Ionic Corrosion?

[spikedhope]

I'm on my 3rd Fitbit, I'm currently using an Ionic.

There are 2 issues.

1. Everyday it loses Bluetooth connection with my iPhone, so I have to hard reset it.

2. The back of the Ionic is so corroded!! I mean, holes!! Not completely through...but the surface has been eaten away... I guess its sweat that is the cause,....but, this shouldn't happen,...should it? Its a sports / fitness tracker.

Does anyone else have this issue? (or both issues?)

[N8teGee]

Hi @spikedhope. 

Would it be possible to take a picture of the corroded back and post it here. It will help others understand what you are describing

Thanks. 

[spikedhope]

It really doesn't show the extent of the damage. To the right of the sensors...the black marking isn't just discolouration,.....it's a pitted grooved line,.....  

[N8teGee · Accepted solution]

Thanks for the picture. 

Yes that does look quite terrible actually. I would definitely suggest getting in touch with customer support and see what they make of it. 

[jwebb72]

Looks like a combination of acidic sweat, salt, friction, and bad watch hygiene.

[N8teGee]

What are you using to clean the back of the watch? 

[spikedhope]

..As and when needed I take a toothbrush and water....thats it.

[spikedhope]

Did as you suggested, contacted support who offered me a replacement directly. I pre ordered my Ionic and perhaps they have changed the type of material used in the watch casing in later models due to problems like mine. Very happy with Fitbit for not messing about and providing me with a replacement. 🙂

[N8teGee]

Glad to hear you got it sorted 

[Disturbednny]

Sorry to hijack this post, but mine is just starting to do this now, and customer support says its "cosmetic" damage.

as an engineer this appears to be a design flaw in the alloy they used for the casing. Do I just keep trying until they send a new one? or am I SOL?

[AL11]

I have the same problem. I’ve had it since June ‘18 - started seeing this 3-4 months a ago. 

I have contacted customer service. Let’s see how they do. 

[Ackley]

My ionic has done the same thing extreme corrosion of the aluminum case,  but the real problems started when the plastic covering the sensors wore thin and cracked letting moisture into the watch.

[Navroz]

I too had the corrosion issue. Ionic was bought in Sept 2018 and in June 2019 it started showing corrosion which then spread rapidly. Seeing the earlier posts on this forum, I wrote to customer Care and they promptly shipped me a replacement FOC.

A BIG thanks to Fitbit for that Corroded baseCorroding buckle

[bbqray]

I had a similar corrosion issue, but my watch is past the 12 month warranty and customer support will not offer a replacement. I cleaned by watch regularly before every shower. So, if you plan on using a Fitbit for sports, note that you may on your own after 12 months.  I expect more from a watch costing several hundred dollars, so I'll be moving on to another brand.  Maybe Fitbits should not be used for sports and renamed: Notsofitbits?

Too bad as I liked the Ionic. 

[Navroz]

Thanks. While my Ionic got corroded in 9 months, it appears from your post that anyway the Ionic seems to get corroded after a year of use. But my experience gets more disappointing!

Like I said I received a free replacement Ionic in July 2019 and in a month's time I noticed traces of corrosion on the brand new replacement piece! I have written to them again and let's see what happens.

To get two pieces with such a defect is quite shocking and I wonder if the quality varies according to the market?

I procured my ionic in India, how about you please? 

[Ackley]

I purchased my ionic in Georgia,USA

Sent from my iPhone

[Navroz]

Thanks Ackley. So this negates my theory of "different quality for different markets". 

So looks like it is a generic problem with Ionic.

[schmiddyks]

hi, I can only confirm the chat going on here in regard to the corrosion on the ionic. I have a replacement device owing to corrosion and this second one is corroding too.

The routine with the ionic has been the following;

- device used for mountain/ cross country biking though has seldom got muddy

- after activity always washed with clear water and with a towel surface dries and then left fully to dry

- I generally don't wear the ionic, in the pool or under the shower

- i wear the ionic daily including night time, well you would wouldn't you!

I have no major issues with software etc, that couldn't be solved, nor need for a new watch strap either. My conclusion would be that some of us folks have much more corrosive sweat than others as, I do not use detergents on the watch at all. The other manufacturers know this however and is certainly why they use minimum stainless steel backs on their casings. 

Last but not least, I recon Fitbit are aware of this issue and have been very helpful. I would pay more for a stainless steel watch back despite that Google is now taking over the reigns. Lets be honest, if it isn't apple who has our data then its google or potentially both anyway! I hope the support stays just as good along with maybe better built devices. I like my fitbit, don't want to switch systems 

Ps. I had the same issue on the charge too. 

[bbqray]

My Fitbit Ionic showed corrosion (or removal of the finish) after 14-15 months. No offer to replace.

My daughter's Versa had a button stop working after 10 months. It was replaced under warrantee.

My wife's Ionic had a touch screen fail after 20 months. I didn't bother to contact Fitbit.

I've got a new Garmin Vivoactive 4 coming in today. They are little more expensive but have better materials and similar features. On the Garmin forums, many users talk about keeping watches for 5+ years. 

This is what I expect from a watch costing $200-$300, or more.

[Navroz]

Hi schmiddyks,

Our pattern of use and cleaning methods are more or less the same. In spite of daily cleaning we both had not only our original piece corroding, but also the replacement device. This strongly implies a product (material) design issue.

And yes, Fitbit has now (end Oct '19) given me second replacement, which I do very much appreciate!

I had offered to return my first replacement to them, so that they can do the required analysis and it did take a bit of follow-up, but my issue got addressed.

I hope this second replacement too does not corrode and destroy my faith, in what is otherwise a good product!