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

[MrMogo]

Since heart rate monitor is inaccurate, has there been any discussion about accuracy of other metrics, e.g. hrs slept, deep vs REM, breathing rate?  I guess I’ll need to do my research there also. If they can’t get something as straightforward as heart rate, I’m starting to wonder about everything else I trend. Aria and weight seem pretty accurate (gained 2 lbs over thanksgiving!!)

[NeilFinny]

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@MrMogo wrote:

Since heart rate monitor is inaccurate, has there been any discussion about accuracy of other metrics, e.g. hrs slept, deep vs REM, breathing rate?  I guess I’ll need to do my research there also. If they can’t get something as straightforward as heart rate, I’m starting to wonder about everything else I trend. Aria and weight seem pretty accurate (gained 2 lbs over thanksgiving!!)

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Best view this chaps videos

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheQuantifiedScientist

[JennInAtl]

Just had a  nice chat with FitBit.  They say:  We’re aware of it and are working to identify a resolution as quickly as possible.

Chat Transcript below:

Chatting with Nikki Ann

• • Thanks for contacting Fitbit. Choose from the options below to get started.
  • Fitbit Premium
  • OK, I'll connect you with an advocate who can help you with
    Fitbit Premium
  • We're starting your chat session now.
  • Thanks for being a Fitbit customer! Someone will be with you shortly.
  • We're finding the best advocate to help you.
  • One moment please...
  • Nikki Ann will be with you shortly. Thanks for being a Fitbit customer!
• • Thanks for waiting. Please provide as many details as you can so we can get you back on track.
• • Can you please provide me with as many details of the issue you are experiencing as possible?
• • So I'm reading the topic in the Community Forum which clearly shows there is a problem with the Fitbit Sense heart rate tracking. I am having all of these same issue. Moderators have confirmed that the issue is being worked on, so that means there is a problem. Why isn't Fitbit doing a recall. This is ridiculous to spend this kind of money on a device and it can't even track your heart rate properly. Yes, I am wearing my band properly, have tried multiple positions, loose/tight (any tighter I'd amputate my wrist. Why isn't Fitbit doing anything to address these issues and saying the the Forum topic is SOLVED, which is BS?
  • https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Sense/Heart-rate-inaccurate-on-Fitbit-Sense/td-p/4529033/page/19
  • This issue was brought up in Sept 2020 and still nothing, I feel duped and ripped off
• • I'm sorry to hear that your having issues with your Sense heart rate tracking data.
• • I don't have money to waste on these devices
• • I appreciate the time you took in troubleshooting this issue prior to speaking with me. I will do my best to help you with this.
  • I get your point and this is not the experience we want you to have.
• • I feel like Fitbit is really dropping the ball on this and letting a lot of their users down.
  • It's no joke, it is really happening to a BUNCH of us
• • We're constantly striving to improve Fitbit products and services, and we appreciate all of the input we receive from our customers.
• • Probably the ones that truly use it to actually track their exercise and heartrate and not just steps, this needs fixed or I want my money back, but I've already read the policy all I can get it a fix with possible refurbished parts or a "possible" new device or REFURBISHED device. That is BS!!!!
  • Why are you continuing to sell a device that clearly isn't up to par?
  • I was working out this morning as SOON as my HR gets to 160 it immediately drops my heart rate to 90 beat/min
  • this isn't helpful AT ALL
  • lost of other have same problem
  • it's a coding issue
  • NOT a device issue
  • I
  • am an IT professional
• • I'd like to share with you that the Fitbit trackers are designed and produced in accordance with strict standards and undergo extensive internal testing. Having said that, we never stop working on improving the products that we release to our customers.
• • it's the code, there is some kind of threshold in the code that is causing this, please send this to your technology deprt
  • someone fat fingered the code and it is causing this 160 threshhold
  • Why don't you read this: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Sense/Heart-rate-inaccurate-on-Fitbit-Sense/td-p/4529033/page/19
• • I already take note of your suggestion and feedback. We do apologize for any inconvenience about this.
• • then you'll understand the frustration and the PROOF there is a problem
  • I have a Polar I wear at the same time that tells me my true heart rate that the Sense can't figure out BUT that's doesn't help me with any of the data driver reports/info that the Sense shows me when it's working off of bad data
• • We’re aware of it and are working to identify a resolution as quickly as possible.
• • ok, thanks, that's why the moderators have been saying for a year in the forum AND they closed that article as SOLVED, so I don't have much hope
  • I'll just sell my Sense on Ebay to some other SUCKER!
  • and get an Apple watch, disappointing because your features are really superb but UNRELIABLE!
  • Please let your coders know the problem lies in the CODE I'm 100% sure of it
  • There's nothing you can do for me so I'm closing chat.

