More sleep insights for Premium users rolling out
Fitbit has started rolling out its Snore and Noise detection feature, which was announced earlier this year.
The feature, which uses the built-in microphone on the Sense and Versa 3 to listen for environmental noise while you sleep, was originally launched as a limited labs feature for select users.
But now 9to5Google has spotted that the feature is getting a wider rollout.
The feature listens for snoring and ambient noises as you sleep, and will alert you within your sleep analysis.
When sleep is detected Fitbit will turn on the microphone, which will then periodically listen out for snoring every couple of minutes. It monitors two things: snoring events and snoring intensity. This will be tracked among the rest of your sleep stats, and logged in a new Score Report.
The report will rate the severity of your nightly snoring. “Mild” would be snoring for up to 10% of the night, while “frequent” would be in excess of 40% of the night.
It will also monitor the ambient sound as you sleep and rate your environment from “very quiet” to “very loud.” This would help point out any sleep hygiene issues.
You’ll need a Fitbit Premium subscription to take advantage, but this could be a seriously interesting new data point for people, and a great tool for explaining why you’re not as rested as you should be.
However, there are a few caveats that might undermine the appeal.
It seems as if the snore feature will require substantial battery life, and Fitbit requires your device to be charged 40% before using it. The idea that one night’s sleep tracking could deplete that much battery, when the Sense and Versa boast around 6 days of battery life with normal use, is a little scary.
But also, we feel that snore detection is something that most people won’t use permanently. It’s a tool you can use for a few nights to see if snoring is an issue, and after that use sporadically.
The feature is rolling out via an OTA update, so check in the Fitbit app to see if it’s ready for you.