Sense issues reported by reviewers

[Rinopopo]

I've read 7 different reviews and every single one says that this device is half-baked. I'm really worried about this. Anyone at fitbit could tell me if they are aware of those issues and if are going to be fixed in a day one firmware update?

- slow OS

- slow animations

- not so accurate HR readings when exercising.

- no spo2 readings if you don't enable the spo2 watchface (WTF FITBIT!!)

- no voice responses from alexa
- no voice calls at all.

- Lack of information about stress management data.

[wookietim]

Here is my question for anyone using Fitbit : Have they fixed their issues syncing with the phone yet?

I used to use Fitbits (Several different models) and eery one of them had such a problem syncing their data with the phone I finally abandoned the brand for Samsung. My Galaxy Watch has literally no problem syncing with the phone even while using the exact same bluetooth protocol. But the Sense has features that would be very helpful to me that the Galaxy doesn't so I am considering this new one. The issues listed aren't a big deal to me since they either will be added next month or just aren't a big deal (Choppiness in the UI for example). But if I can't get a phone to reliably talk to the watch, that's the show-stopper.

So have they fixed this one yet?

[N8teGee]

I wouldn't say the UI is snappy, well its not what my definition of snappy is, but also its not completely laggy. From my testing it seems to reapond similar to the Versa 2, which to me was an acceptable performance/battery tradeoff. 

[bobby2478]

For people replying with their observations/experiences, please preface your comment with whether you are on iOS or Android and whether you are using pre-post firmware update. That will help us understand where the issues lie.

[Swdecord]

I received my Sense today and use a Galaxy Note 10+...I was really excited to receive it even though I was concerned after reading the reviews, but I must admit I'm somewhat disappointed with the Sense...It does appear half-baked...The device is slower to respond to swipes than my Versa 2...The recessed back "button" is awkward to press, and doesn't take you back one screen, but all the way back to the clock face every time...Many apps and clockfaces (a few which I had purchased) are not compatible or available for the Sense...I actually wish I had waited for a few months before I purchased the Sense, but it is what it is...Hopefully the added features outweigh the inconveniences and the developers update their apps and clock faces for the Sense, but I fear that may not happen too soon because a few apps I had purchased for the Ionic were not updated for the Versa...

[bobby2478]

Is your device on the latest firmware? what's weird is iOS appears to function smoothly after the firmware update, not sure about Android.

The comment you made about the button bringing you to the clockface instead of back a screen this was mentioned in the reviews as it's a slightly different interface due to the new version of Fitbit OS (so it's how it's designed, just something you have to get used to since you are used to the interface with an older version of the OS)

[Swdecord]

There is no firmware update available, so it appears that I am on the latest firmware 

[rmeszaros]

In the Mashable review they stated:

"I reached out to Fitbit to look into the heart rate monitor issue and will update this review when I receive a response."

So I think it's a good idea to check back on this review. 

[kawaiiko]

I’m on IOS (14.0) & with the latest app & sense firmware update..

I had no issues with setting up.  Was actually faster than the Versa.  

I did a kickboxing workout with it - which I do a couple of days a week.  I do not notice much differences in my heart rate during the workout.  (Below is my comparison between before sense and using the Fitbit sense)

Before sense (on the Versa 2)

Avg heart rate is 128 

Using the sense: 

Avg heart rate is 131... I was also breathing harder bc of my lung issues.  

Health Metrics- I just downloaded the SPO2 clock face, so the health metrics won’t show up till tomorrow..

Will post if I see any issues or discrepancies between the sense and other fitbits/ heart rate monitors..

[Heather-S]

I have a similar experience to @kawaiiko.  When comparing my heart rate on my walks with my Versa 2 and my Sense, they are pretty identical. 

[bobby2478]

Again, this could go back to Sense on iOS vs on Android, perhaps it's more accurate on iOS but is off for Android. Most of the reviews seem to be Android focused (not iOS)

[DrJWo]

I updated the firmware last night when I took it out of the box. I did the setup this morning and transferred to the app.  Did my normal workout and things seemed to be OK.  Also used treadmill.  Using IOS. 

[Heather-S]

@bobby2478 I don’t think the heart rate monitoring has anything to do with iOS vs Android. Maybe if there was significant syncing delays between the device and the app, but I’m not sure how likely that is or how big of a swing in HR we’d see. 

I can understand where set up of the device might be impacted and general in-app syncing with Android vs iOS though. But not HR monitoring. 

[bobby2478]

Well something is going on, ur experience with HR being aligned with other devices directly conflicts with reviewers who state its off by 10-20 BPM. Not sure why some would be inaccurate while others would be accurate outside of firmware or hardware differences (a demo device not production model). Or else it's a defect which wouldn't seem likely to impact multiple review devices 

[Tristannyc]

I will make sure to let you all know when mine arrives. I am extremely
active and have a great HR history to compare to. The Versa 1 is what I
currently have as well as android and apple devices.

[Heather-S]

@bobby2478 Like I said in previous posts, I don’t believe the reviewers received the firmware update that rolled out on Monday evening. That could be a likely culprit. 

[Tomtomato]

Yes, I have seen several professional reviews, and it seems to be an unfinished product. Probably best to wait 6 months and get a finished product, for cheaper, instead of being early adopters and beta testers, paying for the privilege (and Fitbit Premium too to get access to some of the data).

The new HR sensor was promising on paper (my Versa 2 seems to overestimate quite a lot my heart rate , specifically when high), but reliable reviewers (like DC Rainmaker) have not been impressed so far.

[Heather-S]

@Tomtomato DC’s review was ridiculous honestly. You can press the button easily with your thumb, I believe he was being overly dramatic about the inductive button. 

And I am able to see all the data surrounding my daily stress score. I don’t know why he couldn’t, and I even commented on his YouTube video about it. 

As far as the HR stuff goes, I don’t know. In my experience with my Sense, it works fine. But like I said, maybe he needed the firmware update, but that isn’t his fault. 

I didn’t agree with most of his review, though, but that’s my personal opinion based on having the device in my hands already. To each their own. 

[SunsetRunner]

@Heather-S 

I noticed that the HR monitor is kind of finicky.

Maybe they can fix that with a firmware update. It fluctuates quickly from too high to low again.

As for the feel of it, it is indeed a fit-watch with very few smartwatch capabilities. The OS is kind of outdated. The icons are a bit 90's and the fonts too. Now this does not justify the price. Samsung Active 2 was also a very bad fit-watch with inaccuracies but the OS was quite good and modern.

I always wondered why Samsung, a multi-billion company could not get it right. Now with Fit bit I can tell the same. It's not good/ready.

It seems in the end that the HR tech is not there yet but at least by buying these products that are still experimental, we finance future projects and developments which one day will lead to the discovery of a dependable HR monitor. The price is high for such a promise, but we also have to pay the salaries of the employees too.

[Tomtomato]

@Heather-S

I think his review was quite fair, unlike many sponsored reviews we tend to see on YouTube.

Why did Fitbit had to remove the physical button? It's not because they can that they should have. Nothing wrong with the button on my Versa 2!!

Regarding HR tracking, actual results don't seem to align to Fitbit's claims of new accurate sensor. His review seems to be as scientific as it can get when comparing heart rate measurement from various devices. Maybe DC Rainmaker should be a tester for Fitbit!

[MattJ71]

Always purchase products through Amazon.  Try them for a month, and if you don't like them, return them for free in the box they came in.  Doing the same though Fitbit directly is a pain.