I am returning my IONIC

[Venkats]

Esteemed members,

Unfortunately tracking proper heart rate is something I consider an essential item and it appears after deliberations that it may be tied to the hardware. There is substantial difference in heart rate tracking between Blaze and IONIC. IONIC just doesn't cut the deal in high intensity workouts like Surge and Blaze. After convincing myself that things won't improve in the near term, I am returning IONIC. All of what I need is buried in heart rate monitoring. It was fun interacting with several users and now it is time to move on. Perhaps later when things settle down, I may come back to IONIC but for now Blaze and surge should suffice. I thought I could avoid having to switch to Flex-2 during swimming but that is ok. Changing the device and syncing multiple devices seems straightforward and is less painful than dealing with a subpar tracker with an expensive price tag.

Every vendor has enough problems and fight for survival in this space but it does appear Fitbit does undoubtedly boast a superior customer support team as they have always helped me to my entire satisfaction. Above all it never took more than a single chat session.

I may be reduced to outdated devices but I have no regrets. Good luck to everyone in Fitbit community. If I ever have issues (hopefully I don't) I sure will reach out to you guys.   

[WendyB]

Sorry to hear it.

[bbarrera]

The Blaze isn't an outdated device, perfectly fine if it meets your needs! 

[JimboSlice001]

If you are 100% pleased with your Ionic, you are a liar, and brand loyalist. I returned mine today, but still have my Alta and Blaze. I enjoy the Fitbit community and trackers prior to my Ionic, was just not pleased with this half assed attempt at a smartwatch/Fitness watch. More returns than any other device previously introduced. That should tell you something. 

[RealSting]

This is not  a dig, so please don't take it the wrong way. I've been eyeing the fitness wearables now for several years and waiting for the technology to develop enough so I'd feel happy I'd bought something that:

a) would fulfil my fitness/health requirements

b) would be future proofed (enough to be practical for me)

My Point: I bought the IONIC being aware there were various issues and that it hadn't been released at its full potential - This is true with nearly all new technology when it hits the market place. Annoying as it is that I cannot track my SpO/Blood pressure, import my all of my Apple Health data.. I am willing to give it a reasonable amount of time (and within legal purchase obligations) to see what FitBit do with the IONIC.

Because they were smart enough to get you and I to part with our cash for a product that we believed would fulfil our needs.. (you did your homework right?!), I think it's not unreasonable to believe they will be smart enough to fulfil their promises on it.

[shipo]

@RealSting, a comment about blood pressure; this capability has not and probably never will be an option for the Ionic.  Why?  As far as I know, there is absolutely no technology available today which will fit inside of an Ionic sized device which has the ability to perform blood pressure monitoring.

[bbarrera]

Without a speaker and microphone it’s not future proof. The CPU is a little underpowered. There will be another smartwatch from Fitbit to fix the lack of hardware in the Ionic. 

There is a YouTube video of a fitness instructor talking about how great Coach app is and it’s immediately clear there are serious issues:

- display keeps turning off

- no feedback on time/reps completed, or how it felt

- no audio cues so you have no clue how to pace or when to stop

the first two can be fixed in software, the last one would send me immediately to Coach app on phone. 

As a long time Fitstar user I can’t help but feel the Coach app on Ionic and Blaze is a gimmick, something for Fitbit to promote as a differentiator. Just use Coach app on phone. 

[Venkats]

@shipo

He probably meant heart rate but typed Blood Pressure. While IONIC or FitBit may never have BP monitoring there are several non (fda) approved blood pressure monitoring devices in the style of a smart watch. Omron is in the process of getting FDA approval for such a BP monitor. Samsung's simband platform boasts bp monitoring sensors and a host of other sensors useful in clinical setup. Decades ago Casio had a BP monitoring sensor. 

The assertion that there is no technology available is not correct. Perhaps you may not be aware.   

Who knows Fitbit itself may introduce such a technology someday in future. 

[shipo]

@Venkats, splitting a hair here, my statement was "inside"; are you saying there is now technology which doesn't require a cuff of some sort which will actually fit inside of a smart watch?

[bbarrera]

@shipo Go look up Omron HeartVue for a smartwatch style blood pressure measurement wearable. AliveCor also has some interesting stuff (AW band), but it’s not blood pressure 

[Venkats]

@shipo

Well, why not use www.google.com and research yourself instead of entering into pointless argument on MuchAdo on what started as a typo.  

Even a caveman can become a rocket scientist from the abundance of material knowledge by googling. We only have to have an open mind accepting the fact that anything is possible.  

[RealSting]

Hi Shipo,

my apologigies.. my statement was a little unclear. What I meant was my blood pressure DATA cannot be viewed in-app along with my SpO data. I understand that to include a blood pressure system in such a small device would (currently) be prohibitively expensive.

Just to clarify. My purpose for buying into Fitbit was not only the hardware, but the software and the available data. Apple seemed less focused on health metrics and more on smartwatch features. I’m only interested in the health aspect.. I’ve got an iPhone and computer for everything else!

[shipo]

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@Venkats wrote:

@shipo

Well, why not use www.google.com and research yourself instead of entering into pointless argument on MuchAdo on what started as a typo.  

Even a caveman can become a rocket scientist from the abundance of material knowledge by googling. We only have to have an open mind accepting the fact that anything is possible.  

---

I guess that doesn't help some folks from being a jerk though.

[wickedathletes]

So I actually returned mine after about two weeks (got it for $250 at Dick's Sporting Goods). It was horrendously alpha at best. The device was fine, I actually liked the design, although hated the band (that can be dealt with). But the software, holy hell was it terrible.

I then tried an Apple Watch 3. For Fitness its a joke. Then I tried the Vivoactive3... just didn't like the device, although overall fitness wise its better than the Ionic. It was a little to "female" designed for my taste.

Since Kohls is running a solid deal at the moment, I am trying it one more time. $195 basically ($300 + $105 Kohls cash).

[bbarrera]

if I was in the market for a new wearable, my money would go to Garmin 935 (buy at REI for 20% off, four times a year). For sports and fitness, it is head and shoulders above everything you mentioned. I'm a cyclist and lift weights, Apple Watch (original) has actually been better than Fitbit because of apps. However I'm going to do first triathlon this year, and I also snow ski, hike, and SUP/kayak. All those are covered plus it supports the power meter and other sensors on my road bike.