I'm with you. I'm done with Fitbit. They seem to be taking steps backwards. Their customer support is a joke, and their "updates" cause problems, remove features, and brick devices. Personally, I will never use any Apple device, so my next watch will be something from Garmin.
All of these things offer good things then seemingly miss out other things, I’ve looked at Garmin, g-shock,Apple and Fitbit...I’ve decided to settle on the Garmin vivoactive...but at 650 bucks this stuffs getting a bit out of hand too...
This is a great review. You put your heart and soul in it. Fitbit should be proud that you supported them for so long, now they will have to convince you to come back by not forgetting the basics... Thanks for the insights!
I went from a Charge 2 to the Scence. As even though the Charge 2 had the same sleep tracking abilities. I could never get it to work Unless I made it tight enough to leave an impression on my arm for HOURS when I would have to charge it. Even then I was lucky to get good data 😒. Friend let me try his Versa for a while as he had bought the Sence. And it was literally the Exact opposite of the Charge. Didn't have to Strangle my wrist anymore 🥳.So because I'm disabled from neck and shoulder problems I'm lucky to get Four hours of sleep every night. Finally bought a sence and so far it's been great 👍. Expensive yes. But I never fell into a Apple product bot😬. Just got a new cell phone S9. As my old Motorola I had for a Decade was starting to show it's age. Only thing I don't like is the 9.95 charged every month. Should be more like 3.99 or free.....
@@wanee8039 I guess we had different experiences. Makes sense, we are different 🙂 But I've had all 3 of the charge devices and never had a problem other than the wrist bands breaking and step counter hiccups. In both instances, I received a replacements. The sleep data has been first rate.
This video needs to be viral! Everything you've said is spot on! I've had my Versa 2 for only a year and now it won't sync to my phone, Bluetooth connection is poor etc etc. Used chat support for a month, to no avail before they gave me a 20% off coupon code for an "upgraded model" I'm sad because I've been a lover of Fitbit for years, but these 2 upgrades are not worth it. This review is awesome and definitely more in depth than others. Keep up the great work! ☺
Yeah it seems when all else fails or dissatisfied they give you a 20% code to pick anything else, sometimes not allowed for newer products. I'll give Fitbit a chance next year but I've been burned too many times already
Really, my issue with Fitbit comes to the fact that my watch is never last the entire year. I am not sure if it's because I box and maybe the wraps hit that little button on the side or the gloves bother the watch itself, but I know that they never last a full year. So usually at some point during the year they end up having to give me either a new Fitbit watch or a 50% off of a newer model. This happens to me literally about every 6 months. I purchased the Fitbit 2 on a 50% discount back in March of 2020. I also this time decided to purchase the extended to your warranty. So now it is October of 2020 and the battery life does not last longer than a day no matter what I do. They just offered me 50% off and upgrade or they can send me another new watch in the mail. I am not a big apple user, I do have iMac an iPad but not the phone, so I am thinking about going to the Galaxy 3... Any thoughts?
@@Jaelprosper324 I reviewed the Galaxy Watch 3 and honestly its a fantastic watch and almost a counterpart to the Apple Watch. Active 2 is also a great watch if you don't care too much of the fashion design of the Galaxy Watch3, and also more expensive.
I have a Versa 2 that’s one year old. I would love to get the Sense. I don’t care that you can’t load music onto it, as I am never without my phone anyway. (Older parents=I ALWAYS need to be available, lol) I think I would normally opt for the Apple Watch but I just do NOT want to charge it every single day. That’s a dealbreaker for me. How can Apple not have developed a longer battery life by now? I love that I get 4-5 days from my Versa 2. I love seeing my sleep statistics so I want to wear my watch to bed. I’m also in step challenges every day so I can’t charge my watch every day. I also think Fitbit’s community is way larger than Apple’s, as regards the health challenges. But that being said...I do get what you’re saying, and i really enjoyed this review! 👍🏻👍🏻 I think that I’ll still end up selling my Versa 2 and getting the Sense probably in about 6 months, lol.
Completely understand from your point of view. Most people are with their phones nowadays so the music thing might not be a deal breaker. I'll be keeping my Versa 2 as well (just won't be my daily driver), but the current condition of the Sense, I do think it will be better in a few months once all the features are available. I think first buyers are beta testers. Battery Life without a doubt is vastly superior than Apple Watch.
I get what you mean, I could never buy an applewatch, the battery is rubbish. Personally everything on these two devices are great for me, the price is excellent since the app is free and customer support has been perfect for me. I cannot recommend them enough. Because of looks, I recommend you the sense but I dont really care about the health thingys on the sense therefore if you also dont, go for tbeVersa 3, its a versa 2 but improved and wkth the GPS i have always wanted
I have an Apple Watch and I charge it every other day when I am showering, I dont mind charging it that often because I think it is unhygienic too wear your Watch 5 days in a row, and also, how frequent you must charge it will depend on your usage, I dont Exercise much, I mostly use my Apple Watch to check weather and notifications when my phone is in my pocket so I can see whether the notification is important enough for me to reach my phone, so I dont need to charge it that often
Thanks, I used Fitbit for about 10 years and recently decided they had their last chance. When you pay for a device, then have to pay or see the data, then it only syncs when Mercury is in retrograde; it is time to change. I switched to an entry level Garmin, Forerunner 45, about a month ago and just wish I had done it years ago- have not had any issues- syncs smoothly, gps is spot on, app just works. The only issue has been learning to use it.
@@hermiecatherinegilbuena8827 I spent 240 on the Fitbit versa when it came out 😂 I regret it so much that when bought It I wore it for 2 weeks and than I didn’t even wear it 🤦♀️
@@17.Script same mine runs so slow :( I’m getting an apple watch se for christmas this year and i’m so happy. I’ve tested it in stores and it’s so, so much better
@@chickencrimpy105 That is because an Apple watch is a FULL smartwatch, genius. The Samsung watch would be better than the Fitbit in that aspect as well. The problem is people keep comparing fitbits to other smartwatches such as the Samsung watch and the apple watch. It will not match up to any. Fitbit excels when it comes to FITNESS tracking and that is something neither the apple watch nor samsung watch can match up to. That this why I use my fitbit for fitness tracking and my samsung watch for other smartwatch features. If you were expecting fitbit to meet your needs of all of a typical smartwatch than you would be foolish. And if you think an Apple watch is going to track fitness as well as a fitbit or other fitness trackers than you would also be foolish. The Fitbit app alone is better made the any apple or samsung 3rd party fitness apps
@@SourStrawberrys I never said that fitbit should be as good as an apple watch, simply that it runs really slow and therefore i’m upgrading to something better for me, a proper smart watch.
I had the surge and the screen died and popped out just sitting on a desk 2 days after warranty expired. They only offered me 15% off a new device 🙄 Versa 2 just got a line of dead pixels this morning after a basic alarm went off. I think I'm done too.
Everything he is saying is why I left Fitbit. Had the charge 2 and it stopped syncing with my Android phone and my PC. Went with Garmin Venu SQ that has better OS and more features for same price.
4 года назад
Roberto, I'm thinking exactly about the same swap. Replacing my 3,5y Charge 2 with Garmin Venu SQ (initially thought about Sense but after all reviews decided not to). Are you happy with the change? How about changing softwares and functionalities overall? Thanks! :)
@ the change of the OS is not too bad. You get used to it pretty quickly. Same thing goes for the app. There's a lot more going on with the app and you can see even more when you log in on through a web browser. The GPS and heart rate monitor are as accurate as stated by reviews I've seen. Check out all the reviews that have been done on it here on RUclips. They are very informative. Everything functions very well. Screen is very responsive. When you do an outdoor activity, you have to wait for it to lock on to a signal for the GPS and then you can hit the start button to go. It saves the activity pretty quickly. I'm very happy with it.
I have had 3 Fitbits and had some sort of issue with all of them. My current Charge 3 is rubbish! It occasionally doesn't sync. As soon as you go outside I can't read the screen at all and it doesn't have to be strong sunlight. Also notifications turn up sometimes hours after the event and often as a whole batch which would be really funny if it wasn't so crap when I get a notification that someone is calling me about 10 minutes or more after I have finished talking to them! I know it is not the phone as my Garmin Fenix 5X doesn't do that. I have just bought a Garmin Venu instead and it's great so far. Having already got the Garmin Fenix 5X I knew what to expect. If you can stretch to it I would recommend the Venu over the Venu SQ.
@@Michael_Demiurgos715 I have only ever had a problem with one Garmin. It had a fault and was returned and replaced directly by Garmin free of charge and that was when it was just outside the warranty. They were very efficient. I have had a problem with all but one Fitbit and they don't seem to want to know.
One thing I really enjoy about your videos is that you are not just saying things/making videos for clicks. I know that's an element of making videos on yt, but I hate when tech youtubers make the same video 20 times and say the same reactionary, speculative thing in each one. It seems like every video u make has actual value and a message behind making it so I appreciate you taking the time to be detailed and thoughtful! Also Fitbit really messed up with the music. Not a bad looking watch though
That's a nice lookin' watch. Yeah, the same 20 videos sound like the rumors/leaks/'unknown info" that's just talking about specs or things people already know or want. Content like that makes me want to unsubscribe. No disrespect, but if I wanted to know the general things about a product, I'd just go to the company's product page and read it myself. It's the insight of RUclipsrs that I like and that's what my content is based around. Also smelling and unboxing products of course.
Never buy a product based on future promises, buy it for what it can do today. I used to own 3 Fitbits almost two years ago and the software has never changed enough in the feature department to keep me around. I switched to a Samsung Gear S3 Frontier and I've loved this watch way more and it hasn't broken after a year like all of my Fitbits did!
I wasn’t even aware Google Assistant was only a future promise when I bought it. I send it back to the the store after I saw this video and heard of the Apple Watch SE. I had no idea.
I moved to Polar Unite after watching this video. I've been sharing this to everyone. Hope fitbit learns what did they. I'm pretty sure they just grabbing peoples money before Google does whatever
I just bought a Fitbit 3 ..I've had it for a week and I'm not impressed, I set it up and got a 3-month free Fitbit premium to try out. But I may take it back.. I don't have a lot of patience for some tech. I really enjoyed your review..thank you
I agree with you 100%, for I have also been involved with Fitbit since the very beginning, they are slow with the process and just continue to cost much more money!!! My favorite watch was the Blaze! Then , it was unavailable and I ended up receiving the Versa 2 because I didn't like the 1st Versa, now my hubby has the Versa Lite because the Versa 1 died after one year! I agree I will not give Fitbit anymore of my business!
So glad I came across your review. As a non-Apple user I am happy to hear the Versa 2 is a good choice. I have been trying to decide if I should spend the extra on the 3 or Sense. I just recently found a chart that showed the differences and thought the same thing, Do I Need those extras?? Now I feel more comfortable with my decision on the Versa 2. Thanks! 😊
I feel it. Love Fitbit but been on Apple Watch Series 5 and it’s an amazing experience. Only thing I miss Are battery life and sleep tracking but it’s not that bad.
This review sums up exactly what I have been thinking as well. I had the Versa 3 for a week. It's way too Beta level. Everything right with Fitbit is in the Versa 2. But honestly I'm out.
I love this video , am 100% in agreement with what this guy says, experienced the same frustrations with fitbit despite being very loyal to its use since 2016. I had to stick with versa 2 as I didn't find any value add to versa 3, bought it from fitbit and now returning it after dealing with their yucky customer care. They do not pay for your return shipping. Please note this. You will be more happy with your versa 2 , it's got more value than versa 3 overall. GPS is no big deal as who stays without cell phones.
