COSMO JrTrack 5 Review

The COSMO JrTrack 5 is here to shake up the kids smartwatch market. As the first kids smartwatch with an app library (fully managed by parents and completely optional), the COSMO JrTrack 5 offers a gentle introduction to smart devices beyond phone calls and cameras. Kids can access age-appropriate news, health videos, music, and games according to the screen time rules set in the parent dashboard.

We're also impressed by the COSMO JrTrack 5's accurate location tracking. The parent app always showed the watch's exact location in our tests, which can't be said of most kids smartwatches. On the other hand, the COSMO JrTrack 5's geofencing leaves a lot to be desired, and it ended up having the shortest battery life of any watch we tested. 

In this COSMO JrTrack 5 review, we'll explain everything our testers loved and point out some issues you should be aware of before you buy. 

Looking for something specific? Here's a list of all the features we found in the COSMO JrTrack 5:

Communication features:

• Voice messages
• Talk to test
• Send photos and videos via text
• Send emojis via text (appears to be the full catalog!)
• Full text keyboard (QWERTY or alphabetical)
• Preset messages (customizable)

Emergency features:

• SOS button with a 15-second cancellation window
• Audio drop-in when in SOS mode
• Live location tracking automatically starts when in SOS mode (updates every 15 seconds for 15 minutes)
• Option to call 911 (can be hidden)
• Optional wireless emergency alerts (WEA)

Location-tracking features:

• Live location tracking
• Geofencing/safe zone alerts
• Location history
• Check-ins (submitted by the child)
• Works throughout North America

Fun and practical features:

• 1000 Hours Outside
• The Week Junior (newspaper for kids)
• Calm 
• GoNoodle 
• iHeart Radio
• Spotify
• Spotify for Kids
• Simplest Checklist
• 2048 (puzzle game)
• Flappy Bot (arcade game)
• Swip3 (puzzle game)
• 2 MP camera for photos and videos
• Notetaker
• Weather app with 5-day forecast
• Timer, stopwatch, and alarm
• Step counter
• Calculator
• Charging stand that turns watch into a bedside clock
• Flashlight

Parental control features:

• No incoming or outgoing communication with unknown numbers
• Ability to install, manage, and remove some of the apps 
• View app usage
• Read text messages
• View call logs
• Set step goals
• Schedule focus mode/school mode
• Set alarms/reminders

The COSMO JrTrack 5 is overflowing with features, but there are a few things we'd like to see:

There's also no gamified activity in the sense that your child won't earn virtual coins for completing their step counts. However, the optional GoNoodle app encourages fun, daily movement in its own way.

Testers summarize their COSMO JrTrack 5 setup experiences as "annoying."

"It took at least 15 minutes to get the watch up and running. All in all, it took me three tries," one tester said. 

Our main problem was getting the QR code to appear on the watch's screen. The only way to pair the watch with the app is to scan this code.

"I had to tap 'try again' because it didn't show a QR code. Then the watch restarted and went through an update. Then the screen went black and wouldn't turn on. I had to put the watch on the charging stand to get it to turn on even though its battery was at 85%."

If you run into trouble with setup, turning off the watch and starting over seems to be the best solution.

Aside from that initial headache, testers say the COSMO JrTrack 5 is pretty easy to use for both kids and parents alike. However, some features are a little tricky to find. For example, there's a settings menu on the watch — not the parent app — that allows parents to hide the 911 option (a smart move to prevent younger kids from causing false alarms). Testers also expected the flashlight to appear as an app icon rather than on a hidden quick-find menu. 

At first, no. The COSMO JrTrack 5 lost almost all its battery power after we messed with it for one hour, and then it seemed to struggle to charge. 

After a reset, a full charge, and a software update, the watch was no longer glitchy. Phew.

Our COSMO JrTrack 5 testers loved the following: 

• Roomy contact list (maximum of 100 people)
• Hundreds of emojis available (make sure you brush up on the latest emoji codes)
• Variety of unique (but optional) apps 
• Parent dashboard shows time spent on each app
• Highly accurate location tracking (except geofencing, which we'll talk about in a minute)
• Parents can read all texts sent and received 
• People don't have to download an app to call or message the watch, but only approved numbers get through
• Changes update very quickly, so kids can start texting as soon as you add a new contact
• Kids can share their location with Guardian contacts at any time
• Two wristbands is a nice touch because kids can choose whatever is most comfortable
• Optional charging stand looks great, and nightstand mode makes the watch even more useful
• Parents get notifications when the watch battery is low and when it completely dies.
• Find My Watch helps locate misplaced watches even when they're on silent
• Calls from the parent to the child are automatically answered after the SOS button is pressed. 

The COSMO JrTrack 5 stands out from the crowd thanks to its optional apps.

It's one of the few kids smartwatches to offer music streaming, but it goes above and beyond by giving kids (well, parents) three platforms to choose from: iHeart Radio, Spotify, or Spotify Kids. And if you're the kind of parent who just wants peace and quiet, you'll be happy to know the watch is compatible with Bluetooth headphones.

If your child would rather play games, the COSMO JrTrack 5 provides three to keep them entertained. There's no hidden educational agenda here — these games are just pure and simple fun. 

Rounding out the app selection is The Week Junior, a magazine written for kids, Go Noodle, a platform with health and fitness videos for kids, and 1000 Hours Outside, an app that encourages kids to spend time outdoors.

We have a feeling more apps are just around the corner!

After testing the COSMO JrTrack 5 head-to-head with other kids smartwatches, we noticed it had a few weaknesses:

• Shorter battery life than other kids smartwatches: The COSMO JrTrack 5 lasted 30 hours off the charger—shorter than most of the other kids smartwatch we tested. That's good enough for a full day's use, but the battery may drain faster if your child uses a lot of the apps or you set up frequent location updates. 
• SOS notification, not an SOS call. Most kids smartwatches call a parent when the SOS button is pressed, but the COSMO JrTrack 5 only sends a push notification. This may be easier for parents to accidentally ignore. Some smartphones let you create unique sounds for each app, which could be a good solution. 
• Muffled audio: The audio quality on the COSMO JrTrack 5 could be better. Sometimes the volume went in and out during testing, making it tough to carry on a conversation. 
• Location history doesn't show routes: You'll only see dots to indicate where your child was during a location check-in. If the route they took to get there matters to you, consider the Bark Watch, Verizon Gizmo Watch, or myFirst Fone R2. 
• Delayed geofencing alerts: The COSMO JrTrack 5 doesn't alert you as soon as your child exits a geofence. Instead, it waits until the next scheduled location update to tell you if your child is outside the safe zone. We think that defeats the purpose of a safe zone. If you have location updates set for every 60 minutes, your child could be miles outside the safe zone before you realize something's wrong.

The COSMO JrTrack 5 has some good things to offer but still needs a bit of work.

1. It's one of the most accurate GPS trackers we've ever tested, but it's a shame that geofencing doesn't work as expected.
2. We love the extra apps and the fact that parents can set time limits per app, but we worry that the battery won't support a lot of activity.
3. SOS mode works a little differently compared to other kids smartwatches, so it's important that you and your child practice for emergencies.
4. Audio could also be sharper and easier to understand.

Still, the COSMO JrTrack 5 fills a niche. It introduces your child to useful and fun apps and lets them practice screen time limits without the pull of a full-fledged smartphone. Parents can also keep an eye on text messages and call history to ensure there's no funny business. 

It's not our top-performing pick overall, but the COSMO JrTrack 5 a solid choice for parents who aren't interested in geofencing.