Add altimeter to future Charge series versions

[Coldasice]

Altimeter to the next charge version

Moderator edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Coldasice, and thanks for taking the time to share this suggestion about adding an altimeter to future Fitbit Charge series versions with us. We rely on feedback like yours to help us develop products and features that we know our community wants to see. If this suggestion receives votes from other customers and gains popularity, it will be shared internally with various teams at Fitbit. To learn more about how Fitbit decides which suggestions get developed, visit our FAQs.

Watch this space for status updates. In the meantime, try visiting Health & Wellness to talk with other members about all things health and fitness.

[gimmetheprize]

I wouldn't have upgraded to a Charge 5 if I had known it wouldn't count flights of stairs.  Why on earth would you drop a useful feature?  I'll probably see if I can salvage my old Charge 2.

[JTA12]

Fitbit Charge 5 doesn't have the altimeter feature and for those of us who can't wear the larger devices because of skin irritation, it would nice to have it on future smaller devices.

[YojanaFitbit]

Hi @JTA12, thanks for taking the time to share this suggestion about adding altimeter to future Charge series versions. 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.

[Solarguy]

I want to echo my protest about the missing altimeter on the Charge 5. Admittedly, I didn't confirm the feature before purchasing, but it looked like it had everything my Charge 2 had and more. Why would you drop this?? That was part of my exercise routine to get >10 flights of stairs in every day. And also track my climbs when hiking. This feels like a downgrade - would you expect me to buy the superseded Charge 4 instead??

[Ozru]

I had two Charge 3s, and I'm currently using a Charge 4. I just talked a friend into buying a Charge 5, and I was very disappointed that the altimeter, and thus stair flight counter, was gone. Please include one in a future tracker. I have a strong disincentive to upgrade now, and will be babying my Charge 4 to make it last as long as possible.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Ozru, thanks for taking the time to share this suggestion about adding the altimeter to future Charge series versions with us. I noticed a similar idea was already requested in the Feature Suggestion board, so I’ve moved your post here. Please support this idea by adding your vote, this helps our developers to keep tracking its popularity and demand over time.

[Oohlala]

I joined this forum specifically so I could request the charge 5 have the altimeter added. I was all set to buy my first fitness watch and it was this one. Then I happened to discover no altimeter, no ability to count steps. Also I hike. How does it affect that? Very disappointed. Now I have to start my search again.

[Sera7792]

I have a Charge 4. I delayed upgrading hoping the Charge 6 would have an altimeter. My Charge 4 has subsequently stopped working, tech support of no help. So now I have no device. And I see the Charge 6 is ready for pre-order and still no altimeter. Why would you remove this feature? The Charge series was excellent otherwise. Lost a customer now.

[lmiapn]

Totally Agree!  I also have a Chrage4, never upgraded to Charge 5, specifically because of the lack of altimeter...  I deceided to delay until Charge 6 came out, and now I see its the same problem...  At this stage, until this feature comes back, I am done with Fitbit!

[Maltie]

I still have a working Charge 4 but the NEW APP makes it almost impossible to use the altimeter feature. It sets the goal at 10,000 floors daily.  To reduce that to something genuinely possible you have to hit a minus key 10,000 times.  Who can bother with something that absurd?

They want to insure you stop counting floors no matter what device you have.

Google likes to sell stuff BUT all they do is remove features. Pay more and get less quality and less service

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @Sera7792, thanks for sharing this suggestion about bringing back the altimeter to future Charge devices with us. This idea was already requested in this board, so I’ve moved your post here. This will help us to keep the forums organized and make sure the suggestions don't get confused, or split a popular vote. Please click on the thumbs-up to show your support and keep adding your suggestions!

[ChrisFrohlich]

Add the altimeter back to the Charge 6

[Northeast]

Agreed.  Why would you remove a metric that is integral to exercise & fitness. Very disappointing. 

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @ChrisFrohlich, thanks for taking the time to share this product feedback about adding the altimeter back to Charge 6 with us. I noticed this product feedback was already requested on this board, so I’ve moved your post here. Please support this product feedback by adding your vote, this helps our developers to keep tracking its popularity and demand over time.

[jrc123]

Couldn't agree more, an altimeter is basic as far as I am concerned. In fact I had just ordered a charge 6 to "upgrade" from my charge 4 when I saw all the discussion on this. I have cancelled the order and will not be buying the 7 either unless the altimeter returns. Why upgrade to something that is a downgrade? Such a shame, have been using fitbit charge in its various versions for circa ten years, does (or did) everything I wanted in a slim package.

[hyybid]

Are there any Fitbit devices which still track stairs climbed?

I have a Charge 4 which is about 3-4 years old.

I believe subsequent Charge models no longer track stairs.

[Nitsirk2024]

I definitely agree. I wish I could just buy a new charge 4 when mine died because this is a huge piece of basic data that is now missing from the newer models and is much more relevant and useful than a lot of the other biometrics that are now included instead of this feature. It is a huge disappointment that models after 4 have been downgraded in this way. Please reinstate the altimeter in future models

[fbsr]

Please bring back the altimeter in your charge 7!! The lack of an altimeter is the one thing that will send me to another brand of fitness tracker. I have been a loyal fitbit customer from the start but if it is not on the charge 7....I'm out of here!!

[Kimbee13]

I just bought a versa 4 last month and it counts the stairs

[hyybid]

Thanks, it's good to know they still have that option.

But for me, I wear an Apple Watch every day as well as the Charge 4, which I put into a belt clip carrier without the wrist bands and keep it in my pockets.

So if I could use it that way, I might check it out.  Can the wrist bands be easily removed from the Versa?

My theory is that the smart watches aren't reliable if they depend only on the motion of your wrists.  Original Fitbits included a belt clip to wear at the waist because it could track your leg movement whereas you're not always swinging your arms when you walk, run or go up the stairs.  Or those arm swinging movements are not consistent.

So for instance, my Apple Watch counts much fewer stairs climbed than my Fitbit Charge 4 in my pocket.  The Fitbit is definitely more accurate on the stairs count.

[Kimbee13]

The wrist bands are easy to remove I am not sure how you would connect it to a belt clip. I have not looked at other accessories for the versa 4.

[hyybid]

The one I got is from a third party and is a piece of neoprene into which you put in the Fitbit.  There's an integrated clip but I don't trust the clip to stay on my waist so I just put it into a pant pocket.

But there may not be such carriers for the Versa 4 and other Fitbit smart watches because they're square in shape when you take the bands off than thin like the old Fitbits which aren't meant to be smart watches.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @hyybid, thanks for taking the time to share this product feedback about adding altimeter to future Charge series devices with us. Because this product feedback was already requested on this board, I’ve moved your post here. Please support this product feedback by adding your vote, this helps our developers to keep tracking its popularity and demand over time.

[KM50]

I started with a fitbit charge HR years ago and liked its features. I migrated to a charge 2, charge 4, charge 5 and now charge 6. Charge 4 showed elevation changes charge 5 does not. Charge 6 only compatible with android 10 or higher. No dashboard now. You're driving users away.