Does Sense 2 have Connected GPS?

[t.parker]

According to this article, it doesn't:

https://help.fitbit.com/articles/en_US/Help_article/1874.htm?Highlight=gps

According to the watch compare page, it does:

I don't see anything referring to dynamic or connected GPS in the manual either.

Some people already have their devices. Can anyone confirm what GPS is available on Sense 2/Versa 4?

[RonaldM]

Somehow the Sense 2 is more and more disappointing. 

[t.parker]

@RonaldM this is valid only for Charge 4 and Charge 5.

[LZeeW]

@t.parkerI escalated your question through a Community Council forum to help get an answer.

Update: Still no answer from Fitbit.

[LZeeW]

Still no answer from Fitbit to a very simple question.  I'm pretty sure the Compare Features section is wrong and it wouldn't be the first time.  Neither the Features and Specs nor the manual mentions Dynamic GPS.  Hands on third party reviews are out.  No one mentions Dynamic GPS.

[N8teGee]

@LZeeW I'm finding it quite concerning that Fitbit are ignoring simple/genuine questions from users. Especially considering the sea of conflicting documentation across the product pages, user manuals and other official media. 

[t.parker · Accepted solution]

Now I can answer my question myself. There is no connected GPS feature and the built-in GPS seems to consume more power than in original Sense.

[Guy_]

Totally confused by the non availability of options.

Your phone needs GPS for the Fitbit App to sync and the watch options are:

So why can't you choose in Watch Settings, and per exercise, which one you want to use and when, on all watches with GPS?

Why doesn't it automatically use the phone one anyway, if you have it with you with Location on? The phone has a more robust GPS process capability and more power.

Why doesn't it merge the results from the watch and phone for better precision, in case for example of lost signal or low battery?

[t.parker]

@Guy_ once you are here, have you noticed this setting?

I don't think anything can be done with it but it leaves some hope that future updates may bring SDK and some way of communicating with dev studio.

[Gch_]

Thanks @t.parker - very interesting.

However that option does not exist in the menu on a Versa 4 - which seems to indicate platform differences between Sense 2 and Versa 4.

The Versa 4 has firmware 61.20001.159.418, what does the Sense 2 have?

And btw, as it is a completely different versioning system, is there any confirmation what OS the watch is actually running?

It would seem to indicate not the usual Fitbit OS SDKs as we know them.

It leads to the next unanswered question, what is the actual geometry of the screen?

Thank you for that photo.

[t.parker]

@Gch_ my Sense 2 has version of FW: 60.20001.169.418

I think the screen geometry is just a square. The corners are rounded but I believe those pixels are just clipped by the shape of the watch. It is different from fully circular screen like on Galaxy watches where rendering can use circular coordinates.

If you look at the edges there is no any distortion and possibly thr screen is physically cropped but the resolution and pixels would be addressed within full square. This is actually good question and I will try to measure the resolution of the display and estimate amount of "invisible" display.

[asiayeah]

I know it's an old question.

But can I ask again if Sense 2 is confirmed to have no Connected GPS? I just checked the Fitbit Compare Products page and it's still showing a tick for both Sense 2 and Versa 4 with Connected GPS.

If we plan to hike for longer than 4 hours, do we really need to turn off GPS on Fitbit's exercise app. Otherwise built-in GPS couldn't last longer than 4 hours I assume?

Thanks.

[Guy_]

Hi @asiayeah -  good spot, the Sense 2 and Versa 4 only have builtin GPS, see my previous post which is a shame it doesn't have better..

In the Exercise settings it only allows to turn builtin GPS On or Off.

However there is another error in the Sense 2 manual which says

"Using built-in GPS impacts your watch's battery life. When GPS tracking is turned
on, Sense 2 can track up to 12 hours of continuous exercise."

while in the Sense 2 specs it says

"Up to 5 hours with continuous GPS."

[asiayeah]

Thanks, @Guy_.

So is it 5 or 12 hours based on real life testing?

Fitbit is awesome. 

[t.parker]

@asiayeah my real-life usage shows that 1hr of GPS uses 10%-12% of battery. I never had a chance to use Sense 2 on longer hike but did that with original Sense and it lasted almost 11 hours. Looking at Sense 2 power consumption I would expect something similar. The battery drain will increase in case of losing GPS and trying to reconnect.

[Guy_]

@asiayeah- my guess, as the Sense 2 has a smaller battery, continuous GPS duration is closer to 5 hours, depending on how good the signal is and whether it can sustain a constant connection for that long.

[asiayeah]

@Guy_ 5 hours is probably a good guess esp we can't assume the fitbit is always fully charged to begin hiking. 

[t.parker]

@asiayeah Just my today run, 45min with GPS used 6% of the battery. That would give 8% per hour which is approx. 12 hours. Of course, that time will reduce with waking the screen up and whenever GPS is dropped (reconnecting is more power-hungry). Today's usage was lower than what I observe usually but GPS didn't disconnect even once so that may have conserved some power. Even if it will get reduced to 10 hours it's still quite alright and pretty much what original Sense offers. Mind that if you pause tracking the GPS does not stop, it will still be draining your battery.