Battery Life

[Aftr2]

Battery lasts about 3 days even with minimal alarms and auto Hr. Wish I could turn GPS tracking off. Have gone thru Guide to no avail.

[SteveH · Accepted solution]

Are you sure GPS is on? With GPS the battery only lasts about 5 hours.

GPS is only activated when you track certain activities such as free run and it prompts you when it does so. At all other times the GPS is off.

[kskog225]

I'm very frustrated with my Surge!  I purchased my first device in January of 2015.  It worked extremely well from Jan 2015-Dec 2015.  All of the sudden, the device would not hold a charge for longer than 2 days (whereas before, it would hold a charge for 6-7 days depending on my usage).

I contacted Customer Service and they were extremely nice!  They had me troubleshoot and ensure that I was charging the device for at least 2 hours at a time. I confirmed that I was and they were able to see voltage issues with that 1st device.  With that being said, they were sending me a replacement device as I was still under warranty.

I received my 2nd device (the first replacement) and was excited to be back!  However, this replacement device had the SAME ISSUE.  I contacted Customer Service again (another good experience) and they confirmed the same sort of voltage issue with this device.  So again, they were going to send me a replacement...

I received my THIRD device (the second replacement) and thought this was it.  However, I full charged the device on Monday the 25th and by this morning the 28th, the battery was drained all the way down...I have since emailed Customer Service, again...

However, at this point, I don't think I want another replacement device...I think it's time to start looking elsewhere for a more reliable device.  Sorry Fitbit...I need a device that functions the way it should.

*sigh*

[Moocow1980]

@kskog225 You sound like me. First adopter in January of 2015. Mine had to be replaced as the band was cracking at the screws.

I had it twice replaced. Both were running down in batteries, including the one I got this month, January 2016. I called and they wanted to send a third one. I told them no to a refurb, I want a brand new one because I'm sick of the situation. I finally got to talk to a supervisor as requested and said I wanted a new one and not a refurbished one. Threatening to go to another company for my needs for a fitness watch, he immediately said he'd replace it with a new one sealed in the box as if I went to, say, Best Buy. He even let me choose a different color if it was in stock (I went blue over black and blue was indeed in stock), and then he gave me premium FitBit access on the desktop app for one year. It was also overnighted.

This was this past Saturday the 23rd I did all this. The watch went out Monday the 25th and it was overnighted so I got it Tuesday the 26th. I have charged it up, synced it, and all that jazz. Two days later (right now, Thursday the 27th), as in around the time I unplugged the watch Tuesday to wear it, I got the e-mail and app alerts set up to say it was a low battery. Now, keep in mind it says low battery sometimes a couple of days before the low battery indicator comes on. But I was used to having a watch that ONLY does BPM essentially (I don't do the other features; no need and was always a battery drain) with auto backlight at night and everything else off, and having that watch last a good five solid days before it was close to charge time. And I'd take it off anyway to charge so my wrist can air out (as recommended by FitBit.)

I'm going to watch this new watch. I know it's new, it's not a refurb. If it dies the same time, then it's a software issue, not a watch issue, and we may have been wrong on these refurbs all this time.

I'll keep you up to date as I'll let the thing go until it dies. I'm going to give it a few charge cycles and do some tips and tricks tweaking.

Point is, yes, the battery issue is frustrating, but as stated, it may be a software issue, not a refurb issue. And if that's the case, my old one (they never want the old ones back anyway) may go to my ex-wife (we're very amicable -- yes, those DO exist, lol) as she wants something for fitness, and I'll help her remotely tweak it like I tweak mine. But she's OK with charging every couple of days anyway as she likes to air out her wrist, but if I can get what's soon to be hers to last long like mine, then it's solved. If not, then it's definitely the software.

Did I mention I think it's the software? lol. But keep at it kskog. Don't give up yet. I'm in your boat, right there with you. We can get answers if we work together. 🙂

[Outcasted2003]

I have a brand new Surge from Fitbit and am only getting 4-5 days on a full charge! I wish I could get 5-7 days on a single charge! I use the usb on my pc to charge it too as per suggestion from Fitbit themself.

notifications off
alarms off
all-day sync off
bluetooth classic off
backlight auto
heart rate auto
quick view gesture off
No GPS
firmware version 16.34.5.14

[Rdelatore]

I am having what appears to be the same issue with my brand new Surge... Battery life lasts about 2 days & that's it!! I too have turned basically EVERYTHING off and it hasn't helped. Should I now contact customer service as it seems to be happening to several consumers?

[VivisFitbit]

Hello there guys! Yes, I think that since you already tried all the steps provided, contacting Support is the best option. Rest assured that they'll take care of you. 

Good luck! 

[Aftr2]

This will be my last Fitbit.

Sent from my iPhone