Fitbit has issued a voluntary recall on its Ionic smartwatches, citing a doable burn hazard.
An announcement from each Fitbit and the US Shopper Product Security Fee (CPSC) reveals a doable draw again with Fitbit Ionic Smartwatches. It appears there is a menace that the lithium-ion battery contained in the system can overheat, which may result in shoppers being burned.
The CPSC has acknowledged that Fitbit acquired over 174 experiences (US and worldwide) of its Ionic Smartwatches overheating, with 118 of these experiences mentioning shoppers being burned, which suggests roughly 67 % of overheating incidents have resulted in bodily accidents. Nonetheless, with roughly 1,693,000 Ionic watches supplied worldwide and about 174 documented conditions of overheating, the chances of being harm are nonetheless pretty low (0.01%).
Even so, Fitbit is providing Ionic Smartwatch shoppers the choice for a refund. Each Fitbit and the CPSC counsel you cease utilizing your Ionic system instantly and begin the return course of, even when you have not knowledgeable any factors. Even when you have not used your Fitbit Ionic shortly (the gadgets have been discontinued in 2020), you presumably can—and based mostly totally on Fitbit, ought to—nonetheless ship it in.
In case you have bought definitely one in all many affected fashions (FB503CPBU, FB503GYBK, FB503WTGY, or FB503WTNV), you presumably can contact Fitbit to start out the return course of. As rapidly as a result of it has confirmed receipt of your watch, you will obtain a $299 refund together with a limited-time low value code for choose Fitbit merchandise.
The cutting-edge smartwatches accessible available on the market embrace bells and whistles resembling waterproofing, cell connectivity, and vibrant shade exhibits. Nonetheless, not all clients need these choices. To ensure that you a smartwatch that provides at-a-glance notifications along with elementary train monitoring, you might must keep away from losing cash and go for a elementary model. An e-paper smartwatch could be the right match. Listed beneath are the professionals and cons of these items.
What Is an E-Paper Smartwatch?
E-paper refers to a present experience you might be perhaps conscious of from e-readers identical to the Amazon Kindle. Comparatively than offering rich colors, an e-paper show is often black and white—though shade variations exist—and shows light as paper does. The result is a comparatively flat experience that gives intensive viewing angles and is sweet for finding out in direct daylight. An e-paper smartwatch choices this present experience comparatively than an AMOLED show or an LCD.
The Upsides to an E-Paper Smartwatch
The plain advantage of a smartwatch with an e-paper present is longer battery life. This experience requires a lot much less power than totally different present varieties, in order that you needn’t value your watch as incessantly. Wanting on the excessive smartwatches from a battery life perspective, you see that e-paper selections resembling these from Pebble rank extreme. Relying in your life-style and whether or not or not you might be more likely to overlook to plug in your tech every night sooner than mattress, the flexibleness to go a variety of days on a value would possibly indicate you lastly get additional use out of your machine.
Previous prolonged battery life, e-paper smartwatches present good viewing angles, so you’ll not have trouble making out the notifications in your show even do you have to’re beneath direct daylight. In case you are a frequent outside runner or spend quite a few time outside, this operate would possibly make a distinction. It’s unlikely you might be finding out e-books out of your wrist on a smartwatch, so an e-paper present will not be as vital on this type of wearable because it’s on an e-reader, nevertheless it might probably nonetheless transform helpful.
The Downsides to an E-Paper Smartwatch
To ensure that you a shocking seen experience in your smartwatch, chances are you’ll uncover an e-paper present underwhelming. Even do you have to select a model with a shade e-paper show, it is not going to be the brightest accessible available on the market, and hues is not going to be the richest. Whole, e-paper exhibits are decidedly dimmer than their LCD and OLED counterparts, so protect that in ideas when you’re comparability shopping for all through a number of forms of smartwatches. Additionally it is worth making an attempt out all the fashions that curiosity you in particular person so you’ll test-drive their exhibits and totally different choices.
