Andrew Evers, CNBC
Google-owned Fitbit is recalling its Ionic smartwatches due to a burn hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.
About 1 million Ionic watches have been sold in the U.S., along with nearly 700,000 sold internationally, the agency said.
The lithium-ion batteries in the smartwatches can overheat, which could cause burns, the CPSC said. Consumers should immediately stop using the Ionic watches and contact Fitbit to start the return of the device, CPSC said. After returning the device, consumers will be issued a refund of $299 and a discount code for 40% off select Fitbit devices.
Fitbit has received at least 115 reports in the U.S. of the battery in the watch overheating, with 78 reports of burn injuries, two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns, the agency said. Internationally, the company received 59 reports of overheating, with 40 reports of burn injuries.
A Fitbit spokesperson said the burns are rare. The recall doesn’t expand to the company’s other smartwatches or fitness trackers.
A Fitbit spokesperson further added, “Customer safety is always Fitbit’s top priority and out of an abundance of caution, we are voluntarily recalling Fitbit Ionic smartwatches. We received a very limited number of reports – the totals in the U.S. regulator announcement represent less than 0.01% of units sold – of the battery in Fitbit Ionic smartwatches overheating, posing a burn hazard. These incidents are very rare and this recall does not impact other Fitbit smartwatches or trackers.”
Google announced in 2019 that it was acquiring Fitbit for around $2.1 billion at a fully diluted equity value. The deal, which closed last year, had been meant to help boost Google’s presence in the wearables market.
