Fitbit Ace 2 review: Hands on with the family-friendly sequel

It’s never too early to instil healthy habits. Well, that’s the case if you believe Fitbit anyway, which has slipped a remixed version of the Fitbit Ace into its latest batch of wearables. Announced along with the new Versa Lite and Inspire models, the predictably named Fitbit Ace 2 builds on its popular wearable for pre-teens, which the company tells us sold out during its time sold exclusively with Argos.

Fitbit Ace 2 review: Specifications, price and release date

• Touchscreen
• Waterproof to 50m
• Up to five days’ battery life
• Adjustable and interchangeable silicone band
• £70 inc VAT
• Release date: March 2019

Fitbit Ace 2 review: Key features and first impressions

While the original Fitbit Ace modelled itself on the Fitbit Alta, the Fitbit Ace 2 is a dead ringer for the new Inspire. In fact, they look so similar it wouldn’t be wholly surprising if this was the same hardware with slightly different software tailored for sprogs.

Whether or not that’s true or whether there’s a lot more (or less) going on behind the scenes, they certainly have a lot in common. Both are touchscreen devices and both are swim-proof – albeit without actual swim tracking. Both have five-day battery life and you can even put on regular Inspire wristbands for children who find themselves embarrassed by the kid-friendly, protective bands the device ships with.

Of course, all of this is secondary to what it actually does: encouraging children to be active, while allowing parents to keep a watchful eye on how much they’re moving. This isn’t a sports wearable for tots: in terms of functionality, it’s barely moved from the original Fitbits, with step tracking, active minutes and sleep monitored – it’s just the way fitness is incentivised that’s slightly renosed.

The formula here is very much the same as the original Ace: there are family accounts that provide challenges for children to beat, with charming celebration animations when completed. The watch faces themselves have everything from rockets and monsters to growing flowers – in other words, your kid is likely to find something that appeals to them, no matter what their current obsession.

Pleasingly, Fitbit assures us that it’s now easier to switch between parent and child accounts, which is very good news indeed. Previously, you needed to actually log out of your own account and then log in to a child’s one, with all the password-juggling that implies. Hopefully that’s what Fitbit means by “easier” but we’ll have to wait for a longer play to know for sure.

Fitbit Ace 2 review: Early verdict

Of all the new Fitbits, the Ace 2 is the hardest to assess without its target market on hand to offer their blunt views.

It’s all very well and good me saying I think it looks wonderful but we’ll have to reserve judgment until we’ve had a little help from someone with a smaller wrist and more of an active interest in monsters and/or rocket ships. Watch this space.