Sense Heart rate accuracy

[Christopher1992]

Hi everyone new user here. My question is how accurate is the heart rate monitor on the Fitbit sense as I've seen a number of articles stating how inaccurate it is. Has this issue been fixed with software updates? Had the apple watch 6 previously but it's so bad that I had to send it back

Moderator edit: subject for clarity/label  

[SunsetRunner]

@Guy_, of course you have a point there. But do you know any better watch or tracker for a similar price or less? I would be interested. Maybe Garmin, from what I read, but it doesn't have ECG, important for me.

I must add that now I get accurate HR readings on about 90% of my daily walks.

Xiaomi MiBand 5 was much more stable on HR, but not necessarily more accurate and I never liked it anyway.

[Guy_]

@SunsetRunnerTry for starters, Fitbit Versa, or Nokia Steel HR [Withings] or Umidigi Ufit [$38] for better results than a Fitbit Sense.

[SunsetRunner]

Thank you very much, @Guy_ ! I'll certainly look at them.

[SunsetRunner]

Definitely worth reading this similar topic:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Sense/Sense-heart-rate-monitor-is-not-accurate/td-p/4679832/jump-to/...

[MARKY_N]

What you said reminded me of my versa - the original one.  For some reason, occasionally it would suddenly shoot up to a silly heart rate that was clearly wrong.   I believe it was more to do with the clock face I was using at the time, it was a third party one.  I haven't seen it go so wildly inaccurate since I got the sense with the stock clock face.

[Jamesmol]

It doesn’t record gym workouts at all ..

the heart rate monitor is shocking .. can’t get above 85 .. I’m lying on the ground peeling with sweat

how much longer are Fitbit going to promote this nonsense and instead of simply admitting  the watch is a dud 

[steveo57]

I have an original Versa but I like all the new features on the Sense that the Versa does not have. I have pretty much given up and been chastised several times by fitbit moderators and had posts removed where I complained and where I just asked them to fix the HR rate software or sensors or both. I am done complaining to them and have adjusted my sense the best I can.  I am waiting to see how the accuracy of the new Galaxy Watch 4 pans out after it is released.  Do not really want to change because the food databases and other things are on separate apps on Wear OS and I really do like that all the tracking is done within the fitbit app BUT if the heartrate tracking is off it affects all the data.  Rant over.

[SunsetRunner]

@steveo57 

I hear ya...

decided to purchase an armband HR monitor to compare readings with the Sense during running exercise. Surprisingly, the Sense have been only about +/- 2 -3 bpm with the armband after comparing readings within 3 runs so far. Only experienced one significant hiccup in yesterday's run where the Sense spiked the heart rate by 20 bpm for about a minute at the most. Don't know what caused the spike in readings though and not to keen on finding out the root cause...its one of those "whatever..." moments.

Anyway, will keep using the optical armband heart rate monitor from now on. If the Sense keeps consistent within 2-3 bpm, I'll still

use the armband monitor as a reference point. 

[steveo57]

What optical armband are you using? It would be nice if armbands etc could
be connected using Bluetooth like other watches. Maybe their next version
of there is one will allow this or be accurate.

[SunsetRunner]

@steveo57 

Using Scosche Rhythm 24 in conjunction with the following apps:

Elite HRV 

Runkeeper

If only fitbit had the capability to pair external HR monitors, that would be a lifesaver. In my usage, I still have to occasionally glance at the Sense for HR. Runkeeper has the ability to monitor HR and sent via to your earbuds/headphones of your current heart rate during exercise. Chose to have Runkeeper announce HR reading from the armband every minute. For the most part, Sense is within 1-3 bpm. There are occasional delays for the Sense to catch up with the armband, however. 

Are these delays bad enough? I'm not entirely sure myself. 

Also started measuring HRV using the armband via EliteHRV app. First few measurements closely matched the HRV readings from the Sense. Today though, was a significant mismatch between the Sense and armband readings. 

These are my observations. 

