Latest update for Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense devices wreaking havoc on battery life

Owners of Fitbit Versa 3 and Sense smartwatches are scrambling this week after a mandatory update tanked their devices’ battery life. According to a report by The Verge, users began noticing drastic changes last month following a firmware update pushed by Google, which now owns Fitbit. While the patch aimed to fix overheating batteries in some units, many say it traded one problem for another, leaving watches barely lasting a day.

The update, described by Google as a safety measure for a “limited number” of devices, warned users it would reduce battery capacity. But forums and social media exploded with complaints from people who claim their once days-long battery now dies before bedtime. One user on Fitbit’s forums said, “it was lasting almost a full week on one charge, where now it burns through a full battery charge in a day.” Google offered affected users a $50 credit, but most users argue it’s a weak fix for a major flaw.

Google’s official notice admits the update shortens battery life but doesn’t specify how much. For many, the difference between charging “more often” and scrambling for a charger every night feels drastic. Fitbit has long marketed its wearables as multi-day devices, a key selling point over rivals like Apple. “Battery life was the main reason I stuck with Fitbit over Apple,” wrote a frustrated user Reddit.

This isn’t Fitbit’s first battery headache. Last year, the company faced a $12 million fine after Ionic smartwatches reportedly burned 78 users. A 2022 lawsuit also claimed overheating issues affected older models like the Versa Lite and Blaze. The latest update seems to confirm problems existed in Versa 3 and Sense units, despite earlier denials.

The worst part is that the update was literally forced. Fitbit warned users to install the same update by February 13 or risk their devices resetting automatically, erasing data and settings.

Google has yet to issue a public statement beyond its original blog post, leaving users to wonder if a real fix is coming — or if it’s time to ditch their devices.