Compare Gabb Devices for Kids in 2025

Gabb is one of our favorite kid-safe technology brands, with easy-to-use smartwatches and phones designed to cater to the evolving needs of tweens and teens while safeguarding them from the perils of excessive digital exposure and social media.

We adults are obsessed with our smartphones, so it only makes sense that our kids want one, too. But with social media and open browsers comes a lot of inappropriate content and wider access to the world (which includes friendly and malicious users alike), so it's important to decide if your child is ready for a smart phone or a smartwatch.

According to the National Institute of Health, around 53% of children have a smartphone by age 11.¹ Considering the U.S. Surgeon General's advisory for children using social media and digital content, it's important to be cautious.

Your child may not be ready for a smartphone phone until the age of 12 or older.

Ultimately, it comes down to you and your child and how you want to handle access to the internet. Our favorite devices for kids strike a balance between features kids love and age-appropriate guardrails set by parents. Gabb makes it easy with pre-installed apps and no internet browsers or social media apps.

Every Gabb device is built with safety in mind—whether you're considering a phone or a watch, here are the standout features and a few trade-offs to keep in mind.

The Gabb Watch 3e is Gabb's newest affordable watch. It features a unique digital pet that helps motivate kids to stay active and complete chores. Younger kids can easily send custom texts with the speech-to-text feature, while older kids will appreciate the full keyboard. Plus, this watch can be submerged in shallow water for up to 30 minutes without glitching, and it has an ultra-strong Gorilla Glass 3 screen to withstand whatever kids put it through.

• Go ahead and buy the Gabb Watch 3e if you're looking for a durable and easy-to-use watch that encourages kids to stay active and finish their chores.
• Keep shopping if you value emergency features like audio-only drop-ins, automatic call answering, live location tracking and location history, and the ability to dial 911. 

The Gabb Phone 4 is an excellent starter phone for kids thanks to zero internet access and almost no apps. The Gabb Phone 4 has improved battery life, larger display size, free cloud backup, and the promise of Gabb Music Plus compatibility.

Keep in mind that this isn’t a grow-with-you phone, so it’s not ideal for older teens unless you have a reason to keep them totally offline. 

The Gabb Phone 4 Pro is our pick for best user-friendly kids phone because it comes with parent-approved apps pre-installed. Parents can add dozens of other apps from Gabb's curated list, but there's no Google Play Store access and no internet. Group texts are optional, and speech-to-text is available for convenient on-the-go messaging. 

Balancing cost, functionality, and protection is essential for making a smart investment in your child’s device.

• Consider your child’s age and maturity:
  • Younger children may only need basic features like calling and texting for emergencies.
  • Older kids might require advanced options for schoolwork and socializing.
  • Assess your child’s ability to handle the responsibility of a smartphone.
  • Look for phones that can adapt to your child's changing needs over time.

• Focus on safety and parental controls:
  • Choose a phone with strong parental controls for monitoring messages, limiting screen time, and blocking unknown callers.
  • Consider phones that include only apps for kids and don't have access to an app store. Those that do include an app store should require parental approval before any app can be downloaded.
  • Make sure the phone has tracking and geofencing if you want to know where your kiddo is at all times.

• Evaluate budget and durability:
  • Look for affordable, durable phones that can withstand drops or accidents.
  • Consider the cost of a phone plan, ensuring it meets your child’s data and usage needs.

• Think about connectivity:
  • Look for a phone that uses a cellular network with good coverage in your area.

Then we pitted the Gabb Watch’s specs and features against our lineup of the best kids smartwatches. We also browsed Gabb Wireless’s support portal to learn more about the ins and outs of this GPS watch. Finally, we spoke to real Gabb Watch 3e users and read hundreds of customer reviews from Trustpilot, the Better Business Bureau, and Amazon.

For our Gabb Phone 4 and 4 Pro reviews, we compared its features and specs to each other and other kids' smartphones. Our hands-on testing is in progress, and we'll update you as we gain more experience. 

Watch

We recommend starting with Gabb's Watch 3e for kids under 10. It's is one of the most affordable watches out of our comparison of kids' smartwatch brands. It also offers more contacts than other brands.  Overall, we’re impressed with the Gabb Watch’s balance of features and affordability.

Phones

If your kid is older and already has a smart device, the Gabb Phone 4 is a good starter phone for ages 10 and up. Start looking at other options by age 14 or 15.

The Gabb Phone 4 Pro is an excellent choice for teens. We highly recommend this phone if you want to keep your teen off of the internet while still allowing them to listen to music, take photos, message friends and use safe apps.