Fitbit Ace LTE vs Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3
By Naila Syifa
Updated June 2024
Google Fitbit recently announced the Fitbit Ace LTE, a new smartwatch for kids that offers LTE connectivity. The watch claims to be a great alternative to a smartphone for kids, promising all-around features for both kids' wellness, fun, and safety as well as parents' peace of mind.
However, how does this new contender compare to the Vivofit Jr. 3, which has long been well-known as a popular kids fitness tracker from Garmin? Let's find out!
Key Takeaways
Fitbit Ace LTE supports calling, messaging, and location tracking, while Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 doesn't. Fitbit Ace LTE also has on-watch games, while the fun features of the Vivofit Jr. 3 can only accessed via a smartphone. However, Vivofit Jr. 3 doesn't require charging and can track sleep, while Fitbit Ace LTE requires daily charging and can't track sleep.
Fitbit Ace LTE
Kids Smartwatch
✓ Phone-Free Calls & Messages
✓ Move Goal & Activity Tracking
✓ Games, Quests, Eejie Avatar
✓ Location Tracking
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3
Kids Fitness Tracker
✓ Activity Tracking
✓ Sleep Tracking
✓ Chores & Rewards
✓ Emergency Widget
#1 Design & Display
Fitbit Ace LTE
Fitbit Ace LTE and Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 have a rectangular watch face, but the Vivofit Jr. 3 is way smaller and has a more kid-friendly, colorful design with Disney, Marvel, and Star Wars themes. Fitbit Ace LTE also looks fun and kid-friendly, but it has a more mature aesthetic.
In terms of display, Fitbit Ace LTE is superior. Its OLED screen with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 offers a sharper and more vibrant display, as well as better resistance to scratches and everyday wear and tear. Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3, on the other hand, has a transflective MIP color display that is less vivid but more energy-efficient.
Both watches have a water rating of 5 ATM, meaning they are swim-friendly and shower-friendly. This makes them suitable for kids to wear during various activities.
#2 Wellness Features
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3
Both watches track kid's daily activity, providing data like the number of steps and active minutes. Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 also supports timed activity tracking, which can be useful for tracking steps and distance during certain activities, like a soccer game or a hike in the woods. It is more insightful than the overall daily active minutes tracked by the Fitbit Ace LTE.
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 also tracks sleep and provides data to help parents understand their child's sleep quality. This can also motivate kids to develop healthy sleep habits. Fitbit Ace LTE, on the other hand, doesn't come with a sleep-tracking feature.
However, Fitbit Ace LTE allows kids to adjust their move goal to suit their activity level and personal targets. Meanwhile, Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 has a fixed daily activity goal of 60 minutes, which cannot be customized.
#3 Play Features
Fitbit Ace LTE
Fitbit Ace LTE has an advantage with a range of preloaded games in the Fitbit Arcade. These movement-based games motivate kids to stay active and can be played right from the watch's face.
By playing games and completing their move goal, kids can complete daily quests and earn tickets, a virtual reward that can be redeemed for accessories and decoration items to customize their on-screen avatar, the eejie. Such a reward system can be an effective motivator for kids to stay active.
Unlike the Fitbit Ace LTE, the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 lacks any built-in games on the smartwatch itself. Instead, the fun features designed to encourage activity, such as Adventure Maps, pop quizzes, and fitness cards, are only accessible through the Garmin Jr. smartphone app once the child has met their daily 60-minute activity goal.
#4 Connectivity Features
Fitbit Ace LTE
Fitbit Ace LTE offers LTE connectivity, which allows it to make and receive phone-free texts, calls, and voice messages. It also allows parents to locate their child in real-time via the Fitbit Ace app, providing an extra layer of security and peace of mind.
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3, on the other hand, offers neither cellular connectivity nor location tracking. Instead, it has an ICE (In Case of Emergency) Widget, which displays the kid's emergency contact information on the watch face when needed.
#5 Parental Features
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3
Parental controls are available in both watches' companion app, the Fitbit Ace app and Garmin Jr. app. Parents can manage their child's watch settings, view activity data, and more.
Fitbit Ace LTE also allows parents to set up school mode, which limits watch functionality during school hours so kids can stay focused on learning without distractions.
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 doesn't offer a school mode feature, but it has a chore management feature that allows parents to assign tasks and chores and designate rewards for their children. It can be a useful tool for teaching kids responsibility and time management skills.
#6 Battery Life
Fitbit Ace LTE
While the Fitbit Ace LTE comes with a rechargeable 328 mAh battery that can last for up to 16 hours, the Vivofit Jr. 3 has a replaceable battery that can last for up to 1 year. Requiring no charging, the Vivofit Jr. 3 can be more convenient for younger kids to use.
However, despite requiring daily charging, the Fitbit Ace LTE charges quite quickly. 30 minutes of charging gives the watch 11 hours of battery life, while full charging takes around 70 minutes. This allows kids to easily charge the watch overnight and have it ready for use the next day.
#7 Price & Availability
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3
Fitbit Ace LTE is a recent model released in June 2024. It comes with a high price tag of US$229.95, and a regular subscription to the Ace Pass data plan is required for the watch to function.
Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 is a much more budget-friendly option. It costs only US$89.99 and requires no monthly subscription. However, it is an old model first released in 2020 and comes with far more limited features compared to the Fitbit Ace LTE.
Fitbit Ace LTE vs Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3
Final Thoughts
Fitbit Ace LTE
The Fitbit Ace LTE and Garmin Vivofit Jr. 3 both offer unique features and benefits for kids and parents. Ultimately, the choice between these two smartwatches will depend on individual needs, preferences, and budgets.
Fitbit Ace LTE has more advanced capabilities that make it more suitable for older children, including LTE connectivity and on-watch games.
Meanwhile, the Vivofit Jr. 3's affordable price, long battery life, and chore management features may be more appealing to budget-conscious families or those with younger children.
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 Fitbit Ace 3
Fitbit Ace LTE vs Garmin Bounce
Garmin Bounce vs Vivofit Jr. 3
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