Fitbit Ionic Review: A Comprehensive Look

The Fitbit Ionic is a smartwatch that's packed with features, but how well does it actually perform? The Ionic has a battery life of up to 5 days, which is impressive considering its array of features.

One of the standout features of the Ionic is its GPS capabilities, which are accurate to within a few feet. This makes it perfect for runners, cyclists, and anyone who loves tracking their outdoor activities.

The Ionic also has a built-in heart rate monitor, which tracks your heart rate in real-time. This feature is especially useful for athletes who need to monitor their heart rate during intense workouts.

The Ionic's touchscreen display is also a major plus, making it easy to navigate the device's various features and settings.

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The Fitbit Ionic is a stylish and comfortable wearable device that's perfect for everyday use. It's made from lightweight aerospace-grade aluminum, giving it a premium feel.

The Ionic has a rectangular display that's a bit bigger than the Apple Watch, but its bezels are relatively thick, which might be a drawback for some users. The display is also protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3, making it durable and resistant to scratches.

You'll find three buttons on the Ionic, two on the right and one on the left, which are grippy and easy to use. The buttons are also made of aluminum, matching the premium feel of the device.

One notable feature of the Ionic is its built-in GPS, which allows for accurate tracking of your runs and hikes without needing to bring your phone along. This is a significant upgrade over the Fitbit Blaze, which relied on phone-based GPS.

The Ionic also has a new SpO2 sensor, which measures blood oxygen saturation levels. This feature has potential for medical use cases, such as detecting sleep apnea.

Here's a summary of the Ionic's key features:

The Ionic's design is definitely polarizing, with some people loving its look and others hating it. But one thing's for sure – it's a stylish and functional wearable device that's perfect for fitness enthusiasts and tech-savvy users alike.

The Fitbit Ionic's software and performance are a mixed bag. The companion app is available on Android, iOS, and Windows 10, but syncing to a Windows 10 device can be hit or miss, especially with notifications.

The app's reliability varies across platforms, with some users experiencing issues even on Android and iOS. However, the Ionic's software has some great features, including customizable watch faces and a do not disturb mode that silences notifications during sleep or workouts.

One of the most frustrating issues is syncing music, which can be laborious and complicated. This is not a problem with the wearable itself, but rather a result of Fitbit's rush to market. Fortunately, Fitbit is actively working on software and firmware updates to resolve these issues.

Here are some of the Ionic's software features:

The software and apps on the Fitbit Ionic are quite impressive. The companion app is available on Android, iOS, and Windows 10, and it looks and functions the same across all systems.

For Windows 10, I had no issues syncing to an Alcatel Idol 4S for health, steps, and sleep data, but notifications were hit and miss. The necessary Bluetooth Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) is still in beta for Windows 10.

On the other hand, notifications are more reliable on Android and iOS, but some users have had complaints. The Ionic also has a platform thanks to the Pebble acquisition, which allows for more apps to be developed.

Some apps available on the Ionic include Starbucks, Strava, Pandora, Weather, and Wallet, which can be added or removed through the Fitbit app. There are also many new features, such as:

The Fitbit Ionic's early software bugs are a major concern, despite its impressive hardware.

A recent firmware update, 27.25.16.7, has improved syncing but still causes issues, such as failed or incomplete data updates.

Syncing music is a laborious process that can often fail, making it a frustrating experience.

Swapping clock faces can take several minutes, even over a fast connection, and often results in error messages.

These issues are likely a result of Fitbit's rush to market, rather than a fundamental flaw in the Ionic's design.

Fortunately, Fitbit is actively releasing software and firmware updates to resolve these problems, and most should be resolved in the coming months.

Day-to-day usage of the Fitbit Ionic itself is flawless, with the software never crashing or stuttering.

The Fitbit Ionic is a powerhouse when it comes to fitness and music. It's a count stepper that tracks actions like walking, running, or jogging, and also monitors heart rate and GPS for more intense activities like elliptical, weights, bike riding, and hiking.

You can use the Ionic for an elliptical, weights, bike riding, hiking, and more, thanks to its heart-rate sensor and GPS. I found the heart rate sensor to be more accurate and consistent than the Blaze, and it never loses my heart rate during strenuous exercise.

The Ionic can also track your blood oxygen level and desaturations, which can help detect sleep apnea. This makes it potentially very exciting as a general health device.

