How is the Sense 2 as a fitness tracker

[ogansemoi]

I have yet to receive my preorder (what's the point of preordering if you don't get the device until 4-5 days AFTER it's in stores?) and I'm trying to decide if I'm going to keep or return the Sense 2. (I am also considering a swap to the Versa 4 if the cEDA isn't functional).

I am torn. I am disappointed with what I've heard about the device and how it is a downgrade from the previous devices. No app store. No Google Assistant. 

That being said, for me, the issue with that is this is supposed to be an "upgrade." In reality, I don't really care about the smartwatch features. I'm ok with basic call/text notifications. I don't need music on my watch. I am using this as a fitness tracker. So, if the Fitness tracking features work, I may be able to look past the lack of third party apps.

What are your opinions on the Sense 2, not as a smart watch, but as a FITNESS/HEALTH TRACKER? (So, if they advertised it correctly/honestly). And how are the upgraded health/fitness tracking features compared to other or previous models? I'm mostly interested in the cEDA. (I've didn't have a Sense or Charge 5, so I don't really know much about the EDA feature of those devices. I don't have anything to compare it to)

[t.parker]

EDA and cEDA are rather useless. Sounds good on paper but not in action. There are several posts here about it. HR is mostly badly inaccurate. More sports labels (wouldn't call them 'modes') but eventually I went back to tracking non-GPS activities as Workout. I find new sports useless when they don't bring new sport-specific metrics. As well, I can rename Workout. GPS sometimes can be wonky (that is especially annoying during cycling as it causes undercounting the distance and estimating speeds). What else? It does track steps, calories, and floors. Does all that my old Charge 2. At the end of 2022, even as a fitness tracker, it is a rather basic device. Unlike its predecessor, most of the various details have to be seen on the phone (like the Today app, Sense can show lot more data, and Sense 2 sends you to open a mobile app) and that makes Sense 2 not only a poor tracker but also very boring.

[mix123]

You're going to get a ton of negativity on here. Seems like everyone is here to **ahem**. I actually think it's pretty good. I had an oura ring gen 2. I like what this sense version has. The GPS seems to work well for me. Heart rate seems fine. Sleep tracking is quite good. I like the Eda scans and stress scores. Readiness score with Premium is pretty good. Since it is such a new device it will only get better as they push out updates. 

[t.parker]

@mix123 "seems fine" and "is accurate" are two different things. For me it doesn't "seem wrong" but it is wrong. Raw data doesn't lie. Some users just want things working and "seem fine" isn't enough. GPS mostly works (although connecting takes longer than for other devices I use but is acceptable) but when it doesn't then it can chop long segments from activities. Won't matter so much when running (because distance and pace aren't calculated only from the GPS) but for cycling it's a great issue when it chops a few km from a total distance and on the map, you see long straight lines because GPS got lost. The Readiness isn't a Sense 2-only feature so won't be getting there. I don't expect Sense 2 to be as advanced as Garmin sports watches but while offering so little, the basics should be flawless. I'm glad it works for you. I expect slightly more at this price point.

[mix123]

Ya ok. Well GPS for cycling has been flawless. It keeps the same track as my wahoo. Also heart rate has been right on. So ya seems fine. 

[t.parker]

@mix123 I'm curious what is your reference when you test HR. Comparing the cycling HR to the chest strap the worse would be only if Sense 2 stopped reading HR. It's not even close (same issue as I had with the original Sense). As I said, I compare raw data and that's what I get. GPS probably depends on the location. Some people report the GPS won't even connect so it may depend on the part of the world people live in.

[mix123]

That's too bad the GPS didn't work for those people. Works for me. 

[FitAds]

I feel like my old charge was more accurate with GPS and didn't have issues with resting heart rate. Hoping it gets updated but at this point trying to decide if I want to keep it. I use it mostly for fitness and don't care about the smartwatch features. I think the inspire 3 may have less issues