Need help with Sense battery life

[SunsetRunner]

Hi,

I have been a Fitbit customer for about 6 years and in that time I have purchased: Charge HR, Alta HR, Aria 2, Versa 2 and, most recently. Sense.

I'm really frustrated because I was happy with my Versa 2 and treated myself to a Sense as an upgrade (it was the most expensive smartwatch offered by Fitbit at the time). I now completely regret my decision and wish I hadn't wasted my money.

The problem is the battery life. It has been falsely advertised as 6+ days which I believed because I've charged my previous trackers/smartwatch once a week. The Sense needs charging every 2 days and I've got most of the features turned off. I've spoken to Fitbit via Twitter which was hopeless - I was given 2 email addresses to use that don't work. I have also spoken to Fitbit several times via web chat which has also been hopeless. One person tried to make me return the device and any accessories I've purchased. When I challenged this, he looked into it and then admitted he made a mistake. I was instead sent a new Sense pebble but have the exact same problem so this has achieved nothing. I wholeheartedly believe that Fitbit are deliberately stalling me until the warranty expires in October and I am stuck with an almost £300 watch that doesn't work properly. The customer service has been absolutely shambolic and it's making me reconsider buying anything from Fitbit again.

Here's how I've used the Sense to demonstrate that it's a fault of the watch and not anything I am doing (as is usually implied on Web chat):

- I sync the device a few times a day (with the Fitbit app on Samsung Galaxy S10)

- I use the charging cable supplied by Fitbit and fully charge for at least a few hours each time

- I don't have any notifications, calls, messages switched on

- I don't have any reminders to move on

- "Always on Display" is off

- The watch face is manually activated using the button and not by raising my arm

- I use the default clock face and not the Spotify clock face

- I have one alarm set

- I occasionally use the timer when cooking

- I haven't been tracking any workouts

So almost £300 for a watch with an alarm/timer and nothing else with no help/support from Fitbit.

It's too late for me - they're obviously not going to do anything about it - but if you're considering buying a Sense then please don't waste your money!!!

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[SunsetRunner]

Autocorrect error - SpO2 clock face not Spotify clock face!

[slbert]

@SunsetRunnerDo you have the SpO2 turned on? I found that that drains the Sense really quickly. I was only getting about two days charge with it on. I turned off most of the notifications (only get notifications of extreme weather situations), calls and always on display turned off, reminders to move are on - I get around seven days charge. When I use the GPS (around 1-1/2 hours, three days a week), I get about three days charge. I really wish the battery drain wasn't as bad with the SpO2 activated but, until (and if) they get that sorted, I won't use it.

[SunsetRunner]

No don't use SpO2 😔 I just can't seem to get the battery to last more than
2-3 days no matter how little I use it. Wish Fitbit would take
responsibility and sort it out instead of just ignoring the problem!

[lablover55]

Turn off bluetooth.

[Clove6060]

That works but I need Bluetooth for other applications.  Should not have to turn off Bluetooth and still get no where near 6 days as advertised. 

[SunsetRunner]

I always had Bluetooth on with my Versa 2 and it was fine so it does seem
to be an issue specific to the Sense. Really wishing I hadn't wasted money
"upgrading" now!

[SunsetRunner]

Yeah it's really disappointing. I thought more and more companies had
realised that good customer service is important but Fitbit have a long way
to go sadly.

[SunsetRunner]

Ha! 😂

[chancelot88]

I am having similar battery issues, though mine showed up after some of the recent app and firmware updates.  It’s quite frustrating.  I have not changed any settings nor am I using the sense any more intensely. Nor have my charging habits changed.

I also want to affirm your issues with Fitbit support.  I have been a Fitbit customer for 6 years, and I’ve pretty much had it with them. Especially in the last few years.  Their tech support is abominable.  When I last conversed with someone on the app, I was told that there was nothing they could do and that I should post about it in the Fitbit Community pages because “more votes means that issue gets more attention.”  How does that make sense of a company’s technical support?  I shouldn’t have to run a digital grassroots campaign to get them to fix their (expensive!) products.  This Sense will likely be my last Fitbit product, unless they make some dramatic changes to how they manage product issues and how they communicate with their clients.

[SunsetRunner]

I completely agree with you - I have also been a Fitbit customer for 6
years and I'm looking at other brands because I'm so frustrated with the
lack of support.

[lablover55]

Same here..6 years..

[AshH061315]

Glad to see I'm not crazy for thinking the latest firmware update is the reason my battery life is non-existent now. I updated it mid-July and have had nothing but a draining battery since then. I used to get a good 5 days out of my Sense...Now it's barely 2. 

The issue is the rate at which it's decreasing.  It will go from 90% to 70% in a matter of hours.

Thursday night I went to bed and it was at 31% and I planned on charging it when I woke up. I was almost late for work bc it was 7% when i.woke up and the alarm didn't go off. 

I'm not using any additional functions or doing "more" with my Sense to cause it to drain so quickly. It's just over a year old! I've had a Fitbit since they first came out. I came to the forum to see if anybody had any issues to the battery issue and I'm not seeing it. 

Guess I'll seriously look into another brand. So disappointing. 

[ashakantasharma]

Now I am re-thinking my decision to purchase Fitbit Sense.