My thoughts about the Fitbit Sense

[Flightmiss]

Anyone else disappointed in Sense? I loved my Ionic it held a charge for 5 days this sense barely makes two days. I uninstalled as many apps as I could from the 6 month free premium but it is still draining my battery. Any suggestions?

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Deoge]

Yes I got it not even close to as good as the ionic and try to get help is the worst there is

[Flightmiss]

I wish I had stayed with the ionic. You are correct I called customer service they don't have a clue so discouraging!

[eezeepee]

@Flightmiss Welcome to the Fitbit community.

What are your settings? I can get 4 whole days with these settings:
Brightness dim, screen wake motion and button, always-on display off, snore & noise detection off, SpO2 on.

The biggest battery drainers, especially overnight, are the snore & noise detection (Which is probably on because of the Fitbit Premium) and SpO2, but more so the snore & noise. With it on, I lose around 20% over 7 hours of sleep. With that option off, I only lose around 6-8% over 7 hours of sleep. I had it on for over a week and I don't snore and noise is minimal so it wasn't worth the drain. If I turned off SpO2 I would definitely get 5-6 days. I keep that on because it's part of the health metrics.

Also, keep in mind most battery claims for devices are in ideal conditions and are more of a maximum battery life rather than an average.

[Flightmiss]

Thank you I had uninstalled almost all of the apps from premium. I will see how it works now.

[eezeepee]

@Flightmiss I read that part but you can still have snore and noise detection on. Double-check that setting. Open the Fitbit app, tap your last sleep score, tap the gear in the top right corner, and then scroll to the bottom.

[Flightmiss]

Got it thanks!

[CRSTOP]

I am a little disappointed in some ways. The button is buried almost a bit under my wrist making it a harder to press compared to Ionic. I'm sure I'll get used to it in time, bit it definitely feels like a downgrade there. The angular look of the Ionic felt more stylish and masculine compared to the Sense (although in fairness, I'll still take the reduced bezils of the Sense over the Ionic).

Strangely, the Sense also seems to have a glaring omission of a good many gallery apps that Ionic had. A few such examples being the Music app for onboard storage, Calculator by AF-A (much better screen size ratio than comparable calculator apps), Strava gallery app, a Flappy Bird game, and that's not to mention others. I think Fitbit need to automatically drastically widen/upgrade the compatibility of all those classic Ionic galley apps. Because it seems to me like the developers are likely abandoning the updating of device compatibility?

[grammyk58]

Sense is horrible! I am so very, very sick of “forgetting “ it and reconnecting, and then having support send me another one that continually does the same thing!!!!

if Fitbit isn’t able to deliver the features then they shouldn’t claim that their product has those features. 
Things that work; tracking steps,heart rate, and O2 levels (at least numbers show consistently—I guess those things work)

Things that consistently lose connection: EVERYTHING ELSE!!!!! Sleep tracking, voice controls, connection to internet, on-wrist calls, “custom “ watch faces, selecting whether or not “extras “ disturb your sleep. 
FED UP!

[Daculaman]

I've only had mine a few days, so I am still learning it.  So far I have no issue with the battery.  The big disappointment for me is the music app.  I really liked being able to leave my phone at the house when I went for a walk, and still listen to music.  I guess I'll try one of the apps, but it won't be my playlist.  I'm on the fence right now, but leaning toward not caring for it.  I had no regrets with the Ionic.  I hope this ends up going that way. But paying monthly for the ability to download and play music?  Kinda stinks.

[Flightmiss]

Agree I can't install Alexa so I called Fitbit after an hour on the phone they said I had to reach out to Amazon. Called Amazon and they referred me back to Fitbit. Guess no Alexa for me. The help desk needs help themselves.

[eezeepee]

@Flightmiss Where specifically are you getting stuck in setting up your Amazon Alexa? I opened Fitbit, tapped my account in the top left corner, Sense, Voice Assistant, logged into Amazon, and was done. Literally did it at the time of typing this reply. Now I'm switching back to Google Assistant. 

[Flightmiss]

I get as far as sign in to Amazon then a code is sent to email but the code never comes.

[Flightmiss]

I got google assistant to work but no Alexa!

[eezeepee]

@Flightmiss I got the code in my email pretty immediate. Wasn't even in my spam. 

[SunsetRunner]

I liked my ionic but it started overheating (and now subject to a recall). I liked the idea of the sense so bought one to replace the ionic, but not keen on the look or feel and cant find a decent face. The strap burned my wrist and then the sense died after 4 months. Cant get any joy out of fitbit support in Shenzhen, they said they would replace it , then said only after i return it, three weeks later they say they cant find a return envelope so sent me some inconsistent forms to print off and asked me to sign a document valuing the return at 50 dollars (and says returning to china even though posting to Australia). I think i may just go back to a watch.

[eezeepee]

@SunsetRunner There are still other products by Fitbit that might work out better for you. The Verse 3 is nearly the same but not ECG and cheaper and then there's Charge 5. Personally, I wouldn't go back to a "dumb" watch / non-fitness tracker anymore.

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks for the thought but my experience with fitbit does not encourage me to keep trying, maybe an Apple but a dumb watch will be more reliable. Every fitbit i have had has died, but up till recently the support has been good and has compensated for that, now it is appalling so it has made me rethink.

[Hammeroo]

@SunsetRunner  I know it's not really funny but when you mentioned China I just had to laugh. Is this the problem of all the Sense problems on this forum? That it's actually made in China? I live in Australia too and have also had to stop using my Ionic which gave me very few problems, and none that could not be fixed with reboots etc. After continuing to use may Ionic for a couple of weeks after the recall notice, a week ago stopped using it and applied for the refund. It will apparently take 3-6 weeks to come through.

In the mean time my wrist feels naked. I have toyed with the possibility of ordering a Sense using the 40% online discount that is offered. However, reading the very poor reviews and score of only 1.7 out of 5 stars on productreview.com.au I am very hesitant to proceed. I want to buy a fitness watch, not a lemon!

Maybe Sense 2 will be an improvement but the 40% discount is only valid for 90 days after the refund application is accepted. I wonder if they are going to release a new version within that time? Somehow I doubt it. What to do! 

[grammyk58]

It's not Alexa that's the problem. It's the fact that the Sense continually loses connection with my phone. I have to "forget device" numerous times a day and reconnect. Often, I have to "remove this Sense" and start all over!

Sent with [ProtonMail](https://protonmail.com/) secure email.