Garmin Bounce 2 review

Bounce 2 is Garmin's answer for parents who want to delay the smartphone, and it leans on Garmin's fitness background. Over LTE, parents can call the watch and swap voice messages from the Garmin Jr. app, and kids can text parent-approved contacts and family groups with a full on-device keyboard. Real-time location shows in the app, with notifications when a child enters or leaves a parent-defined area, and an Assistance feature calls family contacts and sends a LiveTrack link. Built-in GPS sports apps track running, walking and biking, plus swim laps and sleep. Parents can assign chores with coin rewards, set school mode and do-not-disturb, and manage up to 50 contacts. Garmin rates the battery at up to 2 days, and the subscription is managed by Garmin, so there is no carrier to change. The catch is price: $299.99 for the watch at Garmin's US store, plus the required subscription.

Who it is for

Active kids and families who want fitness tracking, chores and rewards alongside calling and location.

Price

$299.99 at Garmin's US store when checked, plus a required Garmin LTE subscription (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Real-time location in the Garmin Jr. app with alerts for parent-defined areas
• Two-way calling and voice messages with transcriptions
• Texting with a full on-device keyboard to parent-approved contacts and family groups
• Assistance feature that calls family contacts and sends a LiveTrack link
• GPS sports apps for running, walking and biking, plus swim laps and sleep tracking

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Up to 2 days of battery between charges
• Strength: LTE subscription is managed by Garmin, so no carrier change
• Strength: Up to 50 contacts, chores, rewards and Amazon Music support
• Weakness: Most expensive kid-specific watch here at $299.99
• Weakness: Calls and messages run through the Garmin Jr. app
• Weakness: Subscription plan required for all LTE features

Key facts

• Watch price: $299.99
• Battery: Up to 2 days
• Contacts: Up to 50
• Connectivity: LTE, subscription managed by Garmin
• Music: Amazon Music (subscription required)

Where it ranks

Garmin Bounce 2 is No. 6 in our Best Kids Smartwatches verdict.