.

 

What we're you thinking? Sad. 

 

 

Pharmerjam
Recovery Runner
😥
AuntieKim
Base Runner

Nice work bringing this out.  Looks like an ad from the UK based on the spelling of the word "personalised".  I wonder if any of the moderators will try to get some official response from corporate on what appears to be a misleading ad?

Markknit
First Steps

I am returning my Fitbit Versa 4. It is useless compared to my Versa 3. I'm very disappointed and extremely surprised. I won't buy a Pixel watch either. 

Dopovo
Pace Setter

@AuntieKim Nice catch on the UK page. However the US page still says "hundred of apps"

Dopovo_0-1670484391110.png

And, the Italian too, the French one too, the Spanish one too but the German one says "download useful apps" although I'm not sure what useful app refer too.

And by the way, this is not an add, it's the official product description frome Fitbit store!!!

 

QGFit
First Steps

My dad is almost 80 and has had a heart surgery. I wanted to get a smart watch with a monitor and the doc said the Apple watch or a simple monitor. We all have Android devices. Was researching options and was close to switching to Apple phone and watch when I found out that the Sense 2 was coming out with ECG. I waited and bought THREE Sense 2 (Dad, FIL, myself). Now find the watch is just a glorified ECG sensor for me. I was looking for a smart watch with ECG. If apps are not announced soon I am returning the watches and switching to Apple. 

LTarr
Jogger

I find the lack of moderator comments on this issue disturbing, surely at this point with so much frustration show from so many customers it's time for someone to at least acknowledge this issue?

 

I like my sense 2 but I may as well have bought a tracker for half of the price it's not a smart watch it's a fitness tracker with a bigger screen.

AuntieKim
Base Runner

I agree, some kind of official, written communication from corporate about the issues being discussed would be very helpful and much appreciated.

FishRamLion
Jogger

Just got my Sense 2 about a week ago and am disappointed to find out that there is no third party app support.  I'm not sure why it is even called a smart watch if it doesn't have third party app support and I can't do things like control music, etc. from the watch.

 

I'm not sure if the intention of Google is to cripple it's Fitbit watches so that its Pixel watches can shine, but I hope that they add this necessary functionality to these "smart watches."

3plus4is7
First Steps

Before buying Sense 2 i have read in internet that it is kind of downgrade of Sense in term of materials, some functions.. but lack of 3rd party apps and clock faces is not acceptable.. the only upgrade I have noticed is avaliabikity of google wallet.. all other functions got worse.. I will try to return newly bought Sense 2 and will go for Apple watch SE… 

silvatyrant
Recovery Runner

I am surprised that this was the direction which Fitbit (Google) took with their flagship fitness device. It's almost as if they're purposefully steering people towards the more expensive Pixel Watch. 

 

How do you strip such essential features from one of your biggest products before surveying your customer base first? 

 

I have a Charge 4 and even it has third-party apps. Something that costs a third of the price. At the very least people would want to control music from their smart watch (Spotify) or link up to other fitness apps (Strava). It boggles the mind as to why Fitbit has chosen not to include these integrations. And, it's probably so easy to bake in since the watch isn't that far off from its predecessor. 

 

Another head-scratcher is how Google has failed to include Google Assistant on one of its own products, but allows a direct competitor (in Amazon) to have their variant, Alexa, on the device. I mean, this is some crazy oversight here.

 

The product owner surely needs to answer for these strange (and egregious) oversights/omissions/holes/flaws in this design. Hopefully Fitbit can come to their "Senses" and realise that they've dropped the ball here, and it's a matter of firmware release that'll make everything right with the world again. 

 

Pharmerjam
Recovery Runner

As a long time Versa 2 owner, I thought that the $300  Sense 2 would be an upgrade. It is an travesty that Google scammed all Fitbit owners by dumbing down Versa 4 and Sense 2 by not including key features like 3rd party apps, music control, 

Google Assistant etc .. 

   Please add these back to these devices right away. 

LizzyFitbit
Premium User
Fitbit Moderator
Fitbit Moderator

Hi everyone! Thanks for the details and the screenshots provided. I apologize for the information displayed in our website, and the confusion this caused. This has been reported to our team and they've updated our website so it can reflect the correct information.

 

As you may know, the Feature Suggestions board is a place where you can share ideas that you wish to see in the future directly with our developers. Your feedback is truly appreciated and we recommend adding your vote to this idea so we can keep tracking its demand over time. You can always check our FAQs to learn more about this board.

SunsetRunner
Not applicable

@LizzyFitbit you are totally missing the point. We are not asking you to change the WEB page to reflect the mediocre implementation of of new "top of the line" products.

We are simply asking you to deliver what was originally promised Vis-à-vis the FitBit web pages and based on which, we all bought and/or planned to buy our new smartwatch.

Fatal23
Recovery Runner

@LizzyFitbit these are not suggestions, but COMPLAINTS for a watch (Versa 4 in my case) that overpromised and totally underdelivered. Shame on you Fitbit for treating your loyal customers this way! Correcting a website is not a solition, it is too little too late.

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