Accessories

Fitbit Ionic review: What forced me to get fit

Their very first smartwatch!

Published

February 8, 2018

Isa Rodriguez

I had previously reviewed the Fitbit Alta HR (and actually used it as my tracker for a long while) so I was pretty excited when the Ionic was announced. Fitbit, known for its fitness wearables, had finally ventured into the smartwatch category and there were pretty high expectations. With those expectations came questions: Would the watch perform well? Would it look and feel like a Fitbit? What other functions would it have?

I’ve been using the Ionic for around a week now and these are my thoughts on it.

It looks and feels like a Fitbit

The Ionic has a unibody aluminum case and ships with their classic bands, made with the same elastomer materials as most sport watch bands. It feels sturdy and solid and it isn’t so heavy. The smartwatch comes in three versions: smoke gray face with a charcoal band, silver gray face with a blue-gray band, and the burnt orange face with a slate blue band which I tested out.

The watch face, though pretty big, is something me and my tiny wrists can live with. It’s surprisingly thick, however. Thankfully, you don’t really notice that detail once you’re wearing it.

There are three buttons on the watch: the back button on the left, the upper-right button which brings you to daily statistics, and the lower-right button which directs you to different exercise start screens.

It’s a touchscreen display, too, so navigation isn’t limited to those buttons. Swipe up for notifications, swipe left for quick settings, and swipe right for the main menu. It’s pretty responsive, though the lift to wake function does get slow at times.

My intense I-work-out look

Fitbit devices have a certain look that screams “I work out,” and the Ionic still has that vibe.

Usually perfect when you’re rocking workout clothes, this Fitbit will not match all your outfits, unfortunately.

Grays and minimal accessories, otherwise the look would clash with the Ionic

Fortunately, it does a decent job at trying — which means with a little extra effort (i.e. wearing neutral colors and staying away from dresses), it won’t look as comical with your everyday casual wear.

The screen is amazing

What I like about the Ionic is how the 1.42-inch screen feels so… wide. Now, I know, it’s a teeny thing, but navigation on the square screen with gestures was pretty enjoyable considering it’s still the size of a watch face.

It has four brightness settings: dim, normal, max, and auto. The screen is capable of 10,000 nits which is a number that meant nothing to me — until I tested it against bright outdoor lighting and I saw the light (pun intended); I could still see the display even with the harsh lighting.

Details on the screen are crisp and the display is pretty responsive. It’s also made out of Gorilla Glass so it shouldn’t scratch or break easily.

It’s a smartwatch!

The Ionic allows you to see notifications from your phone, and even read full messages (sans photos) on the screen.

Handy tip: When you read Facebook messages on the Ionic, they are not marked “read” on the Facebook app.

It works in tandem with the Fitbit app, like previous Fitbit wearables. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth and syncs your information — steps, heart rate, exercise, sleep — with the app. The software collates all of this and sends you weekly reports via email.

And because it’s a smartwatch, you can install apps on it! App selection is still limited at this point, though there are useful ones out there. Yelp, Philipps Hue, HIIT timer, Pomodoro, and Flipboard are all available for download.

The Ionic also has built-in storage, a trend we’re seeing in recent wearables, so that you can take your music to go. This means you won’t have to bring your phone on that quick run because you can play your music directly from the device.

Battery life is at three to four days, depending on your notification settings.

It has a whole range of fitness features

Of course, the Ionic is designed with fitness in mind. It has built-in personal exercise coaching programs; each one walks you through the whole routine with details on each exercise which basically leaves you with no excuse to not work out.

It also has preset programs for certain activities like running, biking, weightlifting, and interval training. This allows you to properly track each exercise routine.

Aside from the usual Fitbit features like step tracking and calorie counting, this device is equipped with a continuous heart rate monitor.

“But Isa, most trackers have a heart rate monitor!”

Yes, except turning them on totally kills the battery life on other devices. The Ionic’s heart rate monitor is continuously on by default and in my experience, the battery still lasts three to four days.

You can also use the Ionic to track your swimming exercises because it’s waterproof!

But, this isn’t the end of Ionic’s impressive fitness features.

