Is Ionic compatible with Xiaomi Mi A1?

[LaszloPrekop]

I wonder if anyone has any success pairing and syncing the Xiaomi Mi A1 to Ionic. Do notifications work as intended? (the compatibility list for mid and low range mobiles seems outdated and rather spotty, I'm not sure which models work without any problem). If not, any other low/mid range phone suggestions?

[MaginB]

It's great to see you around @LaszloPrekop! 

In regards of your question I was checking comparability for the Xiaomi Mi A1 as you already know it is not listed on the official list of compatible devices that connects with Fitbit products. That means that you have the option download the Fitbit App, but Fitbit can not assure that all the features will work flawless because the device is not totally compatible.

See you around! 

[fluxx]

I've owned a Charge 2 which worked prefectly fine with the Fitbit app on my Oneplus 3. 

Now I got the Ionic and the sync does not work properly like for many others. Fitbit states the Oneplus 3 is not officially supported and therefore there's nothing they can do. After this experience I can only suggest to not buy any Fitbit devices until you have an officially supported phone, because they will left you out in the rain in case anything does not work as intended. 

[LaszloPrekop]

Hello @MaginB,

Thanks for the quick reply, you confirmed what I already knew: by skimming through the device list the compatibility is uncertain. 

What I would like to know more about are:
1.) Is there an Ionic user who successfully paired/synced the Ionic with the Xiaomi Mi A1? Phone notifications come through as they should? If yes, dear user, please respond.

2.) If not, what 2017 mid/low range devices are are compatible with the Ionic?

I would like to emphasise: for me Android compatibility is a dealbreaker. The compatibility device list seems to stuck in early 2015 regarding Android phones. Why? Not even a single Android flagship device is supported by the Ionic released in 2017? Does it mean that the this master list is unreliable? Or the list is reliable, but Fitbit Ionic (or any other current trackers) is not compatible with Android devices released after 2015 regardless of meeting the Bluetooth requirements?

Sorry for the heat, I would like to use my Ionic normally, syncing, smartwatch functionality and all. Right now I can't, my otherwise flawlessly working Oneplus 2 can't sync at all, so I need to replace it with something compatible. That's why I thought that the closest thing to stock Android available in my country (an Android One based Xiaomi Mi a1) would be a good candidate, but I need confirmation before I switch. Or should I forget Android and switch to iPhone to use my Ionic in peace?

[LaszloPrekop]

Hi @fluxx,

Thanks for your reply, you confirmed something I suspected. It's very disappointing that modern (2017) Android phones are not on the compatibility list. 😞
Right now I have an OP2, sync with Ionic does not work at all. I read comments about OP3T, 5 and 5T, that they work, but now I'm concerned. Originally (cca 2 years ago) my Surge worked with my OP2, even the call/text msg notifications - but at a certain point they stopped working, not sure why. I fear that an update (either Android or Fitbit firmware)  can break compatibility with any Android phone.
It seems that I have to go the iPhone route, which I'm hesitant to choose and I refuse to buy a 3 year old Android phone from the compatibility list as a daily driver.

[fluxx]

Most of 2017' devices are missing: No HTC U11, no Pixel 2 (XL), no LG G6, ... one of the only 2017' Android devices I found was the Galaxy S8. This wouldn't be too much of a problem if they wouldn't use it as an argument to deny support. I really hope they change their mind about it soon. 

[LaszloPrekop]

Hmm, when typing "Galaxy" in the quick search field, I couldn't find S8. However S8 is in the dropdown selectors below! A bit confusing, still my bad nonetheless. Thanks for poiting this out. I wonder why 2nd gen. Google phones are not supported. Bluetooth hardware/chipset or driver problems?

[LaszloPrekop · Accepted solution]

To answer my own question:

I had no success with Xiaomi Mi A1 – no sync, no notifications. 

The model I tested was: Xiaomi Mi A1, global version, 4/64GB, Android 7.1.2

[fluxx]

Thanks for helping others by posting the results 

(Nonetheless strange how picky Fitbits sync process operates. A bluetooth connection is not rocket science in 2018.)

[LaszloPrekop]

Eh, it seems like it is rocket science after all: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Ionic/New-Ionic-stopped-pairing-after-2-days-won-t-reconnect/m-p/239...

Another user in this thread mentioned an app called nRF Connect, it lets you to peek behind the BT curtains on your phone. Too technical for me, but I used it anyway to diagnose when the Ionic was/was not in "bonded" state. When it was, I had some partial sync success to my OP2 so I will look more into it. Or switch phones 🙂 (to OP5T, probably).

[Thualk]

Hi someway or the other, i was able to sync the ionic and the Mi A1, BUT the bluetooth connection fails over time and i need to restart either the phone or the ionic to reconnect. The notifications are working fine! (only for calls though)

[LaszloPrekop]

Thanks @Thualk this sounds very promising! May I ask which version of Android runs on your A1?

[Thualk]

@LaszloPrekop I'm using Android 8.0.0 (Dec 01 2017 Update)

[Thualk]

Hi, 

The fitbit seems to work fine after an update that was pushed last Thursday (March 15th) Since then I tried everything (Switching the phone off and on, etc;) and seems the sync and the notifications are working fine. Hope this is a fix