At the age of 7, Sebastian is learning all about being healthy. At school they do the daily mile and on our days at home we always make sure we go for a walk.
Both Isaac and Eliza have a smartwatch and love to track their steps and activity levels, but Sebby is yet to get one…….until now.
We were send the Xplora XGO2 Android smartwatch to review.
The XGO2 has an RRP of £99.99 and is a feature rich smart watch with mobile phone and GPS tracking capabilities, making it the perfect introduction to a world of mobile products for kids.
Setting the XGO2 up
In the box:
- XGO2 smartwatch
- Charging cable
- SIM cover screwdriver
- SIM card pin
- Spare screw
- User Guide
You will also need a Nano SIM card – we opted for GiffGaff but you may be able to get a cheaper deal on your own existing network.
To start, I had to charge the watch for about an hour to get it to a full charge. Download the free Xplora app, available on Google Play and App Store, install on your phone and register your details. Putting the SIM card in, is very fiddly as the screws are tiny, but thankfully it is only something you will have to do once.
To pair the watch with your smartphone, simply go to settings in the watch and select QR code. Scan the QR code, enter the phone number and you are ready to go.
I would also recommend linking it to your wifi, so it won’t use data whilst at home.
I also activated ‘School Mode’ which will only display the watch clock during class time – all calls and messages are disabled during this time, however, parents are still able to track the watch location and the SOS function is still active.
Once I had done the “grown up” stuff, I then let Sebby personalise his watch with its own watch face. He opted for a traditional watch face with his activity ring on display, but there are lots to choose from and I particularly liked the learn to tell the time face.
How to use
The watch is really easy to use. Press the button on the side to wake it up and then swipe through the screens to find the option you wish to get to. These include a calendar, calculator, camera, recorder, stopwatch, alarm, phone and text message.
When wearing and using the device, children have the ability to make and receive voice calls from pre-saved numbers only, so they can communicate with friends or family without the risk of receiving any unsolicited calls.
The device can receive texts, emojis, images and voice messages and reply with images, emojis and voice messages.
These contacts can be managed on the parent’s app which is free to download and helps adults to ensure children are only talking to trusted contacts. The watch does not feature social media, making the safety of children using it a priority. The device can also receive and reply to text messages including text, emojis, images and voice messages.
One of the most exciting features on the XGO2 watch is the step counter which encourages children to stay active, investigate and explore and to also be rewarded for this! Sebby was very excited by this and with the in-built G Sensors, I know that his steps are accurately tracked, plus each step earns them Xplora Coins to be used in the ground breaking and award winning Xplora Goplay Platform.
The Xplora also has a 0.3 megapixel camera and 4GB storage, there is also plenty of room to store those all important photos of their adventures.
The Techy Stuff
The XGO2 allows kids to use a range of functions whilst remaining safe and secure. Running on Android 4.4 with a 1.4” capacitive touch colour LCD screen and a resolution of 240 x 240, it is easy to use and is incredibly responsive with its 1.2 GHz Quad Core ARM Cortex A7 frequency, 512MB RAM and Spreadtrum SC9820E chipset.
Including a 700mAh battery providing 72 hours of standby battery and working with Wi-Fi as well as 4G, 3G and 2G connectivity, the watch ensures reliable connectivity and is also IP67 water resistant so can survive a rainy day or messy play session outdoors!
Rewards
Children earn one coin for every 1000 steps they make and these coins can then be used to claim products, merchandise from these shows and movies and even online game time such as the Tom & Jerry Pinball game – this is done via the app on my phone, although I am going to download the app to Sebby’s iPad so he doesn’t keep stealing my phone to play.
If they achieve a top 3 placement on the leader board, kids can also receive exclusive prize bundles which could include Bluetooth speakers, Amazon Fire kids tablets, instant cameras and RYZE Tello drones! All collaborations are specifically designed to keep kids motivated, engaged, and moving. Children who wear Xplora smartwatches and engage with the Goplay platform typically take up to 300% more steps a day than regular users!
Completely GDPR compliant, it is an ideal first phone for children aged 5-12. The Xplora XGO2 is available in black, blue, green or pink from Amazon with Prime delivery and the Xplora website for £99.99. Also on Very for £109.99
Disclaimer: We were sent the Xplora XGO2 children’s smartwatch to review. All thoughts and opinions are our own
How do you top it up with credit if using pre paid sin card?
You top up the sim as you would a payg phone – I do ours online 🙂
Can the guardian see if a contact sends a picture message or can they see other contacts messages?