Whether you’re travelling through Europe with teenagers or going on a European city break, a smartwatch is the perfect gadget for a teen. But what is the best smartwatch for teens? Here are the best smartwatches available in 2024:
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Benefits of Your Teenager Having a Smartwatch
The best smartwatch for teens has all of the features of a smartphone available for both android users and Apple users. The best smartwatch for teenagers UK offers several benefits:
Keeping Track
are an excellent tool for parents to keep track of their teen’s activities. Parents can also use smartwatches for teenagers to communicate with their teens through texts, phone calls, or email.
More Independence
The best smartwatch for teens has features such as activity tracking to help your teen keep track of their own schedules and their to-do lists, instilling in them a feeling of responsibility at an early age.
When travelling, the best GPS smartwatch can help navigate unfamiliar areas and locate a hospital with the help of inbuilt GPS.
Encourages Excersize
Smartwatches also work as fitness watches by offering fitness features such as activity tracking to inspire teenagers to get out and indulge in fitness activities such as going on camping trips and trekking with friends.
Affordable Pricing
Purchasing the best smartwatch for teenagers UK is not that expensive anymore because there’s just so much variety. If your budget stops you from purchasing a smartphone, a smartwatch is a great alternative with all the features.
Methodology: The Best Smartwatches for Teens
In the dynamic world of smartwatches, choosing the perfect one for teenagers requires understanding their lifestyle, needs, and the technological compatibilities that can enhance their daily activities.
Here’s how I discern the best smartwatches for teenagers, ensuring that the recommendations are not just trendy but also profoundly functional and suitable for young individuals.
Technological Features and Compatibility (5/5)
Top on the list is how well the smartwatch’s technology integrates with the teenager’s digital life. Does it sync with their smartphone? What apps are available on the watch’s platform?
The focus here is on seamless connectivity, a wide array of app choices, and compatibility with various devices they already use.
This aspect is crucial as teenagers today are digital natives, and any device they use must enhance this connection.
Design and Personalization (4/5)
Teenagers express their individuality through their possessions. The smartwatch must have a sleek, modern design that appeals to them and customization options such as changeable watch faces or interchangeable bands.
While it’s not as critical as functionality, the aesthetic and ability for personal expression is a close runner-up.
Durability and Water Resistance (5/5)
Teenagers are known for their active lifestyle, and a smartwatch in their possession needs to withstand a lot.
From unexpected rain to sports activities, the watch needs to be water-resistant and have a rugged build, making durability a top consideration to prevent frequent replacements.
Health and Fitness Tracking (4/5)
With a growing focus on health and fitness, especially among the youth, built-in trackers are essential. Features like step counting, calorie tracking, and even heart rate monitoring are significant for encouraging a healthy lifestyle. It’s not just about being tech-savvy; it’s also about being health-conscious.
Battery Life and Charging (5/5)
Nothing can dampen a teenager’s mood like a gadget that dies in the middle of the day. Long battery life and convenient charging options are vital. The watch should carry enough juice to last throughout all activities without needing a recharge, making this one of the most critical factors in selection.
Price Point (3/5)
Finally, while teenagers aren’t always financially responsible for their gadgets, the cost is a consideration for parents making the purchase. Balancing features with affordability will appeal to parents, ensuring the smartwatch is a sensible investment.
By emphasizing these areas, I ensure that the selection encompasses what’s cool, essential, and practical while resonating with both the teenagers’ needs and the parents’ expectations for durability and cost-effectiveness.
Best Smartwatches for Teenagers in 2024
Smartwatch for teenagers is less expensive than smartphones. When purchasing the best smartwatch for teenagers, look for water resistance, good battery life, GPS tracking, sports modes, and other advanced features.
Here are the best smartwatches for teenagers from different brands and in different price ranges to help you find something that meets your needs.
#1 Apple Watch SE – Best Smartwatch for Teenagers Overall
The Apple Watch SE is a part of the Apple watch series. It is the best smartwatch for teenagers regarding durability, comfort, fitness tracker, good battery life, and smart alerts for communication.
