Sense battery drains when using SpO2 clock face

[meresydotes]

It woke me up.

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject and updated label

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @meresydotes. It's nice to see you around the forums.

I'm sorry for the inconvenience experienced with your Sense and let's work on this together. Just to confirm, what do you mean by crashed? Do you mean that your watch restarted by itself? Did this start after updating the firmware? Also, does this happen just when sleeping? Please provide me with more details about how or when you're experiencing this issue so I can further investigate and help you out.

I look forward to your response.

[meresydotes]

@LizzyFitbit It started the day I got the watch. I'm disappointed that it's continued after the firmware update. By crashed I do mean restarted. It's only happened once since the firmware update, but once is too often. That once was while I was sleeping. Before the firmware update, it happened a few times, either while I was sleeping or sitting quietly.

Also, since I potentially have your attention, the SPO2 app seems to be using the battery much faster than the watch did without it. I charge every day to 100%. Before the app update and installing the SPO2 app, I used to have ~87% battery left when I put the watch on the charger in the morning. Now, it's usually around 80%. The day the watch crashed, it was down to 77%. It makes no sense that it does this, as my understanding is that the data is collected regardless, but we now simply have a way that isn't a terrible clockface (though that drains the battery too) to access it.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @meresydotes. Welcome! It's great to see you here in the forums.

Thanks for replying back with more details about the issues experienced with your Sense. Our team is currently investigating this issue to bring a resolution to all our affected users. My best recommendation is to check this thread for more updates. Be sure that every feedback posted in the forum never goes unnoticed.

In regards to the battery life, let me share that with the SpO2 Signature clock face you may have to charge your Sense more often since it requires more charge to collect your SpO2 data.  If you have Premium, you can install a different clock face and see your trends in the Health Metrics tile. For more tips to maximize the battery life, see this help article.

See you around.

[meresydotes]

@LizzyFitbit Did you not see where I specifically said that I'm not using one of your clockfaces, because they're terrible? I just have the SPO2 app installed. And the battery life has tanked. Please explain.

[SunsetRunner]

Hi @meresydotes the Sp02 app will continue to collect pulse ox data regardless of what clockface you have installed.  If you really don't want the Sp02 data then you can either uninstall the Sp02 app or turn off all the permissions, if you do that battery drain will be about 5% per night as opposed to 10%.

[meresydotes]

@SunsetRunner I want the data, but I don't think it's reasonable that it drains the battery so much to gather it. I believe that fitbits have gathered this data since at least Versa, but this is the first time they've actually made the data available to end users.

[SunsetRunner]

All trackers will use more battery to gather Sp02 data.  Fitbit, Garmin, Coros, Apple etc. they all use more battery for this feature so it is just something you have to live with.

[N8teGee]

Just to add. The data that was being collected before for the EOV (relative reading) is different to the (absolute) reading required to give an spO2 value. Unfortunately the sensor has to work harder and most likely for longer to provide an accurate reading, it's understandable that this will use more power.

@meresydotes You mention that you charge the battery to 100% every day. I found that using the spO2 app I could get around 4 days of battery life, so I don't think it's something to worry about too much considering your particular charging habits. 

[meresydotes]

@N8teGee Well, if it has to charge for a lot longer every day, which it does because the battery is draining so much faster, then I won't have time to charge it to 100% every day and the problem will just be compounded.