14 DAY TRIAL // Intel has started sending emails to customers warning them that its Basis Peak smartwatch is suffering from overheating, an issue that could cause “discomfort, blistering, and burns on the wrist under the watch body.”
Basis, which is an Intel company, explains that this issue has been reported only by “a small number of people,” adding that it has discovered the overheating problem on “approximately 0.2 percent of the watches sold to date.”
And yet, the smartwatch maker turns to some pretty drastic measures, and not only does it recommend users not to wear their watches anymore, but it also announces that it stopped sales of new units until an update is shipped. Basis claims it’s already working on developing and testing a software update supposed to fix overheating, but does not provide a release date.
“We strongly recommend you do not wear your Basis Peak watch until this update is available and installed. This advice applies to all Basis Peak watches, worldwide,” the emails that customers are getting right now read. “We are stopping sales of Basis Peak watches, and we’re asking our retailers to do the same.”
Chargers also melting
There are also reports that charging cradles are also suffering from overheating and melting, but Basis cannot yet confirm that this is indeed happening with original chargers or third parties.
Customers are also eligible for a full refund if they wish to return their devices, the email reveals, adding that anyone who wants to do that needs to contact the closest store selling the Basis Peak.
Basis has determined that the issue appears on watches manufactured in late 2014, but it takes these excessive safety measures because “it is unacceptable to us that it took us so long to take action.” Furthermore, it says that all internal processes will be reviewed to make sure that no faulty devices are leaving production lines in the future.
You can read the email in full in the box below, where contact details are also included should you want to be refunded.