Fitbit has issued a safety recall for two of its popular smartwatch models, the Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Versa 3, following concerns that their batteries may overheat and potentially cause burns to users.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced that certain units of these devices, sold between August 1, 2020 and September 30, 2023, could pose a thermal safety risk.
In response, Fitbit has released a firmware update that it believes mitigates the issue through a new battery management system.
What should the consumer do?
“Consumers do not need to return their devices to receive the firmware update,” the ACCC stated, adding that the update can be installed remotely.
Owners of the affected models can determine whether their smartwatch is impacted by completing an online form available on Fitbit’s website.
The form allows users to check if their device requires the firmware and whether the updated system has been successfully activated.
Fitbit has clarified that not all devices within the date range are affected. Devices that are not at risk will operate normally with or without the update, which will not alter performance for unaffected units.
Refund or replacement
The ACCC advised that consumers may be entitled to a remedy under Australian Consumer Law, including a refund or replacement, if the issue is not resolved or if the device fails to meet consumer guarantees.
Fitbit has indicated that users of impacted devices may also be eligible for appeasement. Once the update has been applied, consumers can continue using their smartwatch as usual.