In recent years, there has been a rise in demand for fitness trackers designed specifically for children. There is a compelling justification for this. There is an issue with youngsters engaging in less physical exercise, which has coincided with an increase in the prevalence of obesity. According to the findings of a recent study, kids of all ages are in danger of losing their level of physical exercise. After the ages of 4 or 5, the average amount of time spent engaging in daily activity drops by approximately three to four minutes every year. This holds true for both young boys and young girls.
According to the most recent recommendations, children need at least one hour and sixty minutes of physical exercise each day. Aerobic activity of moderate intensity, such as brisk walking, or aerobic activity of severe intensity, such as running, are both viable options for achieving this goal. In addition, it is beneficial to participate in aerobic activity at a vigorous level for at least three days each week. Figures from the WTO show that, shockingly, four out of every five children between the ages of 11 and 17 don’t meet this goal around the world.
It’s possible that youngsters don’t yet use fitness trackers as frequently as adults do, but maybe they should start sooner rather than later. The more you tell your kids about the benefits of physical activity and movement, the more likely it is that they will try to keep a healthy weight as adults.
It is possible that the Fitbit Ace 2 and the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2 are the most effective fitness trackers on the market right now for children. Both are from reputable names already established in the sector. The question now is, which of the two options should you pick? Here is a comparison between the two.
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Design and Hardware Comparison of the Fitbit Ace 2 with the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2
The Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2 has been improved in two significant ways in comparison to its predecessor. To begin with, there is not a monochrome display but rather a colour display that is constantly active. The second piece of news is that Garmin has collaborated with Disney to produce a variety of branded styles.
But the Fitbit Ace and Ace 2 are very distinct from one another, in contrast to the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2, which is simply an updated version of the first-generation device. The second iteration of Fitbit’s kid’s tracker features a design that is more robust, a display that is significantly larger, and an appearance that is more kid-friendly.
When you compare the Fitbit Ace 2 and the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2, you will see that they are pretty comparable to one another. Both are composed of a substance that is similar to plastic and silicone, and they come in a single size that is designed to fit all users. In addition to that, both of them appear to be able to withstand quite a bit of abuse. This is especially true with the Ace 2, which features bumpers around the screen that fulfil the purpose of protecting the device while the user is having fun with it. Both can handle water up to a depth of 50 meters, which is five atmospheres of pressure. This means they can be worn 24 hours a day.
When it comes to the hardware, one important distinction to be aware of is the amount of time a battery may last. Because it is powered by a CR1632 coin cell, the Vivofit Jr. 2 has a battery life of up to one entire year. However, after it has been depleted, you will be required to replace it. The Fitbit Ace 2, on the other hand, has a battery that can be recharged and only needs to be refuelled once every five days.
The display is another point of differentiation. The display on the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2 is about half as big as the one on the Fitbit Ace 2, but it stays on all the time and displays everything in full colour. The only experience you can get from Fitbit is in grayscale.
The following is a comparison of the various technical specifications. We also included the Fitbit Ace despite the fact that it is very different from the gadgets of the second generation and is designed for a slightly older demographic.
Features
Garmin Vivofit Jr 2
Fitbit Ace 2
Fitbit Ace
Age range
8+
6+
8+
Size
Fits wrists up to 170mm
Fits wrists 125mm – 161mm
Fits wrists 125mm – 161mm
Material
Silicone and plastic
Flexible, durable elastomer material. The tracker and clasp are made with surgical-grade stainless steel.
Flexible, durable elastomer material. The tracker and clasp are made with surgical-grade stainless steel.
Battery
One replaceable CR1632 coin cell lasts up to 1 yr.
Up to 5 days.
Up to 5 days.
Water-resistance
5 ATM (up to 50 metres)
5 ATM (up to 50 metres)
Rain, sweat and showerproof (IPX7)
Display
Always-on color 64 x 64 pixels, 10 mm x 10 mm
0.72-inch touchscreen Grayscale OLED
1-inch OLED tap display.
Sensors
Accelerometer
3-axis accelerometer, vibration motor
3-axis accelerometer, vibration motor
Activity tracking
Daily steps, sleep, activity.
Daily steps, active minutes, sleep, calories.
Daily steps and active minutes, sleep.
