A better design than the Ionic, but lacks GPS
On its latest investors call, Fitbit teased a brand new smartwatch, which it claimed would have "mass appeal" – and now we have the pictures to back it up.
Wearable has obtained images and information about the upcoming smartwatch, set to be announced in the spring, and it could well be a new Fitbit Blaze 2.
Last year reports claimed that a new Blaze was being worked on, and we can confirm that the new watch will run the same Fitbit OS software that first appeared in the
Ionic. After its admission that the Fitbit Ionic wasn't the hit the company had hoped for, Fitbit is pinning its hopes that this new smartwatch will draw in a larger audience.
What we don't know for certain is whether this will arrive under the name Blaze 2 or a different moniker, as it's possible Fitbit could rebrand the watch as it moves to the new software platform.
According to one source familiar with the company's plans, who asked to remain anonymous, Fitbit was aware that the Ionic didn't have mass market appeal. "It wants this to be something that will appeal to a larger, more general smartwatch audience," they told us.
Specifically, Fitbit wants something that appeals more to the female market, they said; the Ionic has a large, unattractive design and only comes in one size. Sources tell Wearable that the new watch is smaller than the Ionic, bringing it closer to the size of the first Blaze.
We can confirm that the watch will be water resistant to 50m (165 ft), making it just the third ever Fitbit device able to withstand swimming. It also comes in four colors: black, silver, rose gold, and a charcoal, with a range of straps as pictured above.
The watch will also have the same relative SpO2 sensor that debuted on the Ionic, sources said, meaning the new watch will be able to monitor for sleep apnea when Fitbit enables this feature across its devices.
We can confirm it won't have GPS, however.
Finally, you can expect a lower price than the Ionic. Fitbit wants this get this on a lot of wrists while bringing more developers into the fold.
The squared design of the new watch is certainly nicer on the eyes than the Ionic and a little reminiscent of the Pebble Time 2. In fact, sources say that before closing its doors, Pebble had plans for a touchscreen smartwatch not too dissimilar in design.
When asked for comment, Fitbit told us that it had "no news to share at this time".
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