Fitbit has introduced a recall of their older Ionic GPS smartwatch, attributable to conditions the place the battery can overheat and trigger burn accidents. The Ionic was launched again in 2017, which was actually their first smartwatch to assist a third celebration app platform in addition to on-watch funds and on-watch music streaming companies. It was an enormous step ahead for the corporate, setting their watch platform stage for the subsequent half-decade. Their earlier smartwatch was the Fitbit Blaze.
The corporate, at the side of the Client Safety Security Fee (CPSC) says there are instances the place the battery can overheat, and might trigger burns. The CPSC says they’ve obtained 115 reviews within the US (plus 59 internationally) over the battery overheating. Inside that, 78 of these reviews within the US embrace third-degree burns, with 4 reviews of second-degree burns. Moreover, 40 burn accidents had been reported internationally.
In a press release, Fitbit says:
“Buyer security is all the time Fitbit’s high precedence and out of an abundance of warning, we’re conducting a voluntary recall of Fitbit Ionic smartwatches. We obtained a really restricted variety of damage reviews – the totals within the CPSC announcement signify lower than 0.01% of items offered – of the battery in Fitbit Ionic smartwatches overheating, posing a burn hazard. These incidents are very uncommon and this voluntary recall doesn’t affect different Fitbit smartwatches or trackers.”
Fitbit ceased making the Ionic two years in the past in 2020, however is providing a refund of $299USD, plus a reduction of 40% off choose Fitbit gadgets. You don’t want to actively be utilizing the Fitbit Ionic to obtain these. The corporate says they offered roughly “1 million” Fitbit Ionic gadgets within the US, after which one other 693,000 internationally. Which…is considerably lower than I’d have anticipated.
Fitbit has a devoted web page to the recall right here, which solutions just about each query you’ll be able to consider. Beginning with an important – which is that Fitbit says it is best to cease utilizing the Fitbit Ionic (within the occasion you’re nonetheless utilizing it). Fitbit says this recall doesn’t affect some other gadgets. The Fitbit Ionic appears just like the above picture, however on the again of it, it’ll say FB503 – which is the Fitbit Ionic mannequin quantity.
The corporate says within the FAQs that you just don’t should be actively utilizing the Fitbit Ionic to partake within the recall, saying:
“Ionic customers, together with inactive customers, are eligible for a refund. For additional info on obtain a refund, go to our refund registration web page. After beginning the refund course of, you’ll additionally obtain info on entry a particular low cost on choose Fitbit gadgets, bands, and companies, if out there in your area, for a restricted time.
So clearly, in the event you’ve acquired one sitting round in a drawer, then now’s a superb time to dig it out. The $299USD refund is sufficient to cowl mainly each Fitbit system the corporate makes right now. Their highest-end unit, the Fitbit Sense, is $299USD – so it simply covers that, plus you’ve acquired a 40% low cost code atop that. The low cost code can be relevant for sure bands/straps/equipment as effectively.
On that recall web page, in addition they have all of the worldwide numbers and get in touch with factors as effectively, so this isn’t restricted to only a US recall – it’s legitimate for all international locations. Clearly, watches don’t discriminate and solely burn sure international locations.
It’s value noting that that is hardly the primary time we’ve seen a watch recall attributable to overheating batteries. The truth is, we noticed one only a few months in the past with COROS recalling sure watches attributable to overheating batteries. In that case, they didn’t contain the CPSC, so we don’t understand how vital or widespread the issue was.
And naturally, extra broadly than simply smartwatches, overheating batteries have lengthy been a tech challenge. Keep in mind Samsung’s huge overheat and catch hearth nightmare? Or, the complete hoverboard scenario? Or heck, even the Boeing 787 battery saga. This isn’t the primary, and gained’t be the final time we hear of battery points.
On the brilliant aspect, 5 years later, many individuals have most likely moved on from the Ionic – saving each potential burns, in addition to gifting your pockets $300.
With that, thanks for studying!
