+Sc00teX Unfortunately the swimming features are fairly limited. On the Garmin Vivoactive 3 you get strokes per minute, total strokes, strokes per lap, SWOLF score, etc. On the Fitbit you only get total time, total distance, and lap times (plus calories). Neither watch offers heart rate tracking natively, but with the Vivoactive you can pair it with their waterproof chest strap to enable hr data.
Techy Agent. Yep, i think the Garmin will be the one for me. I'm just thankful that you have addressed the swimming features of the Ionic to help me make my decision. Huge like from me. Keep up the good work!
Agree with your summary. I had an Apple watch and stopped using it. It tries to do too much and I want something more health focused. So far the Ionic has been more accurate in heart rate tracking while weight training. I'm really glad I invested in this.
If you call Fitbit and let them know you lost your Fitbit tracker they will send you an email with a 40% discount to keep you in the family , I currently purchased the ionic orange blue for a whopping $149.00 ....
When their original tracker came out in 2008, they would replace it if you lost or broke it. More than once. They clipped on your clothes back then and I put mine through the washer and dryer. Fitbit replaced it. I went on to do that 4 more times in the 2 years I used it and they replaced it every time. Great customer service from Fitbit.
+Ian McNabb That’s definitely in the works, I’m hoping to do a 4 way comparison between the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro, Vivoactive 3, Fitbit Ionic, and Apple Watch 3
+Techy Agent looking forward to it, the Vivoactive HR is feeling a little dated and had connectivity issues when I tried the beta version of their update in the app, fixed that by reinstalling the app, but I think the Vivoactive 3 is the classier of those 4 in your future comparison vid
Fantastic review that covers not just techy features but real world exercises and how the watch handles them -- especially how the watch handles timing out and going black to save on battery - which renders an exercise watch completely useless if it doesn't provide the ability to stay always on like this one does. I must have watched a half dozen reviews and yours is the first to cover this - thanks!
+Rahul Pati yes, once I have the chance to do a single review of the Apple Watch 3, I will definitely do a comparison between those two, as well as the Samsung Gear Fit2 and Garmin Vivoactive 3.
As always, great review Eric. One quick thing though. Can you compare the Ionic's optical HR to any external chest strap for HIIT, Cardio, weight lifting and other strenuous exercises? You used to show them in your previous videos by showing off both the wrists but not in this. Appreciate your update to the video.
+Keshav V I’ll see what I can do. On most of these newer videos, I compare the data to my Fenix 5X paired with a Scosche Rhythm Plus arm band sensor. Also, just based on hundreds of hours in the gym, I have a pretty good idea of what my typical heart rate ranges tend to be. Some viewers felt my reviews were too technical, so I’ve stopped going into my methods for determining accuracy, but I appreciate your request and will take it into consideration!
Just a bit of correction. Support for fitbit pay doesn't have anything to do with retailers. It has to do with the bank they are with. If the bank doesn't support it, then any retailer banking with them can't support it.
Ionic vs Vivoactive 3 Please! This is what I've learned so far, correct me if I'm wrong but VA3 can connect to ANT+ hr monitors and footpods, etc. and Ionic can not. VA3 gives cadence and recovery times and Ionic does not. VA3 has training programs designed for 5k, 10k etc and Ionic does not (without paying for each) I've got the Surge, had since it was first released, been glitchy whole time and their tech support was useless and after my screen cracked, they just offered a 20% discount on a new one. So I'm prob going VA3 myself though want to wait for a few more real world reviews and also like the extra analytics offered through Garmin that Fitbit doesn't have. Also some early reviews like DCRainmaker and few others showed Garmin to be more accurate HR and GPS (might just be a 'tester unit' that all the reviewes get thing). The Vivoactive 3 also supports standard 20mm quick-release bands so they can be replaced with bands of different colors and materials. Ionic has very few 3rd party bands making custimization tougher. DC Rainmaker just updated the product comparison chart - put VA3 beside Ionic and you'll see the only thing Ionic has the VA3 doesn't is onboard music and VA3 has 24 features Ionic does not! Back you on board music - do people not have an iPod or mp3 player anymore? Who wants to fork out more money on Bluetooth headphones? Personally I think hard core athletes will favor the extra stats and info of garmin as fitbit just hasnt caught up to them.
+John Perkins 100% agree with all of this. I still do wish the VA3 had onboard music storage, but that aside, I prefer it over the Fitbit Ionic. One thing I do like about the Ionic is the all metal construction. I would have liked an all aluminum body on the VA3. That being said, if I had to choose one or the other, my personal preference would be the VA3 because of the advanced metrics it offers, and the ANT+ and Bluetooth sensor compatibility
Actually I'm in the same boat I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to purchase the VA 3 or the FBI because I had the vivoactive HR since October 2016 and just about 2 weeks ago the touch screen on the device became detached from the polycarbonate housing and now the touch screen does not work at all of course it still receives notifications but it has really given me a big question in regards garmin's reliability when it comes to dealing with this next device... I'm also trying to make a decision between these two options because I want to buy the company and scale but with the Fitbit Aria 2 it gives less information than the Garmin index
I was in the same place! Ionic or Vivoactive? These watches are very close, I chose the Ionic because of the looks and because of the screen. In my opinion VA3 has a low resolution and dark display and it looks kinda cheap to me. Hope i helped you :)
I went with the Ionic because of the music. That is big time for me. Having everything integrated into something that sits on the wrist comfortably is very nice. I want to have as little as possible with me when on those longer runs. I prefer bluetooth headphones when I am running/ working out anyway.
Great review! I searched everywhere but does it count reps like the vivo?? I saw your review on the vivo and was immediately sold on that feature alone, thats just crazy
It does not count reps, but in all honesty that’s a feature that I don’t quite understand. It’s not that hard to count reps. And even though it does do an automatic logging of the reps, it is a little bit of a pain to enter in the weight and make corrections when it counts incorrectly.
Great review Eric!! I have had this Fitbit for 1 week, and I am having issues with it. It keeps loosing connection to my iPhone. It is very annoying!! Also, GPS takes awhile to connect when I go walking/ running... I should get my Apple Watch series 3 in 2-3 weeks and once I do I will be returning this Fitbit to REI. Keep up the great work!!
+Kendra Orndorff Thanks Kendra! I have not had any issues with mine so far, fingers crossed 🤞. You will probably beat me to the new Apple Watch, I have so many other reviews I have to get to! REI is great, fantastic return policy.
Thanks for the review. I currently have the blaze. After using it for a year and a half the battery doesn't last for maybe 2 days now and that's with notifications and move reminder turned off. So i hope the iconic is a little tougher.
+tweety1028801 Yes, Fitbit has a nasty track record of having wearables that tend to fall apart or stop working after a couple of years. I hope that the longevity of this device is much better
Love the reviews. Have subscribed ! What do you recommend between the Fitbit Iconic and Garmin vivoactive 3 ? I do weights, some rowing, running, walking and play sports.
