Fitbit Recalled 1.7 million Smart Watches for Dangerous Batteries That Burned Users

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Take a minute to double check your favorite fitness tracker or smartwatch. Fitness tracker company Fitbit announced on Wednesday that they were recalling their Fitbit Ionic smartwatches (created by the company in 2017 and produced through 2020), encouraging users to stop use and allowing them to get refunds for the product.

According to Fitbit’s statement, the battery in the Ionic smartwatch was found to overheat under some circumstances, leading to a risk of users getting second and third degree burns.

“After a thorough investigation, we determined that in very limited instances, the battery in the Ionic smartwatch can overheat, posing a burn hazard,” per Fitbit. “Your safety is always our top priority, and we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution. We’re offering a refund to Fitbit Ionic customers.”

If you aren’t sure whether your FitBit is a Fitbit Ionic, the brand says that the particular watches can be identified by their three buttons, colored LCD screen and the model number FB503 on the back.

As NPR reported, there were 115 incidents in the U.S. and another 59 internationally with the batteries, including 78 reports of burn injuries in the United States (two cases of third-degree burns and four of second-degree burns) and 40 other burn injuries internationally.

For those who have a Fitbit Ionic, the company says that they should stop use immediately.

“We stopped producing Ionic in 2020 and aren’t offering replacement Ionic devices as part of this recall,” Fitbit added in their FAQ about the recall decision. “For further information on how to receive a refund, visit our refund registration page. After starting the refund process, you’ll also receive information on how to access a special discount on select Fitbit devices, bands, and services, if available in your region, for a limited time.”

The recall is limited only to Fitbit’s Ionic line and not their other trackers or smart watches, per the brand.

Before you go, check out the workout recovery gear we swear by for post-workout self-care: