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Heart rate inaccurate on Fitbit Sense

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‎10-12-2020 20:12 - last edited on ‎09-22-2021 18:12 by Fitbit Moderator

‎10-12-2020 20:12 - last edited on ‎09-22-2021 18:12 by Fitbit Moderator

Hey 

 

is anyone else experiencing huge heart rate inaccuracy during exercise with the sense? 

During exercise with the sense it won’t ever get above 120bpm for me 

 

but if I use my charge 4 during the EXACT same exercise my heart rate is between 145-170bpm in the cardio zone 

 

It’s extremely disappointing and I don’t want to have to switch to my charge 4 everytime I exercise to ensure accurate heart rate 

 

defeats the purpose of having the sense 

 

seriously one of the most frustrating experiences I have ever had.

 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

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568 REPLIES 568

‎09-22-2021 21:43

In response to Irish57

‎09-22-2021 21:43

what i really have to say is that since i acquired sense earlier this year, with the latest updates it is more fluid. But I think the updates are to remove app and device glitches. It doesn't make sense to increase more functions if the main thing for performing all calculations and metrics is not repaired, the heartbeat sensor is one of the main reasons we get this type of device.

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‎09-23-2021 04:46 - edited ‎09-23-2021 05:34

In response to IgorR11

‎09-23-2021 04:46 - edited ‎09-23-2021 05:34

I'm disappointed with Fitbit.

 

Both with my last year's Versa 2 (which I had to return, due to the skin problems it was causing me) and this year's Sense, the only two Fitbit watches I owned, their heart rate accuracy was never very reliable for my needs and when compared to other brands devices. Just by reading so many posts about Sense HR issues on this community forum, it's clear that I'm not alone on that.

 

At the moment, whenever I need accurate heart rate continuous readings, I use a second watch, a Polar I got for half the price of Sense just to go with their excellent H10 chest strap I had to buy, because Fitbit keeps not allowing to pair Sense with an external HR sensor. Of course I don't like having to wear two watches at the same time, one on each wrist. But by now I have to, I'm not willing to spend many hundreds of euros, or dollars, in less than a year, on this kind of devices, which we never know how good they really are until we use them for several weeks at least. And my available time for dealing with all these issues is limited, as everyone else's.

 

Unless there is a sharp change of Fitbit policy and practice on these issues, my current Sense, which otherwise has several other great features, will probably be my last Fitbit. I just can't take seriously anymore the Moderators hopeful words about future solutions that never came.

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‎09-23-2021 05:14

In response to Giampi71

‎09-23-2021 05:14

Have they ever done this before? 

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0 Votes

‎09-27-2021 18:13

In response to SilviaFitbit

‎09-27-2021 18:13

I have no idea why this issue is listed as solved. This issue persists and absolutely no reliable resolution has been presented. I regret ever investing in this device. It is WILDLY inaccurate and as of now the only thing I can say to people who ask me about it when they see it is “Do not buy one!”

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‎09-27-2021 18:44

In response to rryanhayes

‎09-27-2021 18:44

I did not realize this was “resolved”, once again they continue to
represent they care and are interested in those that invested hundreds of
dollars! Yet, their product is substandard! How incredibly sad! Interesting
no moderator has stepped in to comment!
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‎09-27-2021 19:02 - edited ‎09-27-2021 19:26

In response to Irish57

‎09-27-2021 19:02 - edited ‎09-27-2021 19:26

Heart rate inaccuracies in Fitbit Sense are certainly not solved. Nothing changed. Sometimes it is surprisingly near-accurate, other times HR values are all over the place. Just can't trust them*. And this while always wearing Sense according to Fitbit and its Moderators advices.

--

* Except when we are sitting quiet, or sleeping, or otherwise not moving. Then, they are usually accurate. But that's not a watch to help you getting fit, is it?

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‎09-28-2021 21:35

In response to gbass

‎09-28-2021 21:35

As a tennis player, I can tell you I am well into my cardio range during a match, but my Sense is telling me I’m below any range. It’s infuriating as it impacts my goal achievement. I may switch back if they don’t fix it soon. 

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0 Votes

‎09-29-2021 13:59

In response to SunsetRunner

‎09-29-2021 13:59

Thank you so much! Sadly,they simply state what they are told to say! I
too, have used Fitbit for several years! Looking forward to your update!
Thank you!
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‎09-29-2021 15:19 - edited ‎09-29-2021 15:34

In response to SunsetRunner

‎09-29-2021 15:19 - edited ‎09-29-2021 15:34

@Tgisele  thank you very much for your valuable contribution.

