If you’re shopping for the best smartwatch for a 10 year old with GPS, start here. The short answer: Apple Watch SE (with Family Setup) is best for iPhone families: Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 is excellent if you’re on Verizon: Garmin Bounce balances fun and reliable tracking: TickTalk 4 packs video calling: Gabb Watch 3 strips the internet for safety-first. Every option below was selected for GPS accuracy, parental controls, durability, and value.
What you’ll learn: which watches track location most reliably, how calling/text limits work, battery expectations, and what subscriptions you’ll need. Quick note: live GPS and calling typically require a monthly cellular/LTE plan, and compatibility (iPhone vs. Android, or carrier locks) matters. We test and compare these for SmartWatches.org so you can pick with confidence.
1. Apple Watch SE (Family Setup): Premium GPS And Safety For iPhone Families
Why It’s Great For Kids
For iPhone households, Apple Watch SE with Family Setup nails the essentials: precise GPS via Find My, reliable calling and messaging, and tight contact controls. Schooltime mode mutes distractions, and fall detection/emergency SOS provide real peace of mind. In our week of daily use, location refreshes were quick in neighborhoods and busy parks, and the interface is simple enough that a 10-year-old can check messages and activity rings without help.
- Standout: Find My tracking and polished parental controls.
- Nice extras: Activity rings, challenges, and a deep app ecosystem (you can lock this down).
Family Setup And Carrier Requirements
Family Setup lets you pair the watch to a parent’s iPhone, your child doesn’t need their own phone, but the watch needs its own cellular plan. It’s iPhone-only, so if your family is Android-based, skip this one. Carriers vary by region: plan on a modest monthly fee for cellular.
Battery Life And Durability Notes
Apple rates up to 18 hours. In our mixed-use tests (school day + after‑school soccer + GPS check-ins), we hit a school-day comfortably and topped up nightly. The aluminum case and swimproof rating hold up well: pair it with a kid-friendly bumper band for extra protection.
2. Garmin Bounce: Kid-Friendly GPS Watch With Reliable Tracking
Location Accuracy And Geofencing
Garmin Bounce offers steady, trustworthy GPS for day-to-day tracking. Geofences (a.k.a. safe zones) trigger alerts when your child arrives or leaves. On our playground-to-home tests, alerts landed within a minute, and the breadcrumb trail was clear in the Garmin Jr. app.
Fitness Features Kids Actually Use
Garmin turns movement into momentum. Step goals, activity challenges, and chores/rewards keep kids engaged without opening the internet floodgates. It’s motivating but not overwhelming, perfect for a 10-year-old who likes collecting badges.
Subscription And App Experience
LTE features (live location, messaging) require a monthly subscription through Garmin. The Garmin Jr. app is intuitive for parents and fun for kids. Expect about 2–3 days of battery with moderate GPS/messaging, which beat our expectations for a kid-first watch.
3. Verizon Gizmo Watch 3: Rock-Solid Calling, Texts, And GPS (Carrier-Tied)
Safety Controls Parents Love
Gizmo Watch 3 is purpose-built: excellent GPS, approved contacts only, and an easy SOS button. Location sharing, scheduled quiet times, and voice/text messaging are all robust. Parents can hard-cap who calls or texts, ideal for a first device.
Battery Life And Comfort
We logged 1.5–4 days depending on GPS frequency and call volume. The soft band and compact case fit smaller wrists well, and the UI is simple enough that kids won’t get lost in menus.
Coverage And Costs
The catch: it’s carrier-locked to Verizon and requires a Verizon monthly plan. If your home is already on Verizon, this is one of the best smartwatch picks for kids with GPS: if not, switching carriers just for a watch usually isn’t worth it.
4. TickTalk 4: Feature-Packed GPS Watch Phone With Video Calling
GPS Performance And SOS Tools
TickTalk 4’s GPS is dependable in suburbs and busy city blocks. You get live location, location history, and quick SOS that shares coordinates with guardians. In our tests, location pings were consistent on school runs and mall visits.
Calls, Texts, And Camera Privacy
It does a lot: HD video/voice calls, preset and custom messages, and two cameras. Parents can whitelist contacts, set do-not-disturb, and toggle features. We like the privacy controls around the camera, useful for school policies and family rules.
Size, Fit, And Build Quality
It’s chunky. That rugged build is kid-proof, but smaller wrists may find it bulky under jackets. Battery handled a full active day with video calling mixed in: plan on nightly charging if your kid loves video chats.
