2018: True Wireless Earbuds That Work With Fitbit Ionic?

[RubberChicken]

I'm trying to find high-end True Wireless (no cables at all) Bluetooth earbuds that are known to work with the Fitbit Ionic for running.  I'm looking around the US$200-$250 mark.

I bought the "Jabra Elite 65T True Wireless Earbuds" and paired to the Ionic but as soon as I started running, they cut-out.

Does anyone own some high quality true wireless earbuds that work with the Ionic while running please?

[sfringer · Accepted solution]

I don't think you'll find any. The issue seems to stem from a weak Bluetooth signal from the Ionic to whatever wireless earbuds you may be using.

I use Liberty+ wireless earbuds from Zolo. On my very first run everything worked exactly as expected. Since that initial run, the few times I've tried (I've mostly given up), I've had nothing but choppy sound. The Liberty+ have the Bluetooth receiver in the right earbud, and I wear the Ionic on my left wrist (not wanting to swap it to my right wrist just for running). The Ionic just does not have the transmitting power to maintain an acceptable connection. I use the same earbuds with my phone in my back left pocket with no sound issues whatsoever.

[soss3osp]

The Fitbit Flyer do not work as I can contribute from my experience

[AirMurdock]

So in my case, I have the Fitbit Ionic (Adidas edition) and a set of bluetooth Jaybird X3 earbuds.  First run I was horrified at the music, super choppy, cutting in & out, just a TERRIBLE experience.  Tried updating the Jaybird X3 firmware, which did need an update.  Well no difference, same result.  That led to an internet search which led to these forums (another thread about music cutting out).  Tried a solution from another community member here (cheers Potatoeman!) - and it totally worked.  His basic idea was that the bluetooth signal from the Ionic is very weak, so you cannot have the ionic on say the left side of your body while your headphone bluetooth receiver is on the opposite (right) side.  His solution was to put the fitbit on your opposite wrist so the fitbit would be on the same side of your body as your headphone receiver. 

My Solution:  The Jaybird X3's by default have the volume/power control buttons on the right side of my head.  With the Fitbit on my left wrist, obviously my cranium blocks the bluetooth signal.  So instead of changing wrists, I simply popped off the "wings" from the Jaybird X3 earbuds, switched the right wing to the left, and the left wing to the right (swapped sides) and PRESTO - my Jaybird X3 volume/control buttons are now on the LEFT side, same side as my FitBit Ionic.  Perfect signal, just finished my first successful run today, a nice 5k with not one signal drop, just great smooth tunes.

Bottom Line:  The FitBit must have a reasonably clear line-of-sight to your headphone bluetooth receiver (which for the Jaybird X3's is the volume/control button part).  Seems ridiculous that your own head can block a bluetooth signal, but that's exactly what happens.  Keep the Fitbit on the same side as the headphone receiver, and all is good.

As far as a recommend, I am very happy with the Jaybird X3's now that I have sorted out the bluetooth connectivity problem, which is ultimately that a weak signal can be blocked by (the water content in) your body.  The X3's have great sound profiling, fit customization, and once you get them dialed in, they become uniquely yours.  Super pleased with mine.

Cheers

UPDATE:  Still have intermittent issues with music cutting out during a run.  The issue is not with the headphones, but with the IONIC itself - as previously discussed it just emits a very weak bluetooth signal, that is so easily lost.  Many other users reporting the same issues regardless of headphone brand.  I am considering a return of the Ionic unfortunately.  Putting my headphone bluetooth receiver on the same side of my body as the Ionic watch has "helped" the issue, but not solved it.  The Ionic just has a very poor bluetooth signal.  😞

[soccersnaps]

my fitbit flyers work perfectly with my ionic. Ive had them both since last december and not glitched once in any run since.

[RubberChicken]

Good to know about the Flyers & Jaybird X3's though I'm really after True Wireless (no cables at all).  Can anyone with true wireless earbuds confirm disabling GPS improves music bluetooth connectivity?

[Maleka58]

I use bose ones and they are great.   Fabulous sound with plenty of base for music and connect easily and fast.   Ok they are not the cheapest, but they are defo worth the money 

[RubberChicken]

Hi @Maleka58. That sounds great!  Do you know what Model of Bose they are please? And do you find it works fine with your Ionic even when running? I can go up to $250 so fingers crossed that'll be enough to cover it.

[kit30000149]

I am using Jaybird Run, it is working fine. sound's great, and for workout or running, it fit very good to me.

no need to turn on gps function at all. 

