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The font size of the steps, heart rate, miles, calories, etc. needs to be bigger, or have the ability to customize on the Charge 5. Currently these figures are just too darn small to read without reading glasses.
I ABSOLUTELY need a large font size. I am above 40 and I cannot read the small fonts when running. I have tried running with my eyeglasses but I do not like to have them on my face all the time when running. I have tried putting on the eyeglasses when I want to read the stats when running (and putting them back in my shorts once I am done) but I have now stopped doing that since it distracts me from the running. The fitbit charge 5 is pretty useless for me during my normal default mode of running where I do not have my eyeglasses. I have already started carrying an alternate watch which does have a large font size. In my opinion, the small font size on fitbit devices put them at a great competitive disadvantage compared to the alternate fitness trackers that offer large font sizes. Please get this done ASAP. Thank you.
Dear Fitbit and moderators, as per your standard replies to our suggestions to make a larger stat font for Charge 5 , I have been patiently watching this space for status updates for the last year.
Which never came. What a waste of time and customer loyalty. Should have returned the device immediately but got swayed by the " watch this space" robotic replies on this and other forums.
As it is, Charge 5 is becoming useless to me. I don't need just another watch face. I've got plenty of watches, might I say, watches much better looking. I bought Charge 5 specifically for the heart rate monitor stat, which unforfunately I can't see as the fonts are too small.
Why can't a face be designed to accomodate people that need reading glasses? Having to double tap on the screen (which doesn't always activate) and scroll down to reach a readable heart rate stat is a pain.
The alternative is to put my reading glasses on every time i need to read the stats during. And take them off again, as I won't be able to see anything else. And a minute later put them on and take them off again. And again, and again and again... ad nauseum.
You are excluding a huge chunk of your potential market that is interested in fitness and health (some stats say that 60% of over 40s need reading glasses).
I'm not sure there is anybody from Fitbit that actually reads these comments and is able to provide any usefull update? I'm not prepared to wait another year for a status update, especially if you want me to pay your premium subscription.
I've now given up on fitbit and am investigating other options. I can't recommend this device to anybody who's got a problem with their eyesight, despite the device performing well in other areas. It is useless if you can't see it !
Need to have font size option. The readout for heart rate, etc. is too small! Should have an option for larger font size so I don't have to dig out reading glasses every time I want to glance at the display.
Hi @eggsakley, thanks for taking the time to share this suggestion about increasing the font size on the Charge 5 with us. Because this idea was already requested in the Feature Suggestion board, 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.
Please address this issue and allow font adjustment in settings. I'm in the above 40 crowd that wants to be able to read it without reading glasses. Especially the heart rate!
Charge 5 needs option for larger fonts! There's plenty of space on the display for bigger font size. You'd think that Fitbit would realize that a lot of elderly folks like myself use these products. I have to dig out my reading glasses any time I want to take a quick glance at my heart rate,etc. Poorly thought out design. That's a deal breaker for me. I'm out!
agreed 100%. can't see stats while working out. font too small. just let me see heart rate and time at a decent size. something more workable. useless while working out for users over 45. frankly I don't care about seeing the time AT ALL I want to see health stats in a reasonable font size
I can't believe this issue still hasn't been addressed. I get there is limited space on the screen, but even one or two points larger on the font size could make the difference between wearing reading glasses while doing step aerobics or not. While not working out, I don't care so much - easy to put on glasses then. The alternate views during work outs do show a nice large single number (say, for heart rate) - great! but the mouse text below it, and on most other screens is really tiny. I think a court of law would agree fitbits be required to adhere to ADA recommendations. Not even getting into blind users (surely they exist!), but limited sight users (whether age-related, temporary, or just flat-out low vision) definitely would consider this a dealbreaker.
I just got mine yesterday and started looking up enlarging the display font and found this thread. I don't know if I'll keep it or not, but will give it a few more days before deciding. The device and its functions seem really cool otherwise. Fitbit, please make a more accessible device!
