Fitbit Ace LTE is an all-around smartwatch featuring connectivity, location tracking, activity tracking, and games, while Fitbit Ace 3 is a more basic activity & sleep tracker designed for younger kids.
Fitbit Ace LTE vs Ace 3: Six Important Things
By Naila Syifa
Updated June 2024
Fitbit just released its new kids smartwatch model, Fitbit Ace LTE. It builds upon the success of the previous Ace 3 model, with some exciting new features and improvements. Let's take a closer look at how the Ace LTE compares to its predecessor and what it offers for active kids and parents.
Key Takeaways
Fitbit Ace LTE is an all-around smartwatch featuring connectivity, location tracking, activity tracking, and games, while Fitbit Ace 3 is a more basic activity & sleep tracker designed for younger kids.
Fitbit Ace LTE
Kids Smartwatch
✓ Move Goal & Tracking
✓ Chat, Call, Locate
✓ Games in Fitbit Arcade
✓ Parental Controls
Fitbit Ace 3
Kids Fitness Tracker
✓ Sleep & Activity Tracking
✓ Phone Notifications
✓ Parental Controls
✓ 8 Days Battery
#1 Design & Display
Fitbit Ace 3
Fitbit Ace LTE boasts a rectangular OLED screen that's larger than the Ace 3's elliptical PMOLED screen, allowing for easier viewing and control.
Both are water-resistant to 50m, but the Ace LTE has better durability with Corning Gorilla Glass 3, making it more resilient against scratches and cracks from rough play.
Fitbit Ace LTE is more suitable for older kids, fitting wrist sizes from 120mm to 200mm, while the Ace 3 fits wrists from 116mm to 176mm in circumference.
#2 Wellness Features
Noodle in Fitbit Ace LTE
Both Fitbit models come with activity tracking, which tracks all-day steps and active minutes to encourage kids to meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Kids can set their own move goal and monitor their progress throughout the day, but the Fitbit Ace LTE has a slight advantage in how it displays this progress.
Fitbit Ace LTE features Noodle, an animated progress bar that grows and shrinks based on the child's activity levels. Once kids reach their move goal, the Noodle will fill up and display fun animation.
Fitbit Ace 3, on the other hand, uses simpler numerical data to show the child's activity progress, such as the number of steps taken or how many minutes of activity they have completed.
Fitbit Ace 3
Unfortunately, Fitbit Ace LTE doesn't feature sleep tracking, which the Ace 3 provides. This is because the Ace LTE encourages charging overnight, while the Ace 3 has a week-long battery life for continuous wear and sleep tracking.
Wearing the Ace 3 to sleep allows kids and parents to monitor sleep duration and quality, helping to establish healthy sleep habits.
#3 Play Features
Games in Fitbit Ace LTE
Fitbit Ace LTE offers a range of play features that the Ace 3 lacks, making it more engaging and interactive for kids. Kids can play many movement-based games in the Fitbit Arcade, which encourage physical activity and make exercise more fun.
By playing active games and completing their move goal, kids can complete daily quests and earn tickets as rewards, which they can redeem to buy stuffs for their eejie avatar, such as items to decorate the eejie's room or outfits to dress them up in.
#4 Connectivity Features
Fitbit Ace LTE
With LTE connectivity, the Fitbit Ace LTE supports phone-free calling, texting, and voice messaging right from the watch face, allowing parents to stay connected with their kids without the need for a smartphone.
Fitbit Ace 3, on the other hand, can only display call notifications on the watch, and it requires a connected phone to be nearby. This makes it a less suitable option for parents looking for connectivity features that work independently of a smartphone.
Fitbit Ace LTE also supports location tracking, so parents can see their child's real-time location and history. It is a great feature that the Ace 3 doesn't come with, making the Ace LTE a better choice for parents who want to keep tabs on their child's whereabouts.
#5 Battery Life
Fitbit Ace 3
Fitbit Ace 3 has a long-lasting battery that can last for up to 8 days, making it more convenient for continuous wear and sleep tracking. Charging takes around 2 hours to complete, so kids can quickly get back to their activities without much downtime.
Fitbit Ace LTE features a rechargeable 328 mAh battery, which can last for up to 16 hours on a single charge. It is much shorter than the Ace 3's battery life, but this is because the Ace LTE supports more advanced features like LTE connectivity and GPS tracking.
In addition, Fitbit Ace LTE charges rather quickly. A full charge takes 70 minutes to complete, but charging for only 30 minutes will give an all-day battery life of up to 11 hours.
#6 Price & Availability
Fitbit Ace LTE
The release of Fitbit Ace LTE in June 2024 has discontinued the 2021-released Ace 3 model, though you may still be able to find it at some third-party retailers while supplies last.
Being newer and richer in features, the Ace LTE is more expensive, retailing at US$229.95 compared to the Ace 3's $79.95 price tag. However, the additional features and capabilities of the Ace LTE may justify the higher price point for parents who prioritize advanced connectivity and better interactivity.
Fitbit Ace LTE vs Fitbit Ace 3
Final Thoughts
Fitbit Ace LTE
The Fitbit Ace LTE is a significant upgrade over the Ace 3, offering enhanced durability, LTE connectivity, GPS, and interactive games for all-day fun and safety. While it does come at a higher price point and lacks a sleep-tracking feature, the Ace LTE is a compelling choice for parents who want to delay smartphone purchases while still keeping their kids connected, active, and engaged.
On the other hand, the Fitbit Ace 3 remains a solid option for younger kids who don't need advanced connectivity features. Activity and sleep tracking can help establish healthy habits from an early age, and the lower price point makes it more accessible for budget-conscious parents.
If you like to read more about kids smartwatch, check out our other relevant guides here:
First look at Google’s new kids smartwatch: Fitbit Ace LTE
Fitbit Ace LTE vs Garmin Bounce
Fitbit Ace LTE vs Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3
Garmin Bounce vs Vivofit Jr. 3
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