In 2024, Fitbit is no longer the giant it once was
Reports are surfacing that Fitbit Charge 5 devices are being rendered “unusable” recently, allegedly by Fitbit’s most recent firmware update, with one of the most common complaints being a shortened battery life. Not all Charge 5s are affected, but there have been outcries from hundreds of users that are left with a dud device, although Fitbit has flat-out denied it’s because of the most recent firmware update.
It’s a shame, because the Fitbit Charge 5 was, for a long time, one of the best Fitbits you can buy before it was replaced in its range by the updated Fitbit Charge 6, which is a fine fitness tracker, but didn’t review as well. With many Charge 5s going down after the firmware update, some users are self-reporting being offered up to 35% off the price of a new Fitbit Charge 6.
Unfortunately, this first gaff of 2024 comes hot on the heels of a very disappointing 2023. Underwhelming releases (apart from the excellent Google Pixel Watch 2), controversies over the handling of sensitive health data, and the fury over the redesigned app and gutted community features have left Fitbit in a very different state than it was when Google acquired it.
