Google says that software update isn't the cause of Fitbit Charge 5 issues

Google has denied that a software update is the culprit of Fitbit Charge 5 battery problems, with the company still investigating the issues plaguing the fitness tracker. 

Scores of users took to Fitbit's forum last summer reporting a drastic change in battery life burn, with many claiming that their unit was dying after just a few hours.

In some cases, the device would be unable to turn back on and was rendered unusable. 

Google acknowledged the issue at the time, saying it would investigate the problem, though recent posts in the Fitbit forum suggest the issues haven't necessarily gone away. In fact, many users suggest that a December update is behind their most recent issues.

Now, the Fitbit owner has commented further:

"We’re still investigating this issue, but can confirm it is not due to the recent firmware update. Users should continue to update their devices to the latest firmware and contact Fitbit Customer service at help.fitbit.com if they encounter any issues," a spokesperson told the BBC.

This still doesn't give us a clear indication of what the problem is, or, indeed, if affected Charge 5 owners can even solve the problem. 

One user has noted on Reddit that the company acknowledged the issue but offered no solutions, and also didn't offer a replacement device or discount towards a new model (as was seemingly the case with some users last year). 

On the surface, at least, it all adds up to a pretty sorry lack of customer support - and surely not one that does Google or Fitbit's reputation any favors. 

We'll update this story if and when more emerges.