Fitbit Ionic

Name: Fitbit Ionic Review (IN-DEPTH)
Uploaded: 2019-03-06
Description: Fitbit introduces their first smartwatch on the market with the Ionic. Fitbit is known for amazing fitness trackers and when they moved over to try their hand at a smartwatch, they kept to their roots

Editor rating: 8.0 / 10

User's rating: based on 23 user ratings

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By Jessica Brown

All Fitbit Watches

Fitbit Ionic Review Facts

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Fitbit introduces their first smartwatch on the market with the Ionic. Fitbit is known for amazing fitness trackers and when they moved over to try their hand at a smartwatch, they kept to their roots. The Ionic may be lacking in some of the qualities you would expect from a smartwatch, but if you are looking for a superior fitness tracker then the Ionic is where it is at. Fitbit does it again with the Ionic. You can do everything that you could do on older Fitbit’s, like track your steps, heart rate, sleep, and calories burned, but you get so much more with the Ionic. You can now go swimming with your Fitbit, as the Ionic is water resistant up to 50 meters. Customers love that they can finally wear their trackers in the pool. They revamped their design a little and improved the heart rate monitor on the underside of the tracker to help you get a better, more reliable read of your heart rate. The Ionic may not look the most elegant or fancy, but it has customizable watch faces and interchangeable bands to make the watch more unique to each person. The addition of onboard storage for music and built-in GPS means that you can leave your phone at home when you are running or working out; it is just one less thing to carry on your person. Customers have fallen in love with the Ionic!

Editor's Pros & Cons

Pros

Stores music and allows you access to your Pandora playlists
Water resistant up to 50 meters
Small and Large size bands
Personalized fitness coaching
Good battery life
Built-in GPS
Integrated Apps

Cons

Expensive
Bulkier than past Fitbit's
Lacking as a smartwatch
Music can be difficult to set up on watch
Some apps and software might feel buggy

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What are buyers saying?

We have spent 4 hours analyzing a total of 4000 reviews.

These reviews are then categoried into "Positive" and "Negative" feedback.

Below you will read a summary of them:

