Help me choose between Sense and Charge 5?

[Simira]

I am trying to choose between Fitbit Charge 5 or Fitbit Sense.

I have Charge 3 now, and is happy with it (well, until it broke).

Important to me:

The health measurements and tools offeret by both the devices

Battery life (Charge 5 wins)

Screen utilisation (Sense wins)

I am chronically ill and don't really excercise. I haven't found any functionality in Sense that I need and is not in Charge 5.

Will Sense feel big and lumpy for more than a couple of days?

Will I always be annoyed about the screen on Charge 5 using only about half of the space of the surface?

Does that one day of battery life really make a big difference?

Help?

[Odyssey13]

Hi @Simira  did you take the quiz to see which Fitbit would best suit you? Click to take it.

[Simira]

Thanks, but that was totally useless as of to my questions of which to choose. If you read the three questions at the end there. 😉

[Simira]

And, yes, I read countless reviews and "Charge vs Sense"-articles. They don't help on those questions either.

[Odyssey13]

I've asked a moderator to stop by to address this with you. You can always call customer support to see what they might suggest.

[Simira]

Do you think they can give any valuable and relevant advice? I'd think this is more interesting from a user perspective, but I expect the employees have experience with the different models as well. Can I expect them to not just advice me on the one that gives them most profit though?

[Guy_ · Accepted solution]

Hi @Simira - the weak points of a Sense are

• poor vibration for notifications and alarms
• currently using all features you may only get 2 days battery between charges
• heart rate can be inaccurate if you are moving, but accurate when still
• faulty charge cables, causing no or slow charging
• screens becoming detached, doubtful about water proofing

A Sense is nice and comfortable, nice larger display, with many features and different displays can be downloaded from the Gallery, though as you are used to the Charge 3 form the Charge 5 may be more familiar to wear, but one can get used to anything.

[Simira]

Thank you, that was very helpful. Fancy functionality is not important to me, and the weaknesses you describe worries me a bit. I need the screen to show the time and maybe steps and the occational phone message. Heart rate accuracy is more important due to my health issues.

Charge 5 is one step forward on my list now at least.

[SunsetRunner]

No doubts for me as the Sense has the HR issue that completely annihilate all pros it might have over Charge 5. So Charge 5 is definitely the best between the two, in my humble opinion.

[Simira]

Thank you!

[BarefootRunner]

I will just give you a recap of 'my experience' with the Sense. Before getting the Sense, I had the Charge 4 and it worked well as well as being not overly large and cumbersome. 

I have had nothing but issues with the Sense in both the mechanical and software sides. On top of this, the heart rate and SpO2 readings have never been that close to actual on mine. I have checked against medical HR monitors, my own reading and other ways to check HR and it is always off by a large margin. I do understand that with these things there is always a certain amount error, but mine has been quite a bit over the standard margin. The same with the SPo2.

Others may have another experience.

[Simira]

Thank you, this is obviously a clear choice.

[Simira]

For the reference, I have now had the Fitbit 5 since January. Turning off the GPS I easily get over a week out of the battery, and it charges really quickly. The HR is not terribly accurate, but as good as one can expect from a watch. I do not use a lot of the functionality, but the ECG seems to work well enough.

The readiness score is way out of it, but that is likely due to my illness (CFS/ME).

Sleep score mainly goes by the amount of sleep, so as long as you lie still enough for long enough it goes up. Nice insights though.

All in all I am happy with my choice, and not sure I would be with a Sense, at least I got everything I wanted with the FB5.

[Odyssey13]

Thanks for the update @Simira and glad you're pleased with your Charge 5.

[danfry69]

Wow! All these are great answers. I had a HR2 and it has worn down (the battery that is). I then got a HR4. I am not pleased. I find the display way too dim for outside use. I was going to go to the Sense, until what I read above. SO, it seems like the HR5 is the better choice, but, can anybody comment on the brightness of the HR5 outside. I guess technically, the HR5 is an easier watch to get use to based on similar size. Comments much appreciated! 

[Rufous44]

@danfry69 the Charge 5 is way better than C4 regarding the visibility of the display outdoor