The Most interesting E-Paper Smartwatches
Now that you’ve an idea of what items any such smartwatch apart from others, you’ll begin to choose whether or not or not it’s the becoming select for you. In case you are not deterred by the disadvantages talked about above—and if the longer-than-average battery life and improved viewing angles and daylight visibility make a distinction for you—take a look at a couple of of the excessive picks.
Sony FES Watch
The actual fact this wearable was as quickly as on sale on the MoMA Retailer tells you a big quantity. It’s all about type, and efficiency is additional of an afterthought. Nonetheless, the FES Watch is inserting. It’s constituted of 1 strip of e-paper, and it’s possible you’ll swap on the push of a button amongst 24 designs for the watch face and strap. Calling it a smartwatch is more likely to be one factor of a stretch since you’ll’t use it with widespread apps like Instagram and Twitter, but it surely certainly’s pretty a dialog starter, and it lasts a whopping two years on a value.
Whereas the MoMA Retailer no longer sells the FES watch, you’ll nonetheless uncover it on Sony’s Hong Kong web page or on eBay.
Pebble Time
The Pebble Time smartwatch offers good efficiency in a simple bundle. The e-paper present with LED backlight featured on this smartwatch provides 64 colors, and in addition you stand as much as seven days of battery life on one value. Take into consideration you administration the present with three bodily buttons comparatively than by pressing and swiping straight on the show, which could actually really feel clunky to some clients. The Pebble Time choices the Timeline interface, which presents your associated information in a chronological format. Whereas the Pebble Time is no longer in manufacturing, you’ll nonetheless uncover them by means of third-party sellers.
Fitbit bought the Pebble mannequin on the end of 2016, and the Pebble mannequin no longer makes smartwatches. Pebble on-line help ceased as of June 2018, although an unofficial developer group provides extended help. Fitbit now makes smartwatches, nevertheless they don’t have an e-paper present.
Pebble Time Spherical
If the Pebble Time’s document of choices appeals to you, nevertheless you want a additional refined bundle and a design that seems additional like a traditional wristwatch, the Pebble Time Spherical is worth a look. This wearable has a shade e-paper present and three bodily buttons. Not just like the Pebble Time, the Pebble Time Spherical comprises a spherical present (subsequently the determine) and is rated for as a lot as two days of battery life. It’s as a result of it’s accessible in a so much slimmer bundle, so that you simply’re sacrificing longevity for appears.
Nevertheless, it could be undoubtedly definitely worth the trade-off do you have to’re diligent about defending the wearable juiced up and in case you want a smartwatch that’s additional office-appropriate. Pebble watches operate enhanced activity-tracking and a sensible alarm for waking you up when you’re in your lightest stage of sleep. Should you want to use a smartwatch to kick-start your well being efforts, this would possibly transform helpful.
Pebble 2 + Coronary coronary heart Payment
No matter its demise in late 2016, Pebble smartwatches nonetheless dominate the e-paper smartwatch class, as a whole. The final word Pebble select proper right here is worth along with as a consequence of its fitness-focused choices. This gadget is clunkier than one other selections, nevertheless its black-and-white e-paper present is rated for as a lot as seven days of use on a value, and in addition you get a 24/7 heart-rate monitor that measures your pulse robotically. If well being monitoring is a priority for you, this model could be a powerful various, though it looks like a so much older and fewer refined cousin of the Pebble Time.
Clearink Smartwatch
Clearink focuses on e-paper exhibits for smartwatches and small tablets. The 2017 Clearink smartwatch has a 1.32-inch shade e-paper present with a 202 DPI show, which is a gigantic enchancment over its introductory model. It moreover boasts a 30% larger shade gamut and solely half the power of its first generations, due to a 5V battery.
Bottom Line
As compared with wearables identical to the Apple Watch, e-paper smartwatches would possibly sound elementary and pared down. They’re usually lighter on choices and much cheap than their brethren with brighter exhibits. That acknowledged, ought to you do not need all the bells and whistles and simply must view notifications in your wrist, definitely one in all these units would possibly match the bill. Merely ensure you do your evaluation and resolve what choices matter to you in all probability probably the most sooner than committing to definitely one in all these or another smartwatch.