Positive

I have had several of these and this is my fave for sure. The charge last days and days. It is small and compact. You can customize the face of it to your liking. Tracks what I am doing really well and gives me great updates. Love it! I think they are giving Apple a run for their money.
This matches the M400 plus some. The heart rate monitors through the wrist, which is great. I ave compared and it is accurate for sure. The style of this is nice and sleek. You can switch the bands easily without any tools, just snaps right in.
I am so happy this is waterproof and the GPS works. I had a fuss getting it synced with my phones and programming it, however, now that it is, it works great. I would recommend this to anyone who has a busy schedule and loves working out on the reg. It is a great sidekick and keeps you motivated.
Not a fan of the pain in updating and connecting. However, after we got that all straightened out, as well as the screen timer, it has been great. The battery life is phenomenal. I am pretty stoked on the accuracy of everything and it continually updating me. It is sleek and looks good. I am impressed and can honestly say it is WAY better than the Apple version.
I borrowed a friend's Apple to see if I would prefer it over the Fitbit, this won. This is superior in technology and software. This is great for all you runners and swimmers. It keeps a really accurate update on your heart and laps. The GPS is fantastic and doesn't reload too much. I am really digging the sleep tracking, such a cool idea. Get it together Apple.
The screen is great! It can be seen with crisp letters and numbers even in the sun. The design is nice and it looks really stylish. The set up almost took an hour but after its all done everything was easy peezy. I switched bands though, I wasn't a fan of the one it came with.
The little device is a game changer, in life. I love to be able to measure my exercising precisely. It is really all I want. The Apple has way too much on it and it doesn't work half the time. The Fitbit is revolutionary really. It knows when I am done and sends me reminders of things I should be doing, like stopping the recording after I am done with my bike rides. This is just an excellent product.
This is light and comfortable. It uploads music quick and effortlessly. I like being able to just Bluetooth to the earbuds and take off. I wish I had a bit more control over the watch on my laptop.
Waterproof electronics, dreamy! The tracking is spot on and the battery last a pretty darn long time. They really got it right this time. It looks great on too.
This is a great upgrade to the Alta. I like the multiple feature viewing option: heart rate, time, date, etc. I can jump right over to all my music if I want without getting confused. I am able to get more accurate times and rates on my swimming now too, it is waterproof! YAY!
I like the larger screen. I do not have to worry about it getting wet. Be aware of changing the clock faces, mine went haywire and I had to reboot everything. Just beware of downloading other things, might make ya crazy.
This is a one-stop shop for all my stuff: GPS, Phone, Music. The battery last forever, which is so nice. They are spot on with the notifications and updates on heart rate and exercising. Do not hesitate to buy if you are on the border with it, totally worth it.
I thought this was going to be too bulky, it is perfect. The GPS is a pure upgrade form the old Fitbit, it works great. The screen brightness is not overly done in the dark and I can go swimming with it, no worries.
His is way easier to set up than the older models or the Gear S2. I am able to read it with no issues in the direct sunlight. The battery lasts almost a week. I compared the HR monitor to what my dr was telling me, match! Everything is great about this thing.
The set up wasn't hard it just took forever. The GPS works great. The HR monitor is about the same as the Blaze. It is a great piece of equipment. Looks fly.
The GPS seems to be on point on with my other routes that I knew. The fitness tracking is great. It also looks great, which is a plus. The charger hasn't given me any issues like some people and the battery last forever it seems. The display is great and easy to read as well.
The battery lasted a week for me. When I turn my arm to look I have to shake it a bit but it comes on. I am really liking it. It reads accurate and the graphics look great. I am digging the notifications, keeping me updated and in contact. I did switch to a sports band.
The face on this is way easier to read than the last couple models. The fact it is waterproof is amazing. I like the band better. This is a real upgrade to the others for sure.
This is way better than anything Apple has made for sure, do not be fooled. The fitness tracker is the shizznit. This fits better and is much nicer to look at. The different bands are nice for when ya want to go matching outfits and whatnot. I mean, Apple has more Apps, but for what this is, way better!
This made me feel like I had graduated into life! I had an old Garmin and WOAH was I missing out. It is all automatic and hands-free. I love the resolution of the screen, it isn't too bright but can be read in the sunlight. I love tracking my sleep, so nerding out on this. I do not have t connect to a computer to switch things up. Super job Fitbit.
The screen is thinner than my old pebble and the resolution is much more crisp and clear, even in the sun. All the app seem to be accurate and keep me updated throughout the day. The whole apparatus is comfortable and sleek. I am enjoying the NFC payment option, genius.

Negative

Getting this thing to connect to WIFI is a pain in the rear. And then the updates were wonky. This seems to have a serious data synch error. Took 6 days to die and it just stopped collecting data. I'm not sold on it but it isn't horrible.
After a couple of months, the HR monitor just doesn't work anymore. It also fluctuated a lot and wasn't as accurate as it should have been. Customer service was useless too. I am highly disappointed.
The Bluetooth kept going in and out. I tried to re-synch but they didn't like the Fitbit. I talked to Customer Service and they are not helpful at all! Altogether, the syncing issues ruined for me. It was with every device. Oh and did I mention, customer service sucks, they do not know anything about the product.
Notifications weren't coming in as they should and the alarm worked when it felt like it. The backlighting never worked for me. 3 weeks in the HR stopped working. It is not worth the $300 price tag and I returned it. Garbage.
So many major issues with this. Orone, the synching is horrible and only works half the time. Every time I would get into a bunch of music downloads, it would freeze up, I would have to reboot and then it would erase it. So horrible. I returned it ASAP.
They put out a software update that totally ruined the device. It constantly vibrates for nothing. I cannot calibrate it now. I called customer service. COMPLETELY USELESS. They do not know anything about the device.
After a month, the watch battery dies after a day. They have no support in the service area. Synching seems to be working less and the whole thing is just a mess. Hate it.
My headphones don't sync right and are always high. The watch does not allow to adjust the volume. Every time I try to get music on here it erases and freezes. Really, for $300 you can do way better.
After 6 months the whole watch is failing. It deletes my runs in progress and turns off and on whipped clean. It doesn't keep track of anything anymore. Customer service told me to buy a new one. HA!

