Review - The Fitbit Ace 3 is a great fitness tracker for your little one! - Android

Fitbit Ace 3 What I don't like

While there's a lot to like about the Fitbit Ace 3, there are a few things I don't like. First off, it isn't a massive jump in feature set over the Ace 2. The biggest improvements are the increased battery life and the new interactive clock faces. Both features are certainly worth selecting the Ace 3 over the Ace 2, which only has a couple of clock face options with limited animations.

Even though this activity tracker is designed for younger kids, it would still be nice to have additional apps, like weather and guided breathing, when kids need moments of calm. But that's more a wish list than a feature not to like. Built-in GPS would be useful for safety reasons, so parents could track kids if they are lost or to ensure they have arrived home safely from school. But considering many more expensive activity trackers for adults don't have built-in GPS, this is understandable and would likely result in a much higher cost.

While you don't need to have a Fitbit device yourself, you'll get the most out of the Ace 3 if you own a Fitbit smartwatch or activity tracker as well, easily flipping between the Parent and Kid views to view stats in the app, setting up fun family challenges, and using the same app to track everyone in the household. Additionally, the device really is best suited for younger children: for teens and tweens, there are better Fitbits you can choose for older kids.

Other activity trackers for kids from competitors let you use them for purposes beyond just activity and sleep, like monitoring chores and daily calendars, and awarding avatars and accessories for achieving goals, essentially gamifying the experience. Kids love and are familiar with games like this (just ask any of them who play Roblox or Fortnite!), so it would have been nice to have gamification beyond just virtual badges and trophies, like the ability to earn new clock faces as badges or accessories for the clock face characters. It could be a possibility via future software updates.

This is important because kids get bored quickly. While my son was excited about the new clock faces, I fear that, like many kids, he will eventually get bored after breezing through the 28 available clock faces (all black and white) to see what each one does. Knowing new clock faces would be added over time could be a game-changer because it means the experience could be consistently fresh and new.

All that said, as a basic, affordable, entry-level fitness tracker for young kids, the Ace 3 meets expectations. And what the Ace 3 sets out to do, it does beautifully.

Fitbit Ace 3 The competition

For a bit less, you can get a similar activity tracker for kids like the Garmin vivofit Jr. 2, which comes with various themes like Frozen and Star Wars with games specifically tailored to those characters. Parents can set reminders not just to move but also for completing homework and chores. It also has a few built-in games, and the battery lasts for up to a year. If you think you'd use all of these features, and your child loves those characters, this might be the better option. But for some parents (and kids), all the added bells and whistles could be distracting.

If you'd rather something with a smartwatch-like design, for about the same price, you can grab the Garmin vivofit jr. 3, which also has various character themes like Marvel Heroes along with a larger square screen. It can also be used to manage chores and play games, and its battery lasts up to a year.

Fitbit Ace 3 Should you buy it?

You should buy this if ...

• The parent has a Fitbit device too
• You want something simple and affordable
• The child is between the ages of 6-12

You should not buy this if ...

• Your child is older than 12
• You want a multifunctional tracker with apps
• You already own the Ace 2

The Fitbit Ace 3 sets out to serve a very simple purpose, and it does it very well. It's a simple activity tracker for young kids that counts their daily steps and active minutes and tracks their sleep. There are minimal customization and personalization options, with more coming in terms of swappable band options. But beyond that, there aren't any bells and whistles.

For parents who prefer that simplicity and want something their kids can wear to keep track of activity, encourage healthy habits, and monitor sleep, it's perfect. And it's especially ideal for Fitbit families since with a family account since everyone can participate in fun challenges. Interestingly, I found that when my son and I set up the Family Faceoff challenge for a week, it motivated me to get moving as much as it did him. We were both stuck at our desks for the better part of the weekdays, he for school and me for work. But when we had breaks and lunchtime, we each made a concerted effort to go outside; he to play and me for a brisk 4K walk.

That said, this doesn't mean the parents have to have a Fitbit device of their own for the Ace 3 to be useful. It works on its own as well, and kids can connect with other friends and family members who own Fitbit devices to complete challenges or compare and motivate one another.

My son has been using the Ace 3's predecessor, the Ace 2, for several years now, as noted. Would I upgrade to the Ace 3? Probably not unless something went wrong with the Ace 2 and we needed to. But if I were buying brand new, I'd definitely pick the Ace 3 over the Ace 2.

Fitbit Ace 3

Bells and whistles are good…if you'll use them. If you just want something simple for your child's wrist that tracks the basics – steps, active minutes, and sleep – the Ace 3 fits the bill. It's affordable, offers fun clock face options, and can be managed through the same Fitbit app that will be familiar to existing Fitbit users or is easy enough for newbies to figure out.

$80 at Fitbit $80 at Amazon $80 at Best Buy