Feel the Fitbit burn (literally)–1.7 million Ionic models recalled due to battery burn hazard

March 4, 2022 | by

It’s those lithium-ion batteries again. Reminiscent of Samsung’s exploding Galaxy Note 7 (and recently on fire Galaxy A21), Google’s Fitbit on Wednesday recalled 1.7 million Fitbit Ionic watches worldwide. In the US, there were 115 incidents reported with 78 burn injuries, including two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns. Internationally, there were 59 overheating incidents reported with 40 burn injuries.

The popular Ionic fitness and smartwatch sold about 1 million in the US and 693,000 internationally from September 2017 to December 2021. Fitbit stopped producing the Ionic in 2020. There are four models in four color combinations, including an Adidas edition. According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recall notice, owners should stop using the Ionic and contact Fitbit to receive pre-paid packaging to return the device. Upon receipt, owners will be refunded $299 with a discount code for 40% off five select Fitbit devices and accessories available through Fitbit’s discount store for a limited time. Original cost of the watch ranged online and at retail outlets from $200 to $330. 

The Fitbit help page has the details on where to mail the watches, refund, and discount. And disposal if one doesn’t care to return it. 

Do expect there will be some kind of a class-action suit against Google/Fitbit–the combination of injury and deep pocketed defendants is a magnet. Fox Business News

Fitbit unveils Ionic smartwatch earlier than expected. Their ‘Hail Mary’ pass?

August 28, 2017 | by
[grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Ionic-photo.jpg” thumb_width=”150″ /]Surprisingly, Fitbit has formally unveiled today (28 August) its first smartwatch, the Fitbit Ionic, on its 10th anniversary of its first tracker. It’s a slow news week in the US, being the week before the Labor Day holiday 4 Sept and in the UK this Monday with the summer bank holiday. The announcement also feels a bit like a soft reveal in a slow period. However, the industry expected an announcement later this year, so this is considered to be positive.

There’s plenty of functionality, though the watch itself from the photos (this is Engadget’s, as the press release did not supply close up pictures) is rather brick-like on the wrist. Balancing that out is a knockout of a 1.42-inch, 348 x 250 px display, the best and brightest yet in the reviewer’s estimation. It also curves a bit through nano-molding technology (NMT) to fit more comfortably on the wrist than the previous Alta tracker.

Engadget‘s test drive of an early version of the Ionic is thorough. It confirms that Fitbit went with its own proprietary OS, contactless payment and a subscription-based custom workout guide called Fitbit Coach, a rebranded Fitstar. More functions related to healthcare are:

  • Updated heart rate monitor
  • A new SpO2 blood oxygen sensor. There’s a bit of tease in the release which gives its potential in health use: “…a relative SpO2 sensor for estimating blood oxygen levels opens the potential for tracking important new indicators about your health, such as sleep apnea”
  • Sleep tracking through monitoring pulse and movement for stages of sleep (deep, REM, light, etc.). The Engadget reviewer noted the uncertain quality of tracking.
  • Integrated connection to the new edition of the Aria weight scale (release), also due in the fall

Pricing has been set at $300/£300 with the usual extra accouterments of dress and sport bands. If you can’t wait, pre-sale starts today on Fitbit.com with retail on-sale globally starting October 2017, without a specific date. For developers, the Fitbit app software development kit (SDK) will be open to developers in September 2017. 

Will this ‘Hail Mary Pass‘ save Fitbit? Like most smartwatches, it feels like a solution in search of a problem. It depends on how many true believers will upgrade from the Alta to the Ionic, or buy this rather than an Apple Watch, where first-half sales are up 50 percent versus last year to an estimated 2-3 million new units, partly on Fitbit’s faltering back. The big roll of the dice is going with a proprietary OS. Health and other apps are dependent on developers, who are going to have to make a business decision on the watch’s sales and acceptance to commit to a one-off app. 4th Quarter sales will tell….Our earlier coverage of Fitbit and related smartwatches is here.