The $300 connected watch is a smartphone alternative for kids
As part of a surprise wave of new launches, Garmin has unveiled the Bounce 2, a reimagined LTE-connected smartwatch for kids.
The latest upgrade to the line, which is available now for $300/£260 (plus a $10/£10 monthly subscription), remains designed to be a phone alternative for parents who want to stay connected with their children.
The launch sees Garmin doubling down on the increasingly niche kids’ smartwatch market, a space that has seen few new entries from major tech brands over the last half-decade.
While Apple has slowly positioned its Watch SE line for older children and Google updated its Fitbit Ace tracker last year, dedicated, connected smartwatches for a younger audience remain rare.
The core of the Bounce 2 is its LTE connectivity, which provides a suite of peace-of-mind features for parents managed through the Garmin Jr. app.
These include two-way voice calling, text and voice messaging, and real-time location tracking. A new temporary geofencing feature can also alert parents when their child enters or leaves a predefined area, like a park or a friend’s house.
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For the kids themselves, the Bounce 2 features a bright, round 1.2-inch AMOLED display and a swim-friendly design.
It comes loaded with built-in sports apps for tracking activities like running and cycling, and, in a notable entertainment upgrade, it now supports Amazon Music for phone-free listening through the watch’s speaker or paired headphones.
However, it does also arrive with a battery life claim of just two days. That would see it surpass both Apple and Google’s kid-friendly alternatives, but it’s still not a device with tons of staying power—something to consider if you’re not looking to add another device to your charging routine.