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Despite having all the needed hardware. There is no Fitbit tracker (not even Fitbit Versa 4 or Fitbit Sense 2) that can detect the Fall Detection.
What Is Fall Detection
You can think of it as an emergency measure used to navigate a person in the need of help. In practice, it is similar to an SOS system found in medical devices and even smartphones.
So imagine a person suffering from health issues and they collapsed on the ground. Since it would be difficult for them to get back on their feet, if they would be wearing a device that has Fall Detection, an emergency notification would be issued by a smart device to local authorities and/or emergency contacts (If added).
Making sure they receive help on time.
How Smartwatches Implement Fall Detection Systems
Although it varies how to integrate the system within the product, the basics of a Fall Detection system lie on just one sensor: Accelerometer.
Accelerometer is a powerful tool to measure changes in movement (both backward and forward), tracking movement in different axis, body positions, speed, and a physical sense of gravity. Many companies also pair Gyroscopes with it to improve the efficiency of the overall system.
When someone falls, the sensors detect the sudden change in movement and other metrics. The device then compares these metrics to settings stored in an algorithm to determine if you have really fallen.
If it is sure that you have fallen, it will give you a little bit of time (like a minute) to cancel the alert if you can. If you cannot, the device will contact someone (like emergency services or a family member) to let them know that you need help.
So what about Fitbit trackers? Do they have the functionality?
Does Fitbit Have Fall Detection: Shock?
Unfortunately, no, Fitbit doesn’t have the Fall Detection system in any of its trackers. Although, they do provide 3-axis Accelerometer in nearly all their devices, they don’t have the algorithm at the backend to do anything about it.
Which is a shame!
Fitbit hasn’t stopped producing top-of-the-class trackers for more than a decade now. Their newer iteration like Fitbit Sense 2 and Fitbit Versa 4 are even capable to track deep sleep, work on treadmills, measure resting heartbeat, and serve a complete premium experience.
Yet somehow, Fall Detection appears to have eloped the minds of Fitbit engineers. No Fitbit smartwatch as of yet have Fall Detection on it.
Even when they have the hardware already in place to make it work!
Do Any Fitbit Tracker Have Fall Detection?
Nope!
Not even the latest Fitbit Versa 4 and Fitbit Sense 2 which were released in September of 2022 have the Fall Detection system. Which is honestly insane given the standards of the industry and the pecking order of these two flagship models for Fitbit.
What About Calling 911 from Fitbit?
Well, there is little issue here:
First of all you can’t place calls directly from your Fitbit tracker. We’ve talked about it in details here. Secondly, there is no Fall Detection system in Fitbit trackers (we’ve established it by now). So the only possible chance of making call from Fitbit to 911 is by using alternative method (more about them).
However, keep in mind, they are not exactly the convenient and time to time can lead to problem or two. So, if you’re
Why Fitbit Doesn’t Have Fall Detection
Honestly, no one knows why, there are many theories you might find explaining why. At the time it is safe to conclude it’s a missed opportunity they haven’t explored.
On the Fitbit forum, many dedicated customers have raised the issue, and they have done it a handful of times in the last few years. The answer anyone ever got back was you can petition for it for the internal team to consider it.
Which is – again – shameful and embarrassing.
A company that stands on the ground of improving body tracking and analytics, you would expect them to have done it already. Fitbit is amazing and we love it here at Chronoat, but it is indeed a disappointing statement to have received from them.
More so when you take into account how Airplane Mode and Blood Pressure tracking is still not available for a Fitbit user. Although, later is much more complicated matter and needs time and resources.
“When Will Fitbit Have Fall Detection?”
Sadly there is no answer as of now.
Even though it’s been years since Apple did it for their smartwatches and Fitbit still hasn’t got a clue, I don’t see any reason not to do it.
Fitbit updates its ecosystem after approximately 18 months, and with the leadership of Google, there is a good chance we might hear the news soon.
*Fingers Crossed*
Alternative To Fitbit Trackers For Fall Detection System
However, given you are the owner of a Fitbit smartwatch and you need a Fall Detection system to grace your wearable, there are alternatives you can pursue to have a workaround. They might be unreliable, cost money, and just not feel original, but they can work.
Google Assistant: Free
Before you hound me, yes I know Google Assistant is not a suitable replacement for a Fall Detection system. If you think about it, you might be able to salvage something from it. Under the circumstances you find yourself in need of aid, a simple voice command can go long way to deescalate a situation.
You’d need a Bluetooth connection, but isn’t that a basic need? Even if someday Fitbit would get their act right and have a Fall Detection system in place, you would still need Bluetooth to make sure it can work.
Third-Party Application: Paid
So there’s this application (BetterAlerts) available on both iOS and Android that you can use to have a working Fall Detection system in your Fitbit tracker. It’s free to install but you would have to pay a monthly subscription fee.
Using it your Fitbit will allow the application to use the accelerometer and ensure any anomaly in activity tracking is reported and met with the right actions. Starting price for a monthly subscription is $15/month for the standard package and it can be raised with added functionality to $29/month.
However, in the long run, and for someone who stands with a serious risk of fatal injury with a fall, I wouldn’t recommend it. Despite its effectiveness, it is still a workaround and we certainly don’t like to put our faith in a workaround in the matter of health and life.
Explore Other Brand: Paid
Fitbit might not have heard it’s consumer demand for Fall Detection. Likes of Apple, Samsung and Amazfit have and their smartwatches are blessed with safety measures in place.
- Apple did it in 2018 with Series 4 and successive models. Even Apple Watch SE has the needed feature in it.
- Samsung made sure after Galaxy Watch 2 it doesn’t do the same with Galaxy Watch 3 and later models.
- Garmin Forerunner 45s have a Fall Detection system.
And there are many more brands who have done the same. Yes, you might have to give up on classic Fitbit features with this deal. If Fall Detection is something you really need in your wearable then I’d say it’s time to make the difficult choice.
Fitbit With Fall Detection: Non Detected
I’d be honest, it still baffles me that Fitbit hasn’t added the Fall Detection system to its product. For sure, the future and life are unpredictable and tomorrow we might hear good news from Fitbit. For now, the question: Does Fitbit Have Fall Detection?
Only brings disappointment and shock to mind.
For how long? I suppose only time will tell a better tale.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Fitbit can not tell if would fall. It would notice the change in movement through the sensors (Accelerometer and Gyroscope) it can’t tell.
Yes. There are smartwatches with the functionality of Fall Detection: Apple Watch Series 4,56,7,8, and SE. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3,4, and 5. Then there is Garmin Forerunner 45s, and many more.
While all of them can do the basics, some are better than the other, and in this regard Apple Watch Series 8 is the best of them all.
No. Unless you are using BetterAlerts (Even if this doesn’t work on all Fitbit trackers) or using Google Assistant to make a call, Fitbit can’t call 911 on its own.
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