[RubberChicken]

Thank you @kit30000149.   Good to know.   It's looking like the Jaybird Run for me then.  I haven't read great things about it on Amazon but since you say it works with Ionic and has good sound quality then I'm in!  Thanks again.

[RubberChicken]

Reporting back:
Sad news - I bought the Jaybird Run as recommended by someone in this thread but they don't work with the Fitbit Ionic. The Jaybirds are fine with my other devices but connected to the Ionic they crackle constantly, speed up the music, disconnect for seconds at a time, and that's just sitting still in a room. I've tried all recommendations such as placing the watch near my right Jaybird earbud, upgrading Jaybird to latest firmware, not using GPS, rebooting both devices, but to no avail. The Jaybird's synced to the Fitbit Ionic are utterly useless. Not recommended. That's AU$250 down the drain.

True wireless earbuds I've bought that don't work with the Fitbit Ionic:
  - Jaybird Run
  - Jabra Elite 65T
  - Mini TWS K2

[RubberChicken]

It turns out you are absolutely correct @sfringer .  I have now gone through 3 true wireless earbuds and none of them work with the Fitbit Ionic.

[Modelinda]

I prefer headphones that completely cover your ears so that the constant loud noises in the background (the most dire of circumstances). 

---

@RubberChicken wrote:

Reporting back:
Sad news - I bought the Jaybird Run as recommended by someone in this thread but they don't work with the Fitbit Ionic. The Jaybirds are fine with my other devices but connected to the Ionic they crackle constantly, speed up the music, disconnect for seconds at a time, and that's just sitting still in a room. I've tried all recommendations such as placing the watch near my right Jaybird earbud, upgrading Jaybird to latest firmware, not using GPS, rebooting both devices, but to no avail. The Jaybird's synced to the Fitbit Ionic are utterly useless. Not recommended. That's AU$250 down the drain.

True wireless earbuds I've bought that don't work with the Fitbit Ionic:
  - Jaybird Run
  - Jabra Elite 65T
  - Mini TWS K2

---

[Maleka58]

I always used to use the over ear sports ones, but since buying the bose in
ear sports ones I a am a convert. Brilliant sound, comfortable and
connects to ionic in a flash. I did a lot of research before spending that
sort of money, but it was well worth it 🙂

[RatedE]

My $20 Soundpeats QY7 Bluetooth earbuds that I bought off eBay work flawlessly 99% of the time. I just need to make sure that there are no other Bluetooth signals within range while I’m pairing them to my Ionic. (that’s what seems to mess with the weak Ionic Bluetooth signal)

[SiderFace]

I'm very surprised no one hasentioned Bragi Headphones.  My fiancé used mine perfectly with her FitBit watch, so I bought another set of them.  When I first got Bragis they were the ONLY company to have true wireless (2015), and they worked beautifully right from het start.  To this day they still exceed AirPod's dated technology in battery life, sounds quality, ergonomics, size, and weight.  Apple, as always, copied already existing technology, but still managed to create a subpar product for their lemmings.

Other companies have copied the technology much better, so I purchased the Samsung True wireless buds.  But, as you may expect, they didn't work with the FitBit.  They paired, but did not play the music 😞 they seem like a great design, but they still far short where the almost 5 year-old original true wireless company succeeds.

I can't preach enough about how impressed I am with Bragi.  It was a lot of fun when Apple fans were lecturing me when AirPods came out: "Dude!  I'm saying there literally NO WIRE AT ALL!".  They just refused to believe me (until I presented photo evidence, lol) that I had a far superior product (in every category) almost 4 years earlier.  

Bragi, Bragi, and Bragi.  Problem solved.  Did I mention: Bragi?  Ah yes, I did.  Good.

[SiderFace]

Bragi: the original/first true wireless headphones work perfectly with all FitBits.

They exceed AirPod's in (literally) every category, and came out 3.5 years before anyone else had the equivalent technology.

[SiderFace]

Or Bragi.  The original company to unleash the step in technology.  They are not an off brand, they are just suppressed in America by Apple who has control of most media marketing and even have control of a handful of Congress seats.  Truly corrupt, and it costs us the knowledge of the ORIGINAL true wireless company.  Bragi was ahead of everyone else on this by almost 4 years.

[SiderFace]

https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/9/7512829/wireless-earbuds-ces-2015-bragi-dash

[ChrisRyan]

I have used Samsung and other wireless Ear Buds and none of them work. I am using Beats 3 Wireless in-ear Buds ... not the brand new independent ones, but the ones connected by a cable ... and they work really great. The best part - they are on sale for $80,00 at BestBuy.