+Ben Rex Either one will be great, really! It comes down to your personal preference on software/app and overal look. I think they will be about equal in terms of tracking weightlifting, rowing, running, walking, and other miscellaneous sports. As I mentioned in my review, the Fitbit Ionic will be more intuitive and easier to use, while the Garmin Vivoactive will be a little more complicated but it also offers more details in the metrics for things like running (cadence, vo2 max, etc)
Thankyou very much. Does the Fitbit Iconic count reps etc when doing weights like the Garmin Vivoactive? Sorry for all the questions just want the best one suited for me. Cheers
I got it for a few days and just returned it. I am going to wait for the variability firmware update before I start my review. One of the main reasons that I want to do that is because I think I have some sleep issues, but it hasn't been an issue, but I want to track my heart rate during my sleep a bit better than the vivosmart 3 that I have right now does. Do you think this might be good after that update?
+Matthew Walden yes, I think it will be good after the update, although fitbit hasn’t been specific about what features they will implement and how they will present that data. So it may be a couple of months before they get around to that firmware update.
Hey Eric I am working in Garmin can u please tell me what's the messurlly diffrent fitbit ionic an vivo active I know that Garmin is better according to.all off but In India recently not launch right now both model but I love my garmin
Great review Eric! My question is the comfort of the design. I am a rock climber (although I've been out for about a year on injury) and need something that won't dig into me too bad or feel particularly uncomfortable while climbing. Does it feel okay during exercises with lots of wrist flexion? I'm worried the edges are too sharp as opposed to gear fit 2 pro, garmin vivoactive HR, apple watch, or other devices. Thanks.
+Catherine Powers this won’t give your wrist a lot of flexibility. The straps and body are too wide. The Garmin Vivoactive 3 is a little lighter on the wrist, and offers more flexibility. The Gear Fit2 Pro is also oddly stiff, for being a smaller watch.
The heart rate tracking is excellent ( a little latency). I did a 300 calorie row on a Concept ii while wearing the Ionic on my left wrist and a Garmin VivoActive 2 (with ant chest strap) on my right and they matched beat for beat and calorie count too (sadly the Concept 2 over estimated calories, I think). One thing that is missing (for my use) is indoor erg rowing as an app, the Garmin does this well. The look of the Ionic is subjective but I love it.
+Andrew Stuart cool, thanks for sharing! I like the look too. I was skeptical when the renders first came out, but in person it looks like great. The build quality is definitely there.
Hey Eric, good job with the vid bruh. I’m in the process of looking for a replacement for my old Fitbit surge and the Garmin fenix 5x is on the top of my shopping list. Apart from the mp3 capability of the ionic, why someone would choose the fenix 5s over this?
+lton The Fenix 5 offers advanced mapping capabilities for those who enjoy outdoor adventure sports (hiking, climbing, skiing, hunting, etc). The GPS battery life of the Fenix is also substantially better, so it’s good for someone who is looking to use gps frequently. The Fenix is also comparable with ANT+ and Bluetooth peripherals like external sensors, VIRB cameras, and more. The Ionic doesn’t offer that.
Regarding the Fenix 5 and all Garmin, what I'm hearing is connectivity and complicated interface issues. Of course, the Fenix is $500 vs $300. But to me, connectivity problems are a deal breaker.
Hi.. good review... a few others have mention the software is buggy... which I'm sure will get sorted but did you find it buggy.. and if so how much? Cheers
Hey Eric; Can you see if there is any separation between the display and the frame at the top? There are quite a few people reporting an issue with that in the Fitbit forum and people being able to see light come through between the display and frame when in a dark room, with brightness maxed. A few people have reported their Fitbit's dying after going for a swim, although unsure if that's related or not.
+Curtis B i’ve heard about this issue and mine does not have this problem. It appears that it’s probably a quality control issue that Fitbit will have to deal with. That space or gap could definitely be related to the Fitbits That are dying in the water. Again, mine hasn’t had any problems, At least not yet!
I got my Ionic, in my device all is fine, but "weird thing" I have seen a Fitbit advertise video with that issue - kinda crazy - mine is perfect btw, I honestly love it so much even if it need some software adjustment.
+giatrus70 I think the Fitbit sensor is probably ever so slightly better than the Garmin Elevate, but barely. After that, the Garmin sensor. Then the Valencell sensor. To be honest with you, I would have expected the exact opposite order going into my reviews, but based on my testing, this was my subjective experience
Nice review , this will maybe change my mind on buying the Fenix 3 Hr. I do weightlifting , TRX and Crosstraining. Do you think the Fitbit Ionic will work better for me? Does it have better HR sensors and generally is it a better tool for this type of workout than the Fenix 3 Hr?
I do think it has a better heart rate sensor than the Fénix 3HR, or at least better accuracy because the Fénix Is so heavy it tends to move around and throw off the heart rate sensor during weightlifting
Thanks for your excellent reviews. I use my fitness tracker also as a vibrating alarm. Between the Ionic and the the Vivoactive which has the stronger vibration for alerts and alarms? I've read your comment that the Ionic is better than the Vivoactive 3 for ALL DAY tracking. Doesn't the Garmin track your ALL DAY activities? In what way is the Ionic better in that regard? I'm very interested in the HRV and stress tool of the Garmin. Did you find it useful? Will the Ionic be getting that feature when the new sensor is activated? I think you mentioned that in your video but I haven't seen anything from fitbit about that, I've seen than they will have a sensor that will check blood oxygen levels which I don't know if I'll find useful. Thanks!
+bainkel in terms of vibrating alarms in alerts, I would say they are about equal. I would agree that the Fitbit is better for all day tracking/sleep. The Vivoactive 3 does also have all day tracking, but Fitbit presents the data in a more helpful manner. But Garmin is catching up and offers a stress score now too. The Fitbit sensor for Oxygen saturation and heart rate variability has not yet been activated
Love your reviews!! How does it track calories versus the Gear Fit 2 Pro for you? Mine have been about 1000 calories higher on the fitbit ionic at the end of the day.
+Brian Miralli The Samsung Gear Fit 2 has been a little low, in my opinion, by about 500-600 calories. However the Fitbit Ionic felt a little high, by about 400 calories. I think Polar and Garmin have the most accurate calorie counting algorithms.
Techy Agent thanks for that info. Glad I'm not the only one having those issues. Tried the vivoactive 3 for about 4 hours before it locked up on me and died. After I got the ionic. Trying to figure out which is better. Have until the 18th to return the Samsung lol. The Ionic threw me when I was driving all day and burned 3500 calories. So trying to figure this out lol.
+Brian Miralli Haha! Well good luck to you! None of these wearables are perfect, but once you find one that helps you stay motivated and gives you fairly accurate data, they can be a great fitness tool!