8.0

Activities

The beauty of the Fitbit Ionic is that you can do almost anything in it and it tracks a plethora of activities. First and foremost, it will track your walking and running steps, but there are so many more things you can track on it. You can track things like biking, swimming, yoga, and weight lifting manually through the tracker itself or through the Fitbit app on your smartphone. If you do not want to manually track your activities the Fitbit will automatically record your workout after 10 minutes of movement. The tracker will choose what it thinks you are doing, so it is not always accurate on what the actual activity is that you are doing so you might want to watch out for that.

Basic Features

The Fitbit Ionic is first and foremost a fitness tracker and as such does all of the basic things you would expect from one. The Ionic will help you keep track of your steps, how far you have walked, how many calories you burn, how many flights of stairs you climbed, how many active minutes you have had through the day, and your hourly activities. The Fitbit will also track your sleep cycles at night, letting you know how long you spent in light, deep, and REM sleep. Finally, the Fitbit Ionic will also keep a continuous and automatic record of your heart rate and track your heart rate zones for you.

Advanced Features

The Fitbit Ionic goes above and beyond being a fitness tracker with some great new additions and added capabilities that customers have fallen in love with. Fitbit finally gives you a tracker that can be worn in the pool, as this watch is water resistant up to 50 meters. The Ionic allows the wearer to store up to 300 songs directly on the device, or it allows you to access your Pandora playlists, so you can listen to music more conveniently while out and about. Another great feature is the NFC chip that now comes built-in to the Fitbit. The chip allows you to access your credit card information and allows you pay for items with Fitbit pay. Finally, one of the best new features that customers have praised, is the built-in GPS. Runners love the fact that the GPS is built right into the device and does not have to be connected through your phone like the past versions of Fitbits.

Accuracy

Accuracy is important in a fitness tracker, as you are going to want something that is going to keep a record for you of how many steps you take, your heart rate, etc. You would not want to walk 10,000 steps a day but only have 6,000 steps counted, it would be discouraging to those who give themselves step goals. The Fitbit Ionic is reliable when it comes to tracking your activities. Along with the actual activity tracking, the Fitbit will also help you calculate the number of calories you are burning a day. The calorie count is generally fairly accurate, assuming the user inputs their information (height, weight, etc.) correctly. It is definitely a good tool to use if you are watching your calories in vs calories out.

Connectivity

Connectivity, when it comes to fitness trackers, is important because they work in conjunction with other devices, such as a smartphone or computer, to help you keep track of everything. When it comes to the Fitbit Ionic, some people have reported issues with slow connectivity when trying to link their tracker to their computer, but once the tracker is connected things go smoother.

The Ionic can connect to your smartphone through Bluetooth and will allow you to receive your notifications directly to your device which can come in handy if you are in the middle of a workout and do not have your phone out in front of you. The downfall of the Ionic, however, is that you cannot respond to notifications from the tracker. You may be able to see your messages, but you will have to pull your phone out if you want to respond.

Apps

The Fitbit Ionic comes with about a dozen different pre-installed apps for you to start off with. When you set up your new device you will already have alarms, weather, timer, music, and today (which shows you your daily progress). There are some third-party apps available for download which are useful, but there are not too many to choose from. You can download the Pandora app and link it to your account which is nice because then you will be able to access your playlists when you are working out. Customers definitely say that they wish there was more app support for the product and they are hoping to see some more choices in the future.

Comfort

Customers have commented that the Fitbit Ionic is very comfortable and lightweight. Weighing less than other smartwatches, the Ionic is a better, more comfortable choice for you to wear while hitting the gym. Users have said that the tracker feels great, not only working out but on an everyday basis. The watch will not get in the way of your everyday activities, and since it is waterproof you can even wear it into the shower with no worries. The bands of the Fitbit are easily interchangeable so swapping them out is a piece of cake. If the band you get when you purchase the Ionic does not feel great on your wrist there are many other more comfortable bands on the market to choose from.

Style

Customers have had some complaints on the style of the Fitbit Ionic. The Ionic definitely has the look of a Fitbit with its aluminum frame and plastic or leather wristbands, and not the smartwatch look the company was going for with this one. The tracker definitely fits in at the gym, but it is not as elegant looking as one might expect based on the money they paid for it.