I think the Charge 5 is great including the display. However, data like steps and heart rate are not readable unless I put on reading glasses. Why is that? Why not make it usable? I think it is because great engineers designed the hardware and low level software but the human interface was done by liberal-arts woke wackos. I think that is obvious. What a mess!
I just completed my cataract surgery recovery and now I can't see the Fitbit Charge 5 face. I can read the time but nothing smaller without reading glasses and I don't want to have glasses around any more. Bummer.
Just got my Charge 5 to replace my Garmin Vivosmart HR (watchband issues). I'm re-thinking buying a new watchband for my old Garmin watch since it is so hard to read the Charge 5 data. So disappointing to see how long this Charge 5 vision accessibility issue has been discussed with no change. Fitbit basing the decision on "number of votes" makes no sense as it depends on people finding this discussion page first. I suspect people get disgusted and just return the **ahem** thing. The solution is simple, as has been implied in this discussion. Invert the face data presentation - Give an option of having small icons (color-coded as is presently done) and BIG font. There is a "Brightness" option. Why not a Large Font/Small Font option? The Charge 5 has so many interesting functions and the colors are appealing. It is all for naught if you can't read it! This certainly doesn't seem consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act nor is it responsive to the many Baby Boomers who may have the disposable income to buy this device.
I agree font sizes should be larger. I'm new to Fitbit and after reading this and a hundred other reasonable, common sense feedback suggestions posted over the past few years to improve Fitbit devices, none of the suggestions were actually implemented. It's now clear to me that Google has abandoned the Fitbit platform and is slowly killing it off one feature at a time. I really hoped to be a part of the passionate Fitbit community but if the owners have no connection or care about its users then it's pointless to stick around. I'm going back to my Apple Watch, which is sad.
I suggest calling Fitbit Customer Support. The squeaky wheel gets the grease so if enough people call in and take up their time maybe something will be done. The most outrageous issues are the battery percentage and the microscopic emojis!
@DavideFitbit I am 60 years old and work out 5-6 days/week. I use the Fitbit to track my running as well as to count my jump rope steps at the gym. I can not read the steps on my Fitbit, or anything for that matter except the clock face. I need to either go to the phone app or look through a "pinhole" I make with my hand to sharpen the view. This actually works, but makes me look like "an old person". I noticed at the gym that a younger gentleman at the gym has an Apple Watch with the font really large. I asked him if he can change the font size, which he showed me he can. My response was, well, "I guess I have to get an Apple Watch then". After having a Fitbit watch for 8 years, this is quite disappointing that you have not resolved this issue. If I knew the name of the Marketing Manager at Fitbit, I would write them myself. BTW, I live in Silicon Valley and can drive over to your headquarters to explain this if you like!! I think you should emphatically suggest that they allow an increase in the font size before we all catch on and move to the Apple Watch!!
I was excited to take my new Charge 5 to the gym this morning. This was so disappointing. I can’t read the stats! Even with my glasses on. I nearly fell off the treadmill trying to read my heart rate. What’s the point of the large red heart when you can’t see what your heart rate is? I didn’t actually realise it was also on the home screen until I read some of the reviews on here. So disappointing. Come on Google, sort it out! We want functionality not just pretty icons.
I like the look of my Charge 5 watch but cant do Zone 2 workouts if I cant see the HR display. Too much focus on screens with cute graphic designs instead of simple screens with useful data I can read easily. What brand of tracker should I buy to be able to see the basics - HR and time? All roads point to an Apple watch which I was trying to avoid.
Hi everyone, and thanks so much for sharing this Product Feedback! While we don’t currently have plans to release this feature, we always appreciate the passion and creativity that comes out of this Community. Since we know this idea is important to many of you, we have left voting open to continue tracking interest and will post another update if anything changes. To learn more about how Fitbit decides which product feedback is developed, visit our FAQs. We're always striving to enhance Fitbit products and services, and your input is a big part of that process. We truly thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.
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