Nowadays, our lives are much more connected than ever before, as our smart devices tend to have a big presence in our daily routines. Because of that, it’s unavoidable that children eventually start getting interested in having such devices at their disposal. Moreover, kids also like to know that their parents trust them, as that knowledge can greatly help to improve their confidence. As such, buying your children a smartwatch for kids is one of the best ways to give them a sense of freedom as they move around the home or explore the world outside. Last but not least, smartwatches can also help to encourage your children to go outside and play more, and consequently help to prevent child obesity, as most smartwatch models nowadays usually come equipped with a built-in pedometer that gives them physical activity tracking functionalities. With all that said, for any parents that are searching for an entry-level smartwatch for their kids, the Xplora XGO2 Smartwatch is undoubtedly your best option.
The Xplora XGO2 is a high-end smartwatch for kids from 5 to 12 years old that features mobile phone functionalities like calls and messages from pre-approved contacts, a 0.3MP Camera that allows kids to easily snap pictures, a built-in SOS button that can be used to inform all pre-saved emergency contacts with a child’s location via GPS Tracking, and a battery life standby time of around 72 hours.
To put it simply, the Xplora XGO2 allows parents to keep their kids reachable at all times while simultaneously allowing them to start becoming familiar with the technology world.
Best of all, to ensure that each children that gets this smartwatch for kids has their first-steps into the digital world in the safest way possible, the Xplora XGO2 doesn’t come with any of services that aren’t appropriate for children, such as internet access, social media and most game-related applications.
When taking all of that into account, it’s safe to say that the XGO2 makes for a perfect 2-in-1 entry-level smartwatch and mobile phone for kids.
Now, without any further ado, let’s have a more detailed look at this awesome smartwatch for kids and check out everything that the Xplora XGO2 has to offer you.
DESIGN & SPECS
Starting with the smartwatch’s size, since the XGO2 was designed to be used by young children (of ages between 5 to 12 years old), the smartwatch comes at a reasonably compact size in order to fit kids’ wrists, measuring just 2.06 inches long by 1.65 inches wide by just 0.61 inches thick.
Additionally, the smartwatch is also fairly lightweight, weighing just 2.11 oz. (60 g), which is perfect, as once again, it is meant to be used by children, who are obviously are still growing, and as such, they wouldn’t want to carry around a bulky smartwatch.
The Xplora XGO2 also features an extremely durable construction, which is accompanied by a Waterproof IP67 Rating, and the smartwatch also comes equipped with an ultra-durable nylon wristband that’s just as resilient as the watch itself.
Now, moving on to the smartwatch’s different components. Integrated right at the center of the XGO2, we have a built-in 1.4” TFT Color Display that features a screen-resolution of 240 by 240 pixel.
It’s exactly via this screen that kids will be able to use the smartwatch’s mobile functionalities, such as placing and receiving phone calls and also receiving text messages, voice messages and emojis, as well as responding to pre-approved contacts (which first have to be enabled by their parents via the XGO2’s Smartphone Companion App – discussed in greater detail at the end of the article).
On that note, know that the Xplora App allows parents to store up to 50 pre-approved contacts for their kids’ Xplora XGO2 Smartwatch.
Furthermore, integrated just above the smartwatch’s 1.4” TFT Color Screen, we also have a 0.3MP Front-Facing Camera that allows kids to easily snap pictures with their XGO2. These pictures can be stored in the smartwatch’s Gallery and can also be used to set custom backgrounds. In addition, kids can also share those pictures with their parents throughout the day in order to keep them up to date on what their children are doing.
For storing everything (including said pictures), this smartwatch for kids features 4GB of Storage Space (ROM), and 512MB of RAM to process all of its operations / functionalities. For the smartwatch’s Operative System, everything runs smoothly on Android 4.4.
It’s also worth noting that the Xplora XGO2 Smartwatch is also GDPR compliant, which means that all of your kid’s personal data that’s stored on the watch is completely protected from any sort of data-breach.
Then, at the right-side of the smartwatch, there’s also an SOS button that children can press in case of any sort of emergencies. By doing so, children will trigger the smartwatch to instantly inform all pre-saved emergency contacts about their current location, which is done via GPS Tracking.
