Disclaimer: We were sent the Xplora XGO2 smart watch to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. This post contains affiliate links, see more information here.
The Xplora XGO2 is a smart watch suitable for children aged 5-12 years old.
Available in four different colours – pink, blue, green and black – the Xplora XGO2 smart watch has a 1.4 inch touch screen which can be used to make and receive calls, send messages and it can be used as a GPS tracker. With an RRP of under £100 it is at the more affordable end of the kids’ smart watch scale. So what is it like? We were sent the Xplora XGO2 to review and put it to the test.
The Xplora XGO2 smart watch for kids review
The Xplora XGO2 smart watch is designed for children aged from 5, with a comfortable rubber strap that will easily fit even an adult’s wrist. The colour LCD touchscreen is 1.4 inches tall, big enough for little hands to use. There is a side button which turns it on and off, a touch screen and a ‘x’ or back button.
Does the Xplora XGO2 smart watch for kids need a sim card?
Yes. Although you can connect the Xplora XGO2 smart watch to WiFi easily, it will need an activated sim card inserted in order to be used out and about, for calls, messages and GPS tracking.
If like me you had not previously considered this (d’oh) then you’ll need to get hold of a cheap pay as you go sim card to put into the watch in order to make it work and use the features. I ordered a GiffGaff sim card, which seems to be the only type where you don’t have to top up each month. I don’t mind paying £6 to see how the watch works but I’m certainly not in the position to start splashing an extra tenner every month so my daughter can message me from her bedroom.
Opening up the watch sim card slot should be easy as there is a small screwdriver included, although the screws are tiny so be careful not to lose them (you can get a big buttload of spares here should you need them…).
It took a little effort to open up the sim card slot, but once the sim was in properly (I’d recommend watching their YouTube video, and note that the the sim card needs to be pushed right in which may not be obvious) and registered, it was easy to pair the watch to my phone using the Xplora app.
Functions of the Xplora XGO2
Your child can make voice calls (but not video calls) and receive calls from pre-saved numbers. You as the parent/guardian can add new contacts via the app so they can call their relatives and friends. My daughter enjoyed making lots of calls with her Xplora XGO2 so she could review it properly; the voice calls are very clear like any other phone call.
The Xplora XGO2 smartwatch can receive texts, and send and receive emojis, images and voice messages from the parent/guardian who has the watch connected via the app. They can’t sent freeform text messages but there are a selection of pre-written responses such as ‘hello’ and ‘I’m going to be late’ if they need to make quick contact, and they can send voice messages. I haven’t yet worked out if it’s possible to send or receive messages to and from other contacts.
GPS tracking is available from the app, so you can find out where your child is at any time. I can see this being really useful when the kids are in a large play park for example, and I don’t have sight of them all the time – and as she gets older, when she’s out and about. Most of the time it pinpointed the watch to the exact spot, and then very occasionally it claimed she was down the road when she was in fact sat downstairs watching TV. I can’t explain this!
In an emergency the SOS button can be pressed by the child to notify emergency contacts of their location.
The smart watch has space on it for pictures (which you can take with the front-facing camera or save from messages) and music, which you can send via message.
The watch is also a pedometer, measuring your child’s steps and distance walked. This earns Xplora Coins, which can be exchanged for virtual rewards.
It has a calendar and a stopwatch, and you can set and manage alarms from the app (which are handy for getting up for school!). It also has a torch on the side.
There are no ‘apps’ to download, so no access to anything harmful, social media or potentially expensive games.
School Mode can also be activated so that there are no distractions in class with just the watch clock displaying but all calls and messages disabled. Whilst School Mode is on however, parents are still able to track the watch location and the SOS function is still active.
How long does the battery last on the Xplora XGO2?
We found that with use, the watch needed to be charged every other day although it does claim 72 hours of battery life, it’s probably best to get into a routine of charging it at night along with other devices.
How does the Xplora XGO2 kid’s smart watch compare to adult smart watches?
I was really impressed with the Xplora XGO2 during this review, as I have never played with any kind of smart watch before – and I thought why not buy myself a cheap android smart watch.
The biggest difference between the Xplora XGO2 and my cheap (£30 ish) smart watch is that the Xplora makes and receives calls and messages itself due to the integrated sim card, so it doesn’t rely on a bluetooth enabled smartphone within reach. Essentially the cheap smart watch is a pedometer with the ability to receive notifications from a nearby mobile and although I find it useful to have a step counter and be alerted to new messages and emails, it’s like comparing apples and oranges.
The Xplora XGO2 kid’s smart watch is more akin to an older, app-less mobile with a camera, than it is the cheap bluetooth enabled smart watches available on Amazon.
Although they might be tempting, they don’t have the two way talk, GPS or other safety features etc. If your smart watch is for a child, then it’s important to invest in one specifically designed for kids, like the Xplora XGO2.
How much and where to buy
You can buy the Xplora XGO2 smart watch for children over on Amazon and on the Xplora website.