So, I've had the Charge 3 and the sense, I figured the sense, given it's name, would have more, higher quality sensors in it. I made the jump because the Charge 3 has no support for apps, even if I want to make an app myself (I work in I.T. it's not far-fetched to think I could), I can't for the Charge because it's not the same platform as everything else.
Regardless, I regularly find that the fitbit drops basically 100 bpm from the heart rate, or simply cuts it in half. (so if you're at 180bpm, it will show/register ~90). First, I don't expect this to be perfect, ever. HRM has always been inexact. So even if you're wearing two of the same HRM monitors, they probably will show different numbers; usually by a small margin, but usually fairly close. I'd say the tolerance I have for inaccuracies of this sort are 5-10 bpm, not much more. So this is kind of a problem for me.
I'll regularly be working out, run out of steam, take a break and check my HR, just to make sure I'm not over-doing things (still getting back to being fit, so I need to take breaks to make sure I don't have a stroke or something). and the fitbit will show 90 or 110 or something which I can TELL is wrong.
I happen to have a finger SpO2/HRM unit I got on the cheap from the local pharmacy (maybe $60?), I know it's not good, or accurate, but I believe it's far more accurate than most, given that method of HRM is the same as what hospitals use, albeit, hospitals use vastly more complicated (and accurate) equipment, it's just HOW they do it, so I assume it's within the 5-10 BPM that I feel is "good enough" and that will easily show 160, 180 and higher BPM, I took a picture of the problem not long ago, wearing the SpO2/HRM, and took a shot of my watch and the SpO2 in the same picture, showing VASTLY different numbers (142 on the SpO2 and 86! on the fitbit). It's basically a meme for me at this point.
the problem has always existed, and I don't know if it's a programming/calculation error on the fitbit or if it's a problem with the sensor, or if it has something to do with how the sensor operates, I honestly have no idea. As far as I'm concerned, this problem is not new, and has always been an issue with fitbit.
This compounds the fact that I frequently get into "fat burn" zones, and according to fitbits calculations, I should be losing weight at an unhealthy rate. If I compare how many calories fitbit thinks I burn, to how many calories I log as food, I should be dropping weight quickly. I am not. My bathroom scale (analog) still shows me the same numbers every time I stand on it. Which forces me to conclude that either EVERYTHING else is wrong, or fitbit is wrong. I'm sure it's the latter, and I'm sure there's little to nothing I can do about it. I use fitbit as guidance for when my day's activity is sufficient, or I need to further exercise. At the end of the day, it's just one data point amongst all the information I'm watching for, to keep track of how healthy I really am.
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