Fitbit: New smartwatch update provides new functions, but makes devices unusable

Fitbit - or Google - has been offering various wearables and providing them with software updates for quite some time now. In many cases, these are not just bug fixes, but also updates that add new functions. In December 2023, a new update was released for the Fitbit Charge 5, updating the firmware of the smartwatch to version 194.91.

The new update adds the possibility of launching all exercises from the Exercise app. New watch faces are also available, allowing users to better customize the appearance. As a further premium feature, the daily form score can now also be displayed, which utilizes various parameters to determine the user's willingness to perform. This is calculated from activity levels, sleep quality and duration, as well as heart rate variability. In the best case scenario, athletes can make training intensity dependent on their daily form in order to prevent overtraining and injuries.

Minor bug fixes and improvements have been integrated as well as an improved character display. However, the update also appears to be accompanied by a major problem: Numerous users on the Fitbit forum have reported that the wearable's battery has been draining much faster since the update. In some cases, the battery is said to discharge completely within just a few hours, even under not-so-intensive use. Some users even report that their Fitbit Charge 5 can no longer be charged at all after the update, rendering it unusable.