Battery Issue on Fitbit Versa 3 (FB511) and Sense (FB512) Firmware Update & $50USD Google "Appeasement"

xwx on 02/04/2025 - 13:29
Last edited 02/04/2025 - 13:45

#NOTAprilFools … unless, sadly, you own and use 1 of these devices… (and jokes aside, you should still give full consideration to product safety reports like this).

Hot on the heels of their "work to deliver the best possible Fitbit experience. We remain committed to continuously improving your Fitbit app and developing exciting new features… and therefore plan to remove another key feature: google assistant" announced recently, Google-Fitbit 'identified' a battery performance issue with these devices, and is rolling out / requiring / forcing a Firmware update to address said issue.

After initially being reported by Google in late Jan, it seems our turn has arrived here in Aus with local news now covering the topic after a listing was published on ProductSafety AU yesterday (01 April)…

The update is reported to (resolve apparent battery issue), with user reports across a few fitbit pages and reddit, indicating the FW (xx.21 in particular) will successfully degrade your battery lifespan from 4-5days, to 0.5days thus making the device safe, and… essentially useless.

Google is offering a $50usd appeasement to eligible affected customers:
Fitbit Sense & Versa 3 Registration: Complete this form to determine eligibility to receive an appeasement of $50 USD (converted to your local currency) for impacted Fitbit Sense and Versa 3 devices.

News Reports: 7news, MSN, News.com.au

ProductSafety AU - Fitbit Battery
Google Check Device Elligibility

Electrical & Electronics Activity Tracker Fitbit Smartwatch

Comments

  • freefall101 on 02/04/2025 - 15:41
    +2

    Make sure to check how they're doing the refund, if it's anything like the Pixel 4a refund there'll be a lot of hoops to jump through.

    • azvc on 02/04/2025 - 22:05

      Unfortunately this is exactly how they're doing it in this round as well..

      Hello,

      Thanks for reaching out to the Fitbit Customer Care Team.

      Thank you for your patience as our team reviewed your device’s eligibility for the Sense and Versa 3 Battery Performance Program.

      We have verified that you are eligible for a payment of $50 (or local equivalent) in payment.

      We’ll be processing your payment using our third-party payments partner, Payoneer. Here’s how to receive your funds.

      If you already have a Payoneer account from Google, please reply to this email and confirm the email address associated with your account.

      If you don’t have an account, please follow these simple steps:

  • treekangagaroo on 02/04/2025 - 19:39

    How do you check if versa 3 impacted ? Fill the form and ask Google to check if you are ?

    • xwx on 02/04/2025 - 21:36
      +1

      Yes, that's the official process, and Versa 3 is definitely affected but apparently not all of them [I can't find any details on how to identify any sub-versions that are ok / affected]. As freefall101 mentions, the whole "appeasement process" was a pita for the pixel refunds. Best I can determine - affected model ID are noted (Versa 3 FB511 and Sense FB512), and you can check your device only at that level.

      EG I have Versa 3 and on my watch > scroll to 'settings' > scroll down menu to 'about versa 3' > scroll to 'regulatory info' and it will give you the device info (mine is fb511). There are a bunch of other ID or serial #s, so I don't know what exactly Google use to determine affected & eligible sub-models. I'm currently on FW xx.17 firmware (forced upgrade after reset about 2 weeks ago) and fortunately the battery still seems OK at the moment (runtime ~4days).

  • justgooddeals on 02/04/2025 - 21:36

    Fitbit always has been 2nd rate smartwatch in my experience had Versa(2?) that owned for less than 1 year fail to recharge with need to send it back twice.

    First about after 8- 10 months of being new. Then the 2nd one they sent a refurbished model fail within another two months. I asked at the time for a refund. They flatly refused(against Australian Consumer Law). They offered 25-50% (can’t remember exactly-while ago) discount on new model.

    Couldn’t be bothered to fight them as I was extremely busy at the time and just chucked it in the bin.

    What piece crap their so called service and support was at the time. About
    2 years ago(roughly)now.

    Looks like not much has changed.

    Vowed would never buy one their products again and never have. Avoid their products would be my advice

  • Kayrhcp on 03/04/2025 - 08:23

    Fitbits are absolute garbage. I held off getting an Apple Watch because I want long battery life and didn’t want to be charging my watch daily, but after having to replace brand new fitbits every 3 years cause they inevitably died from shit build quality, I got a second hand Apple Watch for the same price and never went back.

    The final straw was getting a brand new Fitbit versa
    3. After 6 months it began ‘ticking’ too slow and told the incorrect time. A smart watch that can’t tell the time. What a joke.

  • mctubster on 03/04/2025 - 09:10

    Yep, go Garmin or Apple

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