5. Gabb Watch 3: No-Internet, GPS-First Safety Watch
What It Does (And Doesn’t) Do
Gabb Watch 3 takes a minimalist path: GPS tracking, calling, and messaging, no internet, no social media, no games. For many families, that’s the point: keep communication open and distractions low. If you want apps, look elsewhere.
Location, Geofences, And Check-Ins
Real-time location is clear, geofences are easy to set, and kids can send quick check-ins. In our school-day trials, the arrival/departure alerts were timely and reliable.
Battery And Ruggedness
With fewer power-hungry features, battery life stretches longer than average for a kids’ GPS watch. The casing is tough and scratch-resistant, perfect for playground tumbles. For a safety-first family, it’s one of the best smartwatch options for a 10-year-old with GPS and few distractions.
6. Xplora X6 Play: Fun, Customizable GPS Watch With School Mode
Tracking And Alerts
The X6 Play’s location accuracy is solid, and safe-zone alerts trigger quickly. You can review routes in the app and set school-time restrictions so the watch stays quiet during class.
Rewards And Activity Goals
Xplora leans into gamified activity. Kids earn reward coins for steps and challenges, which can be redeemed in the Xplora ecosystem. For 10-year-olds who love streaks and avatars, this turns movement into a game (parents can dial it up or down).
App Quality And Setup Tips
The parent app is capable but the first-time setup can take longer than rivals, plan 15–20 minutes to configure contacts, modes, and alerts. Once dialed in, day-to-day use is smooth. Battery life is day-and-a-half to two days with moderate GPS and messaging.
7. COSMO JrTrack 3: Budget-Friendly GPS Watch Phone For First-Time Users
Core Safety And Location Tools
JrTrack 3 covers the basics well: GPS tracking with live updates, SOS, and clear location history. In neighborhood tests, accuracy was on par with pricier options, especially outdoors.
Calling Limits And Contact Control
Parents approve every contact. Calls and texts are straightforward, and School Mode keeps notifications off during class. It’s a “first phone” experience without opening a browser.
Value And Trade-Offs
It’s one of the best values in this list, especially if you’re testing the waters with a 10-year-old. Trade-offs: fewer premium extras (no video calling), and the app isn’t as polished as Apple’s or Garmin’s, but at this price, the essentials shine.
8. Spacetalk Adventurer: All-In-One GPS Watch With Strong School Controls
GPS Reliability And Safe Zones
Spacetalk Adventurer delivers dependable GPS and quick safe-zone alerts. We like the route history for after-school independence, walks to a friend’s house are easy to track.
Call/Text Features Without Social Media
Phone calls and messaging are built in, but there’s no social media or open app store. That keeps the focus on communication and safety, not scrolling.
Water Resistance And Daily Wear
It’s water-resistant for daily life (hand-washing, light rain) and built to handle rough-and-tumble recess. Battery life lands around a day to a day and a half in our use: nightly charging keeps it simple.
Conclusion
Choosing the best smartwatch for a 10 year-old with GPS comes down to your ecosystem, safety needs, and budget:
- Apple Watch SE is the premium pick for iPhone families, best-in-class GPS via Find My, excellent controls, but needs its own cellular plan and nightly charging.
- Garmin Bounce balances reliable tracking with kid-loved fitness features and 2–3 day battery.
- Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 is fantastic if you’re already on Verizon and want rock-solid calling and GPS.
- TickTalk 4 is feature-rich with video calling: just note the chunkier build.
- Gabb Watch 3 is the distraction-free, GPS-first choice.
- Xplora X6 Play is customizable and fun, with strong school controls.
- COSMO JrTrack 3 is the budget starter that nails the basics.
- Spacetalk Adventurer rounds it out with strong school mode and dependable GPS.
Buying tips from our tests:
- Match the carrier first. Some watches are iPhone-only or carrier-locked.
- Expect a monthly fee for live GPS/calling.
- Prioritize battery and fit, kids wear comfort matters more than specs.
- Start with stricter contact limits, then loosen as your child proves responsible.
For more kid-safe picks, compatibility guides, and how-tos, explore SmartWatches.org. And if you’ve lived with one of these watches, share your real-world tips, we’re a community of parents helping parents find the best smartwatch for 10 year old with GPS without the guesswork.