ConsFirst / Kids' smartwatches / Compare
TickTalk 5 vs Garmin Bounce 2
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
TickTalk 5 ranks higher (#2 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on calls & messages. Garmin Bounce 2 wins on location accuracy, parental controls, battery.
The biggest complaint about the TickTalk 5 is battery drains fast with use; for the Garmin Bounce 2 it's message delays and dropped calls. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| TickTalk 5 | Garmin Bounce 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in kids' smartwatches | #2 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$ | $$$ |
| Type | Cellular kids watch | Cellular kids watch |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | — | 32% |
| Overall score | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| Location accuracy | 3.5 | 4.0 |
| Calls & messages | 4.0 | 2.5 |
| Parental controls | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Battery | 2.5 | 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
TickTalk 5
- Battery drains fast with use
Parents lists limited battery life as its con, saying it can drain very quickly depending on use. Wirecutter notes the radio can drain the battery, which is why you can limit it with parental controls.
- App setup and live location are clunky
Wirecutter says the TickTalk app can be a pain to set up, is more basic than Gizmo's, and doesn't let you refresh and see the child's live location quickly. Parents' tester, by contrast, set it up in under 10 minutes.
- Glitchy touchscreen
Wirecutter found the touchscreen sometimes too sensitive and other times not responsive at all.
Garmin Bounce 2
- Message delays and dropped calls
Amazon's review summary says communication is mixed, with some owners reporting message and call problems. Low-star Walmart reviews describe significant lag between messages, horrible LTE, and calls and texts that rarely went through. Wirecutter isn't a fan of the communication either, since you can only send and receive calls and texts through the app.
- Battery shorter than hoped
Amazon's summary says battery life is mixed, with some owners saying it dropped from a week to 1-2 days. Several Walmart reviewers complain of short battery life. Parents lists up to 2 days.
- Expensive, and some screens are hard to read
Wirecutter says it's about as expensive as the Apple Watch SE 3, and Parents notes it isn't a budget pick. Parents also says the round screen sometimes cuts off text. Amazon's summary calls value mixed, and one Walmart reviewer says the GPS was always way off.
Who should pick which
Pick the TickTalk 5 if
Kids who will make lots of voice and video calls
Kids who want music (iHeartRadio Family included)
Parents who want long location history
Skip it if: You need all-day battery with heavy use; You want to check live location instantly; You'd rather have the newer TickTalk 6
Pick the Garmin Bounce 2 if
Parents who mainly want accurate, real-time location
Active kids (workout tracking, swim-proof)
Families on Android or iPhone
Skip it if: You want relatives to text the watch from their normal messaging app; You're on a tight budget; You need dependable messaging in weak-signal areas
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