When Fitbit invited me to a demo of Ace LTE, its new kids tracker, I wasn't expecting much. Previous Ace trackers were stripped-down Fitbit bands that didn't do much and lacked GPS. Other kids' smartwatches tend to be boxy, glorified GPS trackers, designed to appeal more to parents than kids. But the Ace LTE? This is a smart watch for kids that looks fun to use. I wish there was something like this for adults.
The $229.95 Ace LTE has a square case reminiscent of the Fitbit Versa. The main difference is that the materials are more appropriate for children. (Think plastic and Corning Gorilla Glass instead of sapphire crystal and titanium.) There is also an optional bumper for added durability. However, if you flip it over, the sensor array looks almost identical to the Pixel Watch 2. A big plus is that if you have a Pixel Watch 2, it uses the same charger.
The main goal of Ace LTE is that exercise should be a form of play. In fact, it's more like a game console strapped to your wrist than a traditional smartwatch. Instead of apps, the watch comes with a bunch of preloaded video games. The concept is that instead of interval training, where bits of high-intensity suffering are added to a workout, the Ace LTE uses interval games. Once they have played a certain amount, children are asked to add steps to their account to earn more playing time.
There's also an Eejie, a Tamagotchi-like friend who lives in the Ace LTE. This is also a bit like animal crossing in the sense that you can buy items, rooms, clothes and other accessories from Eejie's game. But instead of microtransactions with real-life money, you must purchase those items using arcade tickets. These, in turn, can only be earned by progressing through daily objectives or by playing.
Each Ace LTE band is also collectible. Once activated, a sash unlocks new outfits for Eejie, exclusive collectibles, and a themed noodle – the animated ring that represents your daily progress. Additional bands cost $35 and have their own songs. The idea is that kids can trade raids for items, the same way us old nerds traded POG slammers and Pokémon cards.
I have to try two games: smoky lake and Chicken 13. The first is a fishing game that reminded me of how fish are collected in animal crossing either stardew valley. It involves viewing your virtual environment, reaching out to catch a fish, and pulling back to catch it. Chicken 13 was a Mario Kart-Esque game where you play as a chicken running in a bathtub, collecting eggs to get power-ups. You run tilting your arm and the goal is to defeat your archenemy, Kim. (I don't know what Kim did, but she ate my dust.) After playing with both for a bit, I was asked to take around 500 steps so I could play more.
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But gaming is just one aspect of the Ace LTE. The other is to help children stay connected with their parents. While previous Fitbit Ace devices didn't have GPS tracking, this one comes with built-in LTE. This allows you to make calls, send messages and share location. The bad news is that getting those features requires a $9.99 monthly or $120 annual subscription to the Ace Pass data plan. The good news is that there is no need to use a provider nor does the child need her own phone.
Everything is controlled through the Fitbit Ace companion app, which works on both iOS and Android. The app is where parents can make trusted contacts, send and receive messages, see their kids' real-time location, and monitor how their kids are doing against their activity goals. There is also a school time mode, which disables games during school hours. Later this year, Fitbit says it will also add Tap to Pay.
Smartwatches for children always raise an additional privacy issue. Fitbit told me in the demo that only parents can access location data, which is deleted after 24 hours. Activity data is deleted after 35 days and will not be used for Google ads. Ace LTE will also not include third-party apps or ads. Of course, this is what Google, owner of Fitbit, says in advance. If you're concerned about the fine print, concerned parents should also check the Fitbit Ace Privacy Policy.
We'll have to test the Ace LTE to see how well it works, both as a means to encourage kids to move more and as a tool for parents. That said, this is a major update to the Ace line and one of the most fun takes on a kids' smartwatch we've seen in a long time.
The Fitbit Ace LTE is available starting June 5 for $229.95, with an Ace Pass priced at $9.99 monthly or $119.99 annually. Annual subscribers get an additional collectible bracelet and those who purchase before August 31 will get 50 percent off the subscription cost.
