Longer Screen Time for Charge Trackers

[SunsetRunner]

I purchased my charge 3 after seeing it would have a Screen Time out Option.  It shipped without one.  Moderator Kate says it’s not available at this time.  The manual is now being changed to reflect that.

I really, really want/need that option.  It was the reason I chose the Charge.  That and my 50’s year old eyes.  The current screen only stays on for 3-4 seconds.  That is a very short amount of time.  I have to repeated tap the screen to read a text that comes in.  IF we are going to have the ability to get notifications, we need the ability to read them.

Please Fitbit, give us the option that was originally in the manual to change the screen time out.  The Versa has it, so I know it can be done.

Moderator edit: Title

[shodan]

If I had known that the  CHARGE 3 screen cannot be read at all in normal daylight there is no way I would have bought it. Where is cycling, running etc done? 

[Jajlo]

And I have officially returned my charge 3 now,  gave it a two week trial.. too many variances in Heart rate, wore my Blaze side by side with it and on opposite arms..  would get wild swing with charge 3, while Blaze held a steady rate.. between that and blip of screen time making it unusable.. 

[GunGuy]

I've finally reached my breaking point.  My Charge 3 is going back today.  After 3+ weeks of no or negative response from Fitbit, I've had enough. I will never again purchase another Fitbit product.  The Charge 3 is my third and last Fitbit.  I hope y'all can get some kind of positive response.  Now if they would give me a Versa or Ionic for all my aggravation and the stress they have caused I'll reconsider.  HEAR THAT Fitbit!?

[SunsetRunner]

Maybe it's just my Stockholm syndrome showing from all the years I let Microsoft abuse me while I owned a Microsoft Band, but I really like the Charge 3, my first Fitbit device, so far.

The amount of data available on the dashboard, the continual sync, not having to remember to enable sleep mode before going to bed, not having the same notifications from my phone pop up repeatedly until cleared from the phone, and especially the periodic reminders to get up and walk around -- any one of these by itself outweighs the "peculiarities" I've noted so far with the Charge 3, those being the unadjustable display time and the counting of steps while I am driving or at my desk typing.

I'm sure Fitbit will address these issues "soon." At least I have more confidence than I do in Microsoft. Their response of course was to discontinue the entire product line.

[SunsetRunner]

Please let me adjust screen timeout as I can on all other devices ie phone and tablet 

[Jajlo]

Have returned my charge 3...

[Tiffers616]

I agree with others about the screen timeout. As a nurse, I don't want to have to wear two watches to count my patient's heart and respiratory rates. Please,  please, please offer an adjustable screen timeout. Otherwise I love the Fitbit charge 3!

[PaulW2019]

First time customer here. I just want to say that, although in general I am feeling OK for the Charge 3, this company has really failed on its customer service and public relations side as proven by how this issue was handled.

1. Removing an existing/pre-existing feature of the device upon/right after launch without changing the manual when such decision was made, nor notifying its customers/potential customers through the product page about such changes

2. Simply removing the misleading information in the user manual as a "solution" (I believe to save the company from being sued for misleading customers) and not providing any follow up on whether such feature might become available later

3. Continue to ignore this thread for over 3 months without even a temporary fix nor update on this matter (some users here are simply asking for an option to extend the timeout by a few seconds)

Here are my speculations regarding this missing feature provided that it was previously in the user manual:

1. The Charge 3 might be rushed out to meet certain release timeline and this feature was not yet ready upon launch

2. This feature was possibly just an idea but got scraped later (unlikely as user manual should be one of the late stage documents to be completed prior to product launch)

3. The company might decide to remove this feature so it can be added to another future device as a bonus feature (horrible practice if true)

4. This feature might affect the claim that the Charge 3's battery can last for 7 days. Thus, there might be another concern considering product reviews like: "The Charge 3 can only lasts 7 days if the screen is set on a incredibly short 4 seconds timer." Since when reviewers are allowed to set the screen timeout, they will start to find out actually this device might not be able to last for 7 days when the screen is set to a more acceptable timeout like 10 seconds for example.

To summmarize, I think it is very unprofessional on how this issue is being handled and the longer it takes for the company to address this issue, the more dodgy it will make this looks. Which will further impact the company's reputation.

I for one, will not recommend others to buy this product and will avoid buying from this brand again in the future understanding how they treat their customers.

[RandomReg]

I agree completely - I have had my FITBIT for a couple of days and the ridiculously short timeout is driving me round the bend - Will be returning it if no action taken

FITBIT I suggest you respond as there are plenty of other options out there

[Laqafin]

RandomReg.  Don’t hold your breath. Zero action and reply regardless of the medium in which you communicate to Fitbit 

[SunsetRunner]

Hi would really help if the screen could stay on longer than a few seconds. 