[whiskeytango]

Dang. I got the Sense for my BF after watching videos that showed that the heart rate had gradually improved over the past year, with October being the last time the guy (Quantitative Scientist, I think). I'd hoped that the watch would be worth it if it really WAS being improved. 

Maybe I should just send it back unopened and wait for Samsung watches to hit their stride... Any thoughts? 

[SunsetRunner]

I've had my sense for two weeks, first fitbit, wife and kids have had them for a few years (versa 3 and charge??).

This happened to me for the second time today, same issue. I set activity to bike (GPS takes 1+ minute to connect standing in the middle of my driveway). When I set the activity, my HR is 90... 92. I get on the bike and sprint for 30 seconds then assume my normal pace for 2 or 3 minutes. I do not feel the vibration indicating heart rate zone change. Because this happened a few days ago, I stopped the bike, checked HR in the activity (swipe screen) and my HR is 88. No way. I stop the activity and my normal clock face tells me my HR is 138 (50 BPM higher than it was 15 seconds ago).

Today I restarted the activity (bike) and it immediately recognized I was in the cardio zone (132 for me). Interestingly, the GPS connected within a few minutes. My question is, why does the activity drop my HR some, but  not all, of the time????

My other peeves (so far) I am hoping someone can help me out with:

1. GPS takes at least a minute, sometimes 3 to connect and I must be outside. My wife and daughter's connects in a few seconds indoors or out.

2. Despite saving the pswd, my wifi does not remember it. If I want to connect to wifi the network SysID is showing, but I must put the password in every time (not a big deal as I don't need wifi that often, yet).

3. The activity screen in the Android phone app. When I view an activity summary (today screen) it will show I biked for 10 miles in 50 minutes at an average speed of 5.6 miles (wrong) but if I open the details is correct (rate = distance/rate, so this should be easy... got the time, got the distance....

I am still in my return window and I'm wondering if I got a dud.  I haven't used all the functionality but if I am incorrectly losing 100+ 'zone minutes' per week (and this week it was over that and would have been double if I didn't restart the biking activity), what is the point. That is really what I want to track. Again, other family members do not have this issue with their older watches.

Thanks,

mattie

[TommyIzzo]

Hi @SunsetRunner   Sense has newer Heart rate technology. If you scroll down the page, there is a very large thread about Sense heart rate. 

[opiatedsherpa]

Unfortunately, the improvement didn't happen.  I have been a Fitbit user since 2014 and I have cycled through the Flex, Blaze, Surge, Aria, Aria Air, Ionic and for the last year, the Sense.  I have a giant spreadsheet tracking everything I can control and the Active Zone minutes have greatly diminished since I switched to the Sense.

I read the hints and tips, but I can honestly say that has been the only element that has changed in the mix of the numbers.  The band changed on my Ionic to a magnetic band, thanks to the loss of my right arm in 2019.  When I changed to the Sense, I found the same magnetic band for the Sense and have continued with my exercise.  Sadly, as much as I would like to say the Sense is a great piece of equipment, I'm very tempted to go backwards to my Ionic, which has a poor battery life after three and a half years of usage.  If there is a chance, I might try and go find a brand new Ionic, since I know it is a very good piece of equipment.

[SunsetRunner]

I read that. But, because my clock face shows the correct HR (but I can't view the activity and the clock face back to back, must restart activity) I think it is inherent to the app (software) and not the device (hardware)... Case in point, when I restarted today I did nothing to the watch, I did not move it on my wrist, tighten the band etc. as was pointed out in the other thread. Stopped, checked clock face (correct HR), restarted and the HR corrected.

I also wish I could put in specs for my bike as can be done in Strava... I am riding a 34 lb MTB with 2.5" knobbies where I average 12-13 mph. The calorie count on fitbit is as if I was riding my road bike (16 lbs .5" smooth road tires). The calorie count difference between Strava and Fitbit is substantial... 25-35%. Strava is inline with what I have researched/calculated on other sites... Strava appears to be accurate and fitbit is very far off.

[TommyIzzo]

@SunsetRunner If it was software, would think Fitbit could have figured something out in a year? Hope you're right, but nothing seems to be happening about fixing it. 

