Fitbit recalls ‘Ionic’ smartwatches amid overheating battery reports

Google-owned wearable brand Fitbit is recalling Ionic smartwatches following the reports of overheating battery and potential burn injury. The Consumer Product Safety Commission in the USA has said that at least 115 people in the USA and 59 globally have reported overheating battery on the device. 

The reports included 118 reports of burns, with two reports of third-degree burns and four reports of second-degree burns. The commission has also warned the consumers to immediately stop using the Ionic smartwatches and contact Fitbit to receive a pre-paid packaging to return the device.

The overheating is caused by the lithium-ion battery in the Ionic smartwatch with the model number FB503, posing a burn hazard. The company claims that it has received a limited number of injury reports, saying that these incidents are very rare and this voluntary recall does not impact other Fitbit smartwatches or trackers. The company is refunding the wearable devices to the tune of $299.