Fitbit Ace LTE is an Always-Connected Smartwatch for Kids

Google today announced Fitbit Ace LTE, an always-connected smartwatch for children in the U.S. with integrated exercise, game, and safety features.

“Fitbit Ace LTE is a new, first-of-its-kind connected smartwatch for kids ages 7 and up,” Google vice president Anil Sabharwal writes in the announcement post. “Ace LTE transforms exercise into play, while also giving families peace of mind with reliable calling, messaging, and location sharing with parents.”

Fitbit Ace LTE costs $229.95—it’s available for pre-order now and will ship in early June—but it also requires an Ace Pass data plan that costs $9.99 per month or $120 per year ($59.98 during an introductory promotion). This unlimited data plan provides 4G LTE connectivity to the device with GPS location, calling, messaging, software updating, and other features. The watch will not work without an Ace Pass data plan.

Beyond that, the Fitbit Ace LTE seems to have more in common with the Pixel Watch than it does with Fitbit’s smartwatches, as it only gets about 16 hours of battery life per charge, far shorter than the 6 days or more offered by Fitbit Sense 2 and Fitbit Versa 4 smartwatches. It supports video games, including a selection of Fitbit Arcade movement-based games that take gamifying exercise to a new level.

Instead of closing rings, as on Apple Watch, Fitbit Ace LTE has an activity ring called the Noodle that kids close by taking steps, jumping, and bouncing to reach a Move goal. And parents can of course monitor their children’s’ activities using a new Fitbit Ace app so they can help reinforce healthy habits.

The phone features are interesting: Kids can add up to 20 family and friend contacts for calls and messaging with parental permission, and the built-in GPS will help parents keep track of their location. The device features Corning Gorilla Glass 3 and comes with a protective bumper case. It’s water-resistant to 150 feet and there is a selection of Ace Bands that unlock new features for an on-device eejie, a little on-screen character who gets happier as kids move more and hit their goals.

You can learn more about Fitbit Ace LTE on the Google Store website.