Pretty honest review. I have owned Fitbit watches for the past 3-5 years and I loved them. I am however looking to replace them with an Apple Watch SE. For me, the main reason is that I think I want to graduate from a fitness tracking watch that has smart phone capabilities (Fitbit) to a smart watch with fitness tracking capabilities (Apple). Like you said, and I agree wholeheartedly, there is an issue with battery life between charges, however, the one big factor that most comparisons do not touch on is that an Apple Watch battery can be replaced but Fitbit batteries cannot. Once the battery dies in a Fitbit, the watch is just discarded. Thanks for the review. It helped push me even more towards the Apple Watch.
I totally agree! I did beta for a couple of the original Fitbit models. I loved them at first and was completely sold. They weren’t improving or listening at all in the testing though. I get we’re beta testers not engineers but major issue should be listed to when many are experiencing them. They did still make some solid improvements though. Then when Apple Watch released I tried it and pretty instantly was sold. I wanted to hold out a bit to see if Fitbit would improve but I wasn’t seeing it. I think their mistake was going after Apple models. Realistically they should have tried to compete in the active Watch market not smartwatches unless they were willing to make major leaps toward the user experience and OS. I feel like they may be pushing out their last few watches/trackers before they’re more absorbed into Google more.
Upgraded to the Sense two weeks ago; loving the advanced heartrate sensors among others. After using a Galaxy 2 and a Fitbit Charge 3; I find the Sense to be a perfect balance between smart-watch and fitness tracker. I didn't like the bloated feel of a full-blown smart watch and highly value the multiple day battery life of the fitness trackers. The Sense has the smart features I want without feeling bloated - as well as an epic battery. Also, blood oxygen measurements are only taken at night for a reason. Even medical/professional, dedicated O2 sensing equipment can be touchy; if a patient wont stay completely still, can take ages to get an accurate reading - repeats can be required. Delegating O2 measurements to night time saves a lot of user frustration. The O2 sensors use red and infrared light, the latter can pass through body tissue, meaning day readings are likely to get interference which may confound an accurate reading. Since the data is logged for long term analysis this is much more accurate and reliable. Just my assumptions anyways....
Glad your sense has a good battery, mine was horrible out of the gate. Now only 6 months later I get 1 day if I am lucky. I wish I would have got the alta hr again. Wore for 3 years, only had to charge every 9-14 days, never took it off, but to charge.
Customer support has gotten really bad with fitbit over the years. And I too have been with fitbit since 2015 with the charge hr, blaze, charge 3, charge 4 and now versa 2. The bingo challenges are nice but only available with premium (which doesn't add much things I want besides the bingo). Most friends ice made on fitbit over the years have ditched fitbit. So I understand why you are leaving. Thank you for a great review.
Hey man, I used to love fitbit too. Its price, fitness software & longer battery life were the main factors. However, I found out that Apple watch is giving much accurate fitness data, with built in gps, music. So I switched. I will say you will love your apple watch. Enjoy man
I was clicking through my Fitbit Versa last and... ECG app just popped up, wow! The long awaited feature just showed, no email, no alerts, and quite the diminished fanfare. It worked the first time with an ultra easy setup. I liked your perspective on the Versa 3 👍
@@DayoAworunse Yes, Fitbit truly surprised me with the Fitbit Sense. However, for the price... I feel the Apple Watch SE is a better deal. Sure, Fitbit does more, but does it fall victim to being a Jack of All Trades and a Master of None? I am going to send back my Fitbit Sense and keep an Apple Watch. I still have yet to decide if the full-blown Apple Series 6 is worth the $$$ or if the SE is just right. The $309.00 price tag for their 44mm Watch is very tempting. I just finished an AOD battery test for the Fitbit Sense and it lasted nearly four days -- WOW!
I recently went to Garmin. My first and only experience with fitbit was getting a versa 2 second hand. Worked absolutely perfectly until I updated it to the latest firmware. Then the battery started lasting only 10 hours. Then the heart rate monitor broke. And then it stopped counting steps. It was clearly bricked by the update.
Great Video. I used to be a fitbit user HR2, and I was tired of having to bring my phone for the GPS feature. but not having the GPS was a deal breaker for me. it is so disappointing that they took away the music now. I am so happy with my Apple Watch now, yes it is more expensive and the battery life is not as great as Fitbit, but you get what you pay for.
I've been a Fitbit fan since the Charge also. Wore all their trackers till I got the first Versa and it stopped working shortly after I went swimming with it less than a year after buying it. The replacement ended up doing the same thing even though the watch was supposed to be waterproof. After that disappointment I switch to Fossil and was super excited to go back when I saw the Sense. You've changed my mind lol. I guess I'll be waiting for their next model and see if they address all the issues you brought up. It's hard for me to give up on them yet bc I LOVE their battery life, didn't realize how much I'd miss it when I switched. Great review!
I totally agree with you Fitbit use to be a great company regards to customer service. Now the are sooo bad!!! I had to call them regarding my Ionic and they were so rude and very unhelpful. When my Ionic truly dies I am not sure what I'll do.
Always had faith year and year, and slowly but surely, I've been let down time and time again. Good to hear you're keeping yours till it completely fails on you instead of upgrading just for the sake of upgrading. Respect.
I feel your pain, I’ve been a loyal Fitbit user for almost 8 years but have been thinking about switching to the Apple Watch, too. The Fitbit devices I’ve had in the past always seem to malfunction after a few years, then I buy a new device expecting to have a better experience (because it’s a new product, surely it’ll work better right?), but then become disappointed when it just doesn’t deliver. I bought a Versa 2 just this past June, and it’s already malfunctioned on me twice! And especially for the price, I’ve felt taken advantage of. Plus now you need a premium membership to access all the perks...like, I just spent $200 on this device and I need to fork over even more money to access all the things it can do?? Such a ripoff. And I agree their customer service is god awful, and their updates always provide me with more challenges. I love what Fitbit does for me, like tracking my calories and sleep and heartbeat and steps, but it just doesn’t feel worth it anymore when there are so many other great options out there. Fitbit should really work on doing better all around. 🙁
That sad emoji hit me hard because I think all long-time FitBit users are disappointed after hoping for so much after many years. Maybe when Google works with FitBit and creates their own watch under FitBit, maybe the PixelBit or something witty like that, maybe we can revisit. But with all the competition now, FitBit isn't the only tracking device on the block anymore and competitors are just as good now.
Same happened to me. I gave up Fitbit after failing 3 devices. I always had a hope about the next new product, but it always failed. All my ex Fitbit devices malfunctioned after about an year.
I agree with all the points. Had an Ionic that got “bricked” with latest update last week. I jumped to the Apple watch 6....life has never been better! Thanks for the memories Fitbit! 😜
@@whatwasisaying1338 YES....Fitbit is aware that this is an issue, but will not refund you a new Ionic watch...a small discount on a new Versa 2 only. Save your money James!
Glad I'm not the only one! I started with Charge HR in 2015 and it broke 3x in the first year needing replacement. Then I got the versa which also had to be replaced. After 1 year of the versa, I developed a sudden very surprising rash under the tracker itself which won't go away no matter what I do to clean it. Seems like there was a coating on the casing that wore off after a year of use. I am in the market for a new one and tempted because Fitbit products are so up my alley, but I've been burned too many times!
FitBits have been great choices because of their value and battery life. Sounds like you've had a troubled experience with them in the past but e loyal customer. I'd give a shot at trying something out or giving FitBit another go, but if you are in the Apple ecosystem, give the SE a shot!
Thank you so much for this! My Charge 3 is dying under warranty, and they gave me the option of a full replacement, or 50% off an upgrade. I was thinking of getting the Versa 3, but it sounds like I should go for the Versa 2. I appreciate your advice!
Think your comments are very accurate. I had the original Fitbit and then purchased the Versa 2 several years ago, Dr wanted me to monitor my heart rate on Elliptical for 30 minutes. Updates on the Fitbit have always been a challenge. In the gym, I still use the Versa 2, for everyday use I have grown to really like my Apple watch series 3 (have Iphone, Ipad and MacBook Air). Pricing on newer Fitbits seems crazy, as you stated. Keep up the good work. Blessings, Grandpa from S CA.
I was so excited for the sense. I had been using an Apple Watch and wanted to try Fitbit out again. I had the sense for two days. Didn’t even wear it for a whole 24 hours. For that much money it was not a premium experience. It wasn’t just the switch of platforms. The whole experience was just clunky. Plus I couldn’t get Alexa to work properly, and I just didn’t need TWO smart assistants. I was still using Siri on my other devices. I’m not a techy person so I couldn’t figure it out. For a fitness watch, it tracked wayyy fewer types of workouts than the Apple Watch. Lastly, those special new features and technology like the o2 and temperatures sensors weren’t able to be used all that well. So pretty much useless. Returned the next week and bought the new Apple Watch 6 which I am SUPER happy with. If you’re an Apple user, there’s nothing better than an Apple Watch. There’s so much more included with an Apple Watch and it just works so seamlessly. It’s beautiful. Love this review! Gonna keep an eye on this channel in the future.
You’re lucky and I resonate with you as well. You get accustomed to the battery life and charging times of the Apple Watch and it’s just a much better experience from the user experience to the software. Lucky because my switch to the Apple goes up today. 😁 although I didn’t go with the 6 but that’s an AMAZING watch as well
I love my FitBit Versa 2 and was looking forward to upgrading to the Sense, but this review completely changed my mind. The inflated price and the exclusion of onboard music went against the reasons for why I even got a Versa 2 in the first place. I might as well go with an Amazfit GTS 2.
I just made the same switch from Versa 2 to Apple Watch SE. I’ve been a Fitbit user for 5 years and I’ve been through 4 models. And you’re right, for the continuous increase in the asking price compared with the features offered to that of an Apple Watch, I felt like I was getting cheated. And then when I found out I could get an Apple Watch through my phone plan and trade it in for an upgrade as newer models come out - the decision was surprisingly (and sadly) easy.
@@laurareyes5362 I’ve had my Apple Watch for almost 2 years now. Still love it, no regrets. As for the charging, I charge it while I’m in the shower/getting ready for work. I get a full charge within an hour. Works for me 🤷🏼♀️
Good review. I have been on my toes to spin up the new Sense from my current Versa 2. But I would stay back for a while. Like you, I am an apple fanboi while a long term fitbit user. I still continue with the Versa 2
I have to disagree with the negative review. I have never expected a watch to hold my music, so that's one thing. And, battery life is important to me, so the Apple watch has a negative there. Also, one of my main reasons to have a health tracker is the sleep tracking, and Fitbit has one of the best algorithms for that; Apple cannot compare! I hear you on the price. For folks who had the Versa 2, and liked the music feature there, I can understand some major disappointment. As I said, this just is not an issue for me. Thanks for the in depth review!
I have been a fitbit user since 2013. I agree with a great deal of your comments. No Spotify download, button sensor & most importantly support. I am already a fitbit Premium user so 6 months free isn't incl. The worst part of the Sense and it's price is that most of the "new features" aren't even there yet or are bug ridden! The Sp02 Clockface doesn't seem to work w/an android. The detail for Sp02, which has been developed so they can eventually test for sleep apnea (hence the only tracking it at night) and Google Ass't was a major reason for spending the extra money. Even controlling Spotify isn't there yet (which I can do w/my wireless headset anyways). I left Pandora yrs ago. Here's my question. What's w/Fitbit's premature release of this product, at a price point that kills their reputation, during a Pandemic and economic collapse, when people need their health info the most? If this is indicative of what Google will do for them. I too will very sadly 😢 leave Fitbit. Note; I have bought Fitbit the Charge 3 & 4 with Premium as gifts for family members as well as other Fitbit trackers. I've never used the Verse X but would say based on extensive use of the Charge 4 w/Premium it does almost everything the watches do for $200+ less. TY for reinforcing my thinking.
