Best smartwatches for kids

After sorting through all of the features offered by the best kids smartwatches, we pinned down a clear winner: Spacetalk Adventurer.
Best overall
Spacetalk Adventurer 2
  • pro
    GPS tracking
  • pro
    Camera
  • pro
    Calls and text
Budget pick
Pixbee Kids 4G
  • pro
    GPS tracking
  • pro
    Camera
  • pro
    Calls and text
Best battery life
Imoo Watch Phone Z1
  • pro
    GPS tracking
  • pro
    Camera
  • pro
    3-day battery life
  • bullet
    21% OFF
Best fitness tracker
Fitbit Ace 3
  • pro
    Fitness and sleep tracking
  • pro
    8-day battery life
  • con
    No calls or GPS functionality
  • bullet
    15% OFF
Best for younger kids
VTech Kidizoom
  • pro
    Dual cameras
  • pro
    Games
  • con
    No calls or GPS functionality
  • bullet
    34% OFF

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A kid’s smartwatch has to balance parental control and safety with a child’s increasing need for independence and creative expression. Our top pick—the Spacetalk Adventurer 2—does the best job of pulling this off. It features 4G calls and texts, a GPS tracker with geofencing, SOS alerts, parent-approved contact list, school mode, fitness tracking and more.

But if you’re looking for something very specific (like a dedicated fitness tracker, a budget device, or one with some fun games), another watch may be right up your alley. We tracked down the best options.


Compare the best smartwatches for kids

Product
Best for
Watch price bullet
Calls and texts
Camera
GPS tracking
Learn more
Best overall
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
Best budget
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
Best battery life
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
Best fitness tracker
bulletNo
bulletNo
bulletNo
Best for younger kids
bulletNo
bulletYes
bulletNo
Best "regular" smartwatch
bulletYes
bulletNo
bulletYes

Prices are accurate as of publish date. Read full disclaimer.

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Alternatives to kids smartwatches

A kids smartwatch is a stepping-stone between a basic GPS tracker and your child's first phone. Here's a quick guide to what's best for each age group:

Best kids smartwatches reviews

1. Spacetalk Adventurer: Best smartwatch for kids overall

Best overall
Spacetalk Adventurer 2
$249🔥(29% OFF)
plus monthly mobile plan

Price is accurate as of publish date. Read full disclaimer.

We love that the Spacetalk Adventurer 2 isn’t just a smartwatch for parents; it includes features that kids enjoy too. Your child can choose how to communicate, whether it’s through HD-quality video calls, voice calls, text messages or taking photos through the 5MP camera. The band is slim, light, and flexible, meaning it's comfortable to wear, too.

Another thing we're a big fan of is the parent-controlled contact list. Your child won't be able to add any new contacts themselves - only those with the parental app can do so.

Other features include a fitness tracker, School Mode, reminders and alerts, Safe Zones (geofencing), GPS location tracking (both real-time and historical), and SOS alerts that your kid can use in an emergency. Plus, it's IP67 water-resistant with a tough Gorilla Glass screen, meaning it'll survive after working in the rain or after an drop in the bathtub.

On the downside, it is one of the more expensive options on our list, and some features do require a monthly subscription fee (from $5.99), plus the battery life leaves a bit to be desired.

pro
Pros
pro Geofencing and GPS tracking
pro Parent-controlled contact list
pro SOS alerts
pro Fitness tracking
pro Voice calls, video calls, and text
con
Cons
con Average battery life
con Some features require subscription
con Expensive up-front price

It's worth mentioning that all Spacetalk Adventure smartwatches come with a JumpySIM card included. This SIM was specifically designed for family wearables and includes unlimited talk, text, and great coverage on the Telstra network. If you choose to go with the provided JumpySIM plan, your Spacetalk subscription fee is waived, meaning you can access all features this watch has to offer. Otherwise, you can grab one of the cheap mobile plans (under $10) below to pair with your Spacetalk Adventurer 2.

2. Pixbee Kids 4G: Best budget smartwatch for kids

Budget pick
Pixbee Kids 4G
$217.95
plus monthly mobile plan

Price is accurate as of publish date. Read full disclaimer.

If you like the features of the Spacetalk Adventurer but not necessarily the price tag, the Pixbee Kids 4G Smart Watch is a solid alternative when you're on a budget.

It's capable of voice calls and video calls and allows your child to send photos and emojis to a list of parent-approved contacts. Speaking of parents, you can also keep track of your little one's activity thanks to the inbuilt GPS tracker and pedometer.

Other features include Classroom Mode, which allows your child to focus during school hours, SOS alerts, and IP67 water resistance to protect from the occasional splash or spot of rain.

Unfortunately, there are a couple of compromises. Mainly the fact that the battery life could be better, there's no voice-to-text feature, and there are fewer apps and extras than our top pick.

pro
Pros
pro Geofencing and GPS tracking
pro Parent-controlled contact list
pro SOS alerts
pro Voice calls, video calls, and text
pro Classroom Mode
con
Cons
con Average battery life
con No games
con No location history, only real-time

You'll need to pair your Pixbee Kids 4G Smart Watch with a mobile plan that offers data, so here are some budget-friendly (no more than $10 per month) options.

3. Imoo Watch Phone Z1: Best kids smartwatch for battery life

Budget pick
Imoo Watch Phone Z1
$169.15🔥(33% OFF)
plus monthly mobile plan

Price is accurate as of publish date. Read full disclaimer.