With 2.5GB of available storage, Bluetooth for headphone pairing, and Wi-Fi, the Ionic lets users take music on the go. I found the process of getting music onto the Ionic to be arduous, but the result is worth it.

The Fitbit Ionic is a powerhouse when it comes to fitness and health tracking. It's a count stepper for everyday activities like walking, running, or jogging, and it even reminds you to get up and move throughout the day.

The Ionic's heart-rate sensor is more accurate and consistent than previous Fitbits, making it perfect for workouts like weights, bike riding, and hiking. I've found it to be reliable even during strenuous exercise.

With its GPS and heart-rate sensor, the Ionic can track a variety of activities, including elliptical workouts and swimming. It's also able to detect sleep apnea, a potentially life-changing feature.

The Ionic's SpO2 sensor measures blood oxygen levels, which can be used to detect sleep apnea. However, Fitbit is still working on algorithms to unlock this feature.

The Ionic's accuracy is impressive, with a difference of just 1.1 percent compared to a pedometer used in clinical studies. It's also able to automatically detect when you stop and start exercising during a workout.

The Ionic's heart-rate monitoring is on par with other wrist-based trackers, with a lag of just a second or two behind a chest strap monitor. It's also able to pick up your heart rate during swimming, making it a great option for athletes.

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The Fitbit Ionic has made listening to music on the go a reality. With 2.5GB of available storage, Bluetooth for headphone pairing, and Wi-Fi, users can take music with them wherever they go.

You have two options for getting music onto the Ionic: Pandora (available in the US only) and adding your own playlist with up to 300 songs.

To use Pandora, you need a Plus or Premium paid account, which you can enable by logging into your account through the Fitbit app. You can then sync up to three of your top-played stations or let Fitbit choose some exercise-themed playlists.

Both your phone and the Fitbit need to be on the same Wi-Fi for music transfer to work.

You can also use playlists generated by iTunes or Windows Media Player (WMP) to add music to the Ionic. Using WMP can be a bit old-school, but it works.

Transferring music can be a bit of a hassle, especially if you have a lot of songs. Each Pandora station can take up to 15 minutes to sync, and adding 300 songs can take over an hour.

Here are your options for getting music onto the Ionic:

Despite the challenges, wireless music on the Fitbit Ionic is glorious. Being able to wear Bluetooth headphones at the gym, wearing the Ionic and leaving your phone in the locker, is liberating.

The controls on the watch, which let you manipulate tracks, volume, and shuffle, are all excellent.

Flyer headphones are a great option for fitness enthusiasts who want to stay motivated and focused during their workouts. They are designed to be lightweight and sweat-resistant, making them perfect for high-intensity activities like running or HIIT.

They typically feature earbuds with a secure fit, which helps prevent them from falling out during exercise. This ensures that you stay fully immersed in your music and can maintain your energy and momentum.

Flyer headphones often come with wireless connectivity, allowing you to move freely without being tethered to your device. This gives you the freedom to jump, run, or dance to your favorite workout playlists without any restrictions.

They also usually have a long battery life, often up to 8 hours, which is more than enough to get through even the longest and most intense workouts. This means you can enjoy your music for hours on end without worrying about running out of power.

The Fitbit Ionic is a solid investment, especially considering its current price. The initial launch price was £299.95 / $299.95 / AU$449.95, but it's dropped significantly since then.

You can now get your hands on the Ionic for around $180 / £200 / AU$350 at certain times of year, making it a more affordable option.

The Ionic's price is still higher than some other capable Fitbit products, but its features and build quality make it a worthwhile purchase.

Battery Life is where the Fitbit Ionic truly shines. Fitbit claims 4+ days of battery life, but I was able to get much more than that.

After five days of non-stop usage and two ninety-minute workout sessions, I still had 44 percent battery life. This was with no music streaming or GPS, just indoor workouts.

The Ionic crushes its predecessor, the Fitbit Blaze, in this department. The Apple Watch, on the other hand, barely lasts a day and a half, even without LTE.

The Fitbit Ionic was launched at a premium price of £299.95 / $299.95 / AU$449.95, making it one of the most expensive wearables from Fitbit at the time.

The price is significantly higher than some other capable Fitbit products, but it's worth noting that it's now cheaper than when it first launched.