Update: After messing with it more myself and giving up on weeks of fitbit support I got it to work, kind of. IF I switch from the main Clockface that comes w/the Sense, that I like, or any other clockface, to the Sp02. You must either use the Sp02 all the time, negating all other clockface options, or remember to switch to it b4 you go to bed. Then wait an hr for it do its analyzing and switch back to the Clockface you like. For that you get the following info; % Sp02 and range (ie., 95%, range 92%-98%) while you slept. AFA I can tell the only history is on the phone app w/a dot graph of a week. No expansion or detail just dots of approximately where you were. I do not consider that a major upgrade. I consider that a major pia that was developed separately or by someone other than fitbit and in their rush to release it they didn't integrate it. I made the mistake of thinking that if you had the Clockface on the watch and the watch has the sensors than they were capturing the data. I thought I could switch to the Clockface in the morning for a minute to see the results. My bad.
@@pfr7463 I think it's because it works during your sleep and requires a bit more battery? Tbh that's my favourite click face so I'm happy with it. Hopefully they'll make some upgrades or something that will incorporate what you're saying.
My friend and i both got Charge 3 last year. Both of our screens broke a month after warranty expired - the watch itself supposedly still tracked everything, but it basically became a screenless tracker and i didn’t want to wear it with my watch. tried all the things they suggested on the forum, but also read that for many this is an issue shortly after warranty, and people have concerns the same thing could happen to Charge 4. Switched to another brand and don’t intend to come back. 🤷🏼♀️
All it takes is one bad experience without good customer service and a person shifts companies. Happens! Hopefully the new brand you switched to has been a great experience. My Versa 1 also broke 1 month after warranty expired as well
It’s funny that I bump into this video today because this week FitBit lost my heart as my fav activity tracker or watch. My discovery this week is you cannot have more than one device that uses the FitBit App Gallery on your account, so the Charge 3, 4, Ionic, Sense, and Versa series all apply to this rule. I have a Versa and an Alta HR, this week I bought a Charge 4 to replace my Alta HR, tried to add it to my account, and there began my surprise. I was asked if I am “switching “ from the Versa to the Charge 4, that caught me off guard since I had both a Versa and Alta HR linked. I spent over 35 minutes in a chat with FitBit Support only to learn in the end about the above fact of only allowing one app gallery device. After the chat, I did more research and saw this issue is over 4 years old. I had to remind the Tech my account clearly shows I have never used the two devices at the same time. I use the Alta HR at home and the Versa when leaving the house. Like you, I never seriously thought about buying an iWatch till this week. Especially since we still have no official word of a official Google Watch. Currently I am holding out and keeping my old FitBit setup, since I returned the Charge 4 yesterday, but I will not buy another FitBit product.
Dayo Aworunse ..... Well I can honestly say I am done with FitBit and not buying another. Since Google bought them, I am praying for an official Google watch soon, and hopefully can link my FitBit data. I have to admit I did look at the Apple Watch, but the major thing that kept me from buying it is I don’t have an iPhone to activate it. I use a Pixel and love it, so back at square one till Google wants to make something for my wrist.
A very well articulated review. I am newer to fitbit, have used versa 2 and liked it a lot. It died on me recently and I have been looking around for a good replacement. The battery life is what makes fitbits more attractive than Apple watch to me. I used to get 2-3 weeks early on my versa with a single charge against the sub-24hr one with Apple watch. Your review cautions me suitably.
$90 Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G here. I wanted a Charge 4 so much, but the lack of on-board music killed it for me. I require my smartwatch to stand-alone without my phone.
Fitbit are terrible just look at all the complaints on their forums and reviews on their google play store. Fitbit also charge a premium fee to access info that is free on other watches. Most stuff is hidden behind paywall. SpO2 takes 4 hrs to generate and only after sleeping, ECG is only available in PDF. No dark theme on app. Screen scratches easily. Random restarts. Weird button placement.
Excellent review. I was really hoping that with Google's purchase of Fitbit that somehow it would improve. Maybe it will ultimately, but right now I'm with you, Fitbit just isn't going to cut it for the price. I may reluctantly move to an Apple watch and their ecosystem.
Thank you for actually testing each product and giving an informed opinion rather than reciting the box description like everyone else on youtube does.
Hey man, great video. You earned a subscriber here! I also was a very loyal Fitbit customer which even convinced several family members to get one. I have owned a Charge 2, Versa Lite and Versa 2. The Charge 2 was excellent but everything after it was very much downhill. Both the Lite and the Versa 2 failed on me due to water damage. In fact, sweat killed the Versa 2 which is supposed to be 50m water resistant. How ridiculous is that!? Fitibit Support didn't honor my still under warranty device so I'm jumping ship. I'm eyeing a Garmin Venu, fully aware that their sleep tracking is still rudimentary. You should check the official Fitbit forums and make a follow up video. Screens detaching, water damage because people were washing dishes, warranties not honored, etc. You just scratched the surface.
I feel the same. I’m sad. I love fitbit but their latest firmware update to the Versa lite killed my experience. The customer service has never been the same and the quality of the watch interface lags too much. I still love the app but I’m going to have to move on to an Apple Watch now 😔.
Dayo Aworunse I agree. I never jumped to the Apple Watch bc I felt that it was not the better fitness tracker but just a better smart watch. Whereas Fitbit provided that excellent assurance that you could be motivated to want to be take the role in being a more active and healthy person with their watches. I thank Fitbit for getting me into being more aware of my health and lifestyle but idk what happened to them. It’s like once google took hold of them, they started to jump forward into the smart watch Avenue and forget about the core of what their brand was, providing a way for their consumers to gage their fitness health. I hope one day they can get back to what people loved about them. For now, I’ll move onto Apple and hope that I get that same quality that Fitbit provided a few years back. Don’t get me wrong I love the health app. It’s cool. I’m glad I got to own a number of Fitbits even through the ups and downs but sometimes you gotta change it up 🙂
Man, you know how to provide an excellent review! I wish I had found it before I purchased a Versa 3 recently. Fitbit Ionic #1 - operated smoothly…until it stopped counting my steps. Then it went manic on me and was counting steps when I wasn’t moving, 60-60 miles per day w the watch off my wrist! Called Fitbit and they sent me a replacement which worked fine until… A few weeks ago they emailed me saying I need to return it. They stopped production of the Ionic 2 years ago and they said there have been reports of the battery catching on fire! Just great. So I returned it to them and they gave me 40% off a one-time purchase and said they’ll refund me $299 also(still waiting on that). So my new Versa 3 cost $150. I would’ve bought an Apple Watch if not for the short battery life and I’m hoping for CGM capability later. So far the Versa 3 is adequate but I have noticed the shortcomings you described. I’m now another Subscriber for you.
I agree! This is the best video I've seen comparing the two. I need to upgrade from my Charge 2 and wanted the Versa 3, but I'm thinking I'll go find a deal on a Versa 2.
@@michellevickers841 I bought the Versa 2 last week when it was in sale on Amazon for $130 to replace my HRCharge 2. I've been enjoying my Versa2! It's comfortable and definitely a big upgrade from the Charge2.
Very informative video! After this and some more reviews I replaced my Charge 4 for a Samsung Galaxy watch. IMO the Galaxy watch looks nicer but I returned it after a few days mainly because of the few functionalities, the battery life (2 days max) and Samsung Health UI. Bought a Versa 2 and very happy with it. Battery life is about 5-6 days. Switching from the Fitbit app on your phone to Samsung Health feels like a step back. You only use the watch for the time, some health stats and checking incoming messages. Not having to charge it every 2 days (so 180 times per year) makes Fitbit already much better than many other brands.
Versa 2 is still my favorite watch by FitBit, people commonly mistake it for other brands and they are stunned when I say it's a FitBit (as if that's a bad thing?) Hopefully their next iteration of watches with Google make them even better.
Thank you for this honest and transparent review, that made me NOT to buy Versa 3 or even Sense. I feel like nowadays you shouldn't buy anything without firstly watching review like this, because marketing and specs on paper are one thing, and users experience completely different thing.
Finally, RUclips suggests a video that is actually helpful. After my second Versa died at ~1yr of use, I felt burned. I have been debating switching over to Apple Watch. Ugh! Thanks!
Thumbs up for having the best comparison video I’ve found! Keep it up! I have the versa 2 and was thinking of an upgrade. I really want GPS but the music thing is a downside. Versa 2 is still the best overall for me!
Excellent review and summary. Versa 2 is the only one worth it for now.. let's see what Google does with Versa 4. We live in cold countries and touch buttons are a definite no go with gloves on.
Finally a comparison that gets down to it! I have been considering the Apple Watch for ages but my little Fitbit BLAZE is still (barely) working. I just couldn’t decide on the Versa and then with so many versions and the sense coming out I got really stumped. Thank you for breaking it down. I’m curious to hear about your time with the Apple Watch!
I forgot to ask if any of the fit bits can take calls that go to your wireless headphones. That’s one BIG pro for switching to an Apple Watch. Being able to answer a call from my watch and speak through my headphones, all without my actual phone on me...
I couldn't agree more! My infatuation ended with the Versa 2. I started with a Fitbit Zip. I struggle to get my Versa 2 to sync on a regular basis. I'm moving on from Fitbit! I've had it!
Hmmmm... Maybe I should save up to switch everything to Garmin. I LOVED my Charge 2--it was very accurate--even compared to hospital readings. However, my VERSA is completely innacurate, I get THOUSANDS of steps just working at my desk (and driving). No adjustments work. It's basically an expensive watch that takes a long time to show heartrate (which is why I bought a Fitbit in the first place). I have their scale, and it likes to drop 20 pounds overnight, and then I have to keep going through this whole reset process. Dude--WAY COOL background effect! I was totally tricked. Clever! :)
Unfortunate to hear about your FitBit experience. Seems a lot of people in the comments who have Garmin have had a wonderful experience. I switched to Apple Watch since I am already in the ecosystem. Everyone keeps talking about the backdrop how I was inside the TV but I don't see it, but I guess I'll stick with that setup lol.
So glad I found this video - have had my versa 3 for less than a week and it’s not working right, searching for answers when I came across your video. I am returning
I got a Versa Lite for my birthday a couple of years ago. All seemed fine and I really liked the way it looked and the quality of the display. Then I noticed it seemed to be giving me really good exercise ratings, far better than my old tracker. So I looked more carefully and saw my heart rate was jumping up to 136 bpm and sticking there for several minutes! On the Fitbit forum, lots of people were complaining of the same thing. Fitbit were not really interested and tried telling us to wear it further up our arm or resetting the watch. Then mine started to eat batteries. Some of us eventually got replacements (which were no better) and some got refunds, but dealing with the company was not great. No more fitbits for me!
I still haven’t purchased a watch! I’m a previous Fitbit user as well and loved them. Now I’m stuck watching RUclips videos all day to help me decide. Because like you said their hitting AW territory and I’m already in the eco system so do i just switch sides? 😩 i wish i could put Fitbit UI on Apple hardware!
Your perspective was extremely helpful. I’m between both the Versa 3 and Charge 5 or even the Sense (coming from a Charge 3) and am having such a hard time deciding. You put into words why I’m struggling - these devices are nice, but they’re missing features that would be nice to have. Plus, the cool features are behind the Premium paywall. I’m just not feeling jazzed about my options, and I’ve been very anti-Apple watch… but now you have me feeling like I need to reconsider. Thanks for the video!
My first Fitbit was a Charge 2 and it lasted me quite a while. When the Charge 2 failed I switch to the Versa 2. The first Versa 2 lasted 7 months, I took it back got it replaced and the replacement lasted 7 months, I took it back and got it replaced and now the current Versa 2 blanked out as well only lasting 9 months. I don’t even know what to think.
Thanks a lot for your sincere review, you just answered many of the points I was interested with this watch but couldn't find yet on other reviews. I now decided that probably this is not the right stuff for me due to the cons you enlighten, non phisical button and music especially.