The watch has a 1.78-inch Retina display with a 326 pixel-per-inch density protected by Ion-X reinforced glass.
The Apple Watch SE offers enough health, fitness, and smart capabilities to be worthwhile, and its lower price makes it far more accessible than the Apple Watch series.
Key Features
- Light and durable
- Ion-X reinforced glass
- Fitness tracker
- Sports modes
- Weatherproof and waterproof watch
Pros
- Family setup option that allows you to cross-reference each family member
- Track daily activity and fitness tracking
- Weather-resistant
Cons
- It is not as advanced as other Apple Watch
#2 Ohomr X6Plus – Best Smartwatch for a 14-Year-Old
Ohomr X6 Plus has many impressive features that set it apart from its competitors. This smartwatch keeps track of your child’s health and location.
In case of emergency, your 14-year-old can contact you through the watch. Parents can set up alarms to help their children wake up on time for school.
Some kids enjoy taking pictures. Therefore a watch like this will be useful to them. Because of the many functionalities, your 14-year-old can learn some freedom when using the watch. A stopwatch, calculator, call system, Bluetooth music, and alarm clock are all included.
Key Features
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Android and iOS compatibility
- Battery life of 5 days
- 1.54-inch touch screen
Pros
- Make calls
- Track health and sleep schedule
- Easy to use touch screen
Cons
- No sim card slot
#3 Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 – Best Smartwatch to Use Without a Phone
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the best smartwatch for a teenager without a phone on the market, and it can make and receive calls and texts without the use of a phone. It is more attractive and elegant than the Galaxy Watch 3.
This smartwatch for teenagers contains a virtual SIM card that will keep you connected while you are out or travelling. The watch has a dual-core Exynos W920 CPU and 1.5 GB of RAM, making it capable of handling most apps.
Can smartwatches be used without a phone?
The best smartwatch for teenager can be used without a smartphone. These are usually the higher-end devices that require a micro-SIM to operate, implying that the smartwatch will communicate via a cellular network without connecting to another device.
Key Features
- Cellular micro-SIM
- IP68 swim-proof rating
- BioActive Sensor
- Emergency SOS feature
- Heart rate monitor
Pros
- Doubles as a fitness tracker
- Many applications
- Unisex watch
Con
- No iOS support, for which you may need an Apple smartwatch
#4 Fitbit Versa 3 – Best Fitness Tracking Smartwatch
The Fitbit Versa 3 is the best smartwatch for teenagers in 2024. It comes in four distinct colours and with small and big bands, with the dial remaining the same size.
Fitbit Versa 3 is a fantastic tracker that tracks your steps, heart rate, calories burned, and sleep time, among other things.
The Fitbit Versa 3 app is simple to use and compatible with all devices. Furthermore, this is the best fitness smartwatch available which allows you to manage nearly 15 fitness programs and effortlessly connects to your phone’s GPS for more precise position monitoring.
Key Features
- Several sports modes
- Calorie tracker
- Heart rate monitor
- Smartphone notifications
- Waterproof
Pros
- Brilliant tracker
- Weightless fitness smartwatch
- Long battery life
Cons
- App is not user-friendly
#5 Apple Watch Series 6 – Best Apple Watch for Teens
Apple Watch Series 6 is available in a range of colours and styles. Moreover, it is a popular brand among both young and adult. Any teen would love an Apple Watch on their wrist.
The Apple smartwatch for a teenager has always included the ability to contact emergency services. The long battery life of this smartwatch for teenagers is one of the key benefits. Plus, if they already have an iPhone, it would make sense to go with an Apple Watch.
With the help of the built-in GPS tracking, you will constantly know your child’s location and activities without them keeping you updated. This can be configured in the Watch app settings on the phone.
Key Features
- 5th generation Apple Watch
- 64-bit S5 chip
- Built-in compass
- SOS call feature
- ECG for heart rhythm
Pros
- Heart rate monitor
- Swim-proof
- GPS tracking
- 18 hours of battery life
Cons
- No sleep tracker
- Pricey
#6 Fitbit Inspire HR – Best Fitbit Smartwatch for Teenagers
The Fitbit Inspire HR is a teen and older child’s budget smartwatch version of the Fitbit Ace 2. The sleek, straightforward form is intended to appeal to teenagers.
