Fitbit recalls 1.7 million smartwatches
One of the world's largest wearables manufacturers has been forced to recall 1.7 million smartwatches. It turns out that the Fitbit Ionic has battery issues.
Users should discontinue use immediately
We are dealing with one of the largest and most well-known wearables manufacturers. Fitbit ranked fourth in the overall market last year, according to the most recent data. Even the most successful companies, it appears, have blunders.
The US Product Safety Commission has raised the issue, stating that the Fitbit Ionic model may overheat the battery, resulting in burns to the wearer. It's about a smartwatch that first appeared on the market in 2017 and quickly drew a huge number of clients.
Keep in mind that recent reports indicate that a small number of Fitbit Ionic owners have experienced the issue, which should not be overlooked. In the case of other smartwatches, there is no guarantee that the battery will not overheat.
The concern with the Fitbit Ionic's lithium-ion battery is that it has seen temperature spikes over normal in some units, resulting in many occurrences ( UCPSC). This government agency specifically said that there would be proof of no less than 115 documented instances, including four reports of second-degree burns and two reports of third-degree burns.
The Fitbit Ionic is most popular in the United States, where over a million units have been sold. However, it is not the only market affected, since it is believed that just under 700,000 devices were sold worldwide over these years, therefore Fitbit is also replying to consumers from other countries who still have a Fitbit Ionic operating. On this website, you may find the protocol to follow in your region.
And, in response to these incidences, the company's program to recover the Fitbit Ionic consists of offering their users a complete refund of the watch, the necessary means to ship it for free, and, also, a discount for your next item of the brand.
An adequate measure for people who have recently obtained it, but without a doubt the most generous for those who have owned it for years, as the program does not appear to draw distinctions based on the date of purchase or anything like that.
Given the extended time elapsed between the sale of the initial units and the emergence of these issues, we can conclude that it is not a problem related to the manner in which the Fitbit Ionic is used, but rather a problem of finger tiredness. Battery production materials are expensive, which is why, despite the fact that the incidence is very low in terms of units sold, the company has chosen the most prudent decision, assuming the expenses of pulling all units.
It's not the best finale we could have hoped for from this smartwatch, but it's surely the most respectable.