Regards 

[Chancelor]

@YojanaFitbit

You said you were keen to what other people thought. First that should not matter in the least if even a handful of people wanted the feature, get it added. Second I have watched this space for updates and it has been over 3 months. Are we any closer to being able to use our Charge 3 FitBit watches as actual watches or are we just going to get another snarky comment and be ignored for another 16 pages?

[Twomasc]

Please, fitbit, do this. I don't care if it take my battery life down to a day. My choice!

[PressingOn]

I just bought a Charge 3 and am just starting to learn it's capabilities and shortfalls. I'm terribly disappointed to see that Fitbit has been non-responsive to this logical and reasonable user request.

[GunGuy]

It's not just the screen time.  It needs to have a "max" brightness setting like other Fitbit watches.  I do a lot of outdoor walking etc., and you cannot see the screen information, whether on overcast days or sunshine.  It may be okay for fitness centers but I walk 4 - 5 miles several times per week.  Also, the step count is inaccurate when compared to the Fitbit Blaze or the Apple watch.  I wear 2 at a time  just to see the differences and they can be huge.  Other's have complained about the floor counts.  Some folks have said the charge 3 will count floors while driving and even while sitting although I have not experienced that.  After almost a month waiting for some kind of positive response from Fitbit  I took mine back.  This was my 3rd and last Fitbit.  The best thing about Fitbit is the food database and the ability to scan barcodes to track calories, sodium, etc. intake..  Their lack of customer response has completely turned me off to Fitbit.  Good luck with your experience.

[jennifer2882]

I don’t think anyone really checks in here.  I emailed https://contact.fitbit.com.  I did at least get a response, but none of use.  Maybe if more people blast them with emails.

[Sammie1966]

Tagging with you but no respond what so ever !! On insta they send me to this page already 5 times ! This is my second and last fit bit ! Realy bad costumer service !

Back to polar !! 

[TinaTB]

Charge3 is disappointing with regard to the inability to stop the clock from disappearing in 4 seconds! I use it at home and for my workouts but as I said before, I can’t use it at work as a nurse since I need to view seconds for up to a minute! Timex Ironman works perfectly for this and has a timer that’s easier to use than the Charge3! It’s very inexpensive too. I’m asking for an Apple watch for Valentine’s Day so that one watch covers all my bases and I can keep track of all my steps including all those hours I spend on my feet at work!

[GunGuy]

I love my Apple watch series 3 with cellular and GPS.  I can leave my phone at home and take calls, answer messages, etc on the Apple watch watch. The only reason I purchased the Charge 3  is because it was touted as the fitness watch of the year for 2018, NOT!!!!! and it was on sale.  Short screen time, can't read it outdoors, lack of a max brightness setting (as on other Fitbit's) and inaccurate step and floor counts.  My previous Fitbit's, the Surge and the Blaze were better than the Charge 3 with the same basic features and inaccuracies.  I wear a Fitbit (now my older Blaze) on one wrist and the Apple watch on the other. Why, you ask?  For comparison purposes.  My main goal for wearing the Blaze is to track food intake; calories, sodium and the amazing database of food along with the ability to scan barcodes for those items that are not in the database.  I could just use the app or my computer to enter the information and I did for a while.  I took the Charge 3 back after a month since customer service doesn't give a hoot about the customers.  Not a word or encouragement regarding these easily fixed problems.  Oh well.....

[GunGuy]

Here's a real kicker.  I received an email from Fitbit today (this is important):

We are looking for enthusiastic testers to participate in our beta test of future Fitbit Charge 3™ e...

REALLY?!  First, the email was received today Feb 2nd.  Too late for the Jan 30th cutoff.  Second, they will notify those selected no later than Feb. 1st.  Their website has now extended the selection date.  Why couldn't they tell us that a fix/upgrade was in the works?????  I may have kept the Charge 3 to see if all of my concerns were addressed/fixed.  Another example of very poor customer service.

[FloraDraws]

Totally agree! By the time my old eyes adjust and can see the screen, it has timed out. Plus I would love for it to stay a bit longer so I can get a more accurate heart rate reading. It's getting really annoying and I am even thinking about returning the device just because of this flaw. Please fix this; it should a simple feature to add to the update to make it possible for Charge 3 users to adjust timeout duration. 

[eveningsong]

I don’t know but I wish they would take note and hear what their customers are saying.


Sent from my iPad

[CrusherNL]

Please fix the screen on time for the charge 3. Three seconds is way too short! I would like to see some options, like 5 sec, 10 sec, 1 min (for the nurses) and always on during exercises. 

[Jsmcquown]

I agree. Would really like to have the timeout as configurable. Having the screen stay on during workouts would be really helpful.

[Dmenesses]

Please increase the screen time for the watch. I have to hit or shake several times just to read.  And seeing messages on my phone is useless.  The font is so small I need a magnifying glass to read them.