Fitbit snore tracking just leaked — and it's kinda creepy

Fitbit snore tracking simply leaked — and it's kinda creepy

(Prototype credit: Fitbit)

The best Fitbits have offered sleep tracking for years, merely it looks like the visitor's feature packed smartwatches will before long be getting an upgrade to offering insights on how much yous snore when out for the count.

According to 9to5Google, which decompiled the latest version of the Fitbit Android app, a function that uses your device'due south microphone to measure snore volume is almost set for show time. Equally the screenshots below show, the re-create is all written, and the site notes that it was able to "briefly enable the feature to at least fix it up".

When enabled, the function will monitor both sound intensity and specific "snoring events" when the volume exceeds the baseline noise level. But we have some concerns most our smartwatches listening to us throughout the night.

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Fitbit snore tracking screens — (Image credit: Fitbit / 9to5Google)

According to the app breakdown, Fitbit will provide analysis based on frequency (ranging from "none to mild" for less than 10% of the night, to "frequent" for those who snore for over 40% of their down time) and volume (with under 30 dBA counting as "very quiet" and over 90 dBA qualifying as "very loud").

It's non actually articulate what Fitbit owners are expected to practise with this information, though snoring can seriously bear on the quality of sleep too every bit prove confusing to others, then it does feel similar a metric worth tracking.

There are, even so, drawbacks to snore tracking that Fitbit notes hither. Offset of all, information technology has no mode of telling who'southward snoring, and so if you share your bed with someone, it may well pick upwardly on their racket rather than yours. Plus using white dissonance or other ambient sounds to get to sleep can besides disrupt things, the app notes.

Only more than seriously, snore tracking requires employ of a Fitbit's built-in microphone to measure snore volume and frequency. Firstly, not all Fitbits have microphones in them: the commencement mic was found in the Fitbit Versa 2 for its Alexa functionality, and it remains a feature for the company's more than expensive smartwatches rather than its fitness bands.

Secondly, equally you might imagine, keeping a microphone running all night does things to battery life. To this end, Fitbit apparently advises you to ensure your device has at least 40% of its charge remaining before you turn in. "Note that this feature requires more frequent charging," the re-create adds.

Thirdly, in that location's no two ways about this: having a microphone listening to y'all slumber feels a bit uncomfortable. It'south unsurprising that enabling snore tracking requires you lot to agree to a privacy policy.

Whether the usefulness of the stats volition warrant the extra bombardment expenditure and possible invasion of privacy remains to be seen, but it's certainly encouraging that Fitbit is calculation new features to existing product lines, without forcing you lot to upgrade to the latest and greatest.

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Freelance contributor Alan has been writing almost tech for over a decade, roofing phones, drones and everything in between. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are found all over the web and in the occasional mag too. When not weighing up the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, yous'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth fourth dimension.