[SunsetRunner]

I've been a software developer for 30+ years and the fact that the clock face has it correct and the app does not... but then does.... my $ is on software.

I was hoping other's were experiencing the same thing and perhaps a moderator would take a gander. I've had the thing two weeks so I would assume it was not loaded with the latest patch/update, but I do not seem to have an update. The app can run in background (Android).

[SunsetRunner]

Also, if it is software, I would not be the only one having this problem... unless it was my software (which, an update would correct). Stopping during a ride to adjust your data acquisition defeats the purpose (unless there is a really hot chick and somehow I manage to start a conversation. But that doesn't happen to me).

[NazH]

I have the same issue, the Alta HR recorded active minutes (prefer) . Where the Sense only has Active Zone Minutes (rubbish) . If I knew this was the case, I wouldn't have bothered getting a new Fitbit. Very disappointed, please improve app for Sense and add the Active feature. 

[MrMogo]

That was a good video.  I'd like to think there is some accuracy to Fitbit; not exact, but not necessarily that bad.  I wanted to say this about the heart rate.  I remember reading somewhere else that motion could affect the accuracy and that seems to be the case.  When doing ellipticals, I found out the Sense wasn't that bad at recording heart rate if I kept my hands glued to something on the machine that wasn't working.  Of course, this won't be the case for active exercise like a Hit class, or jogging, etc.  Sense just doesn't seem to take good heart rate reading if your wrist is moving around.  But I guess I'll live with it for another year just for the nice apps and dashboard.

[UnguruBulan]

FYI - bought the Sense a week ago, its heart rate seems accurate enough to me ... 60-70 at rest, 110 during the brisk walk, 160 during the run outdoors, 150 during on the treadmill run.

[NazH]

OK I will give it a try, I guess I got use to my old Fitbit Alta HR, that logged my active minutes and fat burn calories throughout the day. Where as the Sense only has Active Zone Minutes, it would be good to have the option to see Active Minutes as well. Maybe something Fitbit could improve on. 

[obermd]

@UnguruBulan , did you Sense update to the current version of the firmware/OS when you were setting it up?  Mine did and my heart rate has been accurate for the two weeks I've been using it.  It was even reasonably accurate in the pool - tightening the band so the watch is pressed hard against your skin and then don't use the swim exercise will result in heartrate monitoring while swimming.

[UnguruBulan]

@obermd yes I remember the device did spend sometime on that software update, during the setup process.

The version I can see it has now is 44.128.6.12

When I say the heart rate reading is "accurate enough" I meant it's not always perfect, but not crazily off either, like on other members' reports here.

For instance, I noticed the other night, at a complete rest (in bed, just before sleep) it read 5-7 bpm higher than the reality (pulse being manually checked, using with a stopwatch).
Whereas at this very moment (noon time, while I resting on a chair) it read precisely the same value that I manually checked with the stopwatch.
It would probably be more difficult for me to do similar comparisons while exercising.

[obermd]

So now we have two people reporting the same thing on the current version of the FitBit OS.   I don't expect any wrist tracker to be 100% accurate, but I have seen consistency with my wife's Charge 4 and my Sense is consistent with her Charge 4, which I wore as a test prior to getting my Sense.

For those who want 100% pulse accuracy I suggest you use the chest strap solution with a wrist worn receiver.  This is the solution used by medical professionals to get an accurate heart beat reading during medical stress testing.

[Tgisele]

@obermd,  you are lucky that your Sense is fairly accurate. Mine is consistently inconsistent. I have worn a Polar chest strap at the same time, and one time my Sense is all over the place, the next it is close, but NEVER gets as high as the Polar. I don't expect the HR to be perfect, but it doesn't even come close. My HR can be 90+ while sitting and the same when I am exercising intensely. Today while my Sense was off my arm, it was registering a HR of 92. I am frustrated that Fitbit keeps saying that they are aware of the problem and working on it. That has been the response for over a year. We never hear when there will be a resolution and they continue to sell the Sense. 

[UnguruBulan]

@Tgisele I'm fairly new to Fitbit, never had a tracking device (other than apps on my smartphone) before this Fitbit Sense, but didn't take me too long to realize their customer support and their replies to people's frustrations here is quite immature, to say the least. It's maybe time for you to return / replace your Sense device.
What else's annoying me is their business model where lots of the device's capability can only be unleashed if you buy their Premium subscription on their app.
Also that without the app it's impossible to setup Sense.
Those kind if things make me regret a little bit for going with Fitbit, I was almost buying myself a Garmin before giving Fitbit a try.