Additionally, the smartwatch’s right-side also integrates one other button that can be used for its more basic mobile phone functionalities, such as answering incoming voice calls, reading text messages and listening to voice messages.
Lastly, the Xplora XGO2 also integrates built-in G Sensors that allow it to accurately track a children’s steps, which then also rewards their daily step-count with Xplora Coins that can be spent in the company’s Goplay platform.
CONNECTIVITY
Now, for the XGO2’s connectivity, note that this smartwatch for kids also features a Nano SIM Card Slot (found at the left-side of the device), which already comes pre-installed with a Xplora Connect SIM Card that gives it 2G, 3G, and 4G Connectivity for its mobile phone functionalities (such as voice calls, text messages and voice messages).
To work on all of those networks, the smartwatch boasts a Spreadtrum SC9820E Chipset and a 1.2 GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex A7 that operates on a basic frequency.
Once again, we’d like to remind every parent that this smartwatch doesn’t come with any of services that aren’t appropriate for children – such as internet access, social media and most game-related applications – as a way to ensure that each children that gets this smartwatch has their first-steps into the digital world in the safest way possible.
BATTERY & BATTERY LIFE
Additionally, the Xplora XGO2 also comes equipped with a 700 mAh Battery that can offer you around 3 days (meaning 72 hours) of stand-by time, according to the company.
Nevertheless, we all know that kids typically tend to fiddle with gadgets quite a bit, so expect your kid to deplete the smartwatch’s battery life at around 1 to 2 days of use, for which you’ll then have to recharge its battery again to keep it running.
Still, if parents do take their time to explain their kids to not play around with the smartwatch 24/7, kids should be able to get least one and a half day of battery life from their XGO2.
Lastly, while parents might originally think that the frequency of having to recharge the smartwatch’s internal battery might be a pain (at least at first), the XGO2 actually comes together with a dedicated Magnetic Charger, for which you just have to snap the watch onto it to have its battery recharging.
THE SMARTPHONE COMPANION APP – The Xplora App
As said before, the Xplora XGO2 works together with its dedicated Smartphone Companion App, called the Xplora App, which is available to download for free for both iOS and Android devices.
Via the App, parents can store up to 50 pre-approved contacts for their kids’ Xplora XGO2 Smartwatch. Then, from those 50 contacts, parents can also choose which ones will be configured as the smartwatch’s emergency contacts. In my personal experience, it was quite easy to add the numbers for the smartwatch’s contact list.
The App also combines multiple communication services (including GPS Tracking) to allow parents and any pre-configured emergency contacts to view the location of the smartwatch (and the child) in real time.
Moreover, the Xplora App also gives parents the option to create security zones in key locations such as home and their child’s school, for which the App then automatically notifies them whenever their child enters or leaves those predetermined locations.
Finally, the App also gives parents the possibility to check their children’s daily Step-Count for the time that they’ve been wearing the XGO2 on each day.
Best of all, the App also allows parents to set up an ultimately goal for their kids’ Annual Step Count.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Xplora XGO2 is a high-end smartwatch for kids from 5 to 12 years old that features mobile phone functionalities like calls and messages from pre-approved contacts, a 0.3MP Camera that allows kids to easily snap pictures, a built-in SOS button that can be used to inform all pre-saved emergency contacts with a child’s location via GPS Tracking, and a battery life standby time of around 72 hours.
To put it simply, the Xplora XGO2 allows parents to keep their kids reachable at all times while simultaneously allowing them to start becoming familiar with the technology world.
Best of all, to ensure that each children that gets this smartwatch for kids has their first-steps into the digital world in the safest way possible, the Xplora XGO2 doesn’t come with any of services that aren’t appropriate for children, such as internet access, social media and most game-related applications.
All that makes the XGO2 the perfect 2-in-1 entry-level smartwatch and mobile phone for kids.
The Xplora XGO2 is available in four (x4) different color models: Black, Green, Pink and Blue.
If you’re interested in purchasing it, you can either get it for $119.99 to have the smartwatch already coming with a monthly Pay as you Go SIM option, or just $99.99 (with the option to choose between a 12- or 24-month SIM Contract). You can order yours via Xplora’s official shopping page.
