Is the battery replaceable?

[VF31AE3]

Is the Ionic's battery replaceable or is the $300.00 Smartwatch disposable?

Moderator edit: edited title for clarity

[PureEvil]

@Digitenor,

"None of their products are serviceable and that was my point as disposable design."

The Zip uses a removable battery (2025).  That's not serviceable?

Again it's a question about what folks consider "only a limited number of times".  If you use the strict definition of 'disposable', even a car (finite number of miles, hence the reason why mileage contributes to the value of the car) can be considered disposable.

[VF31AE3]

@PureEvil 

[MrBill1234]

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@PureEvil wrote:

While I understand the desire to replace the battery when it no longer holds a charge for a $300 device.  Why aren't there more folks screaming about this with the likes of an $750 iPhone 7?  You can't replace the battery on that device either...  Does the lack of a replaceable battery make it disposable?

You can.  Apple will replace the battery for you (at a charge but way less than a new phone), and any repair shop worth its salt will change the battery for you for less using a 3rd party compatible battery. 

I have a FitBit One whos battery is slowly dying - only lasts a few days and switches off at the most inopportune moment.  I love the thing - it sits in my pocket and i'm reluctant to go for a watch on my wrist.  I may have considered going for a FitBit watch - but no longer.  If i'm going to put something on my wrist, i'll get an iWatch - at least the battery is replaceable.  Not easily user-replaceable, but Apple or a repair shop can do it.   If you look at iFixit - the battery is not soldered in.

This is becoming a bit of a consumer issue - too much e-waste because a consumable item (the battery) is not replaceable.  I suspect in the future there may well be legislation - similar to RoHS - to coerce companies to design devices with replaceable batteries - and to force them to make batteries available or use industry standard batteries.

[Dlbeau]

My Fitbit surge’s battery no longer took a charge after just 18 months!l which means the watch NO longer works because it cannot be charged!

please stop replying to these questions that it the battery is rechargable!  Because, eventually the battery no longer takes a charge just like a cell phone battery!

Thereby, the watch becomes a throw away watch!

[stemplar]

In Hungary, only one major distributor sells only the Ionics. They have been told that if the battery has a problem with the 24-month warranty. They change the clock!

In the same way, if it is broken within 24 months, it needs to be improved and replaced. I also dared buy it at them. If you think about the watertight due to a pressed aluminum housing and touch screen it is almost impossible to fix it ..

[Crazy-Fritter]

Anything costing 300 bucks, and called the companies top of the line device, should have the ability to have the  battery replaced. Fitbits one of the few companies that doesn't offer that option. 

There's really no excuse for that.

[Millerliter]

Welcome to the world of Fitbit Customer Service which is non existent.    I have had a Fitbit One for years, suddenly they are discontinuing the One, expecting One users to move to a more expensive wearable.  I have a beautiful Swiss watch...why would I opt to wear a cheap plastic wearable instead?  Fit bit cares not about it's customers......surprise...it's all about money.  I'm exploring non Fitbit alternatives....recommend y'all do the same.

[Guff]

I had my Ionic for 5 weeks when the battery started to die after less than 48 hours basic use. FitBit replaced the watch without any hassle, but for me, this is not an acceptable fault or sustainable product. New watch lasting a good five days but only 3 weeks use, so the Jury’s out! Not great for such an expensive bit of kit. But excellent customer support.

[Amarsir]

That's unfortunate. But if it's isolated I wouldn't hold it against them. Any manufactured product is going to have some small failure rate. I'm glad they treated you well and good luck with the new one.

[forsythkid50]

My first Fitbit Alta will be my last Fitbit Alta over batter issues...

[dadsafrantic]

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@ErickFitbit wrote:

@VF31AE3 There is no need to replace the battery on Ionic as it comes with a rechargeable lithium-polymer battery.

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so what happens when the battery doesn't take a charge anymore?  then it does become a $300 disposable watch.

[dadsafrantic]

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@shipo wrote:

Depending upon how long the battery ultimately lasts, I can see a cottage industry popping up to replace the batteries.  🙂

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am i seeing a volunteer?

[jjoonathan]

Dammit, it happened. After 6 months my $300 watch's battery died. Fitbit support put me through an exhausting gauntlet before finally refusing to do anything about it (1 year warranty, my butt). Ugh >.<

[Amarsir]

Sorry to hear that. Being able to replace a battery is the difference between "I like this device, glad I can keep it going" and "That device was a huge disappointment." 

[Millerliter]

The device appears to be disposable, just as all the ONE users were disposable when Fitbit discontinued our device of choice.  Priorities...apparently not customers.....does the word "money" have any application here?

[soccersnaps]

i fix iphones and the battery is very replaceable on an iphone 7

[soccersnaps]

no but it is on an iphone 7 

[rfsuper]

In my opinion the Ionic is pitiful. The watch does not sync after about 2 months and then it takes at least 2 hours to reset it. Then another couple hours to try and download the updates again. The battery no longer lasts more than a day and is 2 years old. I have never been able to do anything with music on it. Never again will I buy one.

[DMcG65]

Of course there will be a need to replace the battery, rechargeable batteries don’t last forever, I think it’s outrageous that Fitbit are glossing over this point, my blaze is 2.5 years old and is lucky to last two days now, so the watch is basically disposable 

[MrCtheET]

To fitbit. To solve all battery problems. The way i charge my toothbrush does not need a physical connection. So it is still sealed. Well what if you take that tech. And make the battery snap in to the watch. Now you have 2 sealed units and the battery  can be replaced. Pow problem solved. Sure ot might be a slightly thicker (2 small layers of plastic) but i am sure there is a way make the board or tech smaller. Heck we have monitors you can roll up. Figure it out fitbit..  by the way my fit bit charge 2 didnt even last 2 months.