Google and Fitbit’s return to smartwatches for kids combines activity and gaming, but it comes at a high price
It’s been about three years since the Fitbit Ace 3 hit the market, and as an activity tracker designed for kids, it didn’t stray far from the working formula – both in terms of $79.95 price and features.
However, Google and Fitbit clearly see the potential in the category of fitness trackers and smartwatches for kids. And after a few years without a release and countless other options, including Apple’s School Time mode for the Apple Watch, we get the Fitbit Ace LTE.
It’s a new $229 smartwatch built from the ground up for kids with built-in games that encourage movement and activity, a reward system, parent-approved messaging, and the feel of the full-fledged smartwatch. It will only be available in the US at launch, but Google has confirmed that the Fitbit Ace LTE will launch in other countries next year.
However, the price is great. As the name suggests, the Fitbit Ace LTE requires a network connection. This comes in the form of the Fitbit Ace Pass, a $9.99 monthly subscription that is required.
Looks like a regular smartwatch, but with a kid-oriented interface
Like the Fitbit Ace 3, which resembled other Fitbits, the Fitbit Ace LTE resembles a Versa 3. It’s a rounded square build with a vibrant, sharp touchscreen in the center and two buttons on the left. With a layer of Corning Gorilla Glass over the screen, it should be rugged enough to handle accidental bumps and potential falls when worn by a child. Considering the price of $229, you’ll be happy to know that it’s made of stainless steel and plastic.
Google even ships it with a bumper in the box, so you can get a raised lip around the screen out of the box. You can also choose from two styles: Mild Pebble or Spicy Pebble. There will also be collection bands that, when used and attached to the Ace LTE, will unlock content on the smartwatch.
Like Animal Crossing on the Switch or other games with an avatar, the Fitbit Ace LTE aims to gamify the activity tracking experience. The main watch face shows the time in the middle and your total points (essentially your accumulated health data) at the bottom, but surrounding that is what Fitbit has called a ‘noodle’. It’s a fun animation that moves and is ultimately complete when you reach your goal. I saw a “rock-on” noodle and a creepy one in a demo. The whole idea for kids is to celebrate and keep track of their goals.
It’s a lot like closing your rings on an Apple Watch, albeit a little more animated. The goal here is also to get 60 minutes of activity in every day. Noodle encourages this, but Google has also built mini-games into the device.
These are not intended to distract you from being active, but are instead designed to be used as ‘interval-based gaming’. In one game I raised my wrist and saw a lake, tapped the screen and then threw out my arm to cast the line. I waited for a haptic buzz and then looked to see which fish I caught. It’s an activity of sorts, but the Fitbit Ace LTE will then give you a task, something like walking 200 steps to charge, and then you can come back. The reward is getting your points and unlocking something in the game.
And that’s where the “eejie” comes in, and it’s essentially the avatar that is fully customizable and lives within the Fitbit Ace LTE. So yes, Google and Fitbit have integrated gaming here. For parents, between exchanging collectible bracelets and an avatar that looks a bit like a Tamagotchi, it can be a nostalgia ride. The idea is to unlock clothing and other elements by pairing a new band with the Fitbit Ace LTE and as a reward for other activities. If your child has a friend with a Fitbit Ace LTE, their two “eejies” can also hang out and visit each other’s virtual homes.
That’s where Google and Fitbit want to rethink the kids’ smartwatch space – they aim to create an immersive experience on the wrist that doesn’t discourage activity, but encourages it. The hope is clearly to get a lot of these on kids’ wrists and build a sense of community, perhaps even sharing the collectible bands.
The technology powering the device is pretty good too. The Fitbit Ace LTE has the same processor as the Pixel Watch, and it felt quite snappy in my demo. I was able to quickly switch between viewing health stats, opening the “eejie” house, and then navigating to a game. Like any other smartwatch, it has a range of sensors including an accelerometer, gyroscope, altimeter and even an optical heart rate sensor. Google also promises up to 16 hours of battery life (less than an Apple Watch Series 9), and is powered by a 328mAh battery cell inside. It also charges using the same charger as the Pixel Watch 2.
The Ace LTE is separate from the rest of the Fitbit ecosystem, including the Pixel Watch. The Fitbit Ace LTE resides in the Fitbit Ace app on Android or iOS, i.e. the parent’s phone running either operating system. It is installed and monitored there, but it is also where it is synced when connected. A parent or guardian can set up to 20 contacts so the child can message or call from the Fitbit Ace LTE, and the parent can see the location of the smartwatch.
From a privacy perspective, only a parent or guardian can access the Fitbit Ace LTE’s location within the companion app on Android and iOS, with location history deleted after 24 hours. There are no ads or third-party apps on the smartwatch itself, and data activity is only retained for a maximum of 35 days.
Fitbit Ace Pass is required and costs $9.99 per month for the LTE connectivity and more content. It gives the Ace LTE access to the ‘eejie’, all games in the Fitbit Arcade, future content drops and the communication aspects of the smartwatch. It costs $9.99 per month or $120 for the year, and while there is no free trial included with the purchase, you can get 50% off the annual subscription and a free band. All you have to do is sign up and sign up before August 31, 2024.
The prospects
Google and Fitbit are certainly trying a different approach with their children’s smartwatches. It’s been built from the ground up and designed specifically for kids, complete with a more sustainable design and interface, with an ethos built around encouraging activity. The games were fun in a demo, and I think if the rewards and quests are variable enough it could be an entertaining experience for kids.
However, the question arises about the price: $229 USD is much more than competing smartwatches for kids, closer to the cost of a Pixel Watch and only $20 less than an Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen. The Fitbit Ace LTE also requires a subscription for connectivity and access to content, and while that’s comparable to a cellular subscription for a connected watch, it’s a much higher price of entry than previous Fitbits (or even most previous smartwatches) aimed at kids designed.
We’ll have to test the Fitbit Ace LTE further to see if it can hold up to the price tag and if the collectible, gamified Tamagotchi or Pokemon Go-style elements can add any value here.
In the meantime, Google is already taking orders for the Fitbit Ace LTE, which will be available in Spicy Pebble or Mild Pebble for $229 starting at Google store And Amazon. Shipping will begin on June 5, 2024 and will only be available in the United States at launch – but in 2025, Google has confirmed it will launch in even more countries.