I feel you! I have also used Fitbit for years. I had the original Fitbit wristband, then the Ionic which i loved but that one broke... Now i have the Lite which is quite laggy but i got used to it. I was really hoping for more innovation and changes on these new Sense and Versa Models, but there is so much bad comments about these watches online. Like they released a fully beta, if not alpha models... I also really don't like Fitbit adding data behind the paywall so this is my farewell aswell. I just ordered one-year-old Apple watch series 5 44mm Nike edition for 300€. I also like that i can connect the Apple Watch with external HR sensor.
Good review, thanks! Never had a Fitbit before, but the Sense sounded awesome now that they added ECG! But the music thing is odd, and needing the Premium service to get full use of all the sensors sucks. Was at the top of my list to replace my old Garmin Vivosmart HR, but pretty sure it's fallen to the bottom of the list after all the reviews I've seen/read.
I am returning my versa 3. I do not understand why there is not physical button on the side and I have had exercise turn on in my sleep. Why? I am not a deep sea diver, just give me a button. Going back to a standard watch. Thanks for the review Dayo.
Thank you! I wanted to buy the versa 3 until i found out the offline Spotify Problem 😃 now i‘m thinking of the garmin venu sq music.. what do you think?
I was gonna buy my wife a new smartwatch, and was considering a Fitbit. Noticed the Sense is new, but quite a lot more expensive. And a subscription? Seems like it's.. overwhelming? So is the Versa a better buy? But then it's not the newest and best?
Totally agree. I've always been a big fan of Fitbit but frankly I'm tired of the constant problems. Not syncing properly, updates causing problems, clunky app. When my current one finally gives out I'll look elsewhere.
Many thanks for an honest review. I fully concur with your comments and findings. Bought the Sense mainly as a health tracker, but experienced nothing than frustration during the 2 weeks of ownership. All I can say is, that it is a half baked device and most of the features are a hit and miss experience. The Oxygen saturation (
I have the exact same sentiments about Fitbit. I have owned both the Fitbit Alta HR, and more recently the Fitbit Versa 2. Both are great health trackers and I enjoyed using them, but have had terrible luck when it comes to product longevity. My Fitbit Versa 2 that I owned for a little more than a year won't turn on, won't synch, won't charge, and customer service has been no help. The same thing happened to my Alta HR. I finally ordered the Apple Watch SE earlier this week and it's highly unlikely that I go back to Fitbit any time soon.
After the first day of using the apple watch you will realize you've been missing sooo much. Apart from battery life it is by far the best integration with a smartphone eco system on a watch. Period. I regret not getting one sooner
Thank you for this review !! I, too, am done with Fitbit. I had the Fitbit Charge then I upgraded to the Versa 2. Over the years I had several problems with them synching to my phone when apps were updated, possibly partly my fault because I never had brand name phones. My last 2 phones were HTC and Huawei. But just last week, I decided to break down, and buy my first NEW brand name phone - I bought a Samsung Galaxy S21. Did I research beforehand if it would be compatible with Fitbit....no, BUT it was a brand name phone !!! I guess we all know what happens when you assume, but I honestly thought that a name like Samsung would be compatible with Fitbit. So, I have seriously been considering leaving Fitbit and switching to Samsung, since it is the same as my phone. This review sealed the deal, after all of my years struggling to keep my phones synching with Fitbit, I will move on. Thank you again, for your honest review.
This is the most honest review of the new lineup of Fitbit devices. I have been a long time adapter of Fitbit since their first product - Fitbit Fit through the Fitbit Ionic. I purchased the Fitbit Sense the day it was released. It is the most underwhelming Fitbit product to date. I was disappointed I couldn't load my music. I could not get Alexa to work, and the significant features would be added later. Essentially, Fitbit released a half-baked product. Their customer service was terrible. Thus, I returned the Sense and canceled the Fitbit premium. I upgraded to the Apple Watch 6 series. I appreciate your review since it accords with my experiences and perceptions of Fitbit. Too bad they are losing customers.
I have no problems with fitbit. My selected notifications always come through. My bicycling data and steps are always counted. I love I can approve Microsoft MFA notifications for work right from the watch. Battery life is excellent. Every fitbit I have owned was purchased when heavily discounted . BTW, love the optical illusion, seems like you are coming out of the TV
Nice! It's always great to hear two sides of a story, and your side seems to have a great experience with FitBit. The optical illusion wasn't intentional, but it seems a lot are confused by it. I just decided to talk with my TV directly behind me 😂
Personally i had quality control issues on my first fitbit charge 3. Had it replaced twice and now its dead and i am out of warranty. How can a product not last 1.5 years?. The first had water damage yet its supposed to be water proof it started vibrating and the second several leds on the screen are dead and gave me a wrong heart rate. So with the competition i can't risk another Fitbit better try other products.
Unfortunate to have your experience with FitBit, makes no sense to have 2 replacements in less than 2 years. Competition is a good thing, so maybe in a few years FitBit will rise up again, but the value aspect seems to be going away with the Versa 3 & Sense. Same here. My Versa 1 ended up bricking after a software update, the day of my 10K run which was frustrating and they shipped me out another one with screen issues. I gave them another shot with the Versa 2 with the screen not going past Minimum brightness, but indoors it was fine so I dealt with it. The software experience on the FitBit has been a nightmare and I don't see it improving, at least with the Versa 3 & Sense. Hopefully Google can eventually turn it around, if not, I'm still done forever.
The same happened to me and for me is too risky to spend in other Fitbit that won't last even a year! Specially if a live in another country where I don't have the facility to replace it.
Thanks for the video, I just got the sense 2 weeks ago and I just did an 88 mile walk in 5 days from LA to Santa Barbara. The GPS work great, and after 9 hours of GPS being on, the battery had gone down 60%, which I thought was impressive. I agree that the UI does not respond well all the time, I might look at the Garmins to compare.
I have a two year old ionic, it was not used all the time the use would be light. The heart rate sensor no longer operates, not sure if this was to do with a recent update. Started to look for a new watch, Then I saw the 'Premium Service". There is no way I am paying a fee to use an overpriced watch. I am just going to try Amazfit GTS. Sorry FitBit, but I think my Ionic should have lasted longer and I am Insulted by the Premium Service. See you later.
It's good to have the confirmation of what I experienced with my fitbit charge 4. The button on the side is awful and the exercise tracking fiasco was exacrly what I experienced. Very disappointing. I ended up putting it in my drawer and just buying another fitbit Versa 2.
Great review & commentary! Couldn't agree more and really like your presentation, so I'm now a subscriber. :) As another long time Fitbit user I was enormously disappointed with the Sense and have returned it (still waiting on the refund which is another issue). I've gone back to wearing my Fitbit Blaze that works well within the limitations of its' "smartwatch" features. Fitbit customer service has been abysmal so the combination of both poor product & service will have me selecting another Android-based watch when my Blaze gives out. Hope you enjoy your new Apple watch!
Thanks for the sub and glad to hear your experience is similar to others, so this doesn't seem like outliers, but more of a common issue. Apple Watch is great but...the battery life sucks.
After several weeks of comparing trackers vs watches and different brands, I bought the Versa 3 for $200 on sale as my first watch/tracker device. I am incredibly disappointed in the experience and am going to be spending the extra $70 and get the 44mm Apple Watch SE. Costco and Amazon both have the 44mm SE priced at $270 on sale right now, and Amazon has the 40mm SE priced at $260. I didn't purchase the Apple originally because I thought it was way more overpowered than what I needed. But I'm willing to pay more for it now after experiencing the Fitbit's clunky app and issues with the touchscreen interface and side button. I was able to play with the Apple Watch at the store and the interface functioned beautifully and it was just a much nicer user experience. Unfortunately, the Fitbit display doesn't allow interaction with their line up. So I took a chance, bought it, set it up at home, and based on my time with it, the Fitbit is going right back to the store.
Imagine comparing a fitness tracker to a professional multisport GPS watch. Like what? If sleep tracking is the absolute deal breaker, you're ignoring 95% of what the Fenix is designed for (which no Fitbit can compare to). They aren't even in the same market.
@@Balomis Imagine not understanding that everyone uses watches for different things. I liked my garmin but i didn't like the sleep tracker as it often said i was still walking around whilst i was asleep. A lot of people compare the garmin to the fitbit when they consider which watches to buy. Maybe you don't because you're a fkn watch guru, but a lot of people who care about their fitness also care about tracking their sleep as anyone who trains understands sleep is a major component of recovery.
![Summer Walker - Heart Of A Woman [Official Lyric Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/SFddctbZzw8/mqdefault.jpg)
It took me 25 seconds to realize he wasn’t in the TV...
magic
He should have used the max headroom voice :D
he is, is just a 3d tv
Same. I was confused why he was zooming into his own RUclips video 😂
Haha
I thought you was in the tv at the beginning 😂😂
Dead ass same😂
He is bro, he is just picking things up through the TV
Exactly!
fr
Ikr
I'm with you. I'm done with Fitbit. They seem to be taking steps backwards. Their customer support is a joke, and their "updates" cause problems, remove features, and brick devices. Personally, I will never use any Apple device, so my next watch will be something from Garmin.
I agree with you, I will never use an Apple product either!
take a look at the the ticwatch pro as well. Seems like a super solid choice.
All of these things offer good things then seemingly miss out other things, I’ve looked at Garmin, g-shock,Apple and Fitbit...I’ve decided to settle on the Garmin vivoactive...but at 650 bucks this stuffs getting a bit out of hand too...
@@f1reguy587 I tried the Garmin Vivoactive but wasn't impressed at all and took it back to the shop. Much prefer the Versa 2.
My fitbit flex 2 stopped pairing and fitbit never answered my customer support email. I switched to series 5 apple watch and never looked back.
This is a great review. You put your heart and soul in it. Fitbit should be proud that you supported them for so long, now they will have to convince you to come back by not forgetting the basics... Thanks for the insights!
My Fitbit recently dimmed so I can’t read it. I’ve done everything the website said to do! Nothing! I’m done with Fitbit. This was my third device!
@@hoptoi how long have you had it for, before you got problems?
@@GK-qc5ry I can’t remember exactly, but it was probably around 3 years
I feel ur pain. Been a Fitbit customer since 2013, with all the ups and downs. The only thing holding me from switching is the sleep-tracking
And my fave was alta hr. They have very short life. Miss mine
pretty sure u can get that from apple and galaxy now
@@twistedcherrypop if ur referring to sleep tracking, Fitbit is still head an shoulders above both companys.
I went from a Charge 2 to the Scence. As even though the Charge 2 had the same sleep tracking abilities. I could never get it to work Unless I made it tight enough to leave an impression on my arm for HOURS when I would have to charge it. Even then I was lucky to get good data 😒. Friend let me try his Versa for a while as he had bought the Sence. And it was literally the Exact opposite of the Charge. Didn't have to Strangle my wrist anymore 🥳.So because I'm disabled from neck and shoulder problems I'm lucky to get Four hours of sleep every night. Finally bought a sence and so far it's been great 👍. Expensive yes. But I never fell into a Apple product bot😬. Just got a new cell phone S9. As my old Motorola I had for a Decade was starting to show it's age. Only thing I don't like is the 9.95 charged every month. Should be more like 3.99 or free.....
@@wanee8039 I guess we had different experiences. Makes sense, we are different 🙂 But I've had all 3 of the charge devices and never had a problem other than the wrist bands breaking and step counter hiccups. In both instances, I received a replacements. The sleep data has been first rate.