HR readings on the Sense does a good enough job for reading steady state HR for my purposes. I'm not a pro athlete or anything, only a recreational runner. Yet, I'm keeping the armband as a reference and possibly migrate to a dedicated running watch in the future. 

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks, @SunsetRunner.

The info you provide is most helpful. In my opinion and though nowadays I'm not a runner anymore, just a walker, it is very consistent to what I've observed in Sense HR readings and occasional comparisons with an old chest strap readings in the beginning.

Totally agree that it's a pity Fitbit doesn't provide the possibility of a bluetooth link to an external arm or chest band, as pointed out by @steveo57. For many users it will certainly push them to use another brand that does that.

More and more Sense looks to me as a health device still with a long way to go, than a sports one. Just good enough for some, more on the health side, but far from it for others. In the end it will depend on how we use it and what is most important for each one of us.

Maybe these differences should be made more clear by Fitbit for the prospective buyer. And maybe it's time for Fitbit to go into the chest or arm band business.

[Steveparadox]

@SunsetRunner  @SunsetRunner 

You can use a chest strap monitor with Fitbit. A friend does this.

She uses Mapmyride app for heart rate monitoring, selecting workout option. 

She then links Mapmyride to Myfitnesspal app. Then links Myfitnesspal app too Fitbit.

It seems quite a complicated process to me, but it works and I'm planning on doing this. If I decide to keep the Fitbit Sense. 

https://support.myfitnesspal.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039592171-How-to-Link-with-Fitbit#:~:text=Or%20in%20our%20Android%20and,the%20blue%20%22Connect%22%20button.

[SunsetRunner]

@Steveparadox 

Thanks...from the mentioned link in your post, does the heart rate info from the chest strap show on the fitbit app? 

The fitbit app appears to be not accept any other data except from fitbit wearables (Sense in this context)? 

That I'd like to confirm, if the app accepts external heart data from other applications. 

[Steveparadox]

@SunsetRunner 

It will show a summary of the workout, which definitely includes duration and calories burned. I'm not sure how much info on heart rate would be imported to Fitbit app, maybe you'd have to go into Mapmyride or Myfirnesspal apps to see the detailed heart rate monitoring. 

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks, @Steveparadox. That is most helpful and totally new to me. Maybe I'll try it when I get a new chest or arm band (the old one broke...).

[Steveparadox]

@SunsetRunner  no problem. Glad it's of use. I was really happy when my friend told me about it yesterday. I. Debating which chest strap to get now... More expense that I hadn't planned on spending!!🙈

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks, @Steveparadox.

By now Sense is doing well enough for me. Doing what is really important to me, plus a few extras. Still to be polished, but... no major worries. By now I'll just keep waiting for new software/firmware updates. Still waiting for the last one, you know... But no hurry, hoping that will arrive soon with less bugs than its first releases.

Cheers.

[SonoItaliano]

I used a Wahoo Tickr for many years and thought it worked perfectly.
However, I recently upgraded to a Polar H10, primarily because it works
with the Elite HRV app - which, by the way, shows a markedly different HRV
when compared to the Sense.

Granted, I only have overnight/sleep HRV reports from the sense - always in
the low 20's, whereas the Elite HRV app with Polar H10 gives me numbers
consistently in the mid-40's while awake and moderately active.

Not great, but I do take a beta blocker and I feel that may have an effect
on HRV. Also, my resting pulse is in the upper 50's.

[SunsetRunner]

Great feedback, @SonoItaliano. Thanks.

Your HRV feedback makes much sense to me. I take a calcium blocker to control my HR and blood pressure and I get results similar to yours. I'm not a doctor but, from what I've read elsewhere, I would bet that beta blockers would also cause lower HRV values in general. No worries.

[SunsetRunner]

@SonoItaliano 

I see you also use EliteHRV. I just started a few days ago. There is a difference between in readings between the Sense and EliteHRV, as much as 10 milliseconds or more. Don't know what time the Sense takes it HRV readings though. Maybe we're splitting hairs on these readings/metrics that fitbit publishes in our respective apps.