Scratches on heart rate sensor surface

[Oyani]

Hello!

New here in the forums. I want to confirm how scratch prone is the the material covering the sensors underneath our Fitbit Ionic.

The Ionic is constantly on my arm and I am either in urban or gym environments, far from sand or similar abrasive materials. When I do take them off, It is usually on a table as the design prevents the lonic from laying “sensor-flat” on a surface. 

I suspect that the sensor is not protected by layer of sapphire glass or similar materials. 

[Julia_G]

Hi, @Oyani,  the Ionic is a very new device, but I certainly have not heard any reports of scratches on the HR detecting surfaces causing any problems in HR detection.  As you say, it is not an area particularly prone to scratching and unless it was seriously damaged  I do not think a few cosmetic scratches would cause any problems.

[MFLitchfield]

I've been wondering this as well. I'd pre ordered my ionic so had it since launch. Recently the hr sensor has not been showing green during workouts. After checking the sensors I've noticed some, I can only explain as, pitting on the sensor covering. I know this was not there when purchased. Similar to you I wear the device constantly and only take it off for showers and charging. If the degredation continues I will need to go through the square trade warranty and hopefully get this thing taken back as this is obviously a design flaw.

[Oyani]

Hi! Thanks for the speedy reply 🙂 

The scratches are admittedly cosmetic. Nothing deep and are hairline in relative depth and length and can be best observed at an angle. So far, there is no clouding (e.g. scratches reaching a density to create an opaque white patch) over the sensors.