Google launches Fitbit Ace LTE, a new connected smartwatch that lets kids call, chat, and play
Nickie Louise
Posted On May 29, 2024
As Google grapples with backlash from the hasty rollout of its AI Overview, the tech behemoth is forging ahead with notable advancements in the wearable tech sector. On Wednesday, Google debuted the Fitbit Ace LTE, a pioneering connected smartwatch designed for children aged seven and older.
Unlike the existing children’s smartwatches on the market, the Google Ace LTE seamlessly integrates physical activity with playful experiences while ensuring parents have peace of mind through dependable calling, messaging, and location-sharing features. The Fitbit Ace LTE is water-resistant up to 50 meters and boasts a battery life exceeding 16 hours.
The Ace LTE rises to this challenge by recognizing and rewarding various forms of physical activity, whether it’s playing hide-and-seek, jumping on the bed, or engaging in a sibling dance-off. These activities contribute to Fitbit’s uniquely engaging activity tracker, the ‘Noodle,’ which appears on the home screen and celebrates when children meet their daily movement goals.
In a blog post, Google said that it collaborated with leading independent experts in child psychology, public health, privacy, and digital wellbeing during the development of the product. This smartwatch is designed with a strong emphasis on privacy. Only parents can access their child’s location and activity data via the app. Location data is automatically deleted after 24 hours, and activity data is erased after a maximum of 35 days. Additionally, the device is free from ads and third-party apps, and only parent-approved contacts can communicate with the device.
The Fitbit Ace LTE incorporates a new movement algorithm specifically developed by the Google Research team, which more accurately measures children’s physical activity throughout the day. This technology aims to encourage and motivate a wide range of movements, making physical activity both fun and beneficial for young users.
Fitbit Ace LTE Offers Comprehensive Peace of Mind for Parents
The Fitbit Ace LTE provides parents and guardians with a robust sense of security. Through the Fitbit Ace Pass and the new Fitbit Ace app, available on both Android and iOS platforms, parents can track their child’s real-time location, make calls, send and receive text and voice messages, add trusted contacts, and manage settings such as School Time to minimize distractions during class. In addition, Google said the device will feature Tap to Pay, allowing children safe and easy access to pocket money in the coming months.
Setting up the Fitbit Ace LTE is straightforward. Parents need only download the Fitbit Ace app on their compatible iOS or Android device, and children can start using the smartwatch within minutes — and potentially start running within minutes too! There’s no need to purchase a SIM card, pay an activation fee, or visit a carrier. The all-inclusive data plan, the Fitbit Ace Pass, simplifies the process, ensuring everything is covered in one easy purchase.
Below is a YouTube video of Fitbit Ace LTE in action.