This video needs to be viral! Everything you've said is spot on! I've had my Versa 2 for only a year and now it won't sync to my phone, Bluetooth connection is poor etc etc. Used chat support for a month, to no avail before they gave me a 20% off coupon code for an "upgraded model" I'm sad because I've been a lover of Fitbit for years, but these 2 upgrades are not worth it. This review is awesome and definitely more in depth than others. Keep up the great work! ☺
Yeah it seems when all else fails or dissatisfied they give you a 20% code to pick anything else, sometimes not allowed for newer products. I'll give Fitbit a chance next year but I've been burned too many times already
Really, my issue with Fitbit comes to the fact that my watch is never last the entire year. I am not sure if it's because I box and maybe the wraps hit that little button on the side or the gloves bother the watch itself, but I know that they never last a full year. So usually at some point during the year they end up having to give me either a new Fitbit watch or a 50% off of a newer model. This happens to me literally about every 6 months. I purchased the Fitbit 2 on a 50% discount back in March of 2020. I also this time decided to purchase the extended to your warranty. So now it is October of 2020 and the battery life does not last longer than a day no matter what I do. They just offered me 50% off and upgrade or they can send me another new watch in the mail. I am not a big apple user, I do have iMac an iPad but not the phone, so I am thinking about going to the Galaxy 3... Any thoughts?
They just did the same thing to me
@@Jaelprosper324 I reviewed the Galaxy Watch 3 and honestly its a fantastic watch and almost a counterpart to the Apple Watch. Active 2 is also a great watch if you don't care too much of the fashion design of the Galaxy Watch3, and also more expensive.
My Versa 2 screen stopped working after 3 weeks of use. Screen went completely white. 😌
I have a Versa 2 that’s one year old. I would love to get the Sense. I don’t care that you can’t load music onto it, as I am never without my phone anyway. (Older parents=I ALWAYS need to be available, lol) I think I would normally opt for the Apple Watch but I just do NOT want to charge it every single day. That’s a dealbreaker for me. How can Apple not have developed a longer battery life by now? I love that I get 4-5 days from my Versa 2. I love seeing my sleep statistics so I want to wear my watch to bed. I’m also in step challenges every day so I can’t charge my watch every day. I also think Fitbit’s community is way larger than Apple’s, as regards the health challenges. But that being said...I do get what you’re saying, and i really enjoyed this review! 👍🏻👍🏻 I think that I’ll still end up selling my Versa 2 and getting the Sense probably in about 6 months, lol.
Completely understand from your point of view. Most people are with their phones nowadays so the music thing might not be a deal breaker. I'll be keeping my Versa 2 as well (just won't be my daily driver), but the current condition of the Sense, I do think it will be better in a few months once all the features are available. I think first buyers are beta testers. Battery Life without a doubt is vastly superior than Apple Watch.
@@DayoAworunse Is there a another watch you would recommend as a upgrade over the Versa 2?
@@SibTiger33 I'd give the Versa 3 or Sense a try yourself and see if you like it. I still believe Versa 2, as of now, is a better watch for me.
I get what you mean, I could never buy an applewatch, the battery is rubbish. Personally everything on these two devices are great for me, the price is excellent since the app is free and customer support has been perfect for me. I cannot recommend them enough. Because of looks, I recommend you the sense but I dont really care about the health thingys on the sense therefore if you also dont, go for tbeVersa 3, its a versa 2 but improved and wkth the GPS i have always wanted
I have an Apple Watch and I charge it every other day when I am showering, I dont mind charging it that often because I think it is unhygienic too wear your Watch 5 days in a row, and also, how frequent you must charge it will depend on your usage, I dont Exercise much, I mostly use my Apple Watch to check weather and notifications when my phone is in my pocket so I can see whether the notification is important enough for me to reach my phone, so I dont need to charge it that often
Thanks, I used Fitbit for about 10 years and recently decided they had their last chance. When you pay for a device, then have to pay or see the data, then it only syncs when Mercury is in retrograde; it is time to change. I switched to an entry level Garmin, Forerunner 45, about a month ago and just wish I had done it years ago- have not had any issues- syncs smoothly, gps is spot on, app just works. The only issue has been learning to use it.
Totally agree. Fitbit prices keep soaring while the product actually gets worse.
Omg so true! It’s sad! Fitbit should be cheaper and have better sales. But they don’t. 😥
@@hermiecatherinegilbuena8827 I spent 240 on the Fitbit versa when it came out 😂 I regret it so much that when bought It I wore it for 2 weeks and than I didn’t even wear it 🤦♀️
@@17.Script same mine runs so slow :( I’m getting an apple watch se for christmas this year and i’m so happy. I’ve tested it in stores and it’s so, so much better
@@chickencrimpy105 That is because an Apple watch is a FULL smartwatch, genius. The Samsung watch would be better than the Fitbit in that aspect as well. The problem is people keep comparing fitbits to other smartwatches such as the Samsung watch and the apple watch. It will not match up to any. Fitbit excels when it comes to FITNESS tracking and that is something neither the apple watch nor samsung watch can match up to. That this why I use my fitbit for fitness tracking and my samsung watch for other smartwatch features. If you were expecting fitbit to meet your needs of all of a typical smartwatch than you would be foolish. And if you think an Apple watch is going to track fitness as well as a fitbit or other fitness trackers than you would also be foolish. The Fitbit app alone is better made the any apple or samsung 3rd party fitness apps
@@SourStrawberrys I never said that fitbit should be as good as an apple watch, simply that it runs really slow and therefore i’m upgrading to something better for me, a proper smart watch.
Why no one talk about fitbit breaking down as soon as the 1 year warranty is over.
Yes... all of mine don't charge after 1 year
Exactly, like magic, though mine broke down 3 months before warranty expires, so I am a bit luckier.
Facts! My was close to being a week to the warranty ending when it broke. Got a replacement but it only lasted 3 months -_-
I had the surge and the screen died and popped out just sitting on a desk 2 days after warranty expired. They only offered me 15% off a new device 🙄
Versa 2 just got a line of dead pixels this morning after a basic alarm went off.
I think I'm done too.
I'm lucky dude. All of my Fitbit, survived lot more time, after warranty has ended.
Hope new one, will keep up this tradition.
Everything he is saying is why I left Fitbit. Had the charge 2 and it stopped syncing with my Android phone and my PC. Went with Garmin Venu SQ that has better OS and more features for same price.
Roberto, I'm thinking exactly about the same swap. Replacing my 3,5y Charge 2 with Garmin Venu SQ (initially thought about Sense but after all reviews decided not to). Are you happy with the change? How about changing softwares and functionalities overall? Thanks! :)
@ the change of the OS is not too bad. You get used to it pretty quickly. Same thing goes for the app. There's a lot more going on with the app and you can see even more when you log in on through a web browser. The GPS and heart rate monitor are as accurate as stated by reviews I've seen. Check out all the reviews that have been done on it here on RUclips. They are very informative. Everything functions very well. Screen is very responsive. When you do an outdoor activity, you have to wait for it to lock on to a signal for the GPS and then you can hit the start button to go. It saves the activity pretty quickly. I'm very happy with it.
I have had 3 Fitbits and had some sort of issue with all of them. My current Charge 3 is rubbish! It occasionally doesn't sync. As soon as you go outside I can't read the screen at all and it doesn't have to be strong sunlight. Also notifications turn up sometimes hours after the event and often as a whole batch which would be really funny if it wasn't so crap when I get a notification that someone is calling me about 10 minutes or more after I have finished talking to them! I know it is not the phone as my Garmin Fenix 5X doesn't do that. I have just bought a Garmin Venu instead and it's great so far. Having already got the Garmin Fenix 5X I knew what to expect. If you can stretch to it I would recommend the Venu over the Venu SQ.
@@Michael_Demiurgos715 That is very very unusual.
@@Michael_Demiurgos715 I have only ever had a problem with one Garmin. It had a fault and was returned and replaced directly by Garmin free of charge and that was when it was just outside the warranty. They were very efficient. I have had a problem with all but one Fitbit and they don't seem to want to know.
One thing I really enjoy about your videos is that you are not just saying things/making videos for clicks. I know that's an element of making videos on yt, but I hate when tech youtubers make the same video 20 times and say the same reactionary, speculative thing in each one. It seems like every video u make has actual value and a message behind making it so I appreciate you taking the time to be detailed and thoughtful!
Also Fitbit really messed up with the music. Not a bad looking watch though
I thought the same thing!!
That's a nice lookin' watch. Yeah, the same 20 videos sound like the rumors/leaks/'unknown info" that's just talking about specs or things people already know or want. Content like that makes me want to unsubscribe. No disrespect, but if I wanted to know the general things about a product, I'd just go to the company's product page and read it myself. It's the insight of RUclipsrs that I like and that's what my content is based around. Also smelling and unboxing products of course.
I thought this man was showing us a recording of a TV
Same 😂
Never buy a product based on future promises, buy it for what it can do today. I used to own 3 Fitbits almost two years ago and the software has never changed enough in the feature department to keep me around. I switched to a Samsung Gear S3 Frontier and I've loved this watch way more and it hasn't broken after a year like all of my Fitbits did!
You're Right, they'll say (maybe) update to fix and I doubt since they like to grab our money.
I wasn’t even aware Google Assistant was only a future promise when I bought it. I send it back to the the store after I saw this video and heard of the Apple Watch SE. I had no idea.
I moved to Polar Unite after watching this video. I've been sharing this to everyone. Hope fitbit learns what did they. I'm pretty sure they just grabbing peoples money before Google does whatever
I just bought a Fitbit 3 ..I've had it for a week and I'm not impressed, I set it up and got a 3-month free Fitbit premium to try out.
But I may take it back.. I don't have a lot of patience for some tech.
I really enjoyed your review..thank you
No problem Kenny.
I decided to keep it so far it's been pretty good surprise me really. 👍🏿
I agree with you 100%, for I have also been involved with Fitbit since the very beginning, they are slow with the process and just continue to cost much more money!!! My favorite watch was the Blaze! Then , it was unavailable and I ended up receiving the Versa 2 because I didn't like the 1st Versa, now my hubby has the Versa Lite because the Versa 1 died after one year! I agree I will not give Fitbit anymore of my business!
So glad I came across your review. As a non-Apple user I am happy to hear the Versa 2 is a good choice. I have been trying to decide if I should spend the extra on the 3 or Sense. I just recently found a chart that showed the differences and thought the same thing, Do I Need those extras?? Now I feel more comfortable with my decision on the Versa 2. Thanks! 😊
I have no idea why, but you doing the whole “this is a nice looking watch,” thing had me laughing way harder than I would have thought. 😂
It was such a nice lookin' watch, especially from FitBit! If I saw someone with it in public, I'd compliment them saying the same thing
THIS IS A NICE LOOKING WATCH
I feel it. Love Fitbit but been on Apple Watch Series 5 and it’s an amazing experience. Only thing I miss Are battery life and sleep tracking but it’s not that bad.
This review sums up exactly what I have been thinking as well. I had the Versa 3 for a week. It's way too Beta level. Everything right with Fitbit is in the Versa 2. But honestly I'm out.
I love this video , am 100% in agreement with what this guy says, experienced the same frustrations with fitbit despite being very loyal to its use since 2016. I had to stick with versa 2 as I didn't find any value add to versa 3, bought it from fitbit and now returning it after dealing with their yucky customer care. They do not pay for your return shipping. Please note this. You will be more happy with your versa 2 , it's got more value than versa 3 overall. GPS is no big deal as who stays without cell phones.
Pretty honest review. I have owned Fitbit watches for the past 3-5 years and I loved them. I am however looking to replace them with an Apple Watch SE. For me, the main reason is that I think I want to graduate from a fitness tracking watch that has smart phone capabilities (Fitbit) to a smart watch with fitness tracking capabilities (Apple). Like you said, and I agree wholeheartedly, there is an issue with battery life between charges, however, the one big factor that most comparisons do not touch on is that an Apple Watch battery can be replaced but Fitbit batteries cannot. Once the battery dies in a Fitbit, the watch is just discarded. Thanks for the review. It helped push me even more towards the Apple Watch.