Hey Eric. Nice review. There's only one Watch in this price range that I know of with Triathlon functions, the Suunto Spartan Trainer HR. Why did the VA3 get put down to a 9? I don't remember you giving it a score.
+John Manley I gave it a nine mostly because it did not have built in music storage. Music storage is offered by Fitbit and Samsung now, so that’s why I gave it a 9. The VA3 lets you have a triathlon mode with third party apps in the Garmin Connect IQ store, so it passed that test.
I would appreciate it if you could pay some attention to smart features as well, since this is in this hybrid segment like vivoactive 3 between smartwatch and sportwatch. Great review though, as usual
+Arnau Via Martinez-seara Yeah, sorry for glossing over those. Let me know if you have any questions regarding smart features. The NFC payments work great, I used it to buy groceries and it was super easy. I did not try the Starbucks payment feature. The weather app is also easy and accurate, and the music playback was okay. You have to Plug the watch into your computer in order to upload music. Unfortunately you can’t do that directly from the phone.
that would be great.. I seem to like vivo better.. fitbit seems cheap but ive never handled it. but otherwise both are very similar and i kinda like garmin app a bit more - cant wait I currently have the blaze
Major problem is tech support with a specific problem or question. There is none, no phone support, not even a manual for download. Warranty seems to be a problem as well. A few users complained about scratches on the face soon after purchased and Fitbit just ignore them. I’m getting some protective case covers on order. Pairing with my phone is a hit or miss like tracking stock prices or weather in real time. Sometimes it just freezes unable to update for hours. Talking about freezing, my Ionic locked up a few times were the home/back button would not respond. There must be a way to reset it? Who knows without a manual and no tech support? Music file download is laughable super slow like watching ice melt. Other that, it's fine. Nice and bright in daylight, good basic functions and looking forward to the sleep update.
Okay, I've found an answer buried deep in the community forum by accident. Hope there are more solutions in the forum, but have to look for it like prospecting for gold. So much better if a downloadable manual is provided.
By turning on the watch, if you mean does it show your times/pace/other relevant metrics, yes. It will show that data. If that doesn’t answer your question feel free to elaborate. I’ve taken at swimming twice, only done 10 laps each time for testing purposes, as this is not my daily wearable
+Miguel Ferreira Pinto what metrics are important to you? Accurate calories? Accurate distance? Accurate heart rate? Depending on what you’re number one and number two priorities are, my answer might vary
Techy Agent probably calories and recovery. The other metrics are just important for a montlhy comparaison. I was looking at the whoop, but I think it is too expensieve for what it is...
Can the ionic work with Run keeper? Does the built in Run program give comparable info to Run keeper? I am so wanting to run without my phone! Thanks..Great review!!
+Jose Eduardo Tschen Yes, you can do it one of two ways: 1- you can manually hit a button to record a lap or 2- you can set a custom lap distance to override the automatic lap distances of 1 mike or 1 km. So if you are running on a track that is 400 meters, you can set the watch to record a lap every 400 meters
i unsuccessfully tried to download a cc only to find out that my card is not one that is an acceptable card. Now I am stuck entering a 4 digit code every time my watch face turns on, It is so annoying. How can I delete this feature?
I got it. (1) Incredibly light, (2) GPS works, (3) Does load music (4) Good battery life. CONS (1) clunky interface, (2) the Bluetooth is weak and not all headphones will sound or work well with it, (3) Uploading music in a hassle --need phone, computer and watch working together plus 45+ minutes, (4) Fitbit pay works on limited machines and with limited banks. Overall, I didn't want to spend $400+ for the Forerunner 645 for music. The Apple battery life is weak and the controls are for a smartwatch and not a fitness tracker. The GPS (non-cellular) sucks an already bad battery life to nearly desperate levels quickly. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a smartwatch that does fitness-- the apple watch still may be a better option (especially if you are already invested in apple). But I wanted this for fitness, not status or a smartwatch (my phone is tethered to me most of the day-- I want a break from it when running) If I can get the right headphones, I will keep this for a long time. Right now, my cheap apple bud knockoffs connect well but they are horrible for running. My other "sport" sport headphones fit well but the connection is scratchy/clicky. SO I am getting the Fitbit fly on Monday and hopefully, that will fix that. If you stick with the interface, it does get easier to navigate but not as intuitive as my Charge 2, which was really wear-and-go. If you want fitness, GPS, and music-- then this is your watch. It is NOT a smartwatch.
Hey Eric ! Thanks for this video ! Amazing watch :) I have some questions for you : 1/ about calories counting ... Does the watch count calories 24/7 or only during working out ? 2/ about reps counting in gym: does it work great? 3/ about outdoor activity (pull-ups, push-ups, HIIT etc...): does the watch track this kind of activity? 4/ about indoor biking and/or fitness stepper/climber: does the watch track this kind of activity? Thanks for your help :) Laurent
The watch does count calories 24 / 7. Rep counting is still not worth using (in my opinion) because it slows me down too much in the gym. It will track outdoor activity and indoor activity, but it won’t track your form or wraps, but it will track your calories and heart rate. Regarding indoor biking or using a fitness climber, this will track both of those exercises, specifically if you are looking to keep tabs on your heart rate and calories
Hey bro , does it automatically identify which type of exercise Im doing when doing weight training or is thr a way we can enter manually or neither of the two and it dies not identify at all. Eg if Im performing bench press is there a way to enter that into the watch
+lifemusicelovee The only worry I would have about using the Fitbit Ionic is that it does not have the ability to pair with an external heart rate sensor, so if the heart rate sensor that is built-in doesn’t do a good job tracking exercise, you don’t have the option to get an external heart rate sensor like you would if you got the Garmin
thanks for the reply! it's just hard to part with Fitbit because I have the charge 2, but unfortunately I'm leaning towards vivoactive 3 in terms of design, in depth fitness info, and firmware updates. well I'll be waiting for your comparison vid!
i am now in another dilemma lol debating between vivoa 3 and now gear sport. hope you can make a vid on gear sport separately and compare between the two!
Test it this week and it tracks number of laps . It knows and detects backstroke as well. I do knot if it recognizes butterfly stroke? . By the way you have to be on SWIM MODE For Swim accuracies. I am still exploring it . Good luck on your quest
Then for HR Accuracy (and other fitness metrics in general) and sport do you suggest the Vivoactive 3? In first place i can tell that the unique thing that makes the Fitbit better (beside the music storage) are the red sensors that aren't active...am I right? +Techy Agent
+Techy Agent thank you for the answer mate...i still don't know what to buy (maybe the Vivoactive 3 is too much for me, i will not use a lot of integrated sports) and i'm considering also VivoSport and VivoSmart 3 (that i think are the same but without the Garmin Store and GPS for the Smart 3)...but well at least it will be a Garmin :D PS Of course every advice from you is appreciated :)
+Renato Gonçalves Ah! I forgot to mention that! The heart rate tracking in swim mode is disabled because optical heart rate sensors tend to be inaccurate in the water
I've read/heard that if you don't turn on the swim mode, the watch recognizes movement and does quite well in tracking HR. If someone could confirm/reject that I would really appreciate it!
