(checked 2026-10-10)867 ratings (under 1,500): 28% 1-star and 5% 2-star.
Parents' best overall pick for its easy setup, safe-zone alerts and parent-friendly app, and Wirecutter likes that anyone can call or text it directly. But its plan costs more than most rivals, and about a third of Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars, mostly over battery life and unreliable location updates.
Subscription: Required: Gabb cellular plan, $13 to $18/mo depending on contract length (Wirecutter, Parents); the watch works only on Gabb's network
Top complaints
- Battery doesn't last a school day
Amazon's review summary calls battery life poor, with some owners saying it lasts only 2-3 hours. Several 1-star Walmart reviews say it didn't hold a charge through a school day or lasted 4-5 hours, especially refurbished units. Parents lists battery life as 12-48 hours.
- Location updates late or wrong for some
Amazon's summary says experiences with GPS accuracy and connectivity are mixed. Low-star Walmart reviewers describe a delayed location pin that doesn't update even when refreshed from the parent app, and location notifications that were completely off. Parents' tester, by contrast, found GPS accurate.
- Pricier plan, reliability and support complaints
Wirecutter and Parents both note the $13-18/mo plan costs more than rivals, and Parents' tester wanted more features for that price. Wirecutter has read multiple complaints about customer service after a watch broke. Walmart reviewers report units that stopped turning on after a few months, couldn't be activated, or got stuck in Focus mode, and Amazon's summary calls reliability mixed.
What owners love
- Easy for parents and kids
Parents' tester called setup 'super quick and simple' and its 9-year-old found the watch very easy to use. Amazon owners call it kid-friendly and easy to set up.
- Direct calls and texts, up to 100 contacts
Wirecutter says you and approved contacts can call and message the watch directly without going through an app, and you can approve up to 100 numbers. Kids get preset texts, a small keyboard, voice messages and speech-to-text, though Wirecutter says speech-to-text takes several taps.
- Safe zones and quiet times
Parents praises safe-zone alerts when a child arrives at or leaves home or school, plus focus and silent modes. Wirecutter notes quiet times disable apps, calls and texts.
- You want the cheapest monthly plan
- You need a battery that reliably lasts a full school day
- You want to keep your current carrier
- Younger kids who need calls and texts without games or internet
- Families who want relatives to text the watch without an app
- Kids motivated by a digital pet and task reminders
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Parents: Best overall (updated 2026-09-23): simple interface, easy setup, strong connectivity and accurate GPS. The con is Gabb's monthly plan.
- Wirecutter (NYT): Worth considering for its digital pet (updated 2026-08-11). The earlier Gabb Watch 3 was less intuitive than its picks and its pedometer logged two steps in a full day; the plan costs more than its picks.