It’s officially back-to-school season, so Fitbit’s updating its kids-focused Ace LTE smartwatch with some helpful features for parents and children. Namely, it’s adding a Tap to Pay feature, launching two new games, and later this year, will allow users to add siblings as contacts in the Fitbit Ace app.
Tap to Pay was mentioned as “coming soon” when the Ace LTE launched back in May. The idea was to give kids the freedom to buy things on their own, while also allowing parents oversight. To do that, Google — which owns Fitbit — is partnering with Greenlight and GoHenry, which offer debit cards for children and teens. If you have accounts with those services, you’ll be able to add them to the Ace LTE, and kids will be able to use their smartwatch to buy things wherever Google Pay is accepted. If not, Google says you’ll be able to sign up via the Fitbit Ace app for a discount.
The Ace LTE is unique among kids trackers in that it isn’t just a GPS tracker for parents. It also includes several wrist-based video games. With this update, Fitbit’s adding two more to its catalog: Sproutlings and Spirit Garden. The former is a Tamagotchi-like game with virtual pets that you feed and walk around with. The latter has a more meditative concept with guided mindfulness and an element of unlocking land spirits and rebuilding shrines. Like the Apple Watch, the Ace LTE also includes a school time mode to reduce distractions — though parents can program a break for recess.
Later this year, Fitbit says that families will be able to add older and younger siblings as contacts. This includes siblings who have their own phones or those who also have an Ace LTE. That said, there wasn’t any further information regarding how the feature will work or timelines.
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