Smartwatches for kids are less powerful and more affordable than regular smartwatches, and they're designed specifically with younger age groups in mind. They're packed full of apps and games to keep your little ones occupied, and some even have built-in cameras for snapping selfies. Others are full-fledged communication gadgets that support phone calls, texts, and GPS tracking.
Best Smartwatches for Kids
1
Best for Taking Photos
Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2
VTech
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2
Fun, Yet Educational
Little Tikes Tobi 2 Robot Purple Smartwatch- 2 Cameras, Interactive Robot, Games, Videos, Selfies, Pedometer & More, Touchscreen, Parental Control- Stem Gifts, Smartwatch for Kids Boys Girls 6 7 8+
Little Tikes
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3
Best Apple Watch
Apple Watch SE with GPS
Apple
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4
Best for Fitness
Vivofit jr. 2, Kids Fitness/Activity Tracker
Garmin
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5
Best for Calls and Texts
XPLORA X5 Play Smartwatch for Kids
XPLORA
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What to Consider
Getting a smartwatch can be a big step for a child, or it can just be for fun. It's up to the parents to determine how they want the smartwatch to be utilized and for what purpose. Is it just for fun, or is it a watch that you want your child to use with you or others? There are four main things to consider when you're looking to buy: age, features or functions, durability, and connectivity.
Age
This is arguably the most-important metric for smartwatches for kids. Because wow, do they run the gamut from a potty timer to an Apple watch, and the differences are huge. Young ones need different things, simpler watches. But tweens and teens? They won't settle for anything less than what you or I would wear. It's up to us to guide them to what is appropriate. And that's largely a family-by-family discussion.
Features/Functions
Some of our favorite kids' smartwatches are fairly basic. They let you get the time, maybe play a few games, have a timer for chores or potty, and usually a camera just for fun. Then you have a step up, and it can connect to your phone, or wifi, or perhaps you can write a schedule on it. A step up from that would be a fully-functional smart watch.
Durability
If it's going to get scratched-up or broken quickly, there's truly no point in buying it for a kid. Yes, adult watches may be a bit more precious, but you can and should insure them for your child. (Our parenting editor, Cat Bowen will sing the praises of gear insurance for teens.) Look for smartwatches that are waterproof or splash proof, with sturdy, scratch-resistant surfaces, and bands that can take a beating.
Connectivity
Most smartwatches for kids don't rely on a data connection, but for teens, we've listed a handful of smartwatches in this guide that do sync with smartphones or have an independent data connection so that your child can send messages with their loved ones.
A smartwatch is an excellent middle ground for kids who are constantly begging for a smartphone. Our picks don't offer unrestrained access to the internet like a phone would and most aren't susceptible to data charges. All of our recommended models will serve as an excellent transition for giving your child more independence with tech. Even better, they're much cheaper than smartphones. So, shop the best smartwatches for kids right now.
1
Best for Taking Photos
Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2
VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 is one of the highest-rated kids' smartwatches on Amazon — and for good reason. It's packed with multiple activities, games, and intuitive challenges that'll keep your little one busy all day long.
Your child can play with its built-in voice changer and snap hundreds of photos and videos using its camera. Other features include an alarm, a timer, a stopwatch, a calendar, a calculator, and a pedometer.
It's durable, easy to use, and loads of fun. It also comes in blue and purple, and offers several different watch faces to pick from. The watch is splash proof and very scratch-resistant, making this an all-around good pick.
More: The Absolute Best Tablets for Kids
2
Fun, Yet Educational
Little Tikes Tobi 2 Robot Purple Smartwatch- 2 Cameras, Interactive Robot, Games, Videos, Selfies, Pedometer & More, Touchscreen, Parental Control- Stem Gifts, Smartwatch for Kids Boys Girls 6 7 8+
They may not be old enough to get an Apple Watch just yet, but this age-appropriate smartwatch is an educational gift for kids disguised as a toy.
It'll help them learn how to tell time, and it also features plenty of games to keep them entertained: a calendar, stopwatch, timer, reminder list, alarm clock, and two built-in cameras for taking funny photos and videos with friends.
3
Best Apple Watch
Apple Watch SE with GPS
If you want to make your son or daughter's year and don't mind spending the money, the Apple Watch is one of the best smartwatches you can buy. It may be too powerful for most kids, but iPhone-wielding teens will be able to figure it out in no time. It is pretty decently waterproof, and hard to scratch, but we still recommend the insurance policy.
The Apple Watch SE is Apple's most inexpensive smartwatch. It does a fine job of tracking your teen's fitness to get them involved in their own health and wellness. With phone-call and text-message capabilities, your teen can't say that they missed your barrage of messages, either! We'd recommend getting the smaller and more affordable 40-millimeter watch for a teen (over the 44-millimeter model).
The Apple Watch comes in several different color and band combinations that vary in price. Just note that it doesn't work with Android smartphones — it requires an iPhone. It also comes with a new Family Share option for kids.
More: Fun Apple Watch Accessories for Your Gadget
4
Best for Fitness
Vivofit jr. 2, Kids Fitness/Activity Tracker
The vívofit jr. 3 from Garmin is a waterproof fitness tracker that helps get your little one up and moving. It tracks steps and sleep quality, and it records their active minutes to help them form positive habits. Parents can set daily activity goals, customize an “in case of emergency” screen with their contact information, and participate in fitness challenges using fitness trackers of their own.
The watch even gives you the option to send customizable alerts and chores lists to the device, and you can reward your child with virtual coins for completing goals — fitness or otherwise! As a bonus, the vívofit jr. 3’s built-in battery lasts for a whole year.
5
Best for Calls and Texts
XPLORA X5 Play Smartwatch for Kids
This Android-based watch is another great option for helping kids keep in close contact with their parents. That’s because it has a built-in nano SIM card slot, so you can activate it with your mobile carrier for texting and receiving phone calls. The watch even has Google Maps integration and safe-zone settings, so you can track your child’s location and be alerted if they leave a specific boundary.
The glass is tough, and the whole thing is wonderfully splash proof. The band is also durable and stretchy.
You'll love that this watch is waterproof and features a step counter. Your son or daughter will appreciate its built-in camera and emoji support, too!
Brandon Carte
Senior Electronics Editor
Brandon Carte has been the technology editor at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been covering the latest gadgets and scouring the internet for the greatest deals; His tech reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com and USA Today.
Cat Bowen
Parenting Editor
Cat Bowen is the parenting editor at BestProducts.com where she researches all of the best products for families from pre-conception through their teen years, focusing on matching scientific evidence with real-life needs.
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