Ability to use phone GPS instead of built-in GPS on Sense series (Dynamic GPS)

[Scorpionx73]

Fitbit sense offers a "6 day plus" battery life, but not if you actually use it for any exercise with the GPS on. Some of your other trackers offer the ability to use the phone's GPS. This feature is needed on the sense as well. I used the sense for a 4 hour hike and a 3 hour bike ride, and it absolutely crushed the battery.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[HikeBike365]

Great Idea!

[floridaman]

bring dynamic gps to Versa 3 and sense. Super frustrating to record an activity and have non usable GPS data

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @floridaman, thanks for explaining why you would like to have the ability to use phone GPS instead of built-in GPS on Sense. I've moved it into a similar request. I think that a lot of users would like to have this option on their Fitbit devices.You can learn more about how Fitbit decides what suggestions get released in our FAQs.

Thank you again for your participation in the Feature Suggestions Forums.

[PadraigD]

Any update on this? I have the Charge 4 and this connected GPS works perfectly but the built in watch GPS isn't great at all. I was just going to purchase the Sense but I will not purchase until the ability to use the phone's GPS is included.

[sepculator]

I'd advise against buying the Sense. Fitbit doesn't seem willing nor interested to listen to their users. In fact, if you still aren't convinced I am getting to the point where I am going to sell mine and switch over to Garmin. The fitbit app isn't working that well either, where food logging is becoming exceedingly slow. Overall I am disappointed with the whole fitbit experience. 

[Scorpionx73]

It’s actually the food logging that’s killing your battery. I had to stop using it.

Sent from my iFone

[PadraigD]

Thanks all. My current Charge 4 screen screen must be dying as I cannot see it outside in the sunlight anymore. I have another new one to compare against (got for my friend) and the difference between his brand new Charge 4 and mine outside in the direct sun is vast. I contacted Fitbit support and they gave me an option of replace Charge 4 unit or 50% off a new device. I was going to use the opportunity to move on from the Charge (I had the Charge 2, 3, and 4 up to now). Any other alternatives, I like the idea of the Sense but not having connected GPS would suck.

[sepculator]

Take the free one

[Gaberade]

I recently moved from the Versa 2 to the Versa 3, and now am locked with having to use the onboard GPS. It has very poor coverage and constantly looses connection, even in open fields!

Being able to choose what GPS source I use on any device I feel is required and this is a major oversight. 

I really hope to see something happen on this.

[Cenex]

I currently have a Versa 2 and a phone with very precise GPS accuracy. Unless this feature is implemented allowing you to choose between built-in or phone GPS, I have no plans to "upgrade" to a Fitbit with a less-than-reliable GPS that eats up more battery.

[PadraigD]

I ended up getting the free replacement. Silly that Fitbit lost a sale from me because of something silly like this.

[sepculator]

They don’t care. Nobody cares anymore seems like. No more Fitbit for me. Been telling my friends for a while now to buy something else.

[hatemelseidy]

I'll return my Fitbit sense that I just received. I don't need unreliable GPS data that drains my battery. Looks like a bad idea, with zero benefits. 

Will get back to charge 4.

[Fahimniya]

My Charge 2 died a week ago and I got a Fitbit Sense exactly for its supposedly better battery (than, e.g., Apple Watch). I liked the new device until I did my first run with it yesterday! So disappointed! The GPS was very inaccurate (I was running on a track and knew the exact distance) and then it ate up a lot of the battery. I am not even sure if it will hold up during my long runs. Realizing that I’d still be happy if there’s an option to switch to phone GPS (as a Charge 2 user, I’m used to carry my phone anyway). But then I got here and disappointed again! No update after a year and it’s given that this feature is not coming. I think I’ll just return the Fitbit Sense. 

[Oblio3]

I am puzzled why Fitbit will remove (disable?) the smartphone GPS functionality which should in fact the default setting. I had a Charge 3 and a Versa 2 I used daily for tracking an hour walks with close to a week between charges and since “upgraded” to a Sense I lost the battery life to just 2 days. 
Top that, the most impractical clasp design ever for a wristband you need to remove so often to charge the device. Typical example of reinventing the wheel into something square 

[JackDrake]

As my wife bought the charge 5 some days ago I deciced also to switch from samsung to fitbit buying a sense.

More than strange that the "premium flagship smartwatch" lacks in a feature which is provided from start on a lower price segment device.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @JackDrake,

If you still can return do it. Sense is awful when it comes to a GPS and HR monitoring quality.

I moved to Garmin after 6 years with Fitbit and I'm a very happy Garmin customer right now !

[JackDrake]

Thanks for your hint, I will check the Sense some more days and decide. First look at HR and GPS is not to bad and I really like the fitbit dashboard compared to garmin connect and nothing similar on samsungs site.

[JackDrake]

I can confirm that HR monitoring is not suitable for workouts. Higher rates and dynamic changes are not measured. Due to this the Sense will be returned.

GPS worked fine for me, however I would prefer a dynamic solution like on the charge 5.

[Pvmaanen]

Sense GPS is far from good. Signal gets lost and it's not tracking as well as the phone. Will it be possible to have the option of the versa 2 so it uses phone GPS? 

[CR14]

I am new with Fitbit, I was hoping that i could save some battery  bye using my phone's GPS (which should be more accurate) and at the same time collect data from my fitbit while working out; now i've found that its not possible, even if in other fitbit devices, cheaper ones, it can be done. Please, this is a really needed feature, and shouldnt be that difficult either.

Greetings from Colombia.

[BaconBro_22]

I think you should let the Fitbit sense/versa 3 be able to change to phones gps and use dynamic gps

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @BaconBro_22, we wanted to let you know that the ideas you recently posted already exist on the Feature Suggestions Board. You can see them here where you can add your vote to those existing suggestions:

• Ability to use phone GPS instead of built-in GPS on Sense (Dynamic GPS)
• Add Dynamic GPS option on Versa 3

Please try to make sure you only post one idea per suggestion, so we can keep the board organized, easily searchable and see which idea other members are voting for. Thanks for participating in Feature Suggestions.

[Sadoveanu]

any updates on the implementation of this suggestion ?

[richsp51]

As Sadoveanu Jogger asked, any update yet? Please prioritize.