Fitbit Ionic major update adds more than 100 watch faces, new apps, Deezer support

by Cosmin Vasile / Dec 05, 2017, 2:03 PM

Fitbit Ionic major update adds more than 100 watch faces, new apps, Deezer support

Fitbit's smartwatch, the Ionic made its debut in the United States about a month ago. The wearable device is powered by a proprietary OS, as Fitbit didn't want to use Android Wear or Tizen. The so-called Fitbit OS has just received a major update that brings a lot of new features and improvements.

For starters, the update adds more than 100 clock faces now available to Fitbit Ionic owners. You'll be able to customize your smartwatch and have at-a-glance access to info like heart rate, goal progress, and other relevant info.

Along with these watch faces, Fitbit also implemented new apps like The New York Times, Uber, Flipboard, Nest, Philips Hue Lights, Yelp and many others. Also, Fitbit announced it has teamed up with streaming music service Deezer to give Ionic users instant access to their favorite tunes right from their wrist. According to Fitbit, Deezer streaming music service will be available sometime in 2018, so don't look for it now.

Finally, the update is supposed to bring many under the hood improvements like faster touch interactions, as well as updates to Fitbit Pay, including the support for multi-card payments and expanded banks.

source: Fitbit

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5 Comments

1. meanestgenius

Posts: 22815; Member since: May 28, 2014

I just purchased the Fitbit Ionic last week, and wasn't terribly wowed by it. I was going to return it, but I think I'll hold off now to check out this update.

posted on Dec 05, 2017, 2:56 PM 1

2. Crispin_Gatieza

Posts: 3190; Member since: Jan 23, 2014

I have the Blaze and I've been holding off on getting the Ionic. Right now it's the only watch that effectively provides notifications on Android, iOS and especially Windows 10 Mobile. I'm sure that when Wells Fargo is supported for Fitbit Pay I'll jump in.

posted on Dec 05, 2017, 5:03 PM 1

3. meanestgenius

I actually chose the Ionic because it was the newer of the two. Thought it might offer features over the Blaze. I’m updating it as we speak so I can check out all of the new features.

posted on Dec 05, 2017, 8:51 PM 1

5. Brewski

Posts: 737; Member since: Jun 05, 2012

I had the Blaze last year and wanted to upgrade so I bought the Ionic 2 weeks after it came out. I was pleased with the upgrades over the Blaze and would have been happy if it stayed the way it was. But now with this new update yesterday it is like a whole new watch again! Apps, apps, so many APPS!!!! Tons of new apps to do a bunch of new/cool things (flashlights, games, calculators, altimeter, currency trackers) all from your wrist! So many new watch faces and most of them have some sort of customization available. If you were on the fence about getting the Ionic due to software bugs and lack of support, now is the time to buy. This was a HUGE update and I can't see why there won't be more to come.