Many Fitbit Versa users with dark tattoos have encountered issues with the heart rate sensor’s accuracy. The optical heart rate sensor, commonly used in wearables like the Fitbit Versa, can struggle to read through dark tattoo ink, leading to frustration and inaccurate readings. One user experienced this firsthand, finding that their Versa’s heart rate monitoring was unreliable when positioned over their tattoo. They even tried suggested fixes like epoxy stickers, but found them ineffective.
However, this user discovered a potential workaround by experimenting with an app called FibriCheck, an ECG application offering a free trial. While using FibriCheck, they positioned their Fitbit Versa over the tattooed area, a location where the standard heart rate monitoring typically failed. Surprisingly, the FibriCheck app successfully captured their heart rate. Further testing revealed that the FibriCheck app utilizes both the red and green light sensors, including the SPO2 sensor. When the user attempted to measure their heart rate in the same tattooed area without the FibriCheck app running, the Versa failed to get a reading.
This experiment suggests that the Versa’s SPO2 sensor, when activated by the FibriCheck app, can effectively read heart rate even over dark tattoo ink. The user believes that by utilizing both the red and green light sensors, the device overcomes the interference caused by the tattoo pigment. Therefore, they urge Fitbit/Google to investigate these findings and consider releasing a software update. An update that incorporates the SPO2 sensor into the standard heart rate monitoring algorithm could potentially resolve this issue for many users with tattoos, improving the functionality and user satisfaction of Fitbit Versa devices. This simple software adjustment could turn many unhappy customers into satisfied ones, ensuring accurate heart rate readings regardless of tattoo presence.
