Any news about Fitbit Ionic 2?

[wilson812]

any news

Moderator edit: Updated subject for clarity 

[Arne2]

@Equestrianchik 

Interesting, I am also waiting, impatiently, for the Ionic 2, but might want to start looking at alternatives.

What are the main plus and minuses with the Garmin Venu compared to Ionic? You say you love it, but are there also things it are missing? Is the sleep tracking as good? Can you integrate your dashboard and goal setting with a smart weight on the Venu too?

[Equestrianchik]

@Arne2 

I haven’t found anything I don’t like yet. The sleep tracking seems to be as good to me as the Ionic. With the Venu you get SPO2 tracking throughout the night, which I really like. 

I like all the different exercise apps. They each track exercise different with different metrics. It has gps built in as well.

It’s a more advanced tracker IMO than the Ionic. Definitely feels like a step up from where I was. It also is more comfortable for my small wrist but the watch face is actually bigger. 

Battery for me is lasting 5 days. Charging takes no time compared to the hours my Ionic was taking in the end. 

Tons of different (free) watch faces you can swap out, tons of various apps, updates are pushed out weekly, overall I’m very happy with it. 

Feel free to ask me any specific questions you have.

[Arne2]

@Equestrianchik 

Thanks, appreciated! From what I can see online, seems the only thing I would miss (but I really would miss it..) is syncing of data from Withings smart weight into Garmin app. Besides that it sounds like what an Ionic 2 should have been.

[Strayfrog]

Arne, the data indicated by that Venu are often incorrect, regarding pulse, calories (obviously..) and - I couldn't believe it - regarding distance, and even steps. For me, distance and steps are not important, but the pulse taken from the Venu was so far from being correct, that I simply won't purchase that device. I tried that Garmin device for 1 week, and no, that's not a fit for me.

[Arne2]

@Strayfrog 

Ah, strange for such a well known fitness tracker brand, in general they are at least as well regarded as Fitbit in this area, but it might be model specific or a bad fit. Is it directly compared to Ionic for same run that the data are wrong?

[Equestrianchik]

@Strayfrog I wonder if you got a bad one. I wore my ionic and the venu for a week and got the same results. I also wear my chest strap HRM when I workout and my Venu is always within a beat or two of it. 

Garmin is constantly (1-2x a week) pushing out updates, so I know they are always working to fix things quickly. 

[Strayfrog]

For the heartbeat, I compared that to professional hospital equipment.... And for the steps after I was wondering about the results with my regular, daily route being away from the Fitbit I recalculated with Google maps and my average step, the Fitbit was in that given range (fast/slow), the Garmin was far away. And, for my regular daily evening run of 8.93 mls (Fitbit range is 8.91 to 8.94), it indicated above 9.3, up to 9.48. Preparing for a competition, that's bad, too bad.

Sure, it might have been an issue with that specific device, or the firmware.

Unfortunately, my Ionic gets closer to the final lap and I'll have to replace it pretty soon; the last firmware update, plus the app update, it seems the power consumption is reduced back to a kind of normal, but that was no real progress. 

[Arne2]

@Strayfrog 

"Unfortunately, my Ionic gets closer to the final lap "

This is where many of us are at, and it is unreal that Fitbit is completely ignoring it.

[Strayfrog]

Hi, Eque,

You're right on low rates, below 60, but once you'll get above 90, the Venu failed, above 160 it was so far away from reality, I do believe they are just using bad components. Compared to ergometer data it went some 20-55 percent out of the real rate. For me, that's just a less-effective exercise issue, for others that might be deadly. Maybe, I got a bad one, they gave it to me just for a week or so to try it.

Updates are ok, but 1-2 weekly? How long does that take, is it the firmware, or the app?

