Fitbit's first true smartwatch, launched in 2017 at $300 with built-in GPS, music storage, contactless payments and multi-day battery life. In March 2022 it was recalled worldwide because its battery could overheat and burn wearers, with Fitbit offering owners a $299 refund.
This entry is written from the 5 sources listed at the bottom of the page. The numbers are our editorial estimates drawn from that material, not measurements, and no statistical sample sits behind them.
It depends on how you will use it. 35% would buy it again, which means roughly 65% would not. Some units failed repeatedly, with owners going through multiple replacements.
Months in, owners still valued the battery life and fitness tracking, but smartwatch features stayed thin and some units failed outright, with one forum thread describing three dead watches in about six months. Years later the burn-hazard recall ended its life, though owners could get $299 back.
Some units failed repeatedly, with owners going through multiple replacements. Recall refunds were slow or stuck for some owners. Recalled as a burn hazard, ending its useful life.
Worth it for: Existing owners, who should claim the recall refund; Fitness tracking over smartwatch features. Think twice if: Anyone buying one secondhand; Smartwatch app enthusiasts; People with small wrists.
Our reading of how sentiment moves across an ownership period, drawn from the sources below. It is an editorial estimate, not tracked longitudinal data.
| At purchase | 7.5 / 10 |
|---|---|
| First week | 7.0 / 10 |
| One month | 6.5 / 10 |
| Six months | 6.0 / 10 |
| One year | 5.5 / 10 |
| Two years or more | 2.0 / 10 |
Owner reviews move this score. The researched figure stays visible next to it, so you can always see what the sources said before anyone voted.
Leave a review on the live pageEvery complaint and every piece of praise above traces back to these. The summaries are ours; nothing is quoted, and no link, quote or username anywhere on this site is invented.
2017 review at $300: stellar multi-day battery and strong fitness tracking, but limited smartwatch functionality, few useful apps and frequent clock errors.
Praises battery life, music storage, payments and sleep analysis, but dislikes the bulky design, an occasionally unresponsive touchscreen and few apps; updated in 2022 to note the recall.
March 2022 recall of about 1 million US and 693,000 international units after 115 US overheating reports and 78 burn injuries; remedy is a $299 refund and a 40% discount code. Sold for $200–$330.
2018 owner thread describing an Ionic that kept shutting off and three replacement units failing in about six months, with slow support.
UK owner registered for the recall refund in November 2023 and was still unpaid after missed payment windows and several escalations.