The Fitbit Ace 3 is a small, rectangular pebble encased in a silicone band that protects it from lumps and bumps, just like its predecessor. The Ace 3 is more rounded than the Ace 2 and thus appears more modern. It has an adjustable plastic clasp and is available in two colours right now: dark blue with a green clasp and black with a red clasp. Other colour straps can be purchased separately. The strap fits wrist circumferences ranging from 116mm to 168mm, and everything is water-resistant; the Ace 3 is water-resistant to 50m, so it can be worn in the shower or while swimming. The silicone band is comfortable and easy to adjust, and unlike many kids’ watch straps, the Fitbit’s band did not irritate our younger tester’s extremely sensitive skin. Whereas other children’s watches caused a fiery red rash if worn overnight, the Fitbit caused no irritation during a month of 24-hour wear. The Ace 3’s display is a backlit monochrome OLED touchscreen, and you can personalise it with a variety of clock faces via the Fitbit app. Although the lack of colour is disappointing in comparison to some rival kids’ trackers, the Fitbit Ace 3 lasts three days longer between charges than its predecessor, which we find more useful. The screen on the Fitbit Ace 3 is noticeably brighter, making it easier to read in bright sunlight, and it’s simple for your child to see their activity stats without having to open the Fitbit app, though they can view their stats in greater detail there as well. Although the Fitbit Ace 3 is designed specifically for children, it uses the standard Fitbit app, albeit with much of its functionality removed, so they can’t participate in the Fitbit community or see how many calories they’ve burned, for example. What remains is clearly an app designed for adults and adapted for children, rather than one designed from the ground up for younger users. Setting up a Fitbit for a child is not the same as setting up a Fitbit for yourself. First, you must create a Family Account, and then you must add your children – or, at the very least, your children under the age of 13. The setup process does not make it clear that you cannot create a child account for anyone 13 or older. If your child is 13 or older, they should create their own Fitbit account, and you can then invite them to join your Fitbit family.
