Kids smartwatches for calls and GPS, no phone needed

Our recommendations

Top Pick for Active Kids

Garmin Bounce 2 Kids' Smartwatch (Light Purple)

The Bounce 2 combines location, step and sleep tracking with calls, custom keyboard texts and voice messages. It has built-in apps and voice commands, but no camera or video calls.

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Worth knowing

• Location comes from Garmin’s GPS, which holds up well outdoors.
• Steps and sleep are tracked on the watch. LTE communication and location features require a separate Garmin subscription.
• The Bounce 2 is water-rated, so it can stay on at the pool.

Community discussions: r/Garmin

Best Budget Pick

XPLORA XGO3 Kids Smartwatch (Pink Zebra)

The XGO3 covers calls and location at the budget end of XPLORA’s range. It also has a 2MP camera and step rewards, with no web browser or social media.

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Worth knowing

• In an r/AskUK thread on kids’ tracking watches, XPLORA owners describe batteries dying by evening and the occasional SIM or screen fault.
• It’s XPLORA’s budget model, priced for families on a tighter budget.
• During class hours, school mode silences it on its own.

Community discussions: r/AskUK

Best for Safety-First Parents

Cosmo JrTrack 5 Kids Smart Watch

The JrTrack 5 limits calls and messages to approved contacts and includes SOS alerts. It also has a photo and video camera, so it is not a camera-free choice.

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Worth knowing

• Owners on r/smartwatch like that texts are real SMS, not messages stuck inside an app.
• The same owners report location updates stalling for hours, and calls or texts that won’t go through until the watch is restarted.
• Calls and texts only go to and from contacts you’ve approved.

Community discussions: r/smartwatch

Best for Photos and Rewards

XPLORA X6 Play Kids Smartwatch

The X6 Play has a 5MP camera, a larger screen and step rewards. Parents manage contacts and school mode, while open internet browsing and social media stay out.

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Worth knowing

• Kids can take photos with the built-in camera and send them to you.
• The larger screen is easier to read and tap than the XGO3’s small, low-resolution one.
• Kids collect rewards by hitting step goals, a game built around walking.

Community discussions: r/AskUK

How I narrowed it down

• Read each maker’s battery claims, then owner threads, where the Bounce 2 and the XPLORA watches come up for near-daily charging.
• Garmin Bounce 2, XPLORA XGO3, Cosmo JrTrack 5 and XPLORA X6 Play: checked the age guidance and how far each band adjusts.
• Checked water ratings, since these stay on through recess and splash pads. The Bounce 2 is rated to wear in the pool.
• Read each brand’s subscription requirements and activation fees.
• Confirmed that none of the four works as a fully open smartphone. Every one has parent controls.

Matt is a Seattle dad of two boys, six and three. He's an engineer by habit and would rather read the spec sheet twice than send something back. Most guides here are research: product listings, safety guidance, recall records and what owners keep complaining about. The few things his family has actually used are marked personally tested, and nothing else is dressed up to look that way. He also keeps a weekly list of federal recalls on children's products. Read the review standards.