With Ionic, Fitbit nails two things that no other smartwatch has managed: sleep tracking and battery life. That feature isn't available yet, but I tracked multiple runs wearing both an Ionic and an Apple Watch Series 2, and the heart rate data on the two devices matched up perfectly. MORE: The Best GPS Watches for Sports and Athleticsįitbit improved its fitness-tracking sensors and the algorithms behind them, and added an SpO2 sensor for eventually detecting sleep apnea. I worked out with the Ionic in a pool and can attest to its water-resistance, although I am the world's slowest swimmer and can't vouch for the accuracy of the device's lap counts. The Ionic is water-resistant for up to 50 meters (same as the Apple Watch) and has a lap-swim workout option in the Exercise app. This watch looks ridiculous on me, which makes it hard to love. It logs the data for your entire run, not just the point where GPS kicks on, which is useful. When I forgot to start a workout in the Exercise app on the Ionic watch face, it didn't matter - after I ran for about a minute and a half, the watch would activate GPS and launch the Exercise app for me. This feature is beneficial for those of us who run in the mornings. Those are simply a bonus on top of Fitbit's suite of fitness-tracking features, which get even better on the Ionic. Fitness Remains the FocusĪpps won't be the reason most Fitbit fans buy this watch. This device is just too large, too bulky and too square to work for many people.Īt least the Ionic looks better than the Fitbit Blaze. Even the square Apple Watch, with its rounded corners, is more fashion-forward than Fitbit's take. The frame houses the GPS antenna, which Fitbit says makes for a stronger connection, but I wish the Ionic had taken some cues from the newer, round, stylishly oversized Android Wear 2.0 smartwatches.

Best Fitbits : Which fitness tracker is right for you?.

But companies that fail to make smartwatches in sizes that can accommodate all wrists will struggle to gain widespread adoption, because they're limiting themselves to half the market. Design is subjective, and my wrist is on the small side, so not everyone will have the gap problem I experienced.

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