+CanyonMiniCooper It’s not terribly hard, you have to plug the watch into your computer so it’s a hassle, but it’s not complicated. Yes, it does have vibrating alerts.
The Gear Sport has the same HR sensor as the newly released Gear Fit2 Pro, which I've been testing for the last 10 days. It's okay, but it's not on par with what Garmin and Fitbit are offering right now. That being said, Samsung's screens are easily the best, and they offer music storage and bluetooth playback, and they offer good smart features that surpass both Garmin and Fitbit. On the health side of things, they are still a little behind though.
+Briana McCormick I think it will be better in some ways and worse in others. I’ve been testing both for the last 10 days or so, and the Fitbit does a better job tracking exercise on its own. But the Samsung does have a few wins: the screen is amazing, it can pair with external hr sensors, etc
+Tanya Bakerwitz The GPS and HR accuracy are about equal in comparison with the VA3. The biggest difference between the two are that the VA3 is less user-friendly, but it does offer more advanced metrics. The Fitbit Ionic is far more user friendly, but it lacks a few basic health tracking features the Garmin has. The Fitbit doesn’t really do “breadcrumbs” like an outdoor gps watch, it just tracks the gps route (you can review later in the app) and it tracks the health stats (distance, steps, calories, etc)
Techy Agent hey but apple is more over like a smartwatch and less of a fitness watch ......it's battery life is also terrible . So it should not be in comparison with Fitbit or Garmin . On the other hand the sleep apnea which fitbit is boosting about to track is not that easy just with a wrist band or a red sensor it requires to take ur breath analysis . But please compare the two Garmin and Fitbit from a fitness prespective and then some smartwatch prespective . The only selling point for Fitbit is guess is the music storage , but ppl now a days can't stay without there phone , so doesn't make a much difference.
+SourStrawberrys I would say that it is not snappy compared to true smart watches, but compared to other fitness trackers, it is an improvement. But your point is well taken: processing speed needs to improve on these smart watch/Fitness tracker hybrids
Yes, I think it works great for indoor cycling! It won’t give you your distance but it will give you an accurate idea of your heart rate and calories burned
So I see where it doesn't give distance for indoor cycling, and I don't know if there's a difference or not...but it'll give you distance for outdoor biking, right? Also, do you know if the red sensors are working yet? Great review btw, very helpful! Thanks!
Finally a review of this watch that goes into swimming in detail. Great review. Thanks.
+Sc00teX Unfortunately the swimming features are fairly limited. On the Garmin Vivoactive 3 you get strokes per minute, total strokes, strokes per lap, SWOLF score, etc. On the Fitbit you only get total time, total distance, and lap times (plus calories). Neither watch offers heart rate tracking natively, but with the Vivoactive you can pair it with their waterproof chest strap to enable hr data.
Techy Agent. Yep, i think the Garmin will be the one for me. I'm just thankful that you have addressed the swimming features of the Ionic to help me make my decision. Huge like from me. Keep up the good work!
@@TechyAgent Hello does this tracker support GPS with swimming (open water ) ??
Agree with your summary. I had an Apple watch and stopped using it. It tries to do too much and I want something more health focused. So far the Ionic has been more accurate in heart rate tracking while weight training. I'm really glad I invested in this.
+Sharon Rogers Great! It’s good to get feedback like this, thanks for sharing
Iconic heart rate is a lot better than the surge hr, and Fitbit blaze
I picked it up today, and i swear to god this thing is so light i thought i dropped it when i went on a run. I felt nothing.
+John Smith yes, amazingly light
Yes, it is extremely comfortable.
Thats amazing, thats exactly what im looking for, im getting it today
If you call Fitbit and let them know you lost your Fitbit tracker they will send you an email with a 40% discount to keep you in the family , I currently purchased the ionic orange blue for a whopping $149.00 ....
You could buy a replacement pebble off ebay for around half that price and then just buy the strap from somewhere for like 15$
When their original tracker came out in 2008, they would replace it if you lost or broke it. More than once. They clipped on your clothes back then and I put mine through the washer and dryer. Fitbit replaced it. I went on to do that 4 more times in the 2 years I used it and they replaced it every time. Great customer service from Fitbit.
would love an in-depth comparison with the Vivoactive 3
+Ian McNabb That’s definitely in the works, I’m hoping to do a 4 way comparison between the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro, Vivoactive 3, Fitbit Ionic, and Apple Watch 3
+Techy Agent looking forward to it, the Vivoactive HR is feeling a little dated and had connectivity issues when I tried the beta version of their update in the app, fixed that by reinstalling the app, but I think the Vivoactive 3 is the classier of those 4 in your future comparison vid
+Ian McNabb I prefer the looks of the Vivoactive 3 as well
Fantastic review that covers not just techy features but real world exercises and how the watch handles them -- especially how the watch handles timing out and going black to save on battery - which renders an exercise watch completely useless if it doesn't provide the ability to stay always on like this one does. I must have watched a half dozen reviews and yours is the first to cover this - thanks!
Thanks! Glad it was helpful
Hey Eric...can we get a comparision between apple watch series 3 vs fitbit ionic?
+Rahul Pati yes, once I have the chance to do a single review of the Apple Watch 3, I will definitely do a comparison between those two, as well as the Samsung Gear Fit2 and Garmin Vivoactive 3.
Does it track a real time pace for when running? It’s important for me to know my pace while running
+David Shaw Yes, it does, and it does a great job too
That NEFF hat 🔥, great vid and very informational especially about the music piece.
Ha! I love Neff skating and surfing apparel!
As always, great review Eric. One quick thing though. Can you compare the Ionic's optical HR to any external chest strap for HIIT, Cardio, weight lifting and other strenuous exercises? You used to show them in your previous videos by showing off both the wrists but not in this. Appreciate your update to the video.
+Keshav V I’ll see what I can do. On most of these newer videos, I compare the data to my Fenix 5X paired with a Scosche Rhythm Plus arm band sensor. Also, just based on hundreds of hours in the gym, I have a pretty good idea of what my typical heart rate ranges tend to be. Some viewers felt my reviews were too technical, so I’ve stopped going into my methods for determining accuracy, but I appreciate your request and will take it into consideration!
Hi, how does the watch notify you, if you have a notification like a message oder email ? Maybe vibration?
Just a bit of correction. Support for fitbit pay doesn't have anything to do with retailers. It has to do with the bank they are with. If the bank doesn't support it, then any retailer banking with them can't support it.
A well rounded watch that's square
+VegetablesGoOff haha, indeed it is!
Great video, area the red sensors working yet?, of not do your know when they will?
