I’ve had my Fitbit Charge 4 for a couple months now and I desperately miss my previous version that broke due to my own misadventures. The one I had before was the “Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate” and it was a great device, right up until it died for reasons unknow, but likely from being abused too often, it ended up with a crack on the screen and I think that let in some water that finally did it in. The Charge 4 is a lesser device in nearly every aspect:
I do miss the physical button. I was never unsure of which side of the watch I was looking at, and never unsure if I was pressing a button or just touching a side panel that does absolutely nothing.
When charging the device, you absolutely have to have it oriented in a very specific direction or it won’t charge. The previous version had that physical button, so I always knew that would go to the left, but this one, who knows what direction it’s in once the screen is dead, it will go in the charger either direction and feels exaction the same both ways. The previous version would light up the screen too, but this one just sits there looking stupid.
The previous version had a 5-10 second light that would stay on until the end of the count, which was perfect for when I would get up to go pee at 3am, I don’t need a full night light, just 10 seconds to get to the bathroom, then 10 seconds to get out of it. I don’t need the light to turn off if I happen to move my arm in a mystery direction, and I don’t need it to turn off on some random schedule.
I’ve posted about all this before but I’m still frustrated by it and now I just want to throw it in the trash and buy one of the old Charge 2s.
