Thomas Smith

Does Fitbit Charge 5 Track SPO2 (Blood Oxygen)?

You might have heard that the Fitbit Charge 5 smart watch has a sensor for blood oxygen tracking. SP02 can be a helpful metric for monitoring how well your body is getting oxygen.

So what’s the deal? Does the Fitbit Charge 5 will track your SPO2 (blood oxygen level).

The answer is yes, the Fitbit Charge 5 does track SP02, but there are a few caveats to this.

How Does it Track SPO2?

The Fitbit Charge 5 does not take an instantaneous reading of your SPO2. Instead, it tracks your SPO2 overnight. When you wear the device against your skin, it has a little sensor that tracks this metric by shining a light into your skin, and monitoring how the light bounces back.

To view the reading, you can swipe up on the screen on your Fitbit Charge 5, and scroll down below the ‘sleep metrics’. Here you can view your SPO2 reading from the previous night.

SP02 on the Charge 5

Where Else Can You See This Data?

In the Fitbit app on your phone, you can also view your SPO2 reading, as well as a chart of your SPO2 level over the last week in the Health Metrics tab.

This allows you to see any discrepancies where your SPO2 level is above or below your personal range.

Is It Intended for Medical Purposes?

The Fitbit Charge 5 is not intended for medical purposes. It is mainly intended to track trends over time while you sleep, and potentially identify any sleep problems in the future.

However, it is not currently approved by the FDA for this purpose, unlike Fitbit’s ECG feature. Fitbit is probably working on getting approval, but they’re not there yet.

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Key Takeaways

  • The Fitbit Charge 5 will track your SPO2 or blood oxygen level, but only overnight, not instantaneously.
  • The SPO2 app is installed by default in select countries, or can be installed through the Fitbit app.
  • The SPO2 data can be seen on the Fitbit app on the phone, and graphed over the last week.
  • The data from the SPO2 is not intended for medical purposes.
  • Fitbit is working towards getting FDA approval to track sleep problems.

FAQ

Does the Fitbit Charge 5 track your Spo2 or blood oxygen level?

Yes, the Fitbit Charge 5 will track your Spo2 or blood oxygen level, but you cannot take an instantaneous reading. The Charge 5 will track your Spo2 overnight while you sleep.

Is the Fitbit Charge 5 intended for medical purposes?

No, the Fitbit Charge 5 is not intended for medical purposes. Fitbit says “The Fitbit SpO2 feature is intended for general wellness purposes only and should not be used or relied on for any medical purposes. Consult your health care professional about any questions or health issues you may have.”

Can Fitbit detect sleep apnea?

No, the Fitbit Charge 5 isn’t approved to track SP02 as a medical device, so it can’t yet detect sleep apnea. Fitbit is likely working on getting approval for this feature, though. In the meantime, if you see a concerning drop in your SP02 overnight, you may want to ask your doctor about it.