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How water-resistant is your Fitbit? Here’s how various models compare

Fitbit hasn’t assigned official IP ratings, the technical term for measuring how waterproof something is, to any of their devices. As a result, it’s challenging to determine exactly how water-resistant any of their products are. Photo: Fitbit
Fitbit hasn’t assigned official IP ratings, the technical term for measuring how waterproof something is, to any of their devices. As a result, it’s challenging to determine exactly how water-resistant any of their products are. Photo: Fitbit
Technology

Whether you have a Fitbit Ace 2, Fitbit Versa or a Fitbit Inspire, no Fitbit is truly waterproof, but some are more water-resistant than others

There are no truly waterproof Fitbit devices. Every Fitbit is water-resistant to an extent, but do not expect to go deep-sea diving with any of them.

Before we talk about how water-resistant Fitbits are, let’s get on the same page with some of the technical jargon.

Most devices have what's called an IP (Ingress Protection) code, which tells you how waterproof something is. Anything rated IPX5 or IPX6 can be considered reliably water-resistant (sweat, rain, etc), but is not safe for full immersion. 

However, Fitbit is notable in that it hasn’t assigned official IP ratings to any of their devices. As such, it’s hard to tell exactly how water-resistant any of their watches are.

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One more note: we’re talking about the Fitbit itself here, not about bands, which may be synthetic and impervious to water damage, or may be leather or metal and not at their best when wet.

How water-resistant each Fitbit is

The Fitbit Ace 2, Fitbit Versa, Fitbit Charge 3, Fitbit Inspire and Fitbit Ionic can be used at depths down to 50 metres. Just dry the thing off when you’re out of the pool, lake, or ocean, as wetness can prevent it from properly checking your biometrics.

The FitBit Versa can withstand up to 50 metres of water pressure. However, be sure to dry it as soon as you are out of the pool, lake or ocean. Photo: Business Insider
The FitBit Versa can withstand up to 50 metres of water pressure. However, be sure to dry it as soon as you are out of the pool, lake or ocean. Photo: Business Insider

Older Fitbit models, such as any in the Alpha generation or earlier, are not singled out as water-resistant by Fitbit’s support site, and are unlikely to be able to handle submersion. 

Of the more current models, the Fitbit Ace is described as “showerproof” but is not rated for submersion, so keep it out of the pool. 

While the Fitbit Ace is considered ‘shower proof’, it is the least water-resistant of the water-resistant Fitbit devices. Photo: Amazon
While the Fitbit Ace is considered ‘shower proof’, it is the least water-resistant of the water-resistant Fitbit devices. Photo: Amazon