Inaccurate Heart Rate on Versa 4 During Workout

[BGreen78]

I recently replaced my Versa 2 with a Versa 4 as the heart rate monitor stopped functioning on my 2. With my brand new Versa 4, I'm noticing my regular heart rate is higher than while in work out mode. Moreover, my heart rate stays low during workouts. I am doing the same workouts I use to do while using my Versa 2 and getting much lower results (heart rate, zone minutes, calories burned). It's pretty demoralizing. 

I've looked on the forums and have already tried the following:

• Wearing the Fitbit issued band
• Wearing the watch 1-2 finger widths above the band
• Cleaning the sensors
• Using a Fitbit clock face
• Restarting the device
• Charging the device

I'm kinda running out of options on a device that's brand new and should require "fixes." At this point I'm tempted to return this device and downgrade? Or switch to a different brand?

[Talahthas]

Welcome to the Fitbit community, @BGreen78!

First of all, thanks for having tried all that things you've pointed out to correct what you currently consider a failure of your new Versa 4.

Fitbit, as other manufacturers are doing, is constantly trying to improve the reliability of the sensors used in their devices. So, to judge if your Versa 2 or your new Versa 4 are delivering more accurate measurements, the only way would be to compare the values to those a medical device would deliver.
Maybe you should try that to get more confidence in your device.

[t.parker]

@Talahthas " the only way would be to compare the values to those a medical device would deliver" - you didn't try to follow your own advice and compare Sense 2/Versa4 against a chest strap (ie. PolarH10 is a medical-grade device which falls into that category and is considered a gold standard of accuracy in the industry), did you? "Maybe you should try that to get more confidence in your device." - do you mean just blindly believing it's correct?

@BGreen78 there is not much else to do to improve Sense 2/Versa 4 accuracy. It is what it is.

[Talahthas]

Comparing a chest strap to a wrist worn device is comparing apples to pears. As I'm owning a Polar H7, I can judge that very well, @t.parker.

But thanks for mentioning this.

[t.parker]

@Talahthas I just followed what you said: "the only way would be to compare the values to those a medical device would deliver". Nothing there said about comparing apples to pears but following that thought you assume different readings from wrist OHR and medical-grade devices (which is a correct assumption) and then you want a user to have confidence in the wrist-worn device (which you assumed won't be accurate through aforementioned comparison of fruits)... I see a lack of logic here. I don't expect perfect accuracy from toy watches but Sense 2/Versa 4 are often not even close.

[Talahthas]

You're completely right on stating that a chest strap is always more on point as a device for tracking heart rate than a wrist worn device, @t.parker. That's what I experienced with my Polar H7 and that's what I've confirmed above.
But all that's not relevant for the OP's issue as she's comparing her Versa 2 to her new Versa 4.

[t.parker]

@Talahthas true, but in that case, it may also mean that neither V2 nor V4 is accurate. It's just the user doesn't know it and hasn't verified it with proper equipment. As a rule, I don't trust any wrist HR. The problem with Fitbit is that it gives no alternative so it becomes an easy target for people to complain about HR inaccuracies. Even with Pixel Watch, you can use a chest strap (and other sensors) with third-party software (like a brilliant SportyGo! app for WearOS), although that won't integrate into the Fitbit ecosystem. It will however integrate with TrainingPeaks or FinalSurge which is anyway far superior training software. If you look at Garmin or Polar communities, there are also complaints about wrist HR inaccuracies but the usual response is "pair a chest strap with the watch when you need accuracy". It can't be done with Fitbit so the problem keeps coming back 🤷. When it comes to having confidence, I have none for wrist HR sensors.

[Jent92]

Mine hasn't tracked any of my zone minutes today and I've just absolutely killed myself in the gym through an upper body workout! Fuming 

[BGreen78]

Same. So frustrating. I have all my Versa 2 data from all my workouts. With the Versa 2, I was logging at least 100 calories or more during a workout. I can out of breath and sweating and it will still say “below zone.” I’m ready to throw it out the window! 

[henryfrick]

Same issue for me. I'm coming from the Charge 5 that definitely recognized increased heart rate during workout. The Versa 4 thinks I'm going to sleep while working out 😞

[henryfrick]

I'm returning the Versa 4 and getting another Charge 5. I was happy with the Charge 5 while it worked; it just bricked itself after about one year, which was disappointing. I had several other Fitbits that functioned much longer than a year.

[BGreen78]

I contacted support last week for my Versa 4. I’m frequently getting a white screen followed by a :cross_mark:. It’s weird. The best they could do is feed me a line about how their engineers are working to create the best possible product. So frustrating. I will switch to a different product and company when this one dies.