There are also very, very fun functions

Thing is, you can track movement all you want but without the initiative to work out, you have nothing. Despite all modern fitness tracking features, no smartwatch has ever gotten me to actually exercise — until now.

The Fitbit Pets watch face is a total game changer for me. Developed by Fitbit Labs, it almost forces you to go work out… with cuteness. Each pet face lives on in your watch. To feed it, you need a certain number of steps in a day. Otherwise, your pet will leave you a heartbreaking letter asking you to feed it. 💔

One too many times, I’ve gone and exercised because I didn’t want my virtual doggo to starve. Talk about motivation!

The true treasure here is your health, TBH

Treasure Trek is also a Fitbit Labs app that gamifies your activity. It’s a treasure hunt powered by your step count!

Verdict

In the looks department, the Ionic didn’t quite do it for me. To be perfectly honest, I’m not a big fan of its design. Though I do understand that this is Fitbit’s signature look, I still feel like the whole point of a fitness wearable is to have it on all the time. For me to be able to do that, it has to be able to match things other than sports and athleisure wear. I say it again: Like other Fitbit, the Ionic still screams “I work out!” The blue and orange color option (which is the only bright color option) doesn’t help either.

But, looks aren’t all that matters. The more I used this thing, the more I enjoyed the experience. The crisp screen is always enjoyable to tinker with and smartwatch to Fitbit app integration is always seamless. Battery time is pretty good compared to other smartwatches I’ve tried. Fun Fitbit Labs apps like Fitbit Pets and Treasure Trek are also great integrations that set the Ionic apart.

If there’s anything I expected from the brand that acquired Pebble, it’s that they’d do smartwatches right. The Fitbit Ionic might not be fully there yet, but they’re on the way.

SEE ALSO: Fitbit Alta HR review

Related Topics:featured Fitbit Fitbit Ionic Ionic

Accessories

OBSBOT’s Meet Flip is your next best pocketable 4K webcam

Fold the Flip for further protection

Published

July 29, 2026

Vincenz

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Several months ago, you might remember that OBSBOT revealed the Tiny 3 series of web cameras.

Six months after, they also unveil the all-new Meet Flip. From the name itself, it’s the company’s latest foldable 4K webcam that puts hardware privacy front and center.

Foldable and pocketable

Despite weighing just 37.7 grams, the Meet Flip aims to deliver premium webcam features for all types of users. Be it remote workers, professionals, or content creators.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Undoubtedly, the biggest highlight has got to be the webcam’s folding design. Not only it’s portable, it protects your privacy too.

Closing the device physically blocks the lens, giving users a visual confirmation that the camera is no longer active. When it’s time for a meeting, simply unfold it and it’s ready to go.

That lightweight body also features a built-in mounting clip that works with laptops, monitors, and tripods. Users can mount it in landscape, portrait, or even upside-down orientations depending on their setup.

Despite that absurd amount of lightweightness, the OBSBOT Meet Flip is still able to house a 1/2-inch Exmor RS stacked CMOS sensor with Quad Bayer technology. That’s something more commonly found among bigger and higher-end web cameras.

Other camera features include:

4K video recording / 30fps
1080p recording / up to 60fps
HDR support for challenging lighting
Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
4x digital zoom
f/1.8 aperture with ISO 100-6400 support for low-light environments

Beyond just video calls

The OBSBOT Meet Flip isn’t just packed with serious camera hardware, it’s seriously intelligent as well.

The Meet Flip supports AI Auto Framing. This automatically keeps users centered during meetings — regardless if they are presenting alone or with a group. Gesture controls also let users activate framing or adjust zoom without touching the keyboard or mouse.

Another standout feature is AI Magic Notes which provides real-time meeting transcription and automatically generates summaries, action items, and key discussion points.

The feature works with Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams through OBSBOT Center. Every webcam includes complimentary transcription of 120 minutes.

With that being mentioned, OBSBOT Center also makes users gain access to software features such as background blur, virtual backgrounds, beauty mode, and picture-in-picture overlays for presentations.

Those who want more advanced controls can enable Smart Eye Tracking, teleprompter support, and manual image adjustments.

