50M Water Resistance - Clarification?

[runwithnewmedia]

Hi! 

Super interested in the Ionic -- thanks for continuing to innovate on your products, etc. 

I was curious -- most things that I am reading online in regards to watch water proofing are telling me that 50M resistance is not adequate enough for swimming -- the recommendation is still to remove a watch with that rating before jumping in water. 

Just a a few examples:

http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/what-does-water-resistance-in-diving-watches-mean

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f17/water-resistance-myth-vs-reality-159142.html

https://www.thrillist.com/gear/what-your-watch-water-resistance-numbers-mean

So -- suppose I purchased the Ionic and went for a swim -- due to the 50M rating the watch ends up getting water damaged -- would it be covered under warranty? Are you undercutting actual resistance? It doesn't sound like I should be swimming with this thing based on current stats, even though you are advertising swim tracking. Little bit concerned about this and would love some clarification! Thanks!

[SantiR]

@SlavaF Welcome to the Fitbit forums! Thanks for sharing your experience on this thread regarding Ionic and water resistance. Thanks for contacting customer support, I'm really glad to read they have been great.

Please share any updates if you have already received the new unit. Let me know if you have tried using it under water and how it worked.

Keep me posted! 

[TripG]

IVE used underwater with no problems thus far. Working great. Thx to Fitbit for the quick turnaround and fixing the problem so quickly 

[DudeMon]

They are not water resistant. I went water rafting, and mine got damaged. The touch screen no longer touch screen and the battery does not hold the charge. so just heads up. Also the warranty is limited.

[Bujica]

I checked my last post on this thread, it was almost a year ago (Aug 22, 2018). I have taken my Ionic in a lot more adventures since (more ocean swimming, snorkeling, diving, lakes, pools, you name it) and it's still doing what it's supposed to. I took it for a few small freedives (6m max) with no issues. I still think most of the Ionics are fine in any water conditions, the ones breaking are the exception not the norm (at least from what I see around me). Is yours under warranty @DudeMon? I hope yes, so you can get a replacement. Good luck!

[DudeMon]

Unfortunately mine was exception and it couldn't handle water. Never had a problem with it until now, I had mine for quite a while, so the warranty is no longer available. I guess it is up to individual if they are willing to take that chance. I know for sure, if I'll get another set, I will think twice before taking them anywhere near the water. It's an expensive gamble.

[Bujica]

That's very unfortunate, it's a lot of money 😞 (I love my device a lot, but if it would die I am seriously thinking if I would spend that amount of money on a new Ionic - probably not - I got great service for 2 years now but I am still expecting more from such an expensive "toy").

If I were you (and if you do end up getting a new device), I would actually test the h**ck out of it in any conditions before the warranty expires, just to be on the safe side...

Best of luck!

[DudeMon]

Very good point. Live and learn, as it goes.

Thanks though.

[markdorsey]

Spoiler

I purchased an Ionic, took it for a swim in my 48" above ground pool. It failed, that evening. I will say, they are honoring the warranty, but, this does me no good as a go forward. As, in the past, I have experienced a poor customer service. If I have this repeatedly occur, they will no long honor. This occurrence happened 6 mos into ownership...so, my guess would be, they might replace it up to the 1 year anniversary of purchase, but again, does me no good to continue to have to ship it in and be without a tracker for 2-3 weeks. I am honestly not sure why i put any money into their products any longer, as they just dont live up to the advertised specs...and their customer service is probably among the worst. Change my mind....

[PaulMe]

@markdorsey 

Once out of warranty you are on your own. My advice, swim with your Ionic during the warranty period, if you must. Before the 12 months is up - STOP swimming and even showering with the device. 

Had the Ionic and Versa been designed and certified for a WR100 water resistant rating, very few would be failing when used for swimming.

WR50 is not fit for water activities and device longevity. I won't even wear mine in the shower anymore.

As these devices age. the button seals wear, compress and become dirty. Water resistance is soon compromised. Given that some owners of Ionics have complained of the screen coming away from the body - THIS is a very real point of water resistance failure as well.

[MorktOl]

I just wore my Charge 3 in the pool yesterday, after just a few minutes it started buzzing sporadically and the screen went blank. Now it is no longer working.. 

[Tekn0logy]

I'm not going to bother reading through all of these posts to see the actual verdict, but I'll just add yet another failed Ionic in less than 50m of water. Stop the excuses Fitbit lovers, we spent too much money on this thing to see it fail in less than 2 years. I have a dozen watches to include a 11 year old Casio G-Shock Solar Atomic that spent the last 5 years in the bottom of a drawer, letting the battery fully drain only to be fully rejuvenated by the sun.

