Sense and iPhone 13: you can NOT text or make calls!!

[Magyes]

POST EDITED WITH UPDATES:

Just got the Sense. I’ve been a Fitbit owner for years now but I wanted a watch from which I could send texts. I thought this was a feature of the Sesne. When you get a text, all you can do is clear the notification… unless you have an android. The marketing is pretty clear on that feature. So, I thought alternatively you could use a voice assistant to send a text or initiate a call. It had google assistant or Alexa as options. I never used either (because Siri) so I opted for google assistant during the Sense setup. (Came to find out later Alexa doesn’t offer texting so that’s a non-starter.) The setup seemed to go smoothly, but I can’t send a text or make a call using google assistant. When I use google assistant on my phone to send a text, it works. When I use it on the watch, it says “Sorry, I can’t send texts yet.” When I try to make a call it says “Sorry, I can’t make calls yet.” 
I spent a lot of time with customer support who didn’t seem to understand my issue and had to look it up themselves if this was even a feature when using an iPhone. The final conclusion was that if you have an iPhone, you can NOT text or initiate calls on the Sense in any way. There is no workaround. Their marketing does not make this clear. They did mention it may become a feature “someday” but there is no known timeline on this. Because I thought I could use a voice assistant to initiate a call or text, that is why I upgraded from my perfectly fine Versa to a Sense. Now it seems like a waste of money for really no added features that I would use. 

[Odyssey13]

Hi @Magyes  which Versa did you get?

[Magyes]

Ahh! I meant Sense! I just switched from versa to sense. I am trying to get this to work on the sense

[Odyssey13]

Here is the information on voice assistant - click to read. Just in case you can't get it going after checking the articles, get with support via phone or chat.

https://myhelp.fitbit.com/s/support?language=en_US 

[Magyes]

Thanks, I had read that and I’ve been in touch with customer support. They seem to be telling me that I can’t text even with google assistant simply because it’s not a feature. However the marketing for the Sense said this was a feature. Disappointed 

[Odyssey13]

I found this link on the sales information on the Sense - click to read. Is it possible you're in a country where this is not available?

[Magyes]

Yes it’s still not spelled out super clearly that you cannot text on the sense with an iPhone no matter what. It says you can’t do it from a text notification unless you have an android, but then it’s vague about the feature using a voice assistant. You also can’t text with a voice assistant unless you have an android phone. So I feel like they should just say outright, “if you have an iPhone you cannot text” inherently or via any other feature: not from a text notification, not with a quick reply, not with voice-to-text, not with a voice assistant… 

[Odyssey13]

@Magyes I read the sales info and the article and I'd have thought it would work for the iOS user. I'm on Android myself. To be sure and to let them know the articles aren't written to reflect the reality, I've asked a Fitbit Moderator to stop by to assist you.

[Magyes]

Much appreciated!! Thank you for all of your help 🙂

[JuanFitbit]

@Odyssey13 , Thank you for your help and informing us about this thread. 

@Magyes , A warm welcome to the Community! Thank you for your messages and feedback. 

The feature to reply notifications is only available for Android devices, more about this, can be read here: How do I respond to messages with my Fitbit device?:

"Use quick replies to send customized responses to text messages and messages from certain apps with Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Charge 4, Fitbit Charge 5, Fitbit Ionic, Fitbit Luxe, Fitbit Sense, or Fitbit Versa series. This feature is currently available on devices paired to an Android phone. Devices paired to an iPhone can respond to Fitbit app notifications, such as messages, cheers, taunts, and friend requests."

About making calls from the Sense. This feature is not available neither for Android nor for iOS devices.  With the Sense and Versa 3 Models, you are able to take (pich up ) a call and answer directly on your wrist. 

More about it, can be read here: How do I take on-wrist phone calls with my Fitbit smartwatch?

Could you please attach on your reply the link where you read the features you mentioned so that I get a closer look at it. 

You can always post your question as a feature suggestion. We're constantly striving to improve Fitbit products and services, and we appreciate all of the input we receive from our customers. The best place to make your voice heard is the Feature Suggestion board on our community (community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Requests/idb-p/features). 

If a similar suggestion has already been made by another member of the community, you can vote for their suggestion and add your comments. 

Thanks for your feedback and for participating in our Community

[Rich_Laue]

Just to add some insight, Apple blocks all third parties from responding to texts. 

Also no user can make a call through their wrist. 

[Magyes]

@JuanFitbit thanks for the info 

“Devices paired to an iPhone can respond to Fitbit app notifications, such as messages,”

When I read this before buying, I thought this meant you could use the text notification to respond to a text message. Now I realize it means Fitbit app messages which, by the way, I didn’t even know was a thing until now. So for the naive customer, can you see how this appears to be misleading?

On the Target description there’s a sentence that says “makes and receives calls and texts when paired with a compatible device” and then later lists compatible devices are Android and iPhone. When reading this, I would implore you to explain how it would be clear to an iPhone user that these features don’t apply to them. It should be plainly spelled out “if you are using an iPhone, you will not be able to text or make calls”.
https://www.target.com/p/fitbit-sense-smartwatch-soft-gold-stainless-steel-with-lunar-white-band/-/A...

I would also encourage you to read the Amazon reviews to see other areas where customers felt the marketing was misleading. 

[JuanFitbit]

@Magyes , Thank you for your reply and feedback. 

I appreciate the context and link provided. I get where you come from and see your point

We cannot influence on how retailers describe the product. But I'd be glad to inform our team to see if they can undertake anything about this. 

I welcome your encouragement as our team already reads all the feedback received by our users. 

Thanks again for your feedback and for participating in our community!