Fitbit recalls Ionic smartwatch due to user burns
Google-owned Fitbit has recalled the popular Ionic watch due to injuries sustained by users. This is reported by The Verge.
The company announced that it is partnering with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to launch a smartwatch voluntary return program. It turned out that due to technical problems, the battery of the device could overheat. In some cases, the battery caught fire, which led to burns to the carriers of the gadget.
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“Customer safety is always a top priority for Fitbit, and as a precaution, we are conducting a voluntary smartwatch recall,” the firm said. The problem with overheating was noticed in about 0.01 percent of cases – in total, the company sold about a million units of smart watches in the United States, about 693 thousand sets of devices were sold in other countries of the world.
According to CPSC, Fitbit was contacted by 115 and 59 users from outside the US and other countries who spoke about problems with overheating. The company became aware of 78 cases when Fibit Ionic burned its owners from the United States, 49 users were affected by the device in the rest of the world. Fitbit has received two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns.
Consumers will receive $299 when they return the watch. Fibit Ionic was released in 2017, the device ceased production in 2020.
At the end of January, ESET analysts said that cybercriminals can use smartwatches to steal personal data. According to experts, the increased danger is due to the fact that many smart watches and fitness trackers are synchronized with the owners’ smartphones.
Source: Lenta
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