ConsFirst / Kids' smartwatches / Compare
Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular) vs Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular) ranks higher (#1 vs #3 of 8) and scores better on location accuracy, calls & messages. Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure wins on parental controls, battery.
The biggest complaint about the Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular) is battery may not last the day; for the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure it's texting only through verizon's app. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular) | Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in kids' smartwatches | #1 | #3 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $ |
| Type | Parent-managed smartwatch | Cellular kids watch |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | — | — |
| Overall score | 3.7 | 3.3 |
| Location accuracy | 4.0 | 2.5 |
| Calls & messages | 5.0 | 3.0 |
| Parental controls | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Battery | 2.0 | 3.0 |
| Plan cost | 4.0 | 4.0 |
Price tiers: $ under $120 · $$ $120–250 · $$$ over $250 (watch only, before the plan). Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular)
- Battery may not last the day
Apple rates it at up to 18 hours. Tom's Guide says it often doesn't last the full 18 hours, and Wirecutter says it can run out before the day ends if a child messages friends and uses apps a lot. Parents' tester got a full day with average use.
- More distraction than kid-only watches
Wirecutter says kids can use Siri to find apps and games, join group chats and view photos and videos. You can block downloads and Siri, but kids can exit Schooltime with the crown, group chats can't be turned off, and per-app time limits aren't available.
- Pricey to break, confusing to set up
Wirecutter's tester's then-10-year-old scratched the screen within two weeks. Wirecutter also found parental controls more confusing to set up, since they're split between Screen Time and the Watch app. Tom's Guide notes most health features are switched off when the watch is assigned to a child.
Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure
- Texting only through Verizon's app
Wirecutter says you can't text the watch's number from a normal phone: every contact who wants to text must install the app, and group texting is limited. One tester gave up because the child kept missing family group texts.
- Slow location and short battery
Wirecutter says location tracking can be inaccurate and slow to update and uses a lot of battery. Verizon rates the battery at up to 3.6 days of use, but Wirecutter's never lasted three days.
- Water damage and Verizon hassles
Wirecutter's earlier Gizmo Watch 3 stopped working after a short swim despite its IP68 rating, and some owners report watches cracking or breaking after contact with water. Wirecutter was billed for Verizon Mobile Protect after declining it, and calls Verizon's Gizmo privacy policy confusing.
Who should pick which
Pick the Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular) if
Older kids and teens in iPhone families
Normal texting and family group chats
A watch that doesn't look 'babyish'
Skip it if: You use an Android phone; Your child is rough on gear or likely to lose it; You want a watch with few distractions
Pick the Verizon Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure if
Kids about 8 to 12
Parents who want few distractions and no camera
A low-cost first watch
Skip it if: Your family relies on group texts; Your child swims with it; Your child is older and may find it childish
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