It is the entry-level Fitbit for teenagers and young children who want to get in on the fitness tracker action. Additionally, this smartwatch for teenagers is sealed to keep sand and dirt out.
The primary interest is in a quality smartwatch with sports modes, health tracking, and other features for active teenagers. So this will be a perfect fit for them.
Key Features
- 5 days battery life
- Fitness tracking
- Sports modes
- Built-in GPS
- Sleep monitor
Pros
- Good value for money
- Comprehensive fitness tracking
- 24/7 heart rate monitoring feature
Cons
- Monochrome and small screen
#7 Judneer Smart Watch – Best Affordable Smartwatch for Teens
The Judneer Smartwatch is the best cheap smartwatch alternative while still providing the functionality you want. This smartwatch uses a clever algorithm to better measure heart rate, and care for your physical and emotional wellbeing.
The fitness tracker includes sleep tracking and provides useful information to help improve your teen’s sleeping habits, especially when they are visiting a new country which has a completely different time zone.
It is a great smartwatch that gives an objective to encourage exercises such as keeping track of their steps and other fitness tracking smart features.
Key Features
- Android, iOS
- 7 days battery life
- Built-in GPS feature
- Sports modes
- Water-resistant
Pros
- Sleep monitor
- Activity tracker
- Budget-friendly
Cons
- Basic features
Best Smartwatch for Kids and Pre-Teens
It can be challenging for parents to choose the best time to introduce various gadgets into their teens’ lives in this technology-driven era.
What age is a child smartwatch for?
The best smartwatches for children start from age 4 and older that includes activity trackers, educational games, parental control and more advanced features.
Are smartwatches a good idea for kids?
Yes, smartwatches can be helpful for kids and parents. A GPS watch for teens helps parents keep a track of their kids through the built-in GPS, especially when travelling.
#8 FRLONE Waterproof Smartwatch – Best Smartwatch for a 10-Year-Old
The FRLONE IP67 Waterproof Smartwatch is a multi-functional smart watch designed for children aged 4 to 13. It has parental control capabilities such as watch calls and text records. If your child engages in a lot of outdoor activities or is adventurous, consider this best GPS smartwatch for them.
The GPS watch for teens can monitor where they are on the globe, which comes in handy while travelling. Furthermore, your kids would not have to worry about getting the smartwatch wet since it’s IP67-rated waterproof.
Key Features
- 4G/LTE-enabled smartwatch
- Secure messaging and video platform
- 20+ parental controls
- GPS location tracking
- 5-megapixel cameras
Pros
- Track your activity
- Parental control
- Reminders and Do Not Disturb Class Mode
Cons
- Limited battery life
#9 Fitbit Ace 3 – Best Smartwatch for a 12-Year-Old
The Fitbit Ace 3 is one step higher than the Fitbit Ace 2. The fitness watch offers a fitness tracker that keeps track of your child’s steps, sleeping habits, and how much time they spend active.
This perfect smartwatch for a teenager is a simple-to-use tracker that is comfy and motivating for your tween, making sports activities a lot more exciting for them. It has a 60-minute exercise goal and a 10,000-step daily target built-in.
It comes with interchangeable bands that are tiny enough to suit even the smallest wrists. It also works with the majority of smartphone models and has its own Fitbit app.
Key Features
- 50-meter water resistance rating
- 8-day battery life
- Superior parental controls
- Sleep tracker
- Fitbit app
Pros
- Motivating kids to be more active by giving them fitness challenges
- Parents View
- Made specifically for children aged 6 to 12 years old
Cons
- Does not have a rechargeable battery
Sylvie Simpson is the founder of European Cities with Kids. For the past 6 years, she has been travelling all over Europe whenever she has the chance, both solo, for work and with her daughter. Sylvie is on a mission to help people make the most of city breaks in Europe with kids and helps over 50,000 readers per month plan and make the most of their trips in Europe with kids.