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A children’s smartwatch usually walks a fine line between being helpful for parents and entertaining enough for kids to actually keep on their wrist. The Fitbit Google Ace LTE leans fully into that balance, and this price drop to $99.95 from $179.95—its lowest ever, according to price trackers —makes it easier to consider.
Fitbit has been in the “make healthy habits fun” business for years, and Google’s influence shows in how polished the Ace LTE feels. The watch uses animated creatures and simple games to nudge kids between seven and 11 toward movement. The catch—which is the whole point—is that you can’t sit and play uninterrupted. Every few minutes, the watch asks for a bit of movement, like hitting a step goal, before the game continues. For a lot of parents, that structure helps turn the watch into a tool that encourages activity rather than another screen to fight over.
Where the device becomes more than just a toy is in the built-in LTE GPS tracking. The watch can send and receive calls and texts, and you can see your child’s location through the companion Fitbit Ace app, which you install on your phone. It works with both iOS and Android, and the parental controls cover the basics, including contact management. There are limits, though. The Ace LTE doesn’t support music apps or sleep tracking, and this PCMag review notes that there’s occasional sluggishness when swapping between features. Still, the hardware itself feels sturdy, and the screen is easy for kids to navigate.
That said, the software is clearly built around the subscription model. And that subscription is the real consideration here. The watch requires a $9.99 monthly Ace Pass for GPS location tracking, LTE features, and access to the games—an ongoing cost you have to factor into the decision. Without the subscription, the watch becomes a basic step counter, and if it’s only doing that, you might as well get the older Fitbit Ace 3 . Still, for families who want reliable location tracking and a structured way to encourage daily movement, the Ace LTE offers both in a kid-friendly package.
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