I waited 2 and a half years for the SpO2 function that was advertised back in 2017, and now I have a miniature brick, not even useful for a paperweight.

[unagisan]

+1 for another dead Ionic. Mine was brand new, less than a week old, and after my first lap the screen started flickering and now it's completely dead. The sensors are full of water. So I can confirm these come directly from the factory with zero water resistance.

[PaulMe]

@Tekn0logy,

I'm not going to bother reading through all of these posts to see the actual verdict

The verdict is clear as mud, I'm afraid.

Plenty of other threads to support this as well.

I've been banging on about this for months!

[Julia_G]

@unagisan , it sounds like yours was defective, and you should definitely get in touch with Fitbit Customer Support to make a claim under warranty.

For Ionics out of warranty that get wet and stop working it is worth trying the rice cure - put it in a bag of rice for several days which should dry it out.

The reason they now are required to say water “resistant” rather than water “proof” is that nothing is really water proof.  And 50 meters means 50 meters of pressure - so if you dive, or even jump from only a moderate height into water you could easily exceed this pressure.

If your Fitbit fails for water damage within the warranty period then unless it has been otherwise misused in some way (for example, a broken screen will breach the water resistance) then you should always seek replacement under warranty.

[unagisan]

@Julia_G They asked me to mail it back to them so I've done that, but they said it will take months before I receive a replacement--if one is approved. So I definitely don't recommend ever getting the Ionic wet at all. For now, I have to try and find a replacement from another brand. 

[Julia_G]

@unagisan if they said “months” that can only be because of the pandemic situation.  That is definitely not typical of the Fitbit response time!

[unagisan]

@Julia_G A quick Google of replacement times shows that sadly "months" is pretty typical. Considering their replacement parts all come from Hong Kong this isn't very surprising. I just wish I had researched all of this before buying. 

[PaulMe]

@unagisan,

 I just wish I had researched all of this before buying. 

Don't see why you should have had to. A warranty claim should be the exception, not almost the rule as seems to be the case with these devices failing when coming in contact with water.

I would love to be privy to the failure percentage caused by water, software/firmware, electronic failure, battery failure and physical failures such as button issues and screens lifting. 

It would be VERY interesting indeed!

[PaulMe]

 I just wish I had researched all of this before buying. 

Don't see why you should have had to. A warranty claim should be the exception, not almost the rule as seems to be the case with these devices failing when coming in contact with water.

I would love to be privy to the failure percentage caused by water, software/firmware, electronic failure, battery failure and physical failures such as button issues and screens lifting. 

It would be VERY interesting indeed!

[markdorsey]

I sent the unit in for warranty, as was instructed, and then was told it was procured, although through Amazon, not from Amazon, and so void. They didn’t even send the unit back. I was fortunate to get with the Amazon seller, and they were gracious enough to send a replacement. Within a week, without thinking, I really he’d into a a river to grab a rock, at most a foot deep, and the next day, the replacement died.

fs t is, this isn’t abnormal. Fitbit should not advertise the thing as any sort of water resistant, or make sure to better clarify. I have wasted hundreds of dollars with this company, from Charge, to Charge 2, Charge 3, and now the Ionic. Shane on them for manufacturing such an inferior product, but shame on me for having hoping!

[PaulMe]

...it is worth trying the rice cure - put it in a bag of rice for several days which should dry it out.

The reason they now are required to say water “resistant” rather than water “proof” is that nothing is really waterproof.  And 50 meters means 50 meters of pressure - so if you dive, or even jump from only a moderate height into water you could easily exceed this pressure.

The bag of rice has been suggested numerous times before. Can't see how it would/will help. These devices are fairly airtight - just not waterproof enough for active water sports that many active owners are led to believe. Moisture and consequently moist air internally is unlikely to be drawn out of the device in large enough quantities (if at all?) to dry out the electronics before component damage takes place. Salt water adds another issue with corrosion. But any type of water is a killer.

As I've said many, many times before, had these devices been manufactured to WR100 certification, we would likely not be having this conversation. WR50 IS NOT designed for active water sports. Jumping, Waves etc. But even immersion is risky at the WR50 certification.

As you allude to - 50 metres is a pressure measurement. NOTHING to do with water depth. Many are confused by this - and rightly so. The whole concept of WR50, WR100, WR200 is confusing until you read between the lines.