San Francisco resident Lori Farr is trying out the Fitbit Ionic
Andrew Evers, CNBC
Fitbit, owned by Google, is withdrawing its Ionic smartwatches due to the risk of burns, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Wednesday.
About 1 million Ionic watches have been sold in the United States, along with nearly 700,000 sold internationally, the agency said.
Lithium-ion batteries in smart watches can overheat, which can cause burns, the CPSC said. Consumers should immediately stop using Ionic watches and contact Fitbit to begin returning the device, the CPSC said. Upon return of the device, users will be refunded $ 299 and a discount code for a 40% discount on selected Fitbit devices.
Fitbit has received at least 115 reports in the United States of overheating battery in the watch, 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 spokesman said burns were rare. The download does not extend to other smart watches or fitness trackers of the company.
Google announced in 2019 that it would acquire Fitbit for about $ 2.1 billion at a fully diluted equity value. The deal, which ended last year, was aimed at helping boost Google’s presence in the wearable market.
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