I totally agree! I did beta for a couple of the original Fitbit models. I loved them at first and was completely sold. They weren’t improving or listening at all in the testing though. I get we’re beta testers not engineers but major issue should be listed to when many are experiencing them. They did still make some solid improvements though. Then when Apple Watch released I tried it and pretty instantly was sold. I wanted to hold out a bit to see if Fitbit would improve but I wasn’t seeing it. I think their mistake was going after Apple models. Realistically they should have tried to compete in the active Watch market not smartwatches unless they were willing to make major leaps toward the user experience and OS. I feel like they may be pushing out their last few watches/trackers before they’re more absorbed into Google more.
Upgraded to the Sense two weeks ago; loving the advanced heartrate sensors among others. After using a Galaxy 2 and a Fitbit Charge 3; I find the Sense to be a perfect balance between smart-watch and fitness tracker. I didn't like the bloated feel of a full-blown smart watch and highly value the multiple day battery life of the fitness trackers. The Sense has the smart features I want without feeling bloated - as well as an epic battery.
Also, blood oxygen measurements are only taken at night for a reason. Even medical/professional, dedicated O2 sensing equipment can be touchy; if a patient wont stay completely still, can take ages to get an accurate reading - repeats can be required. Delegating O2 measurements to night time saves a lot of user frustration. The O2 sensors use red and infrared light, the latter can pass through body tissue, meaning day readings are likely to get interference which may confound an accurate reading. Since the data is logged for long term analysis this is much more accurate and reliable. Just my assumptions anyways....
Glad your sense has a good battery, mine was horrible out of the gate. Now only 6 months later I get 1 day if I am lucky. I wish I would have got the alta hr again. Wore for 3 years, only had to charge every 9-14 days, never took it off, but to charge.
Customer support has gotten really bad with fitbit over the years. And I too have been with fitbit since 2015 with the charge hr, blaze, charge 3, charge 4 and now versa 2. The bingo challenges are nice but only available with premium (which doesn't add much things I want besides the bingo). Most friends ice made on fitbit over the years have ditched fitbit. So I understand why you are leaving. Thank you for a great review.
Hey man, I used to love fitbit too. Its price, fitness software & longer battery life were the main factors. However, I found out that Apple watch is giving much accurate fitness data, with built in gps, music. So I switched. I will say you will love your apple watch. Enjoy man
For sure, just wish Apple would improve battery life. FitBit needs to re-think their next line-up because this was a flop
Accurate fitness data ?
which app should that be?
I was clicking through my Fitbit Versa last and... ECG app just popped up, wow! The long awaited feature just showed, no email, no alerts, and quite the diminished fanfare. It worked the first time with an ultra easy setup. I liked your perspective on the Versa 3 👍
FitBit is coming with the surprises, good or bad.
@@DayoAworunse Yes, Fitbit truly surprised me with the Fitbit Sense. However, for the price... I feel the Apple Watch SE is a better deal. Sure, Fitbit does more, but does it fall victim to being a Jack of All Trades and a Master of None? I am going to send back my Fitbit Sense and keep an Apple Watch. I still have yet to decide if the full-blown Apple Series 6 is worth the $$$ or if the SE is just right. The $309.00 price tag for their 44mm Watch is very tempting. I just finished an AOD battery test for the Fitbit Sense and it lasted nearly four days -- WOW!
“This is a nice looking watch” ha that was funny
Your video was massively helpful. Thank you.
You’re welcome
Switched to an apple se from Fitbit versa. Started to have problems of not lasting a year. Very happy so far .
SE is a solid choice with an iPhone
I recently went to Garmin. My first and only experience with fitbit was getting a versa 2 second hand. Worked absolutely perfectly until I updated it to the latest firmware. Then the battery started lasting only 10 hours. Then the heart rate monitor broke. And then it stopped counting steps. It was clearly bricked by the update.
Great Video. I used to be a fitbit user HR2, and I was tired of having to bring my phone for the GPS feature. but not having the GPS was a deal breaker for me. it is so disappointing that they took away the music now. I am so happy with my Apple Watch now, yes it is more expensive and the battery life is not as great as Fitbit, but you get what you pay for.
I've been a Fitbit fan since the Charge also. Wore all their trackers till I got the first Versa and it stopped working shortly after I went swimming with it less than a year after buying it. The replacement ended up doing the same thing even though the watch was supposed to be waterproof. After that disappointment I switch to Fossil and was super excited to go back when I saw the Sense. You've changed my mind lol. I guess I'll be waiting for their next model and see if they address all the issues you brought up. It's hard for me to give up on them yet bc I LOVE their battery life, didn't realize how much I'd miss it when I switched. Great review!
I totally agree with you Fitbit use to be a great company regards to customer service. Now the are sooo bad!!! I had to call them regarding my Ionic and they were so rude and very unhelpful. When my Ionic truly dies I am not sure what I'll do.
Always had faith year and year, and slowly but surely, I've been let down time and time again. Good to hear you're keeping yours till it completely fails on you instead of upgrading just for the sake of upgrading. Respect.
Ionic very bad... Poor customer support
That's what happens when a good company is bought out by a huge company like Google. :(
I feel your pain, I’ve been a loyal Fitbit user for almost 8 years but have been thinking about switching to the Apple Watch, too. The Fitbit devices I’ve had in the past always seem to malfunction after a few years, then I buy a new device expecting to have a better experience (because it’s a new product, surely it’ll work better right?), but then become disappointed when it just doesn’t deliver. I bought a Versa 2 just this past June, and it’s already malfunctioned on me twice! And especially for the price, I’ve felt taken advantage of. Plus now you need a premium membership to access all the perks...like, I just spent $200 on this device and I need to fork over even more money to access all the things it can do?? Such a ripoff. And I agree their customer service is god awful, and their updates always provide me with more challenges. I love what Fitbit does for me, like tracking my calories and sleep and heartbeat and steps, but it just doesn’t feel worth it anymore when there are so many other great options out there. Fitbit should really work on doing better all around. 🙁
That sad emoji hit me hard because I think all long-time FitBit users are disappointed after hoping for so much after many years. Maybe when Google works with FitBit and creates their own watch under FitBit, maybe the PixelBit or something witty like that, maybe we can revisit. But with all the competition now, FitBit isn't the only tracking device on the block anymore and competitors are just as good now.
Same happened to me. I gave up Fitbit after failing 3 devices. I always had a hope about the next new product, but it always failed. All my ex Fitbit devices malfunctioned after about an year.
I agree with all the points. Had an Ionic that got “bricked” with latest update last week. I jumped to the Apple watch 6....life has never been better! Thanks for the memories Fitbit! 😜
The emoji at the end is like adding salt to the wound
@@DayoAworunse Hahhahaha
Wait, your Ionic got bricked by an update?
@@whatwasisaying1338 YES....Fitbit is aware that this is an issue, but will not refund you a new Ionic watch...a small discount on a new Versa 2 only. Save your money James!
Glad I'm not the only one! I started with Charge HR in 2015 and it broke 3x in the first year needing replacement. Then I got the versa which also had to be replaced. After 1 year of the versa, I developed a sudden very surprising rash under the tracker itself which won't go away no matter what I do to clean it. Seems like there was a coating on the casing that wore off after a year of use. I am in the market for a new one and tempted because Fitbit products are so up my alley, but I've been burned too many times!
FitBits have been great choices because of their value and battery life. Sounds like you've had a troubled experience with them in the past but e loyal customer. I'd give a shot at trying something out or giving FitBit another go, but if you are in the Apple ecosystem, give the SE a shot!
Thank you so much for this! My Charge 3 is dying under warranty, and they gave me the option of a full replacement, or 50% off an upgrade. I was thinking of getting the Versa 3, but it sounds like I should go for the Versa 2. I appreciate your advice!
Think your comments are very accurate. I had the original Fitbit and then purchased the Versa 2 several years ago, Dr wanted me to monitor my heart rate on Elliptical for 30 minutes. Updates on the Fitbit have always been a challenge. In the gym, I still use the Versa 2, for everyday use I have grown to really like my Apple watch series 3 (have Iphone, Ipad and MacBook Air). Pricing on newer Fitbits seems crazy, as you stated. Keep up the good work. Blessings, Grandpa from S CA.
I was so excited for the sense. I had been using an Apple Watch and wanted to try Fitbit out again. I had the sense for two days. Didn’t even wear it for a whole 24 hours. For that much money it was not a premium experience. It wasn’t just the switch of platforms. The whole experience was just clunky. Plus I couldn’t get Alexa to work properly, and I just didn’t need TWO smart assistants. I was still using Siri on my other devices. I’m not a techy person so I couldn’t figure it out. For a fitness watch, it tracked wayyy fewer types of workouts than the Apple Watch. Lastly, those special new features and technology like the o2 and temperatures sensors weren’t able to be used all that well. So pretty much useless. Returned the next week and bought the new Apple Watch 6 which I am SUPER happy with. If you’re an Apple user, there’s nothing better than an Apple Watch. There’s so much more included with an Apple Watch and it just works so seamlessly. It’s beautiful.
Love this review! Gonna keep an eye on this channel in the future.
You’re lucky and I resonate with you as well. You get accustomed to the battery life and charging times of the Apple Watch and it’s just a much better experience from the user experience to the software. Lucky because my switch to the Apple goes up today. 😁 although I didn’t go with the 6 but that’s an AMAZING watch as well
Completely agree every Fitbit product I buy is over priced and doesn’t work very well their only saving grace is their app but yeah I’m done with them
I love my FitBit Versa 2 and was looking forward to upgrading to the Sense, but this review completely changed my mind. The inflated price and the exclusion of onboard music went against the reasons for why I even got a Versa 2 in the first place. I might as well go with an Amazfit GTS 2.
I bought Fitbit sense only lasted two years die on me a week ago.
I just made the same switch from Versa 2 to Apple Watch SE. I’ve been a Fitbit user for 5 years and I’ve been through 4 models. And you’re right, for the continuous increase in the asking price compared with the features offered to that of an Apple Watch, I felt like I was getting cheated. And then when I found out I could get an Apple Watch through my phone plan and trade it in for an upgrade as newer models come out - the decision was surprisingly (and sadly) easy.
you will come back to FITBIT... I did... apple watch battery is HORRIBLE.
@@laurareyes5362 I’ve had my Apple Watch for almost 2 years now. Still love it, no regrets. As for the charging, I charge it while I’m in the shower/getting ready for work. I get a full charge within an hour. Works for me 🤷🏼♀️
Good review. I have been on my toes to spin up the new Sense from my current Versa 2. But I would stay back for a while. Like you, I am an apple fanboi while a long term fitbit user. I still continue with the Versa 2
I have to disagree with the negative review. I have never expected a watch to hold my music, so that's one thing. And, battery life is important to me, so the Apple watch has a negative there. Also, one of my main reasons to have a health tracker is the sleep tracking, and Fitbit has one of the best algorithms for that; Apple cannot compare! I hear you on the price. For folks who had the Versa 2, and liked the music feature there, I can understand some major disappointment. As I said, this just is not an issue for me. Thanks for the in depth review!
I have been a fitbit user since 2013. I agree with a great deal of your comments. No Spotify download, button sensor & most importantly support. I am already a fitbit Premium user so 6 months free isn't incl. The worst part of the Sense and it's price is that most of the "new features" aren't even there yet or are bug ridden! The Sp02 Clockface doesn't seem to work w/an android. The detail for Sp02, which has been developed so they can eventually test for sleep apnea (hence the only tracking it at night) and Google Ass't was a major reason for spending the extra money. Even controlling Spotify isn't there yet (which I can do w/my wireless headset anyways). I left Pandora yrs ago. Here's my question. What's w/Fitbit's premature release of this product, at a price point that kills their reputation, during a Pandemic and economic collapse, when people need their health info the most? If this is indicative of what Google will do for them. I too will very sadly 😢 leave Fitbit. Note; I have bought Fitbit the Charge 3 & 4 with Premium as gifts for family members as well as other Fitbit trackers. I've never used the Verse X but would say based on extensive use of the Charge 4 w/Premium it does almost everything the watches do for $200+ less.
