If you own this Fitbit – you need to return it NOW, Google issues urgent warning

Fitbit has issued an pressing recall for its Ionic smartwatch, which has been bought by some 1.7 million individuals around the globe. Fitbit is recalling the wearable, which often is priced round £220, after reviews emerged that the battery contained in the health tracker may overheat and burning customers’ wrists. The Fitbit Ionic recall was introduced by the US Shopper Product Security Fee, which reported the battery overheating points may trigger a “burn hazard”.

Some 174 instances of battery overheating have been reported with the Fitbit Ionic, together with 118 instances the place individuals had been burned. Two of these injured suffered with third-degree burns, whereas 4 others had second-degree burns.

Fitbit, which was acquired by tech big Google in 2021, offered round a million Ionic gadgets within the US and 693,000 internationally. In case you have a Fitbit Ionic, it’s essential cease utilizing it instantly. You possibly can ship it again to Google by heading to this web site and filling in your particulars.

Refunds are being given to all Fitbit Ionic house owners, which affords well being monitoring options akin to exercise, coronary heart fee and sleep monitoring. Fitbit can also be providing particular reductions on choose Fitbit gadgets, bands, and providers when clients return an Ionic smartwatch.

Whereas Fitbit additionally has an FAQ web page which gives extra info on the recall. The health tracker makers says: “Fitbit, along side the US Shopper Product Security Fee (CPSC), introduced a voluntary recall of Fitbit Ionic smartwatches, which the corporate launched in 2017 and stopped producing in 2020. The battery within the Ionic smartwatch can overheat, posing a burn hazard.

“The well being and security of Fitbit customers is our highest precedence. We’re taking this motion out of an abundance of warning for our customers. We are going to supply a refund to Fitbit Ionic clients. This voluntary recall is particular to Fitbit Ionic gadgets. It doesn’t impression another Fitbit smartwatches or trackers. For those who personal a Fitbit Ionic, please cease utilizing your machine.”

In an additional assertion a Fitbit spokesperson added: “Buyer security is at all times 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 characterize 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 impression different Fitbit smartwatches or trackers.”

The Fitbit Ionic was first launched again in 2017 earlier than manufacturing stopped on it in 2020. For those who’ve been considering of buying a Fitbit Ionic, which on the time of writing remains to be that can be purchased on-line from third-party sellers, then do not undergo with the acquisition and as an alternative go for a special well being tracker.