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

[jphart03]

If this thread makes it to the developers, please implement this function urgently. It took 300 votes for the dynamic GPS feature to be implemented on the Fitbit Charge 4. It was then carried over to the Charge 5 automatically without the need for a community vote. This feature must also be implemented on your flagship devices such as the Sense and Versa 3. It would allow you to brag about even longer battery life! 

[jphart03]

Please add the ability to use the GPS of our connected phone to Fitbits that has a built-in GPS. This would extend the battery life incredibly. The 300 votes for the Charge 4 request, the 181 for the Sense, and the 79 votes for the Versa 3 must all be combined to this request because it is for all Fitbit devices with a built-in GPS, not just one.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @jphart03, thanks for taking the time to share this suggestion about merging features requests about using phone GPS for devices with built-in GPS. Your feedback is greatly appreciated but at the moment I've moved it into a similar request. 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.

[Rewing2]

Is this ever going to be added as a feature? This idea was originally posted in 2020 and this is such an important update. The distance tracker is terrible with the watch GPS!

[kzar]

Hi, @YojanaFitbit 

Thanks for your answer.
Could you please tell us about this similar request and the status update? This feature is very important for me.
I used to have FitBit Blaze and using phone GPS I could hiking the all day along. Right now with the latest model I can't.

There is two years passed from the original request and we are looking forward to get at least yes\no answer.

Thank you

[PetterBrodin]

The fact that this isn't already a feature combined with the fact that the GPS takes longer to connect and is less precise than my 5+ year old Samsung watch is just ridiculous. The Samsung watch would connect immediately, whereas the Sense takes up to 1 km of hiking before it connects.

I was happy to be back in the Fitbit ecosystem since the app is good and the heart rate tracking is significantly better than my previous watch, but this GPS failure is a big blow against recommending the watch for anyone who enjoys tracking their hikes.

[Rytis]

This is an outrageous joke.

This is a feature that's self-explanatory even for the cheap 60 EUR Chinese smarwatches, and is yet missing from a 200 EUR supposedly "premium" fitness watch?

This is just an insult, and how you treat your buyers is even more of an insult.

The GPS connection takes ages to connect and keeps consistently disconnecting under every tree. Again, something that was never a problem with a watch that cost more than half the prices.

I put up with this watch missing a lot of features than the cheap AmazFit watch I had prior, but this is the final straw. I am never buying FitBit again. The way you treat your communiy is outrageous. You get a very inferrior experience for the money you pay if you go with FitBit.

I will also make sure none of my friends ever buy FitBit.

[lomeranger]

I have been using the Charge 3 since 2018 for long cycling rides of 3-8 hours. Just bought the Sense and learned that I can’t use the phone’s gps. I’m out. Gonna sell and try Garmin. 

Great product and such an oversight. 

[Lugke]

I completely agree with the critics on the missing function. (use connected gps)

Expensive and absolutely useless while using GPS on long day outdoor trips.

on a 10 000 km bike ride through Europe, i bought an Inspire 2, just to get Phone GPS tracking back.

3 times less expensive, 9 times the battery time and the sense was sent home by mail.

Just 1 more year to let the subscription run out... Then it will be the time to change...

I will also make sure none of my friends ever buy FitBit. (already prevented 5 sales 🙂 ) 

just got a new Firmware update, no connected gps function again, but the wording: "... with integrated gps ..." made me laugh

[PCBL]

Hey @LizzyFitbit , it has being 2+ years now since this is up. As I write this Message we are 206+ upvptes and I assume a lot of people share this pain. Are there any plans on sight to have this option? Will it be svailable on Versa 4 and sense 2?

br

Pedro

[Oblio3]

or maybe a disclaimer should be visibly added: “6 day plus" with all features deactivated. 

I miss my versa 2 with the close to week long battery life (beside the ECG which now i realise is a gimmick for 99% of people, versa 2 is a far better device - i know are exactly the same but battery life is a week, and not a Sense 2 days)

[PCBL]

Just an update on this issue. I got a Sense 2 and still have the same issue. 😞

I am really looking forward to have an option to use the cell phone GPS to save baterry on the watch!

BR
Pedro

[rich-exobyte]

I would love this to be fixed on the Sense 2 but not holding out much hope given how long this thread has been active.

I had high hopes for Fitbit but will be getting a Garmin for my next watch. This issue is the last straw.

[SimonPlayzYT]

It really sucks, it’s so dumb.

[Zylath]

This has now been an active request for nearly 3 years. Fitbit, do you have an update on this? Are you even bothering to start working on it? I'm seriously considering returning my brand new Sense 2 if this is not available, and not something Fitbit is considering for development.

[TashaZS]

Agreed! It would be awesome to have this feature and connect to GPS through my phone so it wouldn't also drain the battery on my Sense 2. My runs miss sometimes half of my route, and it's just frustrating to have an unreliable tracker. Come on FitBit! Fix it!! 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Scorpionx73 and thanks for sharing this product feedback, which has received votes from other community members. I’m happy to let you know that this feedback has been picked up internally at Fitbit and is being considered by our team. This product feedback will either remain ‘Under Consideration’ until released, or else move to ‘Not Currently Planned’ if it’s not viable right now. Further updates will be posted here.

Please remember that if a product feedback is chosen for development, it can take some time before updates are available or a release is finalized, so thanks in advance for your patience. To learn more about how Fitbit decides what product feedback is developed, visit our FAQs. Fans can continue to vote for this product feedback while it is under consideration.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi everyone, and thanks for sharing this product feedback. We’re very happy to let you know that this has been released on the firmware update version 194.86 for Sense 2. You watch now supports dynamic GPS, meaning that you can capture this data using the sensors of your phone. For more information, see this help article.

@Scorpionx73, in recognition of your excellent product feedback, each of your votes will now count as 5 votes – you have the power! Thank you for sharing this idea, and thanks to everyone who voted and commented for your enthusiasm which has now materialized for everyone’s benefit. We hope you all enjoy this new addition to the Fitbit product or service!