TY for reinforcing my thinking.
Your spo2 clock face doesn't work?? I have an Android phone and it works
Update: After messing with it more myself and giving up on weeks of fitbit support I got it to work, kind of. IF I switch from the main Clockface that comes w/the Sense, that I like, or any other clockface, to the Sp02. You must either use the Sp02 all the time, negating all other clockface options, or remember to switch to it b4 you go to bed. Then wait an hr for it do its analyzing and switch back to the Clockface you like. For that you get the following info; % Sp02 and range (ie., 95%, range 92%-98%) while you slept. AFA I can tell the only history is on the phone app w/a dot graph of a week. No expansion or detail just dots of approximately where you were.
I do not consider that a major upgrade. I consider that a major pia that was developed separately or by someone other than fitbit and in their rush to release it they didn't integrate it. I made the mistake of thinking that if you had the Clockface on the watch and the watch has the sensors than they were capturing the data. I thought I could switch to the Clockface in the morning for a minute to see the results. My bad.
@@pfr7463 I think it's because it works during your sleep and requires a bit more battery? Tbh that's my favourite click face so I'm happy with it. Hopefully they'll make some upgrades or something that will incorporate what you're saying.
My friend and i both got Charge 3 last year. Both of our screens broke a month after warranty expired - the watch itself supposedly still tracked everything, but it basically became a screenless tracker and i didn’t want to wear it with my watch. tried all the things they suggested on the forum, but also read that for many this is an issue shortly after warranty, and people have concerns the same thing could happen to Charge 4. Switched to another brand and don’t intend to come back. 🤷🏼♀️
All it takes is one bad experience without good customer service and a person shifts companies. Happens! Hopefully the new brand you switched to has been a great experience. My Versa 1 also broke 1 month after warranty expired as well
It’s funny that I bump into this video today because this week FitBit lost my heart as my fav activity tracker or watch. My discovery this week is you cannot have more than one device that uses the FitBit App Gallery on your account, so the Charge 3, 4, Ionic, Sense, and Versa series all apply to this rule. I have a Versa and an Alta HR, this week I bought a Charge 4 to replace my Alta HR, tried to add it to my account, and there began my surprise. I was asked if I am “switching “ from the Versa to the Charge 4, that caught me off guard since I had both a Versa and Alta HR linked. I spent over 35 minutes in a chat with FitBit Support only to learn in the end about the above fact of only allowing one app gallery device. After the chat, I did more research and saw this issue is over 4 years old. I had to remind the Tech my account clearly shows I have never used the two devices at the same time. I use the Alta HR at home and the Versa when leaving the house. Like you, I never seriously thought about buying an iWatch till this week. Especially since we still have no official word of a official Google Watch. Currently I am holding out and keeping my old FitBit setup, since I returned the Charge 4 yesterday, but I will not buy another FitBit product.
Yup, a big oversight and almost makes your 2nd device feel like a paperweight. Hopefully things may change in the future
Dayo Aworunse ..... Well I can honestly say I am done with FitBit and not buying another. Since Google bought them, I am praying for an official Google watch soon, and hopefully can link my FitBit data. I have to admit I did look at the Apple Watch, but the major thing that kept me from buying it is I don’t have an iPhone to activate it. I use a Pixel and love it, so back at square one till Google wants to make something for my wrist.
A very well articulated review. I am newer to fitbit, have used versa 2 and liked it a lot. It died on me recently and I have been looking around for a good replacement. The battery life is what makes fitbits more attractive than Apple watch to me. I used to get 2-3 weeks early on my versa with a single charge against the sub-24hr one with Apple watch. Your review cautions me suitably.
2-3 weeks!? Yikes how is that possible even just doing nothing with it.
After owning my Fitbit versa 2 for a year, I am switching to Garmin instinct solar😔. Too Frustrated with Fitbit software
What was your experience like with the FitBit software?
@@ohaggie slow in updates and bad tracking for cycling
Feeling pretty good about my 70 dollar second-hand versa2 after seeing video.
$90 Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G here. I wanted a Charge 4 so much, but the lack of on-board music killed it for me. I require my smartwatch to stand-alone without my phone.
Fitbit are terrible just look at all the complaints on their forums and reviews on their google play store. Fitbit also charge a premium fee to access info that is free on other watches. Most stuff is hidden behind paywall. SpO2 takes 4 hrs to generate and only after sleeping, ECG is only available in PDF. No dark theme on app. Screen scratches easily. Random restarts. Weird button placement.
Good luck with it. The Versa 2 was plagued with problems.
@@nsevv agreed🙃
Excellent review. I was really hoping that with Google's purchase of Fitbit that somehow it would improve. Maybe it will ultimately, but right now I'm with you, Fitbit just isn't going to cut it for the price. I may reluctantly move to an Apple watch and their ecosystem.
Thank you for actually testing each product and giving an informed opinion rather than reciting the box description like everyone else on youtube does.
Hey man, great video. You earned a subscriber here! I also was a very loyal Fitbit customer which even convinced several family members to get one. I have owned a Charge 2, Versa Lite and Versa 2. The Charge 2 was excellent but everything after it was very much downhill. Both the Lite and the Versa 2 failed on me due to water damage. In fact, sweat killed the Versa 2 which is supposed to be 50m water resistant. How ridiculous is that!? Fitibit Support didn't honor my still under warranty device so I'm jumping ship. I'm eyeing a Garmin Venu, fully aware that their sleep tracking is still rudimentary.
You should check the official Fitbit forums and make a follow up video. Screens detaching, water damage because people were washing dishes, warranties not honored, etc. You just scratched the surface.
I feel the same. I’m sad. I love fitbit but their latest firmware update to the Versa lite killed my experience. The customer service has never been the same and the quality of the watch interface lags too much. I still love the app but I’m going to have to move on to an Apple Watch now 😔.
It's a sad day for us FitBit users. Apple Watch is a great watch though, just not the best with battery life in comparison.
Dayo Aworunse I agree. I never jumped to the Apple Watch bc I felt that it was not the better fitness tracker but just a better smart watch. Whereas Fitbit provided that excellent assurance that you could be motivated to want to be take the role in being a more active and healthy person with their watches. I thank Fitbit for getting me into being more aware of my health and lifestyle but idk what happened to them. It’s like once google took hold of them, they started to jump forward into the smart watch Avenue and forget about the core of what their brand was, providing a way for their consumers to gage their fitness health. I hope one day they can get back to what people loved about them. For now, I’ll move onto Apple and hope that I get that same quality that Fitbit provided a few years back. Don’t get me wrong I love the health app. It’s cool. I’m glad I got to own a number of Fitbits even through the ups and downs but sometimes you gotta change it up 🙂
Man, you know how to provide an excellent review! I wish I had found it before I purchased a Versa 3 recently.
Fitbit Ionic #1 - operated smoothly…until
it stopped counting my steps. Then it went manic on me and was counting steps when I wasn’t moving, 60-60 miles per day w the watch off my wrist!
Called Fitbit and they sent me a replacement which worked fine until…
A few weeks ago they emailed me saying I need to return it. They stopped production of the Ionic 2 years ago and they said there have been reports of the battery catching on fire! Just great.
So I returned it to them and they gave me 40% off a one-time purchase and said they’ll refund me $299 also(still waiting on that). So my new Versa 3 cost $150.
I would’ve bought an Apple Watch if not for the short battery life and I’m hoping for CGM capability later. So far the Versa 3 is adequate but I have noticed the shortcomings you described.
I’m now another Subscriber for you.
Thank you so much. This was very helpful as a Fitbit and Android user trying to decide between Versa 2 and 3.
I agree! This is the best video I've seen comparing the two. I need to upgrade from my Charge 2 and wanted the Versa 3, but I'm thinking I'll go find a deal on a Versa 2.
@@michellevickers841 I bought the Versa 2 last week when it was in sale on Amazon for $130 to replace my HRCharge 2. I've been enjoying my Versa2! It's comfortable and definitely a big upgrade from the Charge2.
Very informative video! After this and some more reviews I replaced my Charge 4 for a Samsung Galaxy watch. IMO the Galaxy watch looks nicer but I returned it after a few days mainly because of the few functionalities, the battery life (2 days max) and Samsung Health UI. Bought a Versa 2 and very happy with it. Battery life is about 5-6 days. Switching from the Fitbit app on your phone to Samsung Health feels like a step back. You only use the watch for the time, some health stats and checking incoming messages. Not having to charge it every 2 days (so 180 times per year) makes Fitbit already much better than many other brands.
Versa 2 is still my favorite watch by FitBit, people commonly mistake it for other brands and they are stunned when I say it's a FitBit (as if that's a bad thing?) Hopefully their next iteration of watches with Google make them even better.
Awesome review! Thank you for being so thorough and informative. You touched on some things that other videos do not. Bravo 👏🏽
Thank you for this honest and transparent review, that made me NOT to buy Versa 3 or even Sense. I feel like nowadays you shouldn't buy anything without firstly watching review like this, because marketing and specs on paper are one thing, and users experience completely different thing.
Now let's wait for your Versa 4 and sense 2 reviews in the future
Finally, RUclips suggests a video that is actually helpful. After my second Versa died at ~1yr of use, I felt burned. I have been debating switching over to Apple Watch. Ugh! Thanks!
Thumbs up for having the best comparison video I’ve found! Keep it up!
I have the versa 2 and was thinking of an upgrade. I really want GPS but the music thing is a downside. Versa 2 is still the best overall for me!
Still think Versa 2 and Blaze are the best watches ever made by Fitbit.
Excellent review and summary. Versa 2 is the only one worth it for now.. let's see what Google does with Versa 4. We live in cold countries and touch buttons are a definite no go with gloves on.
Finally a comparison that gets down to it! I have been considering the Apple Watch for ages but my little Fitbit BLAZE is still (barely) working. I just couldn’t decide on the Versa and then with so many versions and the sense coming out I got really stumped. Thank you for breaking it down. I’m curious to hear about your time with the Apple Watch!
I forgot to ask if any of the fit bits can take calls that go to your wireless headphones. That’s one BIG pro for switching to an Apple Watch. Being able to answer a call from my watch and speak through my headphones, all without my actual phone on me...
I couldn't agree more! My infatuation ended with the Versa 2. I started with a Fitbit Zip. I struggle to get my Versa 2 to sync on a regular basis. I'm moving on from Fitbit! I've had it!
Hmmmm... Maybe I should save up to switch everything to Garmin. I LOVED my Charge 2--it was very accurate--even compared to hospital readings. However, my VERSA is completely innacurate, I get THOUSANDS of steps just working at my desk (and driving). No adjustments work. It's basically an expensive watch that takes a long time to show heartrate (which is why I bought a Fitbit in the first place). I have their scale, and it likes to drop 20 pounds overnight, and then I have to keep going through this whole reset process.
Dude--WAY COOL background effect! I was totally tricked. Clever! :)
Unfortunate to hear about your FitBit experience. Seems a lot of people in the comments who have Garmin have had a wonderful experience. I switched to Apple Watch since I am already in the ecosystem.
Everyone keeps talking about the backdrop how I was inside the TV but I don't see it, but I guess I'll stick with that setup lol.
So glad I found this video - have had my versa 3 for less than a week and it’s not working right, searching for answers when I came across your video. I am returning
Thank you, Dayo. VERY HELPFUL! I agree, it's the price of the Versa that made me switch from FitBit to Apple.
