Fitbit finally steps into the smartwatch arena with the Fitbit Ionic. As you would expect, it’s a fantastic wearable that fulfills all your fitness needs and more. The Ionic is designed as an all-in-one package that accompanies you as you go about your day.
There is the usual tracking of steps, heartbeat, exercise, and sleep. Unlike previous Fitbits, the Ionic also tracks distance, which is great for hikers and runners. Sleep tracking is also much more in-depth, giving you information about your REM, deep, and light sleep phases. Additionally, the Ionic is waterproof, so you can also bring it on your swim without any worries.
You’re also able to import your music library so you don’t have to bring your phone with you on your run to listen to some uplifting beats. The import process is a little troublesome given that most of us stream our music on Spotify, but it’s still a nice addition.
What makes the Fitbit Ionic a true 24-hour lifestyle companion is the addition of Fitbit Pay. Just key in your credit card details on your phone and you can use your watch to pay anywhere with a contactless payment system. I’ve tried it a few times and it’s really convenient for workout sessions where you never want to bring your wallet or phone with you, but still want to grab that bottle of 100 Plus from 7-Eleven.
The strap and body is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. They’re wide and soft, and you’ll barely feel it despite being such a bulky item. I suffered a little bit of itching initially, but it’s purely my fault because my strap was wound too tight and I wore it to the shower and didn’t dry it. The battery life is pretty impressive, going for a solid four to five days of usage before needing a short charging session. I recommend plugging it into your office computer while you’re at work, since you’re sedentary anyway.
As of now, there are only a small selection of apps and watchfaces on the Ionic, so it’s not the most in-depth smartwatch you’ll find on the market. There’s a coaching app that plans great workouts for you, Starbucks, Pandora, and a few others. Fitbit’s only just released the dev kit for the Ionic, so it’ll be a little while before we see more apps and watchfaces added. With that said, if you’re looking for a fitness wearable that also doubles as a smartwatch, you can’t go wrong with the Fitbit Ionic.
Verdict
Rating 4/5
Price S$458
Website www.fitbit.com/ionic
The Fitbit Ionic is more fitness wearable than smartwatch, but it packs so many great functions that you should strongly consider getting it over a full smartwatch if you want to exercise regularly. It’s also a lot cheaper than most smartwatches on the market.
