Battery life

[winkey26]

I have just given away my amazing charge 3. Bought the Sense as it’s supposed to be better. Well I have to charge this ever 2 days my charge lasted a week even with me walking 10 km every day. Messaging etc   I find it drains overnight too. This is a huge flaw and I would like you people to fix this and replace my watch when you do. This is just awful. I paid double for this watch to. I noticed everyone has the same problem. 

[Guy_]

One thing you can try is if you are using the SpO2 clock face is to use another face and see if that helps.

Also remove the Always On display.

[Guy_]

If that fails get a replacement watch or try Fitbit Support They may be able to help you.

[N8teGee]

Actually, I would check to see if the SpO2 "app" is installed as this will still drain battery regardless of whether the clock face is used or not. If it's not a feature you use, there are definitely battery savings to be made by removing it. 

[Guy_]

@N8teGee 

Thanks for the suggestion, but my Sense has it installed and my battery life is nearly 6 days, so he shouldn't have such a poor battery life, but worth investigating.

It's more like a faulty watch as it should still last at least 5 days with SpO2 tracker app.

[N8teGee · Accepted solution]

Having the spO2 app installed vs not installed reduces my battery life (I've tested extensively) from around 5-6 days to 3-4 days (I don't use the clock face at all). So throw in a bit of GPS tracking (which I don't use often), I'd say it's absolutely plausible that the app alone could be the culprit. I'm not sure why you're not seeing the drain, but I've confirmed my own experience with multiple other users. 

[Guy_]

@N8teGee 

Interesting, I don't use any GPS and use the SimpleClockDuo clock face which is very efficient, despite all it does, so it may be your clock face thats a bit thirsty.

But for @winkey26  2 days is not much better than an Apple watch, that only does almost a day.

[N8teGee]

@Guy_ I'm sorry but it's not an issue with my clock face at all. Like I said in my previous post, without the spO2 app installed I get around 5-6 days battery life, and with it installed I get only around 3-4. The only change being the spO2 app. I can agree that some watch faces are heavy (and it's a good idea for users to also check this), which is why I stick to the same one I used as far back to the Ionic. I've confirmed the above with other users, so know it's not an issue exclusive to my device.

In fact after the last update one of my friends was scratching his head trying to work out why his battery life had almost halved (during the update the spO2 app was installed without his knowledge). I told him to check to see if he had the spO2 app installed (he did), so he removed it and normal service was resumed. 

If the case is the same for @winkey26 and we also throw GPS into the equation for good measure, I could completely believe the battery could be reduced to around 2 days (we don't really know the users usage habits). Granted, if he uses GPS a lot he'd never expect the full 5-6 days even without the spO2 tracking. If it turns out that he doesn't use GPS, then yes it could indicate a hardware failure. First I think any software issues should be ruled out before deciding it's hardware related though. 

[Guy_]

@N8teGeeThanks, good idea.

@winkey26Hope you can check out his advice and post back, we would like to know.

[winkey26]

I am older and not very tech savvy where do I find the spo2 app

[Guy_]

No problem

In the phone Fitbit App

Click on profile photo [top left]

Device photo [middle left]

Click Apps Tile

Under MY APPS

It will list all your apps

Find the SpO2 Tracker

Click on it and click uninstall

Let me know how it goes.

[Donna80]

There are plenty of threads with battery life complaints about the Sense. It has 2 days at best, whereas my old Charge, Versa, and Versa 2 could all manage a week easily. I have factory reset it then uninstalled and disabled everything I can on this thing and there were no gains. There's an issue with it and it badly needs investigating.

[Guy_]

@Donna80 

Try the advice in the 3rd post of this topic.

[Donna80]

Replace it? I returned my first two for replacements, due to faults, and each still has a 2 day battery life. Nothing extra installed, and everything removed or disabled that I can, and no SPO2 watch face or app.

[slbert]

@N8teGee 

Thanks for the tip about the SpO2 app! I was lucky to get three days before having to sync (and I have a basic clock face). I deleted the app and, after 35 hours, my Sense is still at 85% charge.

[N8teGee]

@slbert Glad to hear it helped. 

[winkey26]

I did not have the Sp02 installed but I took off the always on and I am getting more life. Thank you 

[N8teGee]

@winkey26 Yes the AOD is a big battery drain. Personally I've never used it as I don't see the point in having the screen on when it's covered by my sleeve 95% of the time. 

[SPGmd]

If it helps I just posted a review of the battery if you are looking for a comparison for what is and is not normal. 

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Sense/Fitbit-Sense-battery-review/td-p/4710422

[slbert]

After taking @N8teGee's suggestion about deleting the SpO2 app, I went from almost three days charge to 6 1/2 days (I recharged at 24%). I still have notifications on but turned calls off (since I don't use it). No GPS used and exercising between 1-2 hours per day. Hopefully in the future, Fitbit can solve the massive battery drain but, until then, I'll not bother with the SpO2.