Fitbit’s next offering is up for pre-ordering, the name is Ionic- though I just hope it can turn Iconic. Chances are little iffy though.
To be upfront, I had pretty mixed feeling about the Ionic. Do not get me wrong, I am myself an extensive fitbit user and a devout fan. But I tend to agree with detractors when they opine about fitbit’s failing fortune.
One of the most common feedback most analysts tend to offer is people not sticking around with their tracking devices for long, they shed in short period of time which can imply 2 things. Availability of low cost devices in the market hasn’t helped their cause either. I know a lot of people who buy a low cost device with the intent of graduating up to Fitbit, but they never do that because they never see utility beyond the obvious.
- Fitbit hasn’t been introducing strong use cases for consumers to integrate it in their daily lives. They see very limited use of the tracker.
- The tracker itself is not a substitute for a regular elegant watch or an accessory that would love to carry on your wrists.
With Fitbit Ionic, at least the first failing has been taken care of! Second, I doubt if we have moved an inch when compared with earlier generations.
Fitbit Ionic has 2 very strong utilities:
- Integrated music– it can store up to 300 songs and can also play music from Pandora even when offline (Though Pandora might not be very relevant to Global Fitbit sales Geography). The music strums through a Bluetooth headset.
2. Fitbit Pay – Housing an NFC, the device works exactly like a Samsung Pay would and believe me, this convenience is addictive. The power to carry your wallet in your phone is itself so empowering, the same power in a wrist adorned device would be intoxicating.
Design & Aesthetics:
In terms of aesthetics and a substitute to a trendy looking wrist wear. Ionic fails hands down. Like rest of the range Blaze, Charge 2, Alta – this is not gonna win any design awards at all. Which also implies that the hope of taking on Apple watch is just so wishful. Apple watch has the design sensibility to pull it’s weight even as an accessory and on other occasions as a smart tracker. Fitbit doesn’t double hat that ways, none of it’s products – Ionic included – sadly though.
They all look the same – flat, rectangular, and very little design character. It’s almost as if their is just a casing which is meant to house all the sensors.
Other Features:
Other features are mostly expected must have upgrades. To name a few important ones.
The in watch GPS integration. Now you cab run without an accompanying vestige cellphone to track your route. That make you lighter by at least a few hundred grams and reduces hassles by a few tonnes.
Water Resistance. Now you can swim without any hint of worry specially for your watch.
What’s disappointing is Fitbit not choosing to work on it’s battery backup time. Low cost players like Lenovo have been coming with trackers with upto 4 weeks of battery life, a few days not only sounds less but is also a hassle for the consumer.
Pricing: At 300 USD (nearly 21,000 INR), it’s definitely overpriced as compared to Apple watch series 1 and 70 USD (nearly 5,000 INR) less than Apple watch series 2.
Now series 2, has got all the features of Ionic and the amazing Siri bundled, why not put a little extra and get dazzling aesthetically superior Watch 2.
Or even play a little conservative and buy Series 1. Except for swimming mode & inbuilt GPS it’s got everything else and iconic Apple finish.
Tough question for Fitbit to answer.
But for a Fibit fan and someone who has a little patience, the price will rationalize after launch. I expect them to go down by almost 25-30% within 6-8 months of launch. Now this will make it a seriously handsome proposition.
That’s looks well simplified! 🙂
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