Amazon Discontinues the Halo Fitness Tracker (& Refunds Are Going Out)

Amazon recently announced that they will be discontinuing their Amazon Halo fitness tracker starting Aug. 1, 2023. While this could be a big bummer for people who use the device, Amazon wants to take some of the sting away by offering refunds to some customers.

Yep, if you bought any Amazon Halo devices in the past year, and/or prepaid for unused Halo subscriptions, some money is coming your way.

Amazon hasn’t officially said exactly why they’re discontinuing the Halo, it’s likely that the change is part of the company’s overall efforts to reduce costs during economic uncertainty. They laid off 18,000 employees in 2023, recently hit the pause button on expanding their Amazon Go cashierless convenience stores, shut down their Amazon Care in-home care service and the Amazon Glow video calling device.

Here’s what you need to know about the Amazon Halo being discontinued (especially if you’re a Planet Fitness member this summer):

 

If you bought a soon-to-be-discontinued Amazon Halo device in the last year, you’ll be refunded everything you paid.

Unless you’re some kind of super-savvy hardware hacker, you won’t be able to keep using your Halo device once Aug. 1, 2023 hits. Neither the devices nor the Halo app will work as of that date.

But if you have purchased an Amazon Halo device or any related accessories within the past 12 months, Amazon will provide you with a full refund for your purchases, paid back to your original payment method.

For those with a paid subscription, you won’t be charged any further monthly fees — and if you have any prepaid Halo subscription fees that you haven’t used, those will be included in your refund.

Amazon isn’t selling the Halo anymore, but people have paid between $39.99 and $99.99 for the band, plus a $3.99 per month ongoing subscription to unlock most features.

 

Expect to receive a refund around July 31, 2023 — when the Amazon Halo is officially discontinued.

To receive a refund for your Amazon Halo purchases, you don’t need to take any additional steps. Amazon — who was the exclusive seller of the Halo devices — has stated that they will automatically process full refunds for eligible purchases made within the preceding 12 months.

The exact amount of the refund for Amazon Halo will depend on the purchases you made within the past 12 months. For example, if you bought a Halo six months ago for $79, and paid for six months of the Halo membership, Amazon would pay you back just shy of $103.

You can expect the refund to be issued to your original payment method used for the purchase, sometime around the Aug. 1 shutoff date. Amazon aims to make the process seamless for customers, so there’s no need for you to initiate a refund or return the device.

Tip: Don’t throw your paperweight Amazon Halo away; Amazon Recycling will take it (with free shipping) and give it planet-friendly disposal.

 

 

Did you sign up for Planet Fitness Black Card to get a Halo? Use a credit to buy a new fitness tracker.

Planet Fitness had an Amazon Halo promotion that offered the fitness tracker and a one-year Amazon Halo membership for free, to any new or upgraded PF Black Card members at the gym chain.

The Black Card membership cost $24.99/month, and to get the free Amazon Halo, customers had to sign up for a 12-month commitment.

Although ‌Black Card members aren’t able to get out of their yearlong commitment, they’re able to use their $79.99 Amazon Promotional Credit to pay for another fitness tracker. Make sure the item you choose meets two requirements: it should be priced at $79.99 or more, and it should be “Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.” Add that item to your cart and proceed to checkout. You will see the promotional credit being deducted from your total charge.

Help: If you’ve got more questions, contact Planet Fitness or Amazon Customer Support.

 

Make sure to download any of your Amazon Halo health data before Aug. 1.

Amazon Halo collects various health and wellness data, including:

• Activity Tracking: It monitors daily steps, distance, and active minutes to help you track your movement throughout the day.
• Sleep Monitoring: It analyzes sleep patterns, duration, and sleep stages, providing insights and suggestions for improving sleep quality.
• Heart Rate: Continuously monitors your heart rate, offering data on resting heart rate and heart rate variability, giving insights into cardiovascular health and fitness.
• Body Composition: Utilizing the Tone feature, it estimates body fat percentage based on images taken with the Halo app, providing a comprehensive view of body composition over time.
• Activity Intensity: Assessing physical activity intensity, it distinguishes between moderate and vigorous activities, helping you understand workout impact and calorie burn.

To keep your health data from the Amazon Halo device, download or delete it before Aug. 1, 2023 via the Settings page in the app, or it’ll be gone forever. For scan images, open each one and select “Save images to phone.”