Heart rate inaccurate on Fitbit Sense

[Cameronoates]

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

[Irish57]

I understand, I continue with the same issues. It skews all data, it’s sad
that I work out so hard but cannot rely on my Sense. Sadly, it is not in
budget to replace yet as it’s under a year old!

[Monikalew]

That is pretty discouraging.  The sleep app is not that accurate either. Possibly due to the inaccurate HR. I will try to call support as well. Thank you

Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS

[NeilFinny]

The sad thing is I was in the Fitbit environment for years, Zip, Charge, Ionic and finally Sense.

I liked the way the data was displayed in the dashboard.

But due to this issue I went and got a Apple Watch 6. For a while I wore both whilst exercising but when the sleep recording disappeared (unsure why and couldn't be arsed to reset and sort) I stopped wearing it. I've got different apps to replicate the Fitbit features and I doubt I'll now go back to fitbit.

[S.a.maes]

Same. 

[S.a.maes]

Exactement

[S.a.maes]

Was just looking at the apple watches myself. Although very expensive, I’m willing to drop the money to have a product that’s supposed to do what it’s supposed too. I do really like my watch face on my Fitbit, it’s 4 plants that grow leaves as I get more steps throughout the day. It’s nice to look down and see all the plants big green at the end of the day.

[SleepyxEquus]

I have both Apple and Fitbit (Ionic) I sent both Versa 3 and Sense back…their numbers were no where near my chest strap HRM. Ionic and Apple are, because Ionic is old Fitbit technology and they haven’t messed it up like they have with their new technology and well Apple right now is the best Watch on the market. Yet I like Fitbit’s app and is the only reason why I am still using my Ionic, until it craps the bed.

[NeilFinny]

Sadly when I got the sense I gave my Ionic to my dad.I'm thinking of giving him the sense and taking the ionic back ha.

What a waste of money though....

[NeilFinny]

I used to have a Apple Watch 0, and I couldn't stand it for exercise and thats why I upgraded my Charge to the Ionic.

Due to the issues in this thread and the view the Apple Watch was the best for heart accuracy I went and got a Series 6.

What I found over my previous try with a Apple Watch is that you really have to move away from the inbuilt apple apps on the phone and gather the data in things like Zones, Heartwatch etc.

Using standard Apple Apps on the watch is fine, it is using 3rd party ones on the phone

[pjruggeri]

It amazes me that after thousands of posts and literally months gone by Fitbit has done nothing to address this other than an empty “ we are working on it.” They quite literally took our money and ran. 

[SonicMojo]

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@pjruggeri wrote:

It amazes me that after thousands of posts and literally months gone by Fitbit has done nothing to address this other than an empty “ we are working on it.” They quite literally took our money and ran. 

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Oh - they are most certainly attempting to do something about it - but they won't be giving that discovery back to us Sense users for free.

If/when they ever arrive at a heart rate sensor that actually works properly - they will market the crap out of it and of course try to sell us all again. It's called capitalism. If you haven't already noticed  - FitBit is in the business of the "next thing". Once the "current thing" is out there and has ran it's course - it is conveniently forgotten, regulated to their maintenance (AKA - "we are working on it") pile for a while and then completed abandoned.

This company has no intent of really supporting their lineup and there is no way that we will miraculously get some free update that fixes out HR sensors. I have given up on wasting anymore time on this - and am focusing on my health now.

Also been reading more and more about how all this "tech" and tracking and other BS can be a true waste of time instead of just putting on my shoes, leaving the Fitbit in the drawer and going for a workout. Unless there is a life changing, truly serious medical reason that I need to be watching my HR 24x7 - I don't really know why I even bother.

In reality - the Fitbit - even with a working HR module - will not stop something bad from happening if that's in the cards. For me - as long as I am healthy, can keep pace with my workouts and don't suddenly keel over at the gym - it's all good.

Sonic.

[t.parker]

@SonicMojo I agree that Fitbit is a "next thing" company. Sooner they will release a new model of the watch than address existing issues. In this particular case, I don't think it can be fixed as if it could, it would already be done. Oh well... Fitbit knows people will mass pre-order next watch anyway. For many businesses, customer acquisition stands higher than customer retention.

HR can be very useful if you know how to use it. Tracking HR 24/7 is rather pointless in my case. Same, I don't need to track HR during walking or hiking. It is different however during training, especially when I prepare for a race. With data (not only HR but power, pace and a few more advanced metrics to assess my running form etc.). My data-based training I call sometimes "agile training". It's from agile methodology in software engineering. My approach to sport and improving performance is purely scientific and accurate data is important (and effectiveness of such training shows when I race). Sense is a toy, it's not a sports watch and I wouldn't use it for serious training but it doesn't mean that accurate data is no help 🙂

[Marmelade]

Euh totally, totally agree, on all counts.
My dearest and closest used to take the p… out of me and my obsession with FITBIT when checking all the parameters;
As a long term user of all the Fitbit gadgets, I trusted them completely and went for the big one, I.e. the Sense to give me a good idea where I stood, health wise.
Not anymore.
I just cancelled the premium bit as there was no point in having an update on my heart rate, etc., based on erroneous data.
I will go for an Apple Watch, eventually.
And as you quite rightly said, if any bad thing is going to happen whilst exercising, no point in getting panicky around wrong figures; my HR - after a walk - and seated, got to 140 and rising; I took the watch out, put it on the table so I wouldn’t peek and got on with some yoga breathing to calm myself down !
I get it with the money grabbing attitude; we just have to accept that there are some rotten apples.
Thanks for your enlightened post

Catherine

[Modanostar9]

This is not an answer to a fix!  Where is the Fitbit team?  Do not regurgitate general links to "tips".  We're way past that!  I just recently purchased this thing, and when doing extreme cardio like running, my HR is 95-110????  It should be 145-155(sprinting)!  Now I have to go back to my "end of life" Ionic because it's somehow superior?  Is THIS the reason you slashed the price of the Sense?  Sell defective merchandise at a bargain?

[Court575]

I have already read all those suggestions.  The "Best Answer" needs to identify when/how Fitbit is going to upgrade their equipment/algotithm to correctly measure BPM, and calculate Resting HR.  Also, please take the sleeping HR out from behind the Pay Wall, I was hoping that maybe Fitbit could calculate one thing right, since it "appears" to be closer to the true HR when I'm sleeping but I would not be surprised if Fitbit calculates my Sleeping HR at 60+, eventhough it's really always <50.  Really POOR quality device!

[Irish57]

But, then there is 300.00 out the door! Hurts my sensibilities!

[NeilFinny]

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@Irish57 wrote:
But, then there is 300.00 out the door! Hurts my sensibilities!

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My dad has a nice new expensive watch.....

[SunsetRunner]

@NeilFinny, if you gave your Sense to your dad, I hope he doesn't pay attention to the heart rate values. He may have a heart attack if he sees 120 or 140 bpm when, in fact, his heart his quietly beating at 70 bpm. It happened to me, except the heart attack. But my heart raced up to 120s when that happened for the first time...

After this last update, two days ago, Sense's HR seems less prone to those fake spikes, but it's still too soon to say.

[Toons114]

44.128.6.12 : Low HR became suddenly more precise with a gain of -10/-15 bpm ... but as a counterpart High Bpm become worst precise and horrible ... with values that can be far from +20/+40 bpm  ... Still more than a year and nothing fixed !!!!! My Last FitBit product !!! What a shame to be in this so slow SW release mode ... first as a respect for customer and then to catch up the market .... 

[SunsetRunner]

@Toons114, concerning low HR my first impressions (just two days after update) match what you say: looks more precise since last update.

I still couldn't test high HR.