Tried and Tested: the best smartwatch for kids

Giving your child a smartwatch can be a vital lifeline but there are pitfalls too. We tested five of the newest kid-friendly gadgets on the market. See how they rank.

There are benefits to giving your child a smartwatch but there can be pitfalls too. This is what you need to know about five of the smartest devices on the market.

MOOCHIES ODYSSEY

One of the best known smartwatches for kids just grew up

$229, officeworks.com.au

The Moochies Odyssey is a smartwatch designed for children.

PROS

– Video and voice calls

– Advanced fitness-tracking

– Built-in games

CONS

– $15/m data plan

– Slightly chunky

– Two-day battery

This new Moochies device puts many more smarts into kid smartwatches. The just-launched Odyssey adds a crisp and bright OLED screen, a body that’s waterproof to 1.5 metres, games created for the very small screen, and heart-rate and temperature sensors to track more of a young wearer’s fitness. These new features add to what Moochies watches are best known for: letting kids make and receive video and voice calls, and sharing their location with parents and guardians. Parents must buy a $15/m phone plan to use the device but it comes with no added subscription fees.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

APPLE WATCH SE

The cheapest Apple Watch that needs no iPhone to work

$429-$549, apple.com/au

Apple’s Watch SE can be used by children.

PROS

– Packed with features

– Schooltime watch face

– Cellular option

CONS

– Pricier than peers

– Locked to Apple system

– No tough crystal screen

It’s much more expensive than other child-friendly smartwatches but Apple’s Watch SE delivers features both children and parents will appreciate. The cellular version of this smartwatch (which starts at $499) can be used without a phone — instead being set up on a parent’s iPhone — and will let kids send iMessages and make phone calls from their wrist, hold conversations over the Walkie-Talkie app, share their location and check on the location of family members and friends. Parents can also set up a Schooltime feature with a bright yellow watch face that silences distractions during class time.

VERDICT: ★★★★½

SPACETALK ADVENTURER

An Aussie smartwatch designed specifically for tweens

$349, spacetalkwatch.com

PROS

– Equipped for calls and texts

– Classroom-friendly controls

– No access to open internet

CONS

– Slightly chunky

– Limited battery life

– Subscription fee

This smartwatch is designed for children who are old enough to want to use a smartphone but not old enough to handle the responsibility of one. The Adventurer, named for its rugged exterior, can place and receive phone calls and text messages from parent-approved contacts, and can also be used to track a wearer’s activity, steps and heart rate, and update parents on their location. It also has a five-megapixel camera built-in and a School Mode to limit distractions. A local helpline is available to assist with set-up, parents can bring their own SIM, though the watch requires a $6 monthly subscription.

VERDICT: ★★★★

PIXBEE KIDS 4G VIDEO SMART WATCH

A simple, straightforward smartwatch for kids

$250, pixbee.com.au

PROS

– Video and phone calls

– Simple, easy menu

– No locked-in fees

CONS

– Lax privacy controls

– Basic touchscreen

– Confusing mic placement

Pixbee is a new brand in the kid smartwatch market and its flagship device is simple for everyone to use. The Kids 4G Video Smart Watch requires parents to insert an active SIM card into the watch and set up controls in an app on their phone. Kids can then receive and make audio and video calls, send messages from approved contacts, track their steps, and take photos with its two-megapixel camera, and its menus are large and straightforward. Its hardware is less advanced than that of its peers, and parents can also remotely take photos or listen through the microphone on this device, which should be discussed before use.

VERDICT: ★★★½

FITBIT ACE 3

A customisable step-counter for young wrists

$100, fitbit.com

PROS

– Week-long battery life

– Rugged, kid-friendly form

– Allows family competitions

CONS

– Pared-back features

– No network connection

– Limited accessories

Fitbit’s creation for the smallest wrists can ensure children are included in family fitness competitions (be careful, as their little legs move fast). The Fitbit Ace 3 features a basic black and white screen, but one that can be customised with a drawing of their choice and will show the time and their daily step count. The device not only tracks their steps but their minutes active each day, and can also be used to record sleep, set alarms, deliver virtual badges, and remind them to move when appropriate. The Ace 3 won’t deliver calls, GPS tracking, or connect to a phone network, but it does offer battery life of up to eight days as a result.

VERDICT: ★★★

Originally published as Tried and Tested: the best smartwatch for kids