Smartwatch functions
Call, text, and email notifications
Call, text, and email notifications
Other
– Parents can assign tasks and chores
– Free parent-controlled app includes fun and educational mobile adventures for kids and chore/behaviour management for parents
– Kids can earn coins to redeem for agreed-upon rewards managed by parents
– bedtime reminders and alarms, Fitbit App: Kid View, timer and stopwatch, move reminders, clock-faces, fun incentives, 1-hour active minutes goal
– step challenges
– rewards and badges
– Fitbit App: Parent View
– Fitbit App: Kid View
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Activity Monitoring and Intelligent Features Compared Between the Fitbit Ace 2 and the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2
Activity tracking will likely be the primary motivation behind your decision to purchase either of these two devices. On that point, either one will do the trick.
The Ace 2 keeps track of your children’s daily steps, sleep, and calorie intake, and it also has a target of one hour of active minutes in accordance with WHO recommendations. The wearer’s activities throughout the day cause the animated clock faces to vary during the course of the day.
The device comes pre-programmed with prompts to move around, which can be modified by parents via an app on their smartphone. You can also use the app to set silent alarms and reminders for when it’s time to go to bed. You won’t find a heart rate monitor or any other fancy sensors here; don’t bother looking for them. Only an accelerometer can be found on the inside of both the Fitbit and the Garmin.
When children achieve their objectives, they will receive congratulatory letters and amusing badges as a reward. They are even able to compete against other people, including their own parents, in step competitions.
When compared to Garmin, one area where Fitbit falls short is in its lack of game-like features. The children can choose from a number of different educational mobile excursions with Vivofit Jr. 2. Young children have a daily activity goal of sixty minutes, and when they meet that goal, they unlock entertaining facts and a smartphone adventure route.
In addition, parents are able to give their children duties to do around the household by using the Garmin, and the Vivofit Jr. 2 will remind the children when it is time to accomplish the chores that they have been assigned. These can be scheduled to repeat on a daily or even weekly basis at your discretion. The tasks that you give your children can even earn them virtual coins, which they can later use to obtain in-app incentives for themselves.
The Garmin does not have the capability to send notifications to your smartphone as the Fitbit does. Your child will be able to receive text messages, emails, and phone calls on their Fitbit Ace 2 if they already have a smartphone. In addition, there is a vibration motor built in, which adds another level of interaction.
Another important distinction to be mindful of is the experience provided by the app. In the case of Fitbit, the app offers two views: one is designed just for parents, and it gives them the ability to monitor their children’s activities while also protecting their privacy. The other is designed just for children, and it allows them to view their daily stats and communicate with other users of the Fitbit joint account. Garmin, on the other hand, only offers a parent app that allows parents to view their children’s daily activities and establish objectives for themselves and their children.
The Bottom Line: Comparing the Fitbit Ace 2 and the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2
The fact that Garmin and Fitbit have opted to compete in the market for fitness trackers for children is really encouraging. After all, both of these businesses have a solid reputation and widespread recognition.
There are a few key distinctions to keep in mind between the Garmin Vivofit Jr. 2 and the Fitbit Ace 2, despite the fact that their technical specifications are relatively comparable to one another. Battery life is one of these factors. The Fitbit needs to be charged every few days, whereas the Vivofit runs on a coin-cell battery that can last for up to a year without needing to be recharged. In addition, the display on the Vivofit is full colour and stays lit up. On the other hand, this is a considerably more condensed version of Ace 2’s grayscale screen.
Aside from that, both of these devices are durable and water-resistant, making them suitable for the task at hand. In terms of cost, neither of these options will put a significant dent in your savings.
Because it encourages parents to take a more active role in their children’s fitness, the Vivofit Jr. 2 is better suited for younger children. It does a good job with the fundamentals, includes a variety of different adventure games, and may teach your child the significance of keeping active, completing chores, and setting and achieving goals.
The Ace 2 operates more like a conventional fitness tracker, and its functionality is comparable to that of the Fitbit Inspire. It can send notifications to your smartphone and is a good option to go with if other family members also use Fitbits. In addition, calorie counting is more suitable for older children and adolescents.
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When everything is taken into account, the decision comes down to one’s individual preferences. Either one of them is dependable, effective at monitoring activities around the clock, and provides a wealth of parenting control methods as standard.