The Best Review!Good Job Dude
Ionic vs Vivoactive 3 Please! This is what I've learned so far, correct me if I'm wrong but VA3 can connect to ANT+ hr monitors and footpods, etc. and Ionic can not. VA3 gives cadence and recovery times and Ionic does not. VA3 has training programs designed for 5k, 10k etc and Ionic does not (without paying for each) I've got the Surge, had since it was first released, been glitchy whole time and their tech support was useless and after my screen cracked, they just offered a 20% discount on a new one. So I'm prob going VA3 myself though want to wait for a few more real world reviews and also like the extra analytics offered through Garmin that Fitbit doesn't have. Also some early reviews like DCRainmaker and few others showed Garmin to be more accurate HR and GPS (might just be a 'tester unit' that all the reviewes get thing). The Vivoactive 3 also supports standard 20mm quick-release bands so they can be replaced with bands of different colors and materials. Ionic has very few 3rd party bands making custimization tougher. DC Rainmaker just updated the product comparison chart - put VA3 beside Ionic and you'll see the only thing Ionic has the VA3 doesn't is onboard music and VA3 has 24 features Ionic does not! Back you on board music - do people not have an iPod or mp3 player anymore? Who wants to fork out more money on Bluetooth headphones? Personally I think hard core athletes will favor the extra stats and info of garmin as fitbit just hasnt caught up to them.
+John Perkins 100% agree with all of this. I still do wish the VA3 had onboard music storage, but that aside, I prefer it over the Fitbit Ionic. One thing I do like about the Ionic is the all metal construction. I would have liked an all aluminum body on the VA3. That being said, if I had to choose one or the other, my personal preference would be the VA3 because of the advanced metrics it offers, and the ANT+ and Bluetooth sensor compatibility
Actually I'm in the same boat I'm trying to decide whether or not I want to purchase the VA 3 or the FBI because I had the vivoactive HR since October 2016 and just about 2 weeks ago the touch screen on the device became detached from the polycarbonate housing and now the touch screen does not work at all of course it still receives notifications but it has really given me a big question in regards garmin's reliability when it comes to dealing with this next device... I'm also trying to make a decision between these two options because I want to buy the company and scale but with the Fitbit Aria 2 it gives less information than the Garmin index
I was in the same place! Ionic or Vivoactive? These watches are very close, I chose the Ionic because of the looks and because of the screen. In my opinion VA3 has a low resolution and dark display and it looks kinda cheap to me. Hope i helped you :)
I went with the Ionic because of the music. That is big time for me. Having everything integrated into something that sits on the wrist comfortably is very nice. I want to have as little as possible with me when on those longer runs. I prefer bluetooth headphones when I am running/ working out anyway.
Does the Fitbit ionic track the elliptical. During the winter. I go to the gym alot. The elliptical is one of my favorites.
This is a good review. I should be getting mine very soon. My Blaze quit after one year!
Great review! I searched everywhere but does it count reps like the vivo?? I saw your review on the vivo and was immediately sold on that feature alone, thats just crazy
It does not count reps, but in all honesty that’s a feature that I don’t quite understand. It’s not that hard to count reps. And even though it does do an automatic logging of the reps, it is a little bit of a pain to enter in the weight and make corrections when it counts incorrectly.
Great review, really thorough and good job!
Great review Eric!! I have had this Fitbit for 1 week, and I am having issues with it. It keeps loosing connection to my iPhone. It is very annoying!! Also, GPS takes awhile to connect when I go walking/ running... I should get my Apple Watch series 3 in 2-3 weeks and once I do I will be returning this Fitbit to REI. Keep up the great work!!
+Kendra Orndorff Thanks Kendra! I have not had any issues with mine so far, fingers crossed 🤞. You will probably beat me to the new Apple Watch, I have so many other reviews I have to get to! REI is great, fantastic return policy.
Thanks for the review. I currently have the blaze. After using it for a year and a half the battery doesn't last for maybe 2 days now and that's with notifications and move reminder turned off. So i hope the iconic is a little tougher.
+tweety1028801 Yes, Fitbit has a nasty track record of having wearables that tend to fall apart or stop working after a couple of years. I hope that the longevity of this device is much better
Love the reviews. Have subscribed ! What do you recommend between the Fitbit Iconic and Garmin vivoactive 3 ? I do weights, some rowing, running, walking and play sports.
+Ben Rex Either one will be great, really! It comes down to your personal preference on software/app and overal look. I think they will be about equal in terms of tracking weightlifting, rowing, running, walking, and other miscellaneous sports. As I mentioned in my review, the Fitbit Ionic will be more intuitive and easier to use, while the Garmin Vivoactive will be a little more complicated but it also offers more details in the metrics for things like running (cadence, vo2 max, etc)
Thankyou very much. Does the Fitbit Iconic count reps etc when doing weights like the Garmin Vivoactive? Sorry for all the questions just want the best one suited for me. Cheers
I got it for a few days and just returned it. I am going to wait for the variability firmware update before I start my review. One of the main reasons that I want to do that is because I think I have some sleep issues, but it hasn't been an issue, but I want to track my heart rate during my sleep a bit better than the vivosmart 3 that I have right now does. Do you think this might be good after that update?
+Matthew Walden yes, I think it will be good after the update, although fitbit hasn’t been specific about what features they will implement and how they will present that data. So it may be a couple of months before they get around to that firmware update.
Hey Eric I am working in Garmin can u please tell me what's the messurlly diffrent fitbit ionic an vivo active I know that Garmin is better according to.all off but In India recently not launch right now both model but I love my garmin
Great review Eric! My question is the comfort of the design. I am a rock climber (although I've been out for about a year on injury) and need something that won't dig into me too bad or feel particularly uncomfortable while climbing. Does it feel okay during exercises with lots of wrist flexion? I'm worried the edges are too sharp as opposed to gear fit 2 pro, garmin vivoactive HR, apple watch, or other devices. Thanks.
+Catherine Powers this won’t give your wrist a lot of flexibility. The straps and body are too wide. The Garmin Vivoactive 3 is a little lighter on the wrist, and offers more flexibility. The Gear Fit2 Pro is also oddly stiff, for being a smaller watch.
The heart rate tracking is excellent ( a little latency). I did a 300 calorie row on a Concept ii while wearing the Ionic on my left wrist and a Garmin VivoActive 2 (with ant chest strap) on my right and they matched beat for beat and calorie count too (sadly the Concept 2 over estimated calories, I think). One thing that is missing (for my use) is indoor erg rowing as an app, the Garmin does this well. The look of the Ionic is subjective but I love it.
+Andrew Stuart cool, thanks for sharing! I like the look too. I was skeptical when the renders first came out, but in person it looks like great. The build quality is definitely there.
Hey Eric, good job with the vid bruh. I’m in the process of looking for a replacement for my old Fitbit surge and the Garmin fenix 5x is on the top of my shopping list. Apart from the mp3 capability of the ionic, why someone would choose the fenix 5s over this?
