What you need to know
- Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 users have started to report issues following Google's mandatory patch.
- Versa 3 reports on a Fitbit forum thread states the device is barely functioning for an entire day on a single charge; some have to charge it twice in one day.
- Users claim the device usually survived for five to six days on a charge; however, the recent patch has dropped that dramatically.
- In January, Google warned Sense and Versa 3 users of overheating issues and stated the fix could cause the battery to last for "shorter periods."
Reports are springing up from Fitbit's past-gen smartwatch owners about a severe battery life issue following a recent emergency update.
As spotted by The Verge, users on the Fitbit forums have started voicing their displeasure regarding a drastic drop in smartwatch battery life. The thread's original poster (OP) states that following Google's mandatory patch for the Versa 3, version 36.128.6.21, their device lasts "less than a day." While this is coming off a full charge, the OP explains they turned "everything off" on the device, too.
This means their Versa 3's notifications, snore detection, vibrations, and more were all disabled to try and squeeze as much battery life out of it.
Unfortunately, the patch is causing the watch's battery to drop and (the wrong) record speeds. The user adds it's made their watch virtually "useless" as they're unable to accurately capture sleep data or go for a run.
Several other users chimed in, stating their Versa 3 is experiencing the same downward trend following Google's mandatory patch. One user claims they had to charge their watch "twice in one day" as it can't make it without doing so.
Similar to the OP, one user said their Versa 3 would last roughly five to six days without needing another charge. Following the patch, they're experiencing disconnects, a lack of notifications, and more frequent required charges.
The publication spotted reports about the Fitbit Sense on Reddit, too.
It's not like the sudden battery changes are coming from left field as, in January, Google sent a warning to all Sense and Versa 3 owners about severe overheating issues. Both devices were getting far too hot to the point that they could cause physical harm to the user wearing them. The company informed users that it was working on a patch to "reduce the risk" of the issue.
More importantly, Google stated in its announcement, "the battery will last for shorter periods between charges."
Granted, the company was never clear as to how short "shorter" means for either device. Versa 3 owners are reportedly struggling to even go a full day on a single charge after reaching a maximum of six. Fitbit Moderators on the forum have reiterated the same statement made by Google in January, as well.
Further, one moderator recently instructed a user to Google's Sense and Versa 3 compensation page due to their battery life issues. Like the company's original warning, it told users to provide information, and if their device qualifies, they would deliver $50 in compensation for the issues. If your device's battery life draining severely, perhaps you could do the same.
Fitbit has a long history of overheating devices, beginning with its old Ionic smartwatches from 2022. Its second lawsuit came in 2022, as well, a couple of months after the first as users were getting burned by overheating devices.
