Is it worth upgrading to Sense 2 now?

[stclevine]

I have the Versa 3 and it is 3 years old and no longer charges to 100%.  I have been looking ash the Sense 2 but just read that Fitbit is doing away with that and the Versa soon.  This makes me think twice about buying it.  Do any of a you know if Fitbit will continue to support these watches after we buy them?  I have an iPhone which is why I can't get a Google watch. The Apple Watch would be my only alternative to the Sense.

[LZeeW]

@stclevine   Google said that there won't be a Sense 3 or Versa 5, but the Google Store still sells the Sense 2/Versa 4 in all color combinations.  So I don't think they are doing away with them soon.  Fitbit/Google say they generally provide software support and updates for two years after they are last sold in the Google Store.

You wrote that your battery won't charge to 100%, but do you still have generally good battery life?  If you use any third party apps, then the Sense 2 is not an upgrade.  Google doesn't allow any third party apps on the Sense 2.  The Sense 2/Versa 4 don't have a generic music control, a real downgrade if you like controlling music from your Versa 3 screen.  They also didn't put the Agenda app on the S2/V4.  There is a smaller selection of third party clock faces, too.

I hope this gives you things to think about.

[stclevine]

Thanks for the response.  I don't use third party apps.  I keep track of my steps, use notifications for calendar, text, call notifications.  Another reason I am looking at the the Sense is because I read that the bands I have for the Versa will fit it.  And the better health monitoring.  Is that true?

[LZeeW]

@stclevine   Your Fitbit brand bands should fit a Sense 2, no problem.  Mine do.  Some users complained that some of their third party bands didn't fit in a Sense 2 or Versa 4.

I'm not sure what you mean by better health monitoring.  The Sense 2 has hardware (ECG/EDA) that isn't in the Versa series.  Fitbit updated the heart rate algorithm in the Sense 2/Versa 4.

[stclevine]

When I compare I see that the Sense 2 has ECG, better stress monitoring, and SpO2, 

[LZeeW]

@stclevine   The SpO2 feature is the same on all models, meaning you get your average sleeping value.

[barky81]

Absolutely NOT. Google has clearly sent the message that Fitbit devices are OUT.

A Sense 2 that cost almost $200 a year ago is worth $35 as a trade in for the new Pixel Watch (which they heavily advertise along with a Fitbit Premium subscription).

Given that combined with the total lack of support (or even communication at this point) on serious issues means it would be throwing away your money to keep buying these devices.

[LOIj]

I haven't yet been able to get the ECG to work. Ive owned this watch a month,  Sense 2.  I bought it because I have heart issues. 

[grbmds]

Difficult question to answer....

One, the Sense 2 has more features and the battery lasts longer. It attaches to GPS much more reliably and faster and does all the things your Versa does.

Two, though, is that the Fitbit app has problems which  just don't seem to be on the priority list of Google to fix.

  * The cardio load function isn't really useful as there is no way to actually determine what it means by easy or more aggressive exercise. No matter what I do it never indicates that I did the right amount to match my goal. Plus, for several weeks it was gone from my notifications (to my relief because I really didn't care) and now it's back again but it seems to be even less useful (if that is possible).

  *The settings for exercises don't really work. For example, on my bicycling screen, I can set the top and bottom stats to what I want, but not the middle stat. No matter what I select and turn on and off, I get them all. This is certainly not the end of the world, but it sure is annoying and inconvenient.

 It just doesn't seem as if Google has a commitment to making the app work as it was designed. Not sure why this is or what the incentive is to get it all to work right. It seems to me that every time a new version is installed, some things are fixed and new ones are broken.

I joined Fitbit Premium for the trial period,  but not I'm not even sure I'll stick with my Fitbit Sense 2. I would encourage Google/Fitbit to be more forthcoming about their plans for future issuances of watches and to actually test updates to the app before publishing to determine whether they have not only fixed problem but they haven't broken other features.

Please create a switch to turn off cardio load and readiness. Without a clear indication of what they really mean and how to address highs and lows, they are not useful and get in the way of using the app.