Helping children develop healthy fitness routines is a concern for all parents. While this can be difficult in some cases, the Fitbit Ace range of activity trackers can make hitting steps counts and exercise goals a lot more fun thanks to their playful design and simple software.
We were impressed with the Fitbit Ace 2 back in 2019, and the Fitbit Ace 3 builds on its feature base and adds a better screen and rounder design. Read our Fitbit Ace 3 review.
When will the Fitbit Ace 3 be released?
The Fitbit Ace 3 hit pre-order on 9 March and was made available globally on 15 March.
How much will the Fitbit Ace 3 cost?
Ace 3 retails for £69.99 or $79.95 with the standard classic silicone band, featuring a bumper design robust enough to withstand a child’s rough and tumble lifestyle.
That’s the same price as the Ace 2 was priced at, and £10/$10 cheaper than the original Ace tracker.
To start with, it is available in two colours: Black with a Sport Red clasp; and Cosmic Blue with an Astro Green clasp.
Coming soon, there will be Minions embossed silicone accessory bands available for £24.99. The Minions Fitbit Ace 3 will be available in two accessory bands of Despicable Blue or Mischief Black.
Fitbit’s prices are premium compared to other trackers such as the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 for £39.99, the Amazfit Band 5 for £44.99 and the Huawei Band 4 for £34.99, although none of those devices is specifically designed with children in mind.
Fitbit Ace 3 features
- Bigger 1.47in backlit screen
- Eight days between charges
- Black/Red and Blue/Green colour options
Ace 3 tracks all-day Steps and Active Minutes show how every move adds up to a healthier, more active life. Fun incentives include virtual badges, and personalisation such as 20 clock faces including some fun, animated ones (for example, bunny, cat, martian and spaceship) and personalised avatars.
The display size doubles with the 0.7in one in the Fitbit Ace 2 being replaced by a 1.47in 240-x-240 resolution OLED panel in the new Ace 3. It remains monochrome rather than moving to a colour display, but this should also mean that it retains long battery life, with the new model lasting for up to eight days on a single charge, besting the model it replaces by a couple of days.
The design is similar to the Ace 2, in that there is a colourful surround for the display which should also protect it from knocks and the odd schoolyard tumble.
The tracker is swim-proof up to 50m.
The design is rounder and smoother than the blockier approach adopted by the Ace 2.
There’s no heart-rate monitor that you will find in the other Fitbit trackers.
But sleep tracking is included to let parents know if their kids are getting the ideal amount of rest for their energy levels the following day and also as a key part of everyday health. Parents and responsible kids can use the Fitbit app to schedule bedtime reminders and silent alarms that gently wake the wearer with quiet buzzing on the wrist.
A variety of sports modes are available so kids can see how their running, cycling and so forth gets them closer to their daily goals. The weather won’t be a problem either, as the Fitbit Ace 3 comes with waterproofing up to 50 metres.
The tracker comes with its own timer and stopwatch.
There are also basic smartphone notifications, such as Caller ID.
While the Ace 3 is designed specifically for children (aged 6-12), non-adults can also use other Fitbit trackers and smartwatches that boast more features, although a user has to be 13 to register for a full Fitbit account. Many parents get around this by altering the child’s age in the setup process as older kids prefer the looks and features of the other Fitbit trackers and smartwatches.
See our full list of the best Fitbits for more detailed comparisons and our more focused look at the best Fitbit for children.
Family accounts, Parent View and Kid View
Parents set up a family account to access privacy controls and protections. There, they are able to access Parent View where they can see their kid’s activity, manage what is shown on their kid’s app experience, and approve their kid’s friend requests.
Meanwhile, kids experience Ace 3 via the app’s Kid View, showing activity and sleep stats, as well as parent-approved friends, clock faces, avatars and badges.
The Ace 3 experience is designed to meet the child privacy standards outlined by law, where available, including COPPA in the United States and GDPR in Europe.
Author: Martyn Casserly, Contributor
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.