Will new Fitbit devices work with an iPhone 6?

[JeanGorringe]

Hi

My Alta Fitbit has finally died and I need to find a replacement. According to the Fitbit page, the iPhone must have iOS 13 or higher to be compatible but my iPhone 6 already has the Fitbit app on it and its iOS 12.5.4. If I buy a new Fitbit, how am I going to know if it will work correctly with my existing iPhone 6 and with the current Fitbit app?

Many thanks

Jean

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Odyssey13]

Hi @JeanGorringe  it is hard to know if your phone will work. The app you have on the phone is the latest one for that operating system. While the new Fitbit might work with the older system, it might not have all the features. Example of my Android older phone is that I could sync steps, but couldn't use the challenge feature, which is something I enjoyed. My newer phone can do everything, which is what I need. If there is a place where you can buy the Fitbit and take it home to try during the return window, you could do that. Is it possible to buy another phone with a slightly newer operating system?

[JeanGorringe]

Lets assume that I cannot easily buy another phone - can't afford it and my iPhone 6 works just fine. 😊

If I have all the features I need at the moment on the iPhone 6, are you saying that a new Fitbit will sync but the app will only show me what it shows me now or are you saying that the Fitbit will probably not sync with the phone? I only want the sleep pattern and the step count so I probably don't need the new features. I'm just worried that I could buy a new Fitbit and find that it doesn't work at all with the iPhone.

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi @JeanGorringe. Welcome on board. @Odyssey13 Thanks for stopping by to help our member.

@JeanGorringe Thanks for the details provided and your interest in our new Fitbit devices. As with any other app, the Fitbit app was optimized to work on compatible mobile devices based on the requirements of each model and OS, and future Fitbit app versions will also adapt to any change implemented in the OS.

While the Fitbit app requires iOS 13.4 or later, it should continue working on iOS 12 as long as it's not uninstalled. Just take in mind that some functions such as syncing, notifications or even your Fitbit device features may stop working over time, as @Odyssey13 mentioned. I understand your concern and if possible, give a try to the suggestion shared by our friend above to test your new Fitbit device and see how it goes.

See you around.

[JeanGorringe]

Hi @LizzyFitbit 

With other iOS apps that have been developed for more recent iOS versions, the app store offers me the opportunity to download an older version to work with my phone. When I recently setup my iPhone 6, I think the Fitbit app also offered me this. So, if a new Fitbit does work with the Fitbit app that I currently have and I don't change either the Fitbit or the app, can I be assured that it will continue to work? I don't understand how the two would stop working if I don't change either the Fitbit or the app.
The next problem is that I haven't chosen which Fitbit product I want to buy and I don't know anyone who would be prepared to experiment with their Fitbit as it would mean pairing their Fitbit with my phone etc. Surely the developers at Fitbit know which products work with which app. If I can't be sure that it will work, how can I purchase a new one with any degree of confidence?

[LizzyFitbit]

Hi there, @JeanGorringe.

Thanks for getting back and sharing your feedback about this situation. While I understand your point of view, please note that there are some requirements that each of our Fitbit devices and features need to meet in order to ensure their functionality. Currently you can setup and use a new Fitbit device with your iPhone 6; however, as with any other app, some functions, features or even bug fixes may eventually require you to have the latest OS version and update the Fitbit app. I'm sorry for this inconvenience and even though we cannot guarantee which functions or features may be affected in the future, rest assured your feedback hasn't gone unnoticed and will be passed along so we can keep working and improving our services.

See you around.