One of the better qualities of the Ionic is that you can personalize it to the style that best fits you. There are many different styles and colors of bands to choose from so you can pick whatever fits your personality the best. In addition to the bands, you can change the watch face of the Ionic to make it just a little more unique to your tastes.

Durability

If you are going to invest a good deal of money into an item, you are going to want it to last and not have to worry about it breaking before you get a decent amount of use out of it. You do not have to worry about that with the Fitbit Ionic, as it is a consistently durable tracker. Many wearers were worried about the clips that hold the bands on breaking because of the ease of which you can change them out. Surprisingly, after a lot of wear and dozens of band changes, consumers have commented that they have not had any problems with the clips breaking and that the new band stays in place as snuggly as it did when the watch was purchased.

Face

Reviewers seem to both love and hate the face of the Ionic. The actual shape and look of the face can use a lot of work, as customers do not particularly like the large, rectangular screen with the large aluminum bezel. The same reviewers, however, love the customizable watch faces, and the quality of the screen itself. One reviewer even went as far as saying that it was one of the brightest and sharpest displays that they had ever seen from a smartwatch. You should have no problem with being able to see the screen of the Ionic, even in the brightest of conditions. The colors on the display are bright and vibrant with a sharp image to boot.

Band

The Fitbit Ionic makes changing the bands exceptionally easy with a quick release feature. The Ionic comes with two different bands when you purchase it, the small and the large band, so you can take the guesswork out of deciding what size you will need. The bands that come with the Fitbit are silicone and some customers have said that they are not a fan of the feel it. The great part is that there are a plethora of bands to choose from out there so you can find something that is going to work the best for you. There is definitely no shortage of bands to choose from.

Sizes Available

Fitbit took the guesswork out of picking a size for the Ionic. You no longer need to know what size band you will need when purchasing the product, which is nice. You wouldn't want to get home and open your Fitbit only to discover that you chose the wrong size. The new Ionic comes packaged with two different size bands for you to choose from. The small band fits wrist 5.5 inches to 6.7 inches and the large band fits wrists 6.7 inches to 8.1 inches.

Ease of Use

As with all smartwatches and activity trackers, the Ionic requires some kind of knowledge of technology for use. The set up of the device is the hardest part of the tracker and can sometimes be a pain. Once you get through the initial set up, the tracker itself if fairly easy to use.

Power Source

The Fitbit Ionic is battery powered with a pretty impressive battery life. A full charge will allow you to run the Ionic for 4+ days without needing a charge, or approximately 10 hours of use with the built-in GPS turned off. The Fitbit only needs about 2 hours to reach a full charge so you can charge it in a hurry if you have to. There is a charger that comes with the tracker when you purchase it.

Price

The Fitbit Ionic comes with a hefty price tag, ringing in at $299.99. This is definitely on the high end compared to the launch price of past iterations of the Fitbit. It is important to note, however, that this is more than just a fitness tracker, it is Fitbit's first try at a smartwatch. The tracker might be expensive but it is durable and a great fitness tracker, and although the smartwatch features may need some work, all together it is a good tracker.

Accessories

The Fitbit Ionic comes with the fitness watch itself, as well as two bands (sizes small and large) as well as a charging cable. There are no other accessories that come with the tracker, but there are other bands that can be purchased separately to help you personalize your watch.

Key Features

-Comes with small and large wristbands that are easily changeable
-Long battery life
-Built-in GPS (no phone connection needed)
-Water resistant up to 50 meters for tracking swimming
-Battery charge time of 2 hours
-Comes in three colors
-NFC chip so you can pay with Fitbit pay
-Onboard memory to store 300+ songs
-On-screen workout coach
-Sleep tracking
-Tracks many different activities

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a fitness tracker first and a smartwatch second then you should consider the Fitbit Ionic. The Ionic really is an amazing fitness tracker, allowing you to track dozens of different exercises, stages of sleep, heart rate zones, and so much more. If you forget to start a workout on your tracker, don't worry, after 10 minutes of movement, Fitbit will automatically start tracking for you. The smartwatch side of the Ionic still needs some work, but it isn't terrible. You can get apps, like Pandora so you can listen to your music without needing your phone. You can also receive notification on your device which is convenient. Even though the Ionic is on the higher end when it comes to cost, it really isn't a bad investment when it comes to a Fitbit.