Amazon Shutting Down Halo Division, Offers Refund to Customers

Amazon has announced that it will be axing its Halo health division, discontinuing three Halo devices. The company also shared details about a new round of layoffs and separation packages.

The firm will also offer a full refund to customers who have purchased a Halo device in the last 12 months. Amazon's Halo product's will be sunsetted just three years after its launch, likely in a bid to cut costs amid low demand and sluggish sales.

Amazon Halo Products Discontinued

Amazon announced that it is closing down its Halo Health division on July 31. The brand's Halo Health lineup includes the Amazon Halo View, Halo Band, Halo Rise, and other health accessories.

"At Amazon, we think big, experiment, and invest in new ideas like Amazon Halo in our efforts to delight customers. While we are proud of what we built, we recently made the difficult decision to stop supporting Amazon Halo effective July 31, 2023," Amazon said in a blog post.

This news isn't entirely surprising, considering that many must have heard of Amazon's Halo products only now. The e-commerce giant made a late foray into the health tracker scene, which is already dominated by the likes of Apple, Fitbit, and Samsung.

Although news of the shutdown will likely disappoint Amazon Halo customers, the company has promised to fully refund all users who have bought a Halo device in the last 12 months. Additionally, unused prepaid subscription fees will be automatically refunded to the user's account.

All Halo health data will be deleted from August 1, 2023. Customers who want to save their health history can download their information from the Settings page in the Amazon Halo app. The company urges customers to recycle their Halo products through the Amazon Recycling Program.

More Layoffs at Amazon

Just last month, Amazon laid off 9,000 employees in its second round of layoffs. Prior to this, the company had terminated 18,000 staff members in Amazon stores and PXT at the beginning of this year.

The shutdown of the Halo division will impact members of the department. Amazon has announced a package that includes a "separation payment, transitional health insurance benefits, and external job placement support."