 

I'm not very hopeful anymore about Sense heart rate and I'm more and more convinced they will come out with some new watch to replace Sense before fixing it. But anyway always looking forward to some good news at last.

 

It is curious that most users complain about Sense heart rate being too low during their hard training, just like you, while I and others, on the other end of the spectrum, have to do only very low intensity training and complain that often Sense, at some point, shoots up to crazy high heart rates, sometimes twice our real heart rate, then coming down again after seconds or several minutes, it depends. I am sure of that now, because for that past weeks I've used at the same time a Polar H10 chest strap, generally accepted as the most accurate heart rate device on the market.

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‎09-29-2021 16:21

In response to SunsetRunner

‎09-29-2021 16:21

Fully agree customer support is useless.
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‎09-30-2021 17:37

In response to SunsetRunner

‎09-30-2021 17:37

My heartrate is not accurate even while resting. I can go from 70 to 90+ while sitting. 

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‎10-01-2021 06:38

In response to Tgisele

‎10-01-2021 06:38

@Tgisele it depends on how you were tracking your activity. If you track "Swim" from the Exercise on the watch then the HR will be turned off. Some people say, if it's recognized automatically, then HR stays on (it used to be like that, then I remember some updates changed that for some watches, not for others, can't be sure anything anymore).

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0 Votes

‎10-01-2021 07:10

In response to t.parker

‎10-01-2021 07:10

Thank you @t.parker. I use the workout mode, I do swim a few laps duirng the class, but there is more treading water and using weights. 

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0 Votes

‎10-01-2021 07:29

In response to Tgisele

‎10-01-2021 07:29

Chiming in on this as well - new Sense user as of early September. For me - the heart rate looked to be "in the ballpark" with respect to specific activities like walking , treadmill etc - but I have noticed within the last week for certain that something has changed and not for the better.

 

Today I placed my Sense in "Workout" mode and I did a kettlebell HITT workout. Given the aggressive nature of this routine (and the clear ramp up of BPM) - I could feel that I was easily in 130-140 territory for most of it but my Sense was sitting there telling me I was barely touching the Fat Burn Zone at 105BPM - and of course the calories lagged way behind as well.

 

Have also noticed in just the last day or two that my sleep score suddenly will not sync. Found another tip on internet about having to "add" Sleep to the Today app (on the Sense) and then I would see the sleep score on the front face. But it seems this "workaround" is required every day as I had to do it again today.

 

It feels to me like a new firmware update came down the pipe sometime in the last few days and along with it came a bunch of junior programmer bugs.

 

For the price of this device - AND the fact that Fitbit has been making devices for years now - you would have thought they would get the basics correct.

 

Sonic

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‎10-01-2021 11:17

In response to SonicMojo

‎10-01-2021 11:17

Similar situation when I exercise. Today,  during an intense workout heart rate vacillated between fat burn and barely cardio! I get during cool down the 95-100 range but not when I’m working so hard.

After completing exercise came upstairs and for 3 minutes my heart rate was over 135! Go figure! 
Sense has some neat features but their denial of heart rate inaccuracies is a very poor reflection of their product and company! 

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‎10-01-2021 19:42

‎10-01-2021 19:42

Add me to the list of furious customers.  I was killing myself for 10 minutes cycling only to look down and see a 105 heart rate....  Huge buyers remorse, should Have went with Apple.

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‎10-02-2021 04:39

In response to TrickSizzla

‎10-02-2021 04:39

Same situation on my jogs and elliptical! If heart rate is incorrect so is
calorie count! So…what data on my Sense is accurate?
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‎10-02-2021 04:41

‎10-02-2021 04:41

It seems a little bit like the sense doesn't know that there might be HR > 140.

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‎10-02-2021 07:04

In response to JackDrake

‎10-02-2021 07:04

Tested the heart rate per elliptical versus Sense heart rate! Not sure why
I didn’t before?
Sense 115
Elliptical 138
Quite the disparity!🤦🏻‍:female_sign:
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‎10-02-2021 15:20 - last edited on ‎10-15-2021 13:50 by

In response to Strikes

‎10-02-2021 15:20 - last edited on ‎10-15-2021 13:50 by

As I have written several times before I continue to have heart rate inaccuracies! It seems on Sense forum this is a prevalent problem. Today, I thought to compare elliptical heart rate monitor versus Sense heart rate reading. Not sure why I haven’t in past? Quite the disparity…Sense 115, Elliptical 138. I truly don’t wish to hear about restarting or pat fixes!! Is this something that is being worked on by Google/Fitbit???

Did not receive response after many hours! Interesting!!!

 

 

Moderator edit: subject for clarity 

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