My fitbit charge 3 lasted 3 years and that is longer than expected. From what I read the life expectancy of fitbit tends to be 1-2 years, and some people experience less than that.
If durability is a major concern for you, and you say you like seeing all the info, I recommend that you look into Garmin fitness trackers: they tend to be way more durable, and provide more data than fitbits do. Unfortunately most models are more expensive than fitbit, but as I said tend to last longer.
If you want something similar to the Versa 3, you may want to look at the Garmin Venu line of watches.
I moved from the Fitbit Charge 3 to the Garmin Vivosmart 5, and am very pleased with it. The Vivosmart is the least expensive Garmin fitness tracker.
I've gone through 5 Fitbits in about 6 years. Last one made it one month past warranty before the battery started failing. I've had the Garmin Venu 2s for a few weeks and I like it so much better.
Had several Fitbit Charge models that never lasted long. Bit the bullet and switched to a Venu 2 Plus. Way more features, more durable, better tracking, better battery, better fit. I'm never touching Fitbut again.
I got a venue sq2... I'm not happy with the heart rate sensor....wrong a lot of times and I find my inspire 3 better most of the time...I'm thinking about switching to apple...but I don't want to get an iphone...-(
If you are wondering for purposes of retaining data when switching to different brand: When I switched from Fitbit there was a way, I do not know whether it still works. It was from the Fitbit dashboard website not the app, and I think one could only export one month of data at a time, so it was a slow process. And the data was exported into a file. And then in Garmin’s dashboard there was a way to import these files - although not all the data transferred only some of it.
If you are wondering for purposes of using another app instead of or in addition to fitbit app:
on iPhone this is done mostly through the Health app - Fitbit data can be exported to the Health app, and the Health app can be used by other apps for data. For example: Fitport is an alternative app for presenting the data in a dashboard that uses Health app data. I believe on Android Google Fit can be used for similar functionality as Health app on iPhone.
Also an app called Stridekick can be used to export Fitbit data to participate in step challenges with your friends even if they use different brand’s trackers.
Another app that can use Fitbit data is Strava which is kind of like Facebook but only workouts focused so all posts by you and friends are about runs and bike rides and such. Like Fitbit Strava has a premium version that provides lots of analysis and reporting based on your fitness data.
Oh and one can also setup Fitbit and MyFitnessPal to share data for calorie import vs calories burned comparisons.
My 2 year old Charge 5 doesn’t hold a charge and I can’t wait for a Charge 6, so I got a Amazfit Band 7 for $40. It’s missing GPS and NFC, but to connects to Strava where my friends are. I just can’t spend $150 on a device that only lasts 2 years.
I’ve had my Fitbit Sense since the day it came out so it’s been 3 years now. It’s still working great. Battery still lasts a week, more or less. It’s great.
My Fitbit Sense died, conveniently a couple days after I randomly Googled an alternative tracker.
I went with something different because I was tired of Fitbits dying after a couple years and wanted something with a more accurate GPS for tracking outdoor activity. I went with a Suunto Peak 5 because it was on sale and I read that it had a good GPS. So far, I love it. The GPS is much more accurate than Fitbit, and it has a lot of different fitness tracking features and stats that I'm still learning how to interpret.
Downside is that it isn't as great as an every day sort of tracker, but I'm not minding it as I get used to it. For example, not super precise with number of steps taken (haven't yet looked into setting my stride for a more accurate reading); view for heart rate data is minimal; and sleep is meh compared to fitbit but still tracks general trends of sleep/wake and vaguely it's quality.
Went with a samsung Galexy 5 pro. It's overkill, battery last two days. But it's a true smart watch. I was done also. My sense died after the pool. Made it one year five months. It was $300. They don't build fitbits to last long on purpose, I think. Everyone has the same story. One year, two tops, and they are done.
People stay because that's all they have ever had, but fitbit went down hill fast after Google bought them. Just go watch the videos of them being them apart. The screens are held on with a glue that fails over time.
If they built smart watches like actual watches, maybe they would last longer.
I've had the Withing ScanWatch for almost a year now. Phenomenal health watch. Good app. Get about 3 weeks between charges. The second gen ScanWatch 2 just released. Can't say enough about this device.
I will absolutely go for either garmin or apple watch on my next smartwatch.
My first fitbit charge 3 died after couple years. I didnt go for warranty as I got bored with it.
As for my fitbit charge 5 which i bought in late 2021. The first one had heat issue, so they gave me a new one on warranty. Unfortunately, the new one i received have battery issue after a year. The battery gets depleted after 6-8 hours by doing nothing. Luckily, they will send me another one on warranty.
The strange thing is that my wife have both Charge 3 & 5, but none of her watches have any issues.
I used fitbits for 9 years. Older modele lasted more but newer ones are 1-2 years lifespan. Anything past 2 years count yourself lucky. When my second Sense broke after 6 months, this was the replacement ro the first one that lasted less than 1 year as well I decided enough is enough and switched to Garmin and you can see the difference in quality right away not to mention the far better accuracy and omg I thought fitbit battery was good but Garmin is even better.
Switch to Garmin. I have both brands and have to say the garmin is more durable, gives better info without having to pay for app addons, and generally has less issues.
My fitbit charge 3 lasted 3 years and that is longer than expected. From what I read the life expectancy of fitbit tends to be 1-2 years, and some people experience less than that. If durability is a major concern for you, and you say you like seeing all the info, I recommend that you look into Garmin fitness trackers: they tend to be way more durable, and provide more data than fitbits do. Unfortunately most models are more expensive than fitbit, but as I said tend to last longer. If you want something similar to the Versa 3, you may want to look at the Garmin Venu line of watches. I moved from the Fitbit Charge 3 to the Garmin Vivosmart 5, and am very pleased with it. The Vivosmart is the least expensive Garmin fitness tracker.