+lton The Fenix 5 offers advanced mapping capabilities for those who enjoy outdoor adventure sports (hiking, climbing, skiing, hunting, etc). The GPS battery life of the Fenix is also substantially better, so it’s good for someone who is looking to use gps frequently. The Fenix is also comparable with ANT+ and Bluetooth peripherals like external sensors, VIRB cameras, and more. The Ionic doesn’t offer that.
Regarding the Fenix 5 and all Garmin, what I'm hearing is connectivity and complicated interface issues. Of course, the Fenix is $500 vs $300. But to me, connectivity problems are a deal breaker.
So if you're cycling.. does it give your speed while you're cycling?
I am confused, there is the fit bit ionic and then there is the fit bit ionic Adidas what is the difference and which one you recommend?
Would you recommend this over the Samsung Gear Sport for strength exercise and indoor running?
Hi.. good review... a few others have mention the software is buggy... which I'm sure will get sorted but did you find it buggy.. and if so how much?
Cheers
+Borrow Kitchen I’ve not had any issues with buggy software so far
Hey Eric;
Can you see if there is any separation between the display and the frame at the top? There are quite a few people reporting an issue with that in the Fitbit forum and people being able to see light come through between the display and frame when in a dark room, with brightness maxed. A few people have reported their Fitbit's dying after going for a swim, although unsure if that's related or not.
+Curtis B i’ve heard about this issue and mine does not have this problem. It appears that it’s probably a quality control issue that Fitbit will have to deal with. That space or gap could definitely be related to the Fitbits That are dying in the water. Again, mine hasn’t had any problems, At least not yet!
Good to know. Thanks!
I got my Ionic, in my device all is fine, but "weird thing" I have seen a Fitbit advertise video with that issue - kinda crazy - mine is perfect btw, I honestly love it so much even if it need some software adjustment.
Great review !!! What do You think about the HR rate sensor? What Do You think is the best between this one, Garmin Elevate and Suunto Valencell?
+giatrus70 I think the Fitbit sensor is probably ever so slightly better than the Garmin Elevate, but barely. After that, the Garmin sensor. Then the Valencell sensor. To be honest with you, I would have expected the exact opposite order going into my reviews, but based on my testing, this was my subjective experience
Techy Agent thanks a lot !! 😊
so I can wear the watch while swimming or shower right? waterproof?
Does the watch show WhatsApp messages and how can I know if my device is supported? Can I record my exercise and navigate back to the start point?
I’m not sure, I haven’t ever tested it with that app
Nice review , this will maybe change my mind on buying the Fenix 3 Hr. I do weightlifting , TRX and Crosstraining. Do you think the Fitbit Ionic will work better for me? Does it have better HR sensors and generally is it a better tool for this type of workout than the Fenix 3 Hr?
I do think it has a better heart rate sensor than the Fénix 3HR, or at least better accuracy because the Fénix Is so heavy it tends to move around and throw off the heart rate sensor during weightlifting
Thanks for your advice agent
Thanks for your excellent reviews. I use my fitness tracker also as a vibrating alarm. Between the Ionic and the the Vivoactive which has the stronger vibration for alerts and alarms? I've read your comment that the Ionic is better than the Vivoactive 3 for ALL DAY tracking. Doesn't the Garmin track your ALL DAY activities? In what way is the Ionic better in that regard? I'm very interested in the HRV and stress tool of the Garmin. Did you find it useful? Will the Ionic be getting that feature when the new sensor is activated? I think you mentioned that in your video but I haven't seen anything from fitbit about that, I've seen than they will have a sensor that will check blood oxygen levels which I don't know if I'll find useful. Thanks!
+bainkel in terms of vibrating alarms in alerts, I would say they are about equal. I would agree that the Fitbit is better for all day tracking/sleep. The Vivoactive 3 does also have all day tracking, but Fitbit presents the data in a more helpful manner. But Garmin is catching up and offers a stress score now too. The Fitbit sensor for Oxygen saturation and heart rate variability has not yet been activated
Any idea when the red heart rate will be activated?
Love your reviews!! How does it track calories versus the Gear Fit 2 Pro for you? Mine have been about 1000 calories higher on the fitbit ionic at the end of the day.
+Brian Miralli The Samsung Gear Fit 2 has been a little low, in my opinion, by about 500-600 calories. However the Fitbit Ionic felt a little high, by about 400 calories. I think Polar and Garmin have the most accurate calorie counting algorithms.
Techy Agent thanks for that info. Glad I'm not the only one having those issues. Tried the vivoactive 3 for about 4 hours before it locked up on me and died. After I got the ionic. Trying to figure out which is better. Have until the 18th to return the Samsung lol. The Ionic threw me when I was driving all day and burned 3500 calories. So trying to figure this out lol.
+Brian Miralli Haha! Well good luck to you! None of these wearables are perfect, but once you find one that helps you stay motivated and gives you fairly accurate data, they can be a great fitness tool!
does it track your heartrate during swimming?
Great review, many thanks!
Hey Eric. Nice review. There's only one Watch in this price range that I know of with Triathlon functions, the Suunto Spartan Trainer HR. Why did the VA3 get put down to a 9? I don't remember you giving it a score.
+John Manley I gave it a nine mostly because it did not have built in music storage. Music storage is offered by Fitbit and Samsung now, so that’s why I gave it a 9. The VA3 lets you have a triathlon mode with third party apps in the Garmin Connect IQ store, so it passed that test.
Techy Agent I forgot about the music. Good point. That's a big miss.
I would appreciate it if you could pay some attention to smart features as well, since this is in this hybrid segment like vivoactive 3 between smartwatch and sportwatch. Great review though, as usual
+Arnau Via Martinez-seara Yeah, sorry for glossing over those. Let me know if you have any questions regarding smart features. The NFC payments work great, I used it to buy groceries and it was super easy. I did not try the Starbucks payment feature. The weather app is also easy and accurate, and the music playback was okay. You have to Plug the watch into your computer in order to upload music. Unfortunately you can’t do that directly from the phone.
I realky like fitbit's feature but i am concerened about 20 or 30 measuring limit.
Great review.. trying to decide between this and Garmin vivosport 3 and Hawaui Watch 2...
+Jeremy Caron I have a review up for the Vivoactive 3 in case you haven’t checked out. I’ll have a review for the Vivosport up in the next week
that would be great.. I seem to like vivo better.. fitbit seems cheap but ive never handled it. but otherwise both are very similar and i kinda like garmin app a bit more - cant wait I currently have the blaze
Jeremy Caron.
