Fitbit recalls smartwatches over reports of skin burns

Fitbit has announced that it is now recalling nearly 1.7 million of its fitness-tracking smartwatches over reports of overheating that could pose a burn risk to consumers. 

Some consumers have reported second or third-degree burns after wearing the watches. The company, which is owned by Google, has responded by issuing a voluntary recall. 

According to a report by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Ionic brand smartwatches contain a lithium-ion battery, and this is what can cause the watch to overheat. 

So far, there have been at least 115 reports of overheating in the US and 59 elsewhere. Of these, 118 include instances of burns to the consumer’s skin, including four reports of second-degree burns and two reports of third-degree burns. 

The product, Fitbit Ionic, is a device that has grown in popularity in recent years. It performs a variety of functions, including tracking physical activity, sleep, and heart rate. 

The CPSC report states that approximately 1 million Ionic smartwatches were sold in the US, and 693,000 were sold internationally. 

To find out if a watch is affected by the recall, consumers are being advised to check the model number of the device. The recall only involves the Fitbit Ionic Smartwatch – no other models or fitness trackers are affected. 

The model number of the watches that are affected is FB503, which can be found at the back of the device, close to where the wristband attaches to the band.

These products were sold The product was sold at Best Buy, Kohl’s, Target, Amazon.com, and Fitbit.com from September 2017, through December 2021, for between $200 to $330.

Anyone affected can visit Fitbit’s website, where they can enter their details and get a return kit and instructions on how to get a refund. Anyone entitled to a refund will receive $299, along with a discount code that gives them a 40% discount when purchasing a replacement product.