Ionic vs Charge 2

[Pvi2]

Will the new Fitbit Ionic have all the features of the Charge 2 and count steps

Peter

Moderator edit: edited title for clarity

[wmchapman]

Yes:

Charge 2 & Ionic head-to-head

[LZeeW]

@Pvi2  All of the features and then some!  The Ionic goes beyond a fitness tracker like the Charge 2 to be smart watch.  It has one HUGE important feature that many have been asking for -- you can swim with it! 

There is more information here All About Fitbit Ionic

[LZeeW]

@wmchapman  You got your post in first -- my reminder to move alarm went off and I had to get up and move!  Lol

[shipo]

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@Pvi2 wrote:

Will the new Fitbit Ionic have all the features of the Charge 2 and count steps

Peter

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Well yes, and no; the Ionic uses in-built GPS while the Charge 2 relies on Location Services (i.e. Connected GPS) within your phone to track a run or hike.  Personally I prefer the in-build GPS over the Connected GPS, however, some folks apparently prefer the latter.

[Rich_Laue]

I believe that based on monitoring arm movements it will count steps.

[Northof49]

I was worried when they changed their marketing from water proof to water resistant ( or possibly another term). So it's still good for swimming? 

[bbarrera]

Good luck figuring that out, I asked and was acknowledged by a Fitbit employee on this forum and last I checked the Ionic product page and web store page and manual it was still ambiguous. 

[Rich_Laue]

Fitbit, because of laws that go back 1965, has never had a product marketed as waterproof. It is a USA Federal violation to do so since at some depth the watch would fail. The Mariana Trench is over 36 thousand feet down. 

The correct term is water resistant to "x" 

Where "x" could be

Measurement of feet

Measurement of meters. 

An IP rating with 1 UP as 10 meters, 2 UP as 20 meters, etc

An ATM rating, with each ATM equalling 1 atmosphere of pressure (ATM) at see level or 10 meters equivalent to 33.9 Feet. 

These tests are down by lowering the pressure very slowly, meaning I 1ATM rated watch could leak when entering the water simply by diving into a pool. 

The Ionic has a 5 ATM rating or 169.5 feet. Most people and documents use a simple 10 per meter conversion. 

BTW that raincoat you might have can not be advertised as waterproof unless it will keep you completely dry while walking through a puddle. 

[bbarrera]

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@Rich_Laue wrote:

Fitbit, because of laws that go back 1965, has never had a product marketed as waterproof. It is a USA Federal violation to do so since at some depth the watch would fail.  

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Its not a violation of any law, the FTC Watch Guides were rescinded in 1999 because the FTC believed the industry could self regulate, and because of International Standards.

"Waterproofing" is just fine, and its common sense that the abbreviated "waterproof" for most people is a synonym for "water resistant."

Focusing on being technical correct is distracting, because ATM ratings don't mean much.

If you want to swim or snorkel or surf, look past the ATM ratings. Water activities covered by Fitbit warranty aren't part of the ATM rating. For example:

- Fitbit Surge rated 5ATM, but swimming not supported

- Flex 2 rated 10ATM, and the Fitbit specs state it is swim-proof

- Ionic rated 5ATM, and feature list includes wearing watch in pool & rain, but specs say different things depending if you are on product page or web shop page

Confusing? Yes, thats confusing.

There is no International Standard for supported water activities, that is left to vendors like Fitbit.

More info here:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Ionic/Screen-and-bezel-misaligned/m-p/2244515/highlight/true#M8204 

[Rich_Laue]

Let's go back to the IP, Ingress Protection Rating, rating set by the IEC, International Electrotechnical Commission

The USCGhas a good description of this non-profit international organization. 

This looks like a universal international standard. 

[bbarrera]

hmm, if I understand correctly IP ratings include timed submersion up to 1 meter (about 3 feet), and also water jets at specific pressures. Anything over 1 meter and its up to the vendor to specify. Which brings us right back to ISO 22810 water resistance standard.

Which multi-sport Fitbit devices have an IP rating in the specifications?

With every vendor on my list - Fitbit/Polar/Garmin/Apple - for the devices I'm looking at (Ionic, etc), I've only seen ATM ratings and a list of supported water activities (as per ISO 22810). 

[Rich_Laue]

Dc rainmaker did a very extensive test of the Surge water resistant to 150 feet. I have not been able to locate it but do see a quick summary https://youtu.be/FeYN8HWVj2A

[shipo]

@Rich_Laue, I'm not sure what type of Surge he tested, but I took a brand new Surge out of the box, strapped it to my arm, and literally five runs in hot humid weather later, the Surge had enough droplets of water inside the screen to actually allow the drips to run from side to side or from top to bottom depending upon how I tipped my arm.

[bbarrera]

@Rich_Laue A single YouTube video demonstrating one time static pressure test, confirming 5ATM rating, has absolutely nothing to do with swimming.

Fitbit clearly states it’s 5ATM (YouTube video) and NOT suitable for swimming. 

[Rich_Laue]

Correct the original did show and explain how a proper water test is done. 

Of course if it fails this type of test it would fail while.. A hundred fifty foot static test is considered safe for shallow diving. 

[sebastianshaw]

I can't believe, this post still popular and I have one question too - of course, Ionic is a better choice, but considering the budget, is it optimal to choose Ionic over charge 2? What you guys think?

[Pvi2]

Get an Apple Watch better than anything else on the market by a long long way

Sent from my iPhone

[Rich_Laue]

There is no one device that is better for everyone, what is best for you will depend on your needs.

May I ask, what is the best shielded to buy? Do you think we can all agree on one type of shielded being the best? What you consider best nay be way iutside of my budget, what I consider best you may never be cought dead in since it is not your $1200 pair of name brand bling.

We could ask about pots, I only use cast iron,to me it us just as nonstick as the high tech cookware.