Buzz
This week, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reported that Fitbit has agreed to pay a $12.25 million settlement concerning one of their older smartwatch models, which had a battery defect that caused severe burns in some users. At the same time, Fitbit disclosed that some of its newer models—the Sense and Versa 3—might also have overheating battery problems that could present risks to users, and the company is rolling out software updates to address the issue.
What are the issues with the Sense and Versa 3 models?
According to a notice on the Fitbit Help Center, certain (but not all) Sense and Versa 3 devices are equipped with faulty batteries that could overheat and potentially cause burns. Both of these watches were introduced in 2020. As of now, Fitbit has not found any similar problems with newer models.
What should you do if you own a Sense or Versa 3?
Fitbit has stated that they are releasing an update for the affected watches (not all Sense or Versa 3 devices) that will limit their battery performance. According to Fitbit: “The update will enhance the stability of the battery and reduce the chances of overheating. As a result, the battery will deplete faster between charges, and you may need to charge your watch more often.”
If you don’t wish to update your device, tough luck. As per the notice, after several days, your device will automatically reset to factory settings. This means any unsynced data will be lost, and you’ll need to go through the setup process again. During this setup, the new firmware update will be installed. It seems there is no option to continue using the device without the update.
You’ll be notified when your device requires an update, as alerts will be sent to your phone, the device, and your email.
You could receive $50 if your Sense or Versa 3 is considered 'impacted'.
To ease the situation, Fitbit has set up a form where you can apply to “check eligibility” for a $50 “compensation” if your device was one of those that had to undergo the update. Fitbit mentions it may take up to a week to confirm your eligibility, during which they might request additional information, followed by another three weeks for processing the payment.
Fitbit also settled a fine over a past hazardous battery problem
Although it shouldn't impact any current Fitbit users, the company has also agreed to pay a $12.25 million settlement to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for an earlier battery issue. The Ionic, a smartwatch released in 2017, began causing burns to users' wrists as early as 2018, based on the reports Fitbit received.
In 2020, the same year the Ionic was discontinued, Fitbit issued a battery update to reduce the risk of overheating (sound familiar?), but continued receiving reports of burns. They collaborated with the CPSC to implement a full recall in 2022. You can find more details about that recall here.
The current settlement Fitbit is paying is not aimed at consumers who owned the affected watches (that compensation was handled through the recall), but instead goes to the CPSC for failing to notify the agency about such a dangerous product. According to the CPSC, there were 78 burn injury reports, including two third-degree burns and four second-degree burns. The company is also required to “maintain internal controls and procedures to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA).”
A battery update may not be the most effective solution for consumers. For instance, Google's parent company, Fitbit, recently released a battery update for its older Pixel 4a phones (which were launched in 2020), and some users are reporting that the update has made the phones unusable. I’ve contacted Fitbit to ask if the update for the Sense and Versa 3 is connected to the CPSC settlement, and I will update this article once I receive a response.