And, by the way, that Venu looks ugly, a square display is smarter, and even a smartwatch doesn't need to have that thickness (it sxxxx if you're repairing your bike or doing any other handyman-jobs at home). Some hugs for your little barking Eque, that looks so cute (still don't know if you're using your poor doggy or your horse to carry that Venu for better results)

No, I'm not happy that my Ionic must be replaced.

[Strayfrog]

For Google, that's definitely not important. They are focused on mass products only, want all people to buy the same product so they've lower costs on production and service. Mao suit fits all, according to them. Well, I'll not purchase a product that doesn't fit my requirements just and only to have a brand name logo on it.

Unfortunately, two friends of mine recommend the Timex, one other had real trouble with that product, so I'll probably not buy that one.

After all, I'll probably grab me a portable device from Draeger, that's far bigger and you've to carry it at your upper arm, it has no GPS, as it is just a medical device, more for real professional athletes, so I'll have the time to wait for better products to come.

[gibbyhome]

!Now would be a great time to release a Ionic 2 !!! with fathers day comming.... and runners wanting a smart watch for funning not the charge..

[Lasertop]

My prediction is this, they will discontinue the Ionic and release a Versa 3 which will have built-in GPS and other features that currently only the Ionic has.  The Ionic was simply not the big seller they had hoped for and the Versa has done well for them.  

[PaulMe]

Unlikely to be any information from Fitbit - leaked or otherwise on a replacement for the Ionic. They (Fitbit) will want to maximize sales of the current product. Any mention of a new Ionic version will see current sales plummet. If it happens, it will suddenly be released.

[Lasertop]

Yep, I can honestly say I love my Fitbit Ionic (had it for two years now).  My wife has a charge 4 and it's certainly nice but I like the bigger color screen on mine and the fact that I can stream music to my wireless headphones as I do a run or bike workout.  If the Versa comes out with this functionality, I will certainly be looking to buy one.

[SRogersCaptA]

@Odyssey13 because I'm upset that I've spent so much time "hoping" this company cares about its customers enough to want to keep them. 

I'm happy that you and your family are in the bucket of "successfully" upgraded users. My Ionic is over three years old, and I'm only looking for confirmation that I'll be taken care of as loyal customer before I go ahead and update.

You think I should just roll the dice, and if it bricks, just shell out 75% on a replacement, and stay with Fitbit? Curious how you feel about all the others here that feel like me?

[Odyssey13]

Hi @SRogersCaptA  my post was actually directed towards @Runner3364 . The best way to get your concerns addressed are to go to customer support directly. Sometimes these threads on the forums get a bit off track. Fitbit won't tell us if there is an Ionic 2 in the works, but often there are rumors of something before it actually is released to the public. I think everyone needs to make their own decision on how they feel about the product and if they wish to remain customers. Everyone is different in what they want in a fitness tracker, too. I have friends who used Garmin and Apple only to return to Fitbit. My family member's Ionic is about three years old, too.

[Strayfrog]

@SRogersCaptA

I can seriously say that I don't know any manufacturer being that polite and generous as Fitbit (at least: was, before becoming part of the big one), I had severe issues with my Ionic in the very beginning, and after several months. You should know, that I'm just a regular customer, and I've only the Ionic, no other Fitbit product, well, 2 additional wristbands, as replacements.

The first issues have been solved by phone, taking several hours for both, the Fitbit-people and me, to fix it, that was successfully solved.

Months later, while being in Europe, my Ionic jammed with an update, or so, I don't remember exactly. Far away from home, it was frustrating. Let me tell you, what Fitbit did: They sent me a brand new device, for free, to Europe, within 2 days. I was only asked to get rid of the defective one on my own. Frustration gone. Happy again. End of the story. So - do you know any other manufacturer willing to do that? I can tell you about Samsung (Note), Apple (iPhone, iPad), HP (high-end notebook), products with ugly high price stickers. No, they didn't, not even in the US, no matter how urgent, no matter that the purchase was just days ago. And they'll never do. And this story is the chief cause why I'm still waiting for the Ionic 2, probably why I tried several competing models and wasn't satisfied a bit.

