Fitbit Ionic smartwatchs recalled following reports of battery drain – Flaunt Weekly

Fitbit announced this morning that it is participating in a recall of its ionic smartwatch by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission following reports of battery overheating and potential burns.

The CPSC adds in a report today that at least 115 people in the US – and 59 worldwide – have reported the device’s battery overheating. These figures include a total of 118 burn reports, with two third-degree burn reports and four second-degree burn reports.

The CPSC notes, “Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled Ionic smartwatches and contact Fitbit to receive prepaid packaging to return the device. The recall applies to ion devices with model number FB503, which is one million in the United States and 693,000 worldwide.

Fitbit is refunding the product for $299 (plus a discount on future devices if you want to replace it).

The Google-owned wearable device maker says it participated in the recall “out of an abundance of caution.

“Fitbit’s full statement is: Customer safety is always Fitbit’s top priority, and as a precaution, we are voluntarily recalling Fitbit Ionic smartwatches. We have received a very limited number of reports of Injuries: Totals in CPSC announcement Represent less than 0.01% of units sold: The battery in Fitbit Ionic smartwatches is overheating, causing a risk of burns. These incidents are very rare and this voluntary recall did not any impact on other Fitbit smartwatches or trackers.