Major problem is tech support with a specific problem or question. There is none, no phone support, not even a manual for download. Warranty seems to be a problem as well. A few users complained about scratches on the face soon after purchased and Fitbit just ignore them. I’m getting some protective case covers on order. Pairing with my phone is a hit or miss like tracking stock prices or weather in real time. Sometimes it just freezes unable to update for hours. Talking about freezing, my Ionic locked up a few times were the home/back button would not respond. There must be a way to reset it? Who knows without a manual and no tech support? Music file download is laughable super slow like watching ice melt. Other that, it's fine. Nice and bright in daylight, good basic functions and looking forward to the sleep update.
Okay, I've found an answer buried deep in the community forum by accident. Hope there are more solutions in the forum, but have to look for it like prospecting for gold. So much better if a downloadable manual is provided.
Hello ...can i pair the ionic with polar h10 and the milestone footpod at the same time ???
Middletown Kentucky? This would have been perfect for me if they'd have the ability to pair with my Polar H10
Middletown Ohio. And I agree, I really wish this had the ability to connect with external sensors
how accurate is it for racket sports calories sports count
While swimming can you turn on the watch (hand out of the water) and view how many laps you have done? Thanks
By turning on the watch, if you mean does it show your times/pace/other relevant metrics, yes. It will show that data. If that doesn’t answer your question feel free to elaborate.
I’ve taken at swimming twice, only done 10 laps each time for testing purposes, as this is not my daily wearable
If you were a serious Crossfit athlete that ocasionaly did some MTB, swimming or solo running, what watch would you chose to help you?
+Miguel Ferreira Pinto what metrics are important to you? Accurate calories? Accurate distance? Accurate heart rate? Depending on what you’re number one and number two priorities are, my answer might vary
Techy Agent probably calories and recovery. The other metrics are just important for a montlhy comparaison. I was looking at the whoop, but I think it is too expensieve for what it is...
ionic fitbit watch doent always on when i lift my hand to see time .. any solutions ?
Can the ionic work with Run keeper? Does the built in Run program give comparable info to Run keeper? I am so wanting to run without my phone! Thanks..Great review!!
It will give similar info as runkeeper, yes, but as far as I know the Fitbit app cant export to runkeeper
does it track your heart rate when you swim?
Great review!
Does it have lap counter like for track workouts?
+Jose Eduardo Tschen Yes, you can do it one of two ways: 1- you can manually hit a button to record a lap or 2- you can set a custom lap distance to override the automatic lap distances of 1 mike or 1 km. So if you are running on a track that is 400 meters, you can set the watch to record a lap every 400 meters
+Techy Agent typo: mike=mile
Thank you! Does the VA3 have lap counter too like the 2 options you said for the Fitbit Ionic?
will it track on a stationary Gym Bike??
i unsuccessfully tried to download a cc only to find out that my card is not one that is an acceptable card. Now I am stuck entering a 4 digit code every time my watch face turns on, It is so annoying. How can I delete this feature?
FYI you can only download 3 stations on Pandora to the watch a time. So probably around 120 songs.
Good point, thanks for sharing it
I got it. (1) Incredibly light, (2) GPS works, (3) Does load music (4) Good battery life. CONS (1) clunky interface, (2) the Bluetooth is weak and not all headphones will sound or work well with it, (3) Uploading music in a hassle --need phone, computer and watch working together plus 45+ minutes, (4) Fitbit pay works on limited machines and with limited banks.
Overall, I didn't want to spend $400+ for the Forerunner 645 for music. The Apple battery life is weak and the controls are for a smartwatch and not a fitness tracker. The GPS (non-cellular) sucks an already bad battery life to nearly desperate levels quickly. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a smartwatch that does fitness-- the apple watch still may be a better option (especially if you are already invested in apple). But I wanted this for fitness, not status or a smartwatch (my phone is tethered to me most of the day-- I want a break from it when running)
If I can get the right headphones, I will keep this for a long time. Right now, my cheap apple bud knockoffs connect well but they are horrible for running. My other "sport" sport headphones fit well but the connection is scratchy/clicky. SO I am getting the Fitbit fly on Monday and hopefully, that will fix that.
If you stick with the interface, it does get easier to navigate but not as intuitive as my Charge 2, which was really wear-and-go. If you want fitness, GPS, and music-- then this is your watch. It is NOT a smartwatch.
No swimming stroke-counter is a big bummer.
+Melvin Chong I agree
Hey Eric ! Thanks for this video ! Amazing watch :) I have some questions for you :
1/ about calories counting ... Does the watch count calories 24/7 or only during working out ?
2/ about reps counting in gym: does it work great?
3/ about outdoor activity (pull-ups, push-ups, HIIT etc...): does the watch track this kind of activity?
4/ about indoor biking and/or fitness stepper/climber: does the watch track this kind of activity?
Thanks for your help :)
Laurent
The watch does count calories 24 / 7. Rep counting is still not worth using (in my opinion) because it slows me down too much in the gym. It will track outdoor activity and indoor activity, but it won’t track your form or wraps, but it will track your calories and heart rate. Regarding indoor biking or using a fitness climber, this will track both of those exercises, specifically if you are looking to keep tabs on your heart rate and calories
thank you very much eric ;)
Hey bro , does it automatically identify which type of exercise Im doing when doing weight training or is thr a way we can enter manually or neither of the two and it dies not identify at all. Eg if Im performing bench press is there a way to enter that into the watch
Can you reply to messages and talk into the device?
No we can't do that.
We can only view. :)
Eric do you recommend purchase of fitbit
+Hasan Ozyay I think the Fitbit Ionic and Garmin Vivoactive 3 are the best choices right now.
I don't like fitbit products but you ERIC is the best!
+scott1986 thanks Scott!
Between vivo active 3 and Fitbit ionic which one do you prefer.
+Hasan Ozyay I personally like the Vivoactive 3 better for exercise tracking and the Fitbit Ionic better for smart features and all day tracking.
What is the bluetooth connection with earbuds like? Riz says it was spotty which is too bad since I dig having music stored on the watch
+Dave Glass With the cheap sets I use it did fine, but I haven’t tried the Fitbit buds.
Can I use it in open ocean like in Mediterranean Sea because I’m going there on holiday and I was wondering whether I could wear it in the ocean
I think the water rating is designed for freshwater. If the Mediterranean Sea has salt water, it might damage the unit.
This or polar m430 or tom tom spark 3 for gym
you think ionic would be good for kickboxing? i am debating between vivoactive 3 and ionic
+lifemusicelovee The only worry I would have about using the Fitbit Ionic is that it does not have the ability to pair with an external heart rate sensor, so if the heart rate sensor that is built-in doesn’t do a good job tracking exercise, you don’t have the option to get an external heart rate sensor like you would if you got the Garmin
thanks for the reply! it's just hard to part with Fitbit because I have the charge 2, but unfortunately I'm leaning towards vivoactive 3 in terms of design, in depth fitness info, and firmware updates. well I'll be waiting for your comparison vid!
i am now in another dilemma lol debating between vivoa 3 and now gear sport. hope you can make a vid on gear sport separately and compare between the two!