And let me tell you, so many of my friends are happy with the service by Fitbit. I do understand your frustration, but you should keep in mind, if 2 people communicate and one is not happy in the end, there might be several reasons for, on both sides of the line. Sure, it is never the customer to be blamed, but sometimes it really helps, if the customers rephrase. But, please not like this:

A gentleman wanders around the campus of a school looking for the library. He approaches a student and asked, “Excuse me young man. Would you be good enough and tell me where the library is at?” The student, in a very arrogant and belittling tone, replied, “I sorry, sir, but at this school, we are taught never to end a sentence with a preposition!” The gentleman smiled, and in a very apologetic tone replied, “I beg your pardon. Please allow me to rephrase my question. Would you be good enough to tell me where the library is at, idiot?”

[SRogersCaptA]

I get it already - I've been a loyal Ionic user for years, and would normally be driving the "enthusiast" bandwagon. I'm not even in the camp of unfortunate users who've been bricked already and only offered a 25% discount to buy a new device when it was never their fault theirs failed.

I'm that user who has extracted himself to look at this situation from 30,000ft. How will this company treat me - if it's treating others poorly? I've tried to ask proactive questions: Is it only failing on older devices? What's the status of fixing the firmware? Are there steps I can take to minimize my chances of failure? - And all of this has fallen on deaf ears, or worse, the result needing multiple login accounts here.

I work in the customer service field so I know the playbook on legal shielding, issue denial, deflection, spinning, etc. etc. - I'm hired by companies to stop that type of behavior...all the more reason why seeing this as a customer is infuriating. My employers don't want to hear about "good stories" - that is expected practice; a baseline for performance. They want to hear where the trouble spots are and how they can make it better. Continuous Service Improvement.

If you've read the pages and pages of complaints about customers and their bricked Ionics, you have to empathize for them, and have some critical opinion of how Fitbit's been handling this? A coupon to buy a new device that they are responsible for destroying?

Yes, sure, an Ionic 2 would be a nice thing...but what about the support behind it?

[m4rko]

I’ve had an Ionic since launch (I’d previously had a Surge since it launched, and the original Flex since launch) and so am very embedded in the ecosystem. However my ionic is on its last legs. The charged contacts have worn so I have to bodge the charging and it can take me 5 minutes or more to even get it to make contact. It’s crashed a few times this week and the touch screen seems to be playing up. 
Now if there were an updated model I’d buy it in a heartbeat right now! But, there isn’t. And if my ionic dies soon I don’t think I can justify buying another one - the cost is as high as it was at new and guaranteed a newer version will come along after I’ve purchased. 
Never before have I felt so pressured to have to look at the competition but if my ionic dies soon and no replacement ionic model is available, I think I may have to switch - which would be so sad after so many years. 

come on Fitbit - please give us an updated Ionic!

(Btw the Charge 4 doesn’t cut it - it lasts half the time on GPS so no good for long runs)

[Strayfrog]

Yep, these charging issues.... on both, the cable supplied with the watch, and another charger.

What helps is to brush the contacts on the Ionic with a soft copper brush, and also to wipe it with a wet tissue, what works best for me is disinfectant gel as I have that in my car. But, it really sucks. As with all batteries, also on the Ionic the capacity right now is below half of a brand new one (by the way: have fun with all the electric cars), and for sure it won't get better.

Received some e-mails with one of these permanent "special offers, just this day blabla", the sender was Fitbit, and the Ionic was at $ 129/149. Wouldn't be any progress, and wasting money for nothing, I won't do that. I could get a huge discount on the Garmin Fenix 6 x pro, which would make it $ 299, and on that Athlete for $ 599 - no, I don't like any of both, and I'd not pay 600 bucks for a simple digital watch made in China, all these watches aren't worth more than any amount below $ 10, which also should be a fair price for a Fitbit device. They do have to earn money, but there are limits.