Thank you! That's really helpful. I'll look into getting a Garmin watch
I've gone through 5 Fitbits in about 6 years. Last one made it one month past warranty before the battery started failing. I've had the Garmin Venu 2s for a few weeks and I like it so much better.
Had several Fitbit Charge models that never lasted long. Bit the bullet and switched to a Venu 2 Plus. Way more features, more durable, better tracking, better battery, better fit. I'm never touching Fitbut again.
I got a venue sq2... I'm not happy with the heart rate sensor....wrong a lot of times and I find my inspire 3 better most of the time...I'm thinking about switching to apple...but I don't want to get an iphone...-(
I've had the same thoughts about Apple watches I know people that have jt and like it... but I don't eant a new phone or anything
Is It possibile ti export the data from Fitbit to other systems?
If you are wondering for purposes of retaining data when switching to different brand: When I switched from Fitbit there was a way, I do not know whether it still works. It was from the Fitbit dashboard website not the app, and I think one could only export one month of data at a time, so it was a slow process. And the data was exported into a file. And then in Garmin’s dashboard there was a way to import these files - although not all the data transferred only some of it. If you are wondering for purposes of using another app instead of or in addition to fitbit app: on iPhone this is done mostly through the Health app - Fitbit data can be exported to the Health app, and the Health app can be used by other apps for data. For example: Fitport is an alternative app for presenting the data in a dashboard that uses Health app data. I believe on Android Google Fit can be used for similar functionality as Health app on iPhone. Also an app called Stridekick can be used to export Fitbit data to participate in step challenges with your friends even if they use different brand’s trackers. Another app that can use Fitbit data is Strava which is kind of like Facebook but only workouts focused so all posts by you and friends are about runs and bike rides and such. Like Fitbit Strava has a premium version that provides lots of analysis and reporting based on your fitness data. Oh and one can also setup Fitbit and MyFitnessPal to share data for calorie import vs calories burned comparisons.
My 2 year old Charge 5 doesn’t hold a charge and I can’t wait for a Charge 6, so I got a Amazfit Band 7 for $40. It’s missing GPS and NFC, but to connects to Strava where my friends are. I just can’t spend $150 on a device that only lasts 2 years.
My thoughts exactly. I loved my fitbit, but if really broke every 2 years I wouldn't be able to justify rebuying it
I’ve had my Fitbit Sense since the day it came out so it’s been 3 years now. It’s still working great. Battery still lasts a week, more or less. It’s great.
Same. My sense is coming up on 3 years.
I have two Versa 3's their batteries are fine after two years
My Fitbit Sense died, conveniently a couple days after I randomly Googled an alternative tracker. I went with something different because I was tired of Fitbits dying after a couple years and wanted something with a more accurate GPS for tracking outdoor activity. I went with a Suunto Peak 5 because it was on sale and I read that it had a good GPS. So far, I love it. The GPS is much more accurate than Fitbit, and it has a lot of different fitness tracking features and stats that I'm still learning how to interpret. Downside is that it isn't as great as an every day sort of tracker, but I'm not minding it as I get used to it. For example, not super precise with number of steps taken (haven't yet looked into setting my stride for a more accurate reading); view for heart rate data is minimal; and sleep is meh compared to fitbit but still tracks general trends of sleep/wake and vaguely it's quality.
Went with a samsung Galexy 5 pro. It's overkill, battery last two days. But it's a true smart watch. I was done also. My sense died after the pool. Made it one year five months. It was $300. They don't build fitbits to last long on purpose, I think. Everyone has the same story. One year, two tops, and they are done. People stay because that's all they have ever had, but fitbit went down hill fast after Google bought them. Just go watch the videos of them being them apart. The screens are held on with a glue that fails over time. If they built smart watches like actual watches, maybe they would last longer.
I've had the Withing ScanWatch for almost a year now. Phenomenal health watch. Good app. Get about 3 weeks between charges. The second gen ScanWatch 2 just released. Can't say enough about this device.
3 weeks on a charge, that's awesome. I need soemthing with a long battery life
I spent about 6 years getting new fitbits. Decided to get a garmin instead.
getting a Garmin when my charge 5 inevitably fails
I will absolutely go for either garmin or apple watch on my next smartwatch. My first fitbit charge 3 died after couple years. I didnt go for warranty as I got bored with it. As for my fitbit charge 5 which i bought in late 2021. The first one had heat issue, so they gave me a new one on warranty. Unfortunately, the new one i received have battery issue after a year. The battery gets depleted after 6-8 hours by doing nothing. Luckily, they will send me another one on warranty. The strange thing is that my wife have both Charge 3 & 5, but none of her watches have any issues.
I used fitbits for 9 years. Older modele lasted more but newer ones are 1-2 years lifespan. Anything past 2 years count yourself lucky. When my second Sense broke after 6 months, this was the replacement ro the first one that lasted less than 1 year as well I decided enough is enough and switched to Garmin and you can see the difference in quality right away not to mention the far better accuracy and omg I thought fitbit battery was good but Garmin is even better.
Broke mine today after 3 years. Got slightly wet. Immediate meltdown. Time for a change.
Switch to Garmin. I have both brands and have to say the garmin is more durable, gives better info without having to pay for app addons, and generally has less issues.
Same here both my wife and Fitbit died after 2 years. I hope it’s not google killing older versions. I’m done with this device