Feedback about Fitbit Ionic

[MelissaRN]

I've never owned a Fitbit product.  I recently began using the Fitbit app as a way to log water, food and steps and I am enjoying it and finding it motivating.

I'm thinking about making the plunge and purchasing the Fitbit Ionic.  (I also was looking at the Blaze.)

So question, would you buy the Fitbit Ionic again?  Do you regret it?  Love it?  Think it's worth it or not?

Any feedback is appreciated.   Thank you in advance!  

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Mark2018]

@SilviaFitbit

You wrote:

"Your feedback is always appreciated as this helps Fitbit to improve its future watches and features"

That means to me current Fitbit tracker will never have bugfixes!

New version number can't help when nothing will be fixed!

Ok, I would say we should stop beta testing!

So sad that Fitbit can't fix the problems!

[Gunnerp245]

Yes, Ionic.  All products have issues and not everyone has the same or aal the problems.  Many reported problems stem from the user failing to read the documentation. 

[Tigamilla]

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@Gunnerp245 wrote:

Yes, Ionic.  All products have issues and not everyone has the same or aal the problems.  Many reported problems stem from the user failing to read the documentation. 

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Well that in itself tells you something doesn't it? If you have to read documentation to make something work thats a problem, it's not a race car, it's a watch!

My Garmin came out of the box, connected to my phone and pretty much ran flawlessly from the first second. Not much tech from the last 5 years requires a manual to be read to work. By the way, I DID follow my Ionic's start guide to letter and that still didnt work for HOURS before then working poorly...

[Fousekis]

Hope mine dies too...It is ok as a fitness tracker but as a smartwatch is horrible. I wish they had learnt from Pebble.

[Totty68]

2 months of data all lost.. Fitbit ionic will not connect or update . Not impressed

[Bujica]

I know this post is old, but I figured some positive feedback always helps. Had issues with my first Ionic (sync was very iffy) so they replaced it for me. The second one has worked like a charm and it's been months now, I still love it and for me personally, I can't think of another tracker I would like as much. Truly water resistant (I have dived with it many times in the ocean, all great), I have tested the HR against a chest strap and it's spot on. Steps are accurate, GPS is awesome, no complaints whatsoever. And I like how it looks and the fact that the battery lasts 5+ days. The best alarm(s). Does everything I need and more. So yes, I would buy it again in a heartbeat. In fact my son and hubby have now their own Ionic as well and love it.

[Totty68]

No after this last week

[JessicaMarie]

No, I would not purchase this again.  I have had nothing, but problems with mine.  Beyond synching issues I have had to reinstall all the firmware updates twice they have never installed the first time around and they take up to 4 hours to install every time.  The wifi has yet to work no matter what I try and do.  The watch frequently now says that I have had 8 hours of an active day where I go the 250 steps per hour then I synch and the app says that I didn't get some random hour in the middle of the day.  So, why is it that the watch that is supposed to be the source of the step count is not the accurate element in this pair?  I also noticed that there has been a marked loss of continuity with the heart rate over time.  It feels as though I frequently have to move it in some way to get it to read a heart rate especially when I am exercising which was the whole point in having it.  I know that there is a curve where new devices have some growing pains, but this one seems to be having more than should be usual for any electronic device.  I also think that customer support and technical support could be way better all around.  I had an issue that was at 25 emails back and forth, they said that it was being passed along to a supervisor and 4 months later the issue still stands and I have not heard anything back about it.  If I hadn't already paid so much for it and if I didn't already know that my last device might not work at all I would probably go back.  I certainly am thinking of moving on the next time something else is on sale.  The app is great, but frequently the devices can be very frustrating and when there is a problem there isn't a great solution to be able to solve it.    

[Cal_2010]

My original Ionic bricked (bootloop) and I just got the replacement which is working fine, at the moment I don't really see a device that is on par with it (aside from the Versa but don't like the size), all my other Fitbit devices (Charge HR and Blaze) worked great so this is the first device that went to hell, but becoming concerned with what Fitbit is doing here, so unsure.

[QuintNYC]

I originally  started using my 1st ionic early January had a few glitches that seem to be resolved with restarts which turned into more frequent restarts to ultimately dying in mid April, right before my vacation literally 2 days before annoying. (I think the display died bc I was still getting batter notifications even though screen was black) I started using the replacement in Mid May and the replacement stopped taking a charge today so I am getting yet another replacement, the replacement lasted less than 2 months, I do not know what is up with the Ionic, but I do not recommend buying this watch.

[QuintNYC]

I originally  started using my 1st ionic early January had a few glitches that seem to be resolved with restarts which turned into more frequent restarts to ultimately dying in mid April, right before my vacation literally 2 days before annoying. (I think the display died bc I was still getting batter notifications even though screen was black) I started using the replacement in Mid May and the replacement stopped taking a charge today so I am getting yet another replacement, the replacement lasted less than 2 months, I do not know what is up with the Ionic, but I do not recommend buying this watch.

[ladyjac1919]

If I would of answered this yesterday, I would recommend. Today? Nope. 100% NO. Tried out the swim feature, because after all, it says it's a capability of the Ionic. Now my Ionic won't turn on, black screen of death. Escalated to Fitbit, lots of troubleshooting, nothing worked. Now I'm being stonewalled to try to get this resolved. Clearly false advertising of the swim feature if water ruins the device. Working great up until I swam with it. Device was purchased directly from Fitbit in December 2017. What a joke the service is. 

[ruriimasu]

- removed -

[Daddsy]

I think if I could buy it with the original firmware (back in December) on it and not have to update it I'd buy it again. Unfortunately since March it's seemed like each update has added nothing but made it less reliable, which is really weird. As is unfortunately mine has been returned and I'm likely going back to Garmin for the first time in about six years, which is a real shame as I like the fitbit ecosystem and I loved my trusty Charge 2.

[RKushner]

No not only no but Hell NO!!! Will not sync, WiFi will not work. Apple Watch here I come.

[SilviaFitbit]

Hey everyone! I continue to appreciate your feedback in this thread about using Ionic. 

Sorry to hear that some of you haven't had a good experience at all. Fitbit has many channels of contact, as we care about our customers and I can assure you all, that we’re always working to improve the longevity, durability of our products, and regularly capture and test trackers that exhibit unexpected or undesired characteristics

We're building ourselves every day to be better and satisfy as many users as we can, and this type of comments help us to grow. As a piece of advise, don't forget that you can always contact our Customer Service and let them know the issue you're experiencing or post them on the Community and any Moderator will be happy to help you trying to resolve it or creating a case with Support for further assistance. 

I'll be around if you need anything else! 

[Shmoo]

I'm sad to say but no. I used to get all my notifications and phone calls on my Ionic but since upgrading to an iPhone X I don't get any and it seems as if Fitbit couldn't care less. I'm thinking about going to an Apple watch or another tracker that actually does what it says it does, and the Ionic most definitely doesn't .

[RKushner]

I wouldn’t buy it again, sync issues, and updating is an ad venture.

Sent from my iPhone

[SunsetRunner]

My vote - no. Every few days (and this was purchased new only a week ago) I have to remove the IONIC from my phone and add it back as a new device to get it to sync. I fully undestand technology fails and we need to be patient at times but there are other options out there to try. That said I was about to return this unit back to REI and pick up a Garmin 735XT; the 735XT forums are filled with the same issues as the IONIC. Sigh. 

[SunsetRunner]

I will add this to FitBit's credit - in my three calls and chat sessions contact and follow-up was been easy/excellent. The "other" forum has many complaints about support customer service.