Skip to main content

Fitbit recalls Ionic smartwatch after several burn reports

Fitbit Ionic smartwatch users need to stop using their devices right now. The company has recalled its Ionic wearable after over 150 reports of the watch’s lithium-ion battery overheating, and 78 reports of burn injuries to the users. It will offer a refund of $299 to the Fitbit Ionic smartwatch users who return the device.

Fitbit has received at least 115 reports in the United States and over 50 reports internationally about the Ionic smartwatch’s battery overheating. It is recalling the device as there are two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns out of the 78 total burn injuries report.

According to the advisory issued by Fitbit, customers should immediately stop using the recalled Ionic smartwatches. If you are one of them, you should contact Fitbit to receive pre-paid packaging to return the wearable. The company will issue you a refund of $299 after the receipt of the device. It will also provide you with a discount code for 40% off select Fitbit devices.

Fitbit Ionic worn on wrist of a person.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Fitbit Ionic was sold with a polyurethane band attached to the 1.4-inch LCD display. It was sold in slate blue/burnt orange (FB503CPBU), charcoal/smoke gray (FB503GYBK), and blue-gray/silver-gray (FB503WTGY). There was also a special edition co-branded with Adidas in ink blue/silver-gray (FB503WTNV). Fitbit will issue a refund for all of these color variants, so if your color option or model number isn’t mentioned here, you won’t be eligible for a refund or the discount coupon.  However, we advise you to stop using the device, despite the said model number not being on the list.

About 1 million Fitbit Ionic smartwatches were sold in the U.S. between 2017 and 2021. While the smartwatch might still be available at some stores, the company has already stopped its production in 2020.

Editors' Recommendations

Prakhar Khanna
Prakhar writes news, reviews and features for Digital Trends. He is an independent tech journalist who has been a part of the…
Walmart drops deals on Fitbit Versa and Charge 3 smartwatches for Mother’s Day
fitbit charge 3 news lifestyle photo of

Is your mother trying to get in better shape this summer, and looking for a fitness tracker? If so, Walmart has just dropped some great deals on three Fitbit models, saving you as much as $30 on the Fitbit Alta, Versa smartwatch, and Charge 3.

We've reviewed two of the devices on sale here, the Charge 3 and the Versa smartwatch, the former a Digital Trends Recommended Product and the latter a winner of an Editors Choice award in Smartwatches. While we haven't reviewed the Alta, we did review the version that tracks heart rate. The two devices are pretty similar save for that one feature. It's a great entry-level model.

Read more
Fitbit Versa and Fitbit Ionic smartwatch prices get slashed for spring
fitbit versa review version 1522045407 full 33

Summertime is right around the corner, and now's the best time to start slimming down for beach season. One of the most important parts of losing weight is staying active, and a Fitbit is a great way of tracking just how active you are. The Fitbit Versa and Ionic are two of Fitbit's smartwatch models currently on sale at Rakuten, and you can get them even cheaper using the code 'SAVE15' at checkout with a quick email sign up to be a Rakuten member.The Fitbit Versa is on sale for $172, and the Ionic $195 on Rakuten.

Rakuten is a trusted site, owner and operator of Ebates and other ecommerce sites, and sells from third-party vendors. When you add the promo code savings in, the Versa drops to the lowest prices we've seen yet. In fact, the Versa is $8 cheaper than either the Fitbit official site or Amazon, and the Ionic is as much as $35 cheaper. While you'll have a choice of colors with the Versa -- either black, Gray/Silver, or Peach/Rosegold, the sale price is only good for the Charcoal/Smoke Gray version of the Ionic.
Fitbit Versa:

Read more
Buying an iPad Mini today? You need to know about this deal
The Apple Pencil attaches to the iPad mini magnetically.

If you've had an eye on iPad deals for the latest model of the Apple iPad Mini for a while now, this may be the offer that you've been waiting for -- a $100 discount from Best Buy on the tablet's Wi-Fi, 64GB model, slashing its price to $400 from $500. It's still pretty popular years after its release, so we don't expect stocks of the device for this sale to last long. If you're thinking about taking advantage of this bargain, you better push through with your purchase as soon as possible to make sure that you don't miss out on the savings.

Why you should buy the Apple iPad Mini 2021
The latest generation of the Apple iPad Mini was released in 2021, but it's still featured in our roundup of the best iPads because it's the model that you should buy if you want a smaller and more compact version of Apple's tablets. Its 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display is smaller than the screens of its peers, but it's still big enough to enjoy watching streaming shows and browsing websites, while allowing you to use the device with one hand. Unlike its predecessor, there's no Home button, so the Touch ID sensor is instead built into the power button at the side of the Apple iPad Mini 2021.

Read more