You won’t be disappointed, just in the battery life
@@DayoAworunse Yes, besides the battery life, I am loving my new Apple Watch!
I got a Versa Lite for my birthday a couple of years ago. All seemed fine and I really liked the way it looked and the quality of the display. Then I noticed it seemed to be giving me really good exercise ratings, far better than my old tracker. So I looked more carefully and saw my heart rate was jumping up to 136 bpm and sticking there for several minutes! On the Fitbit forum, lots of people were complaining of the same thing. Fitbit were not really interested and tried telling us to wear it further up our arm or resetting the watch. Then mine started to eat batteries. Some of us eventually got replacements (which were no better) and some got refunds, but dealing with the company was not great. No more fitbits for me!
🙁
I still haven’t purchased a watch! I’m a previous Fitbit user as well and loved them. Now I’m stuck watching RUclips videos all day to help me decide. Because like you said their hitting AW territory and I’m already in the eco system so do i just switch sides? 😩 i wish i could put Fitbit UI on Apple hardware!
get the AW6 or AWSE
Fitbit has the worst customer service. Im looking for an alternative this time
@@brig3404 apple watch 6
@@stimixs i have an android phone or the apple watch would be a no Brainer. I wish galaxy was on par for watches right now
@@brig3404 try the galaxy watch, it has its own pros and cons and itll match your eco system
Your perspective was extremely helpful. I’m between both the Versa 3 and Charge 5 or even the Sense (coming from a Charge 3) and am having such a hard time deciding. You put into words why I’m struggling - these devices are nice, but they’re missing features that would be nice to have. Plus, the cool features are behind the Premium paywall. I’m just not feeling jazzed about my options, and I’ve been very anti-Apple watch… but now you have me feeling like I need to reconsider. Thanks for the video!
Garmin!
-Instinct
-Vivoactive 4
-Fenix 6
My first Fitbit was a Charge 2 and it lasted me quite a while. When the Charge 2 failed I switch to the Versa 2. The first Versa 2 lasted 7 months, I took it back got it replaced and the replacement lasted 7 months, I took it back and got it replaced and now the current Versa 2 blanked out as well only lasting 9 months. I don’t even know what to think.
Thanks a lot for your sincere review, you just answered many of the points I was interested with this watch but couldn't find yet on other reviews. I now decided that probably this is not the right stuff for me due to the cons you enlighten, non phisical button and music especially.
I feel you! I have also used Fitbit for years. I had the original Fitbit wristband, then the Ionic which i loved but that one broke... Now i have the Lite which is quite laggy but i got used to it. I was really hoping for more innovation and changes on these new Sense and Versa Models, but there is so much bad comments about these watches online. Like they released a fully beta, if not alpha models... I also really don't like Fitbit adding data behind the paywall so this is my farewell aswell. I just ordered one-year-old Apple watch series 5 44mm Nike edition for 300€. I also like that i can connect the Apple Watch with external HR sensor.
WOW, that's a steal! Hope you enjoy the AW5
Good review, thanks! Never had a Fitbit before, but the Sense sounded awesome now that they added ECG! But the music thing is odd, and needing the Premium service to get full use of all the sensors sucks. Was at the top of my list to replace my old Garmin Vivosmart HR, but pretty sure it's fallen to the bottom of the list after all the reviews I've seen/read.
I am returning my versa 3. I do not understand why there is not physical button on the side and I have had exercise turn on in my sleep. Why? I am not a deep sea diver, just give me a button. Going back to a standard watch. Thanks for the review Dayo.
Thank you! I wanted to buy the versa 3 until i found out the offline Spotify Problem 😃 now i‘m thinking of the garmin venu sq music.. what do you think?
You will love the Garmin venu
Garmin is good. I am waiting for an ECG version before I switch over.
I was gonna buy my wife a new smartwatch, and was considering a Fitbit. Noticed the Sense is new, but quite a lot more expensive. And a subscription? Seems like it's.. overwhelming? So is the Versa a better buy? But then it's not the newest and best?
I agree, the customer service needs serious work.
Totally agree. I've always been a big fan of Fitbit but frankly I'm tired of the constant problems. Not syncing properly, updates causing problems, clunky app. When my current one finally gives out I'll look elsewhere.
"Mommy... why is the TV talking to me?"
Many thanks for an honest review. I fully concur with your comments and findings. Bought the Sense mainly as a health tracker, but experienced nothing than frustration during the 2 weeks of ownership. All I can say is, that it is a half baked device and most of the features are a hit and miss experience. The Oxygen saturation (
Been wanting for someone to say this and you did, thank you.
I have the exact same sentiments about Fitbit. I have owned both the Fitbit Alta HR, and more recently the Fitbit Versa 2. Both are great health trackers and I enjoyed using them, but have had terrible luck when it comes to product longevity. My Fitbit Versa 2 that I owned for a little more than a year won't turn on, won't synch, won't charge, and customer service has been no help. The same thing happened to my Alta HR. I finally ordered the Apple Watch SE earlier this week and it's highly unlikely that I go back to Fitbit any time soon.
Same thing happened to my Versa, I just chucked it and went mi band 5
After the first day of using the apple watch you will realize you've been missing sooo much. Apart from battery life it is by far the best integration with a smartphone eco system on a watch. Period. I regret not getting one sooner
100% agree. video going up tomorrow
I agree with you, I bought the versa and hated it, Two months later I bought the apple watch and totally love it.
Thank you for this review !! I, too, am done with Fitbit. I had the Fitbit Charge then I upgraded to the Versa 2. Over the years I had several problems with them synching to my phone when apps were updated, possibly partly my fault because I never had brand name phones. My last 2 phones were HTC and Huawei. But just last week, I decided to break down, and buy my first NEW brand name phone - I bought a Samsung Galaxy S21. Did I research beforehand if it would be compatible with Fitbit....no, BUT it was a brand name phone !!! I guess we all know what happens when you assume, but I honestly thought that a name like Samsung would be compatible with Fitbit. So, I have seriously been considering leaving Fitbit and switching to Samsung, since it is the same as my phone. This review sealed the deal, after all of my years struggling to keep my phones synching with Fitbit, I will move on. Thank you again, for your honest review.
Hey man! YT recommended this video and it's pretty good! Want to review the versa myself.
This is the most honest review of the new lineup of Fitbit devices. I have been a long time adapter of Fitbit since their first product - Fitbit Fit through the Fitbit Ionic. I purchased the Fitbit Sense the day it was released. It is the most underwhelming Fitbit product to date. I was disappointed I couldn't load my music. I could not get Alexa to work, and the significant features would be added later. Essentially, Fitbit released a half-baked product. Their customer service was terrible. Thus, I returned the Sense and canceled the Fitbit premium. I upgraded to the Apple Watch 6 series. I appreciate your review since it accords with my experiences and perceptions of Fitbit. Too bad they are losing customers.
When you reached out to pick up one of the smartwatches on the table, for a second i thought i was watching "The Ring" movie. 🤪
Ring movie was a classic
I have no problems with fitbit. My selected notifications always come through. My bicycling data and steps are always counted. I love I can approve Microsoft MFA notifications for work right from the watch. Battery life is excellent. Every fitbit I have owned was purchased when heavily discounted . BTW, love the optical illusion, seems like you are coming out of the TV
Nice! It's always great to hear two sides of a story, and your side seems to have a great experience with FitBit. The optical illusion wasn't intentional, but it seems a lot are confused by it. I just decided to talk with my TV directly behind me 😂
Personally i had quality control issues on my first fitbit charge 3. Had it replaced twice and now its dead and i am out of warranty. How can a product not last 1.5 years?. The first had water damage yet its supposed to be water proof it started vibrating and the second several leds on the screen are dead and gave me a wrong heart rate. So with the competition i can't risk another Fitbit better try other products.
Unfortunate to have your experience with FitBit, makes no sense to have 2 replacements in less than 2 years. Competition is a good thing, so maybe in a few years FitBit will rise up again, but the value aspect seems to be going away with the Versa 3 & Sense.
Same here. My Versa 1 ended up bricking after a software update, the day of my 10K run which was frustrating and they shipped me out another one with screen issues. I gave them another shot with the Versa 2 with the screen not going past Minimum brightness, but indoors it was fine so I dealt with it. The software experience on the FitBit has been a nightmare and I don't see it improving, at least with the Versa 3 & Sense. Hopefully Google can eventually turn it around, if not, I'm still done forever.
The same happened to me and for me is too risky to spend in other Fitbit that won't last even a year! Specially if a live in another country where I don't have the facility to replace it.
Thanks for the video, I just got the sense 2 weeks ago and I just did an 88 mile walk in 5 days from LA to Santa Barbara. The GPS work great, and after 9 hours of GPS being on, the battery had gone down 60%, which I thought was impressive. I agree that the UI does not respond well all the time, I might look at the Garmins to compare.
I have a two year old ionic, it was not used all the time the use would be light.
The heart rate sensor no longer operates, not sure if this was to do with a recent update.
Started to look for a new watch, Then I saw the 'Premium Service".
There is no way I am paying a fee to use an overpriced watch.
I am just going to try Amazfit GTS.
Sorry FitBit, but I think my Ionic should have lasted longer and I am Insulted by the Premium Service.
See you later.
It's good to have the confirmation of what I experienced with my fitbit charge 4. The button on the side is awful and the exercise tracking fiasco was exacrly what I experienced. Very disappointing. I ended up putting it in my drawer and just buying another fitbit Versa 2.
Versa 2 is a solid fitness tracker and still think to this day is stylish. If it's not broken, don't fix it!
Great review & commentary! Couldn't agree more and really like your presentation, so I'm now a subscriber. :) As another long time Fitbit user I was enormously disappointed with the Sense and have returned it (still waiting on the refund which is another issue). I've gone back to wearing my Fitbit Blaze that works well within the limitations of its' "smartwatch" features. Fitbit customer service has been abysmal so the combination of both poor product & service will have me selecting another Android-based watch when my Blaze gives out. Hope you enjoy your new Apple watch!
Thanks for the sub and glad to hear your experience is similar to others, so this doesn't seem like outliers, but more of a common issue. Apple Watch is great but...the battery life sucks.
After several weeks of comparing trackers vs watches and different brands, I bought the Versa 3 for $200 on sale as my first watch/tracker device. I am incredibly disappointed in the experience and am going to be spending the extra $70 and get the 44mm Apple Watch SE. Costco and Amazon both have the 44mm SE priced at $270 on sale right now, and Amazon has the 40mm SE priced at $260. I didn't purchase the Apple originally because I thought it was way more overpowered than what I needed. But I'm willing to pay more for it now after experiencing the Fitbit's clunky app and issues with the touchscreen interface and side button. I was able to play with the Apple Watch at the store and the interface functioned beautifully and it was just a much nicer user experience. Unfortunately, the Fitbit display doesn't allow interaction with their line up. So I took a chance, bought it, set it up at home, and based on my time with it, the Fitbit is going right back to the store.
For everyone switching to garmin, I've just sold my garmin fenix 6 to come back to fitbit. The garmin sleep tracker is really bad. Like really bad.
Imagine comparing a fitness tracker to a professional multisport GPS watch. Like what?
If sleep tracking is the absolute deal breaker, you're ignoring 95% of what the Fenix is designed for (which no Fitbit can compare to). They aren't even in the same market.
@@Balomis Imagine not understanding that everyone uses watches for different things. I liked my garmin but i didn't like the sleep tracker as it often said i was still walking around whilst i was asleep. A lot of people compare the garmin to the fitbit when they consider which watches to buy. Maybe you don't because you're a fkn watch guru, but a lot of people who care about their fitness also care about tracking their sleep as anyone who trains understands sleep is a major component of recovery.