It says it tracks laps but does that actually work?
They said Gear Fit2 pro would do this. Didnt work at all.
Test it this week and it tracks number of laps . It knows and detects backstroke as well. I do knot if it recognizes butterfly stroke? . By the way you have to be on SWIM MODE For Swim accuracies. I am still exploring it . Good luck on your quest
Then for HR Accuracy (and other fitness metrics in general) and sport do you suggest the Vivoactive 3?
In first place i can tell that the unique thing that makes the Fitbit better (beside the music storage) are the red sensors that aren't active...am I right? +Techy Agent
Yeah, I’d say you are correct. And yes, right now I’d recommend the VA3
+Techy Agent thank you for the answer mate...i still don't know what to buy (maybe the Vivoactive 3 is too much for me, i will not use a lot of integrated sports) and i'm considering also VivoSport and VivoSmart 3 (that i think are the same but without the Garmin Store and GPS for the Smart 3)...but well at least it will be a Garmin :D
PS Of course every advice from you is appreciated :)
thanks great info
great review dude
Thanks!
Do we need a smartphone connected to the watch for GPS to be accurate while jogging?
No, because it has its own gps separate from your phone
@@TechyAgent Thanks
How was HR in swimming mode?
+Renato Gonçalves Ah! I forgot to mention that! The heart rate tracking in swim mode is disabled because optical heart rate sensors tend to be inaccurate in the water
Too bad that... :(
I've read/heard that if you don't turn on the swim mode, the watch recognizes movement and does quite well in tracking HR. If someone could confirm/reject that I would really appreciate it!
Does it have vibration alerts? And, how difficult is it to get your saved songs from your iTunes from your computer and onto the watch?
+CanyonMiniCooper It’s not terribly hard, you have to plug the watch into your computer so it’s a hassle, but it’s not complicated.
Yes, it does have vibrating alerts.
+Techy Agent Thanks!
How do you think it would compare to the upcoming Samsung gear sport?
The Gear Sport has the same HR sensor as the newly released Gear Fit2 Pro, which I've been testing for the last 10 days. It's okay, but it's not on par with what Garmin and Fitbit are offering right now. That being said, Samsung's screens are easily the best, and they offer music storage and bluetooth playback, and they offer good smart features that surpass both Garmin and Fitbit. On the health side of things, they are still a little behind though.
Will there be a possibility to connect ext heart rate sensor to Samsung gear sport?
Janne Halla-aho The S-Health app offers a list of compatible heart rate monitors and other accessories
+Briana McCormick I think it will be better in some ways and worse in others. I’ve been testing both for the last 10 days or so, and the Fitbit does a better job tracking exercise on its own. But the Samsung does have a few wins: the screen is amazing, it can pair with external hr sensors, etc
Are you sure it notifies you of email? If so, how do you set it up? Thanks.
Depending on your phone, you may have to enable those notifications.
It’s hard to give you a step-by-step unless I know which phone you are using
It’s expensive but it’s the only watch from fitbit to get a GPS
I bought new Fitbit Ionic and gps is inaccurate. Is there anybody else tje same problem and is it solved?
Same Circk i have it & its mostly accurate but not completely but my apple watch series 4 maps out my workouts perfectly
vo2 max?
Does it take your hr while swimming?
No, unfortunately not
Does it offer GPS tracks when hiking or walking like the F3/F5 line does? How does GPS & HR accuracy compare to the VA3?
+Tanya Bakerwitz The GPS and HR accuracy are about equal in comparison with the VA3. The biggest difference between the two are that the VA3 is less user-friendly, but it does offer more advanced metrics. The Fitbit Ionic is far more user friendly, but it lacks a few basic health tracking features the Garmin has. The Fitbit doesn’t really do “breadcrumbs” like an outdoor gps watch, it just tracks the gps route (you can review later in the app) and it tracks the health stats (distance, steps, calories, etc)
No 3rd party apps for breadcrumbing like there is for Garmin? Does it offer rep counter?
+Tanya Bakerwitz No, it doesn’t have any third party apps for breadcrumbs, unfortunately. It doesn’t offer rep counting either.
That;s a bummer. Thank you for the reply.
+Tanya Bakerwitz 👍
How about to compare with the vivoactive 3 really confused it with that
+chakorvikram Yes, I will have a comparison video here in the next couple of weeks
Techy Agent hey but apple is more over like a smartwatch and less of a fitness watch ......it's battery life is also terrible . So it should not be in comparison with Fitbit or Garmin . On the other hand the sleep apnea which fitbit is boosting about to track is not that easy just with a wrist band or a red sensor it requires to take ur breath analysis . But please compare the two Garmin and Fitbit from a fitness prespective and then some smartwatch prespective . The only selling point for Fitbit is guess is the music storage , but ppl now a days can't stay without there phone , so doesn't make a much difference.
The touch screen is not snappy. It is extremely laggy for a 2017 device. That is not hard to see.
+SourStrawberrys I would say that it is not snappy compared to true smart watches, but compared to other fitness trackers, it is an improvement. But your point is well taken: processing speed needs to improve on these smart watch/Fitness tracker hybrids
What about indoor spin cycling?
Yes, I think it works great for indoor cycling! It won’t give you your distance but it will give you an accurate idea of your heart rate and calories burned
So I see where it doesn't give distance for indoor cycling, and I don't know if there's a difference or not...but it'll give you distance for outdoor biking, right? Also, do you know if the red sensors are working yet? Great review btw, very helpful! Thanks!
do you still use this an can u answer phone calls on this ?
You can "answer" calls but you still have to use your phone to talk.
Great review Eric! I am really not a fan of this style compared to others in this category. It's nice that this has internal music storage though.
+Garrett Russell For sure, it’s a feature that isn’t on the Vivoactive 3 (and for that I was disappointed)
Well aluminum is a light weight metal
My fitbit pay does not work with my card. Oh well. Maybe that's a good thing?
It depends on the issuer of the card. I have had some cards work and some don’t, depending on the bank or company.
Gray blue is really purple. I learned the hard way
+James Dickerson haha! Oh no!
Techy Agent yea. So if anyone gets one of a different color hit me up and I'll trade you my small for your large.
is that middletown, ohio ??
+bobby burress Yes! You know if Middletown?
*of
Just got my ionic, the Fitbit pay is essentially useless if you live in the UK, only 2 credit card supported 💩
That stinks
I was all about the red sensor 😢 I'll wait
+True Flex Yes, I was disappointed that it’s not active yet
I took it two times in the pool after 1year of having it and it died 1month after!
There is the sandisk mp3 bluetooth player. (dont need phone)
+davestimesheets I think my very first MP3 player was a Sandisk!
Why to have this watch in case your technics in exercises are awful? All of them!!
I will stick with garmin fenix 3, a sports watch with smart notifications
😀😀😀😀😀😀