The Ionic is available in various parts of the world, including the UK, US, and Australia, although the Fitbit Versa 2 has also been released around the same time, which may affect the price and availability of the Ionic.

At its launch price, the Ionic was more expensive than the Fitbit Surge running watch, but less expensive than some other smartwatches like the Apple Watch 5 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2.

Here's a rough idea of the price drop over time:

The Fitbit Ionic's payment feature, Fitbit Pay, is a game-changer for on-the-go purchases.

You can load your credit cards onto the device via the smartphone app, supporting Visa, Mastercard, and American Express cards.

The process involves setting a PIN code to lock and unlock the unit, ensuring that even if someone steals your watch, they can't make unauthorized purchases.

To use Fitbit Pay, simply long-hold down the left button for about 2 seconds to bring up the payment screen.

You can then tap your wrist on the payment reader, which must support NFC payments.

In the US, most major retailers support wireless payments, but smaller shops might not.

The Fitbit Ionic has its share of advantages and disadvantages. It's a great tool for tracking your daily activity, with a battery life that lasts up to 5 days.

One of the biggest pros is its water resistance, allowing you to wear it in the shower or while swimming without worrying about damage. The Ionic can also track your sleep patterns, providing valuable insights into your rest habits.

On the other hand, some users may find the touchscreen interface a bit slow to respond. Additionally, the Ionic doesn't have built-in GPS, requiring you to bring your phone along for accurate distance tracking.

The Fitbit Ionic isn't perfect, and some users may find it has a few drawbacks.

The design of the Ionic has been met with controversy, and some people may not appreciate its look.

The Ionic can be a bit slow, which may be frustrating for users who are used to faster performance from their devices.

Here are some of the cons of the Fitbit Ionic:

The Fitbit Ionic is an ambitious and promising smartwatch with a focus on fitness and accurate tracking.

Its success will depend on the growth of its app ecosystem, which is a crucial aspect for a smartwatch that aims to be more than just a fitness tracker.

Overall, the Fitbit Ionic is a solid choice for those who value fitness tracking and accurate data, but its limitations in other areas should be considered.

The device's ability to track fitness and health metrics accurately is a major selling point, making it a great option for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

The Fitbit Ionic is a great choice for fitness enthusiasts, but it's not the best option for everyone. It has a $300 price tag, which puts it in the same territory as the Apple Watch.

The Ionic has an edge in terms of battery life, lasting longer than many other smartwatches on the market. It also has a solid fitness platform with features like sleep tracking and advanced workout breakdowns.

For Android users, the Ionic is a solid choice because Android Wear 2.0 is still clunky and the Ionic's battery life far outlasts other Android watches. If you're looking for a smartwatch, you might want to wait until Fitbit's app store develops further.

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The Fitbit Ionic and Apple Watch Series 3 are both high-end smartwatches with a focus on fitness tracking, but they cater to different needs. If you're looking for a smartwatch first and a fitness tracker second, the Apple Watch might be the better choice.

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The Fitbit Ionic has a $300 price tag, which is on par with the Apple Watch Series 3. However, Fitbit has an edge in terms of battery life, which can last longer than even the best sports-centric Android watches.

For Android users, the Ionic is a solid choice because it has a longer battery life than the clunkier Android Wear 2.0. If you're already happy with your Fitbit Blaze or Surge, you might not need to upgrade to the Ionic just yet.

The Ionic does offer a nicer screen and support for NFC payments, but only time will tell what kind of third-party app offerings you'll get. If you're focused on fitness, the Ionic is likely to make you happy, but if you're looking for a smartwatch, you might want to wait a few months to see how the app store develops.

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The Fitbit Ionic is a well-rounded fitness leaning smartwatch that excels in various areas. It's not the best in every segment, but it's a great all-around device.

The Ionic has three buttons that make fitness and sports easier, a feature lacking in the Apple Watch. It also has wireless music and contactless/NFC payment, which Garmin currently lacks.

In terms of battery life, Fitbit's four-ish days of battery life is impressive, outlasting Apple and most Android Wear devices. I've found this to be accurate in my own experience.

The Ionic's optical HR sensor has improved significantly from previous units, but there's still room for improvement, as I've noticed some discrepancies while cycling. This is likely due to the beta software, so I'll reserve final judgment for later.

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