A common problem among kids smartwatches is poor battery life. For most products on the market, you're looking at maybe a full day of use, if you're lucky. The Imoo Watch Phone Z1, on the other hand, can easily last a couple of days, making it a good choice for forgetful (or simply very busy!) kiddos.

Though it lacks an SOS calling feature and location history, there's no denying this watch offers great overall value, boasting all the features you'd expect like real-time GPS location tracking, video and voice calling, Class Mode, IPX8 waterproofing and more.

It only comes in two colours (Pink or Green), and the design won't be to everyone's taste, but at this price, it's hard to argue.

pro
Pros
pro Geofencing and GPS tracking
pro Parent-controlled contact list
pro Three-day battery life
pro Voice calls, video calls, and text
pro Class Mode
con
Cons
con No SOS feature
con No location history, only real-time
con No games

The Imoo Watch Phone Z1 requires a Nano SIM, so grab a cheap mobile plan (that offers a little bit of data), pop it in the watch, and you're all set.

4. Fitbit Ace 3: Best fitness tracker for kids

Best fitness tracker
Fitbit Ace 3
$84.96🔥(15% OFF)

Price is accurate as of publish date. Read full disclaimer.

Got a little soon-to-be-pro athlete on your hands? The Fitbit Ace 3 is a fun way to track their activity, sleep quality, and challenge friends. It's got fun animated clock faces, a swim proof design, and boasts eight days of battery life. The best part? It's less than $100.

Of course, there are some major omissions when it comes to safety features, since this is a fitness tracker and not a traditional kids' smartwatch or a GPS tracker. It can't give you a live view of your child's whereabouts, and they can't use it to call or text you in a pinch.

That said, there are parental controls available, and it will certainly motivate them to get moving. Plus, for older kids who already have their first smartphone, the Fitbit Ace 3 can display notifications.

pro
Pros
pro Activity tracking
pro Sleep tracking
pro Animated watch faces
pro 8-day battery life
pro Displays smartphone notifications
con
Cons
con No calls or text
con No SOS alerts
con No GPS tracking

5. Kidizoom: Best smartwatch for younger kids

Best for younger kids
VTech Kidizoom
$58.65🔥(34% OFF)

Price is accurate as of publish date. Read full disclaimer.

The VTech Kidizoom smartwatch is definitely the most fun pick on our list. Retailing for less than $70, it’s one of the most affordable kids' smartwatches on the market. But it really can’t compete with the other watches on our list in terms of features. In fact, it seems to be meant for entertainment and learning rather than safety or as a stepping stone to independence.

This isn’t a GPS tracker, nor does it support texting or calling, as it's designed for kids as young as four. But if your little one feels super left out when their older sibling gets a cool new gadget, this is what you could give them to keep them entertained.

This watch features dual cameras, over 50 digital and analog watch faces, a timer, alarm, and calendar. But the best feature is by far the games it offers, including some augmented reality games using the cameras!

pro
Pros
pro Dual cameras
pro Games
pro 55+ watch faces
pro Affordable price
con
Cons
con No GPS tracking or geofencing
con No SOS button
con No calls or text

6. Apple Watch SE (2nd gen): Best "regular" smartwatch for kids

Best "regular" smartwatch
Apple Watch SE 2nd Gen (GPS + Cellular)
From
$429
(plus monthly mobile plan)

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Unless you have one to hand down, the Apple Watch is an expensive choice for a kid's smartwatch. But it does work. Choose an Apple Watch (or cheaper Apple Watch SE) with cellular connectivity and add it to a Family Sharing account to get started. You'll be able to manage apps, control contacts and screen time, and see your child's location from your own iPhone.

Outside of second-hand and refurbished models, the most affordable option we found retails for close to $500. Expect to pay more for different colours or the latest release. The watch also needs an eSIM-compatible mobile plan, which will incur an additional monthly plan fee.

On the plus side, your kid will have a full-fledged smartwatch once they outgrow the parental controls.

pro
Pros
pro Calls and text
pro Tons of apps
pro Activity tracking
pro GPS tracking
con
Cons
con Very expensive
con No camera
con eSIM plan required

Final word

The Spacetalk Adventurer 2 earned our vote as the best smartwatch for kids because it includes virtually every safety feature that parents want in a kids' smartwatch—including the ability to visually confirm their child’s safety with a video call. But we’re especially impressed that its kid-oriented features strike a balance between “boring after one use” and “borderline addicting.”

Although it is an expensive purchase, it offers a lot of features for the price when compared to other kids' smartwatches.

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Watch smartwatches at school

We like smartwatches to help keep kids and parents in touch, but your child's device might not be welcome in the classroom. Schools are concerned about distraction, privacy, and cheating.

Be sure to talk to your child's teacher or principal before sending them to school with a smartwatch. And you can help educators out—use parental controls (or "school mode", if available on the smartwatch) to shut down the device during class. 

How we reviewed the best smartwatches for kids

There are a lot of features packed into smartwatches for kids. To narrow down the contenders, we prioritised the following:

  • GPS tracking
  • Video calling
  • SOS button
  • Parent-controlled contact list
  • Fun games or activities 

We scoured the internet for smartwatches that met our priority list and compared their features and prices to find the best deals. We also read hundreds of user reviews to evaluate each contender’s performance and customer service.


Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.
Georgia Dixon
Written by
Georgia Dixon
Georgia Dixon has 10 years of experience writing about all things tech, entertainment and lifestyle. She has bylines on Reviews.org, 7NEWS, Stuff.co.nz and in TechLife magazine, and in 2023 she won Best News Writer at the Consensus IT awards. In her spare time, you'll find her playing games and daydreaming about good food, wine, and dogs.

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