Audio also gets an upgrade through an intelligent dual-microphone system that offers four recording modes:

Directional Mode / solo calls
Dual-Directional Mode / interviews
Smart Omni Mode / group meetings
Pure Audio Mode / unprocessed stereo recording

AI Noise Reduction and Automatic Gain Control are also available across most modes to help improve voice clarity.

OBSBOT’s Meet Flip is also compatible with mobile devices through the OBSBOT Live app and supports integrations with accessories including Elgato Stream Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, and UVC-to-NDI/HDMI adapters.

Pricing and Availability

The OBSBOT Meet Flip is available starting today for US$119 through OBSBOT’s online store, Amazon US, and select retailers worldwide. Regional pricing may vary.

Accessories

CASETiFY drops Samsung Galaxy Z8 series collection

Tailored for the latest foldable devices

Published

July 28, 2026

GadgetMatch

CASETiFY, as expected, has dropped its latest ecosystem tailored for the new Samsung Galaxy Z8 series devices.

The lineup caters to all devices under the series: the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip8, Z Fold8, and Z Fold8 Ultra. Accessories under the lineup range from US$ 20 to US$ 70. They are available across more than 70 CASETiFY Studio locations worldwide.

The latest collection reimagines the relationship between hardware and style, effortlessly bridging heavy-duty, military-grade protection with a modular network of magnetic add-ons and deeply personalized visuals.

Recognizing that the hinge is the most fragile component of a foldable device, CASETiFY is introducing a precision-engineered, smooth-gliding hinge protection mechanism for the very first time.

This is fortified to be incredibly tough and resilient against daily impacts for uncompromised 360-degree defense.

At the same time, CASETiFY still promises a seamless open-and-close movement each time to make the phone secure, clean, and easy to carry.

The CASETiFY Samsung Galaxy Z8 series lineup includes:

Impact Magnetic Case

The signature case introduces a breakthrough, smooth-gliding hinge cover that fully encases the device’s moving parts — minus the bulk. It is fortified with EcoShock technology and protective raised bezels.

Impact HD Screen Protector

This ultra-responsive defense layer is crafted from surface-strengthened 9H tempered glass. It features advanced anti-fingerprint and antimicrobial coatings.

Impact Camera Lens Protector

This scratch-proof tempered glass shield keeps your camera safe from every angle. It is also precision-engineered to prevent flash light haze to preserve original photo quality.

16 Personalities Print Collection

In addition, CASETiFY is giving enthusiasts a way to show who they are with the brand-new 16 Personalities Print Collection.

This typography-centered collection turns a four-letter personality personality archetype into a high-design visual manifest.

The highly collectible print collection expands far beyond the Galaxy Z8 series. It will be available across a wide selection of iPhone silhouettes and compatible lifestyle options.

Accessories

CASETiFY revives Spider-Man collection for Brand New Day

Spider-Man returns to CASETiFY

Published

July 24, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

CASETiFY has unveiled a new Marvel collaboration inspired by Spider-Man: Brand New Day. The collection marks the brand’s first Spider-Man release since 2023. It also arrives alongside Sony Pictures’ upcoming film, which opens later this month.

The lineup includes phone and tablet cases, MagSafe accessories, earbuds cases, watchbands, laptop sleeves, and wireless chargers. It is headlined by two premium phone cases. The Aluminium Spider-Man Mask Case costs US$84, while the 2.5D Silicone Case sells for US$78. Both are available for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Fans can also choose from five printed phone case designs: Spider-Man New Mask, Spider-Man Poster, Spider-Man Medley, Spider-Man Medley (Dark Version), and Spider-Man New Suit. CASETiFY also lets buyers personalize select phone cases and MagSafe wallets through its Custom Sticker feature.

More Spider-Man accessories

The collection goes beyond phone cases. It also includes MagSafe Grip Stands, Cardholder Stands, Wallets, a 2-in-1 Charging Stand, Earbuds Cases, Watchbands, Camera Lens Protectors, Laptop Cases and Sleeves, Tablet Cases, and Wireless Chargers. Prices start at US$24 for the Camera Lens Protector and go up to US$92 for the 2-in-1 Charging Stand.

The Marvel Spider-Man: Brand New Day x CASETiFY collection is now available through CASETiFY’s website, the Co-Lab app, and CASETiFY STUDiO stores worldwide.