SafeOwl Kids Smartwatch Review

SafeOwl is a new name on the kids smartwatch scene. They sent me a pre-launch version of their Owly smartwatch to test and review, and they're recruiting 100 Founding Families to do the same. I think it's worth signing up, because this smartwatch is one of the most accurate GPS trackers I've tested. It also lands in my top three for battery life, which is important since video calling and photography can use a lot of juice. 

In this quick review, I'll let you know how SafeOwl performed during my tests and how it compares to other kids smartwatches. We'll update as more information becomes available. 

Here's a quick look at what SafeOwl offers. 

Communication features:

• Phone calls
• Video calls
• Voice messages
• Text messages with the ability to send owl-shaped emojis, photos, videos up to 30 seconds long, and preset text answers
• Family group texts
• Full-text keyboard 

Emergency features: 

• SOS button that records audio after vibrating

Location-tracking features:

• Live location tracking
• SafePath real-time safety alerts
• Geofencing/safe zone alerts (coming soon)
• Location history

Fun and practical features:

• Selfie camera and outward-facing camera
• Step counter
• Alarm and timer
• Flashlight

Parental control features:

• No incoming or outgoing communication with unknown numbers
• Can disable cameras, microphones, and location tracking
• School mode schedules
• Remote shutdown
• Disable any app on the watch, such as Chat (text messaging) or Steps

Here's a list of some features you won't find on SafeOwl. 

Yes! The SafeOwl worked well during our tests overall. Here are some highlights from testing:

• Accurate location tracking
• Clear audio quality
• Mixed video quality that typically starts grainy and loads into a clear image (this may be related to the strength of your cellular signal)
• Decent photo quality from both cameras
• Very loud, shrill ringtone comes from the smartwatch with no way to lower volume
• Plenty of control at the parents' fingertips
• Extremely long battery life for a kid's smartwatch (up to 4 days in Wi-Fi zones)

SafeOwl hasn't announced their prices yet. However, the first 100 Founding Families get a free SafeOwl plus 3 months of free service in exchange for feedback. 

I tested an early version of SafeOwl hands-on. I tracked its battery life, took it to three locations to test GPS accuracy, sent texts, triggered the SOS button, and made phone calls and video calls to test its quality.

I then compared SafeOwl's performance and specs to other kids smartwatches. We also interviewed SafeOwl representatives and surveyed hundreds of parents to prepare a well-rounded review.

Visit the SafeWise methodology page to learn more about our review process.

If you're thinking about becoming one of SafeOwl's 100 Founding Families, we think you're in for a treat. The watch competes with some of our top picks in terms of location accuracy, battery life, and audio quality. It doesn't mess around with distracting games or features, but it's by no means basic or "cheap." We're excited to see where SafeOwl goes.