Best Smartwatches for Teenagers: Because Your Wrist Deserves Better Than a Friendship Bracelet

Smartwatches are easily some of the coolest gadgets out there right now. For teenagers, they do way more than just tell time—they track steps, show notifications, and let you swipe away your parents’ calls when you need a break.

With so many features squeezed into a tiny screen, these watches are fun, genuinely useful, and honestly, they look good with almost anything in a teen’s closet.

Picking the right smartwatch for a teen? It’s kind of a lot. You’ve got to think about battery life, durability, and if the watch even works with their phone.

We’re all hoping for something that can take on backpacks, gym lockers, and the occasional accidental swim. The style counts too—nobody wants to rock a watch that tanks their reputation at school.

We noticed the trickiest part is finding a watch that isn’t a brick, actually works with the gadgets teens already have, and comes with features that matter (because, let’s be real, nobody needs another reason to zone out in math class).

We spent way too long combing through smartwatches to find the ones teens might actually want to wear.

Best Smartwatches for Teenagers

Teenagers have packed schedules, bouncing from texting friends to pretending to pay attention in class. That’s why we pulled together the coolest smartwatches to keep their music, style, and plans all in one place.

Let’s check out some watches that might convince them to put down their phones—at least for a second.

JOYELE Smart Watch for Teens

If you want a smartwatch teens can use without accidentally texting grandma a wall of emojis, the JOYELE is a strong choice.

Pros

• Tough enough to survive daily chaos and the occasional drop
• Tracks a bunch of activities but doesn’t feel like a science project
• Battery life that outlasts most attention spans

Cons

• No GPS, so it won’t help you find your lost teen
• Missing extras like calling or SIM support
• The charger is unique enough to vanish instantly

The bright, splash-friendly design caught our eye right away. It looked cool and didn’t scream “nerd gear” when we wore it.

The strap adjusts for just about any wrist, from tiny to Hulk-sized. Tapping around feels natural, and we figured out the step tracking in minutes—no manual needed.

During gym class and weekend adventures, the JOYELE handled it all better than our old homework excuses. Dropping it? No worries. Washing hands after lunch? Still works.

The battery barely flinched, lasting days before asking for a recharge. The real mystery? Where did that charger disappear to again?

We did wish it had GPS. If it could help us find our bikes after forgetting where we parked, we’d be all in. No calling or music either, but honestly, that made it less distracting in class.

Group chat notifications still came through, so we never missed the latest memes. All in all, it’s a practical choice for teens who want to stay moving and connected—without a ton of adult features getting in the way.

Butele Kids Smart Watch (Purple)

Looking for a smartwatch that won’t wreck your budget or your sanity? This one covers the basics and throws in a bit of fun.

Pros

• Vibrating alarm wakes kids without waking the whole house
• Water resistant, perfect for surprise water fights
• Customizable screens for a little extra personality

Cons

• No GPS, so your kid can still vanish to Narnia
• Sleep tracking can be a little dramatic and not always accurate
• Strap color choices are kind of limited

Our wrists felt way more youthful after trying out the Butele Kids Smart Watch. The purple is cute enough to basically yell “cool” from across the room.

Custom widgets kept us busy swapping wallpapers way longer than we’d like to admit. Water resistance quietly saves the day—whether someone forgets to take the watch off for hand-washing or jumps into a backyard splash war, we didn’t stress.

The alarm clock feature is a win—it buzzes just enough to wake a sleepy teen but won’t scare the cat (or us). It tracks steps and calories just fine, but let’s talk about the GPS… or lack of it.

If you want to keep tabs on your teen’s location, this isn’t the watch for that. As for sleep tracking, apparently, we’re all insomniacs if you believe the watch.

Still, for the price and the fun factor, we’d happily let our teens wear this one.

Paybay Smart Watch

Need a smartwatch for teens that can juggle fitness tracking, notifications, and a decent price? This one deserves a look.

Pros

• Lets us take calls and get notifications so we can ignore them with flair
• Tons of watch faces to match every mood
• Waterproof enough for kitchen sink science experiments

Cons

• No built-in GPS, so we can’t blame bad directions on it
• Speakerphone for calls is loud—your texts might become public
• Sometimes you need to double-tap for touch features to work

Right away, using the Paybay Smart Watch had us wondering why other watches make things so complicated. Setting it up with our phones? Easy.

Notifications, calls, and social updates came through quickly. The call feature worked, but answering on speaker in math class was… a learning experience.

The display stayed bright even in the sun, and with over a hundred watch faces, we never got bored. Fitness tracking kept up with steps, heart rate, and even our weird sleep habits.

It definitely helped us win step contests—and brag about it, obviously. Little features like “find my phone,” music controls, and hydration reminders turned out more useful than we expected.

We did wish it had GPS for our epic lost-in-the-park runs, but for the price, it handles a lot and stands up to real teen life. If you want a watch that handles the basics and looks good, the Paybay Smart Watch totally works.

BIGGERFIVE Kids Smartwatch

If you want a watch that keeps teens moving and entertained but not glued to a screen, this one’s a smart pick.

Pros

• Runs without an app or phone (finally, a break for us)
• Bright screen and tons of customizable watch faces
• Real-time tracking for steps, heart rate, and sleep

Cons

• Some bands and screens can be a bit fragile (don’t ask how we know)
• Game features are fun but might need some limits
• Occasional quality hiccups mean customer support could be needed

We slapped this BIGGERFIVE smartwatch onto a teen (well, gently), and it survived everything except maybe a two-story drop—don’t try that.

The best part? It works out of the box, no app needed. Even if your kid is tech-resistant—or just forgetful—it still counts steps, tracks heart rate, and reminds them to move instead of spending all night “resting.”

Custom faces are a blast, especially for teens who want to show off epic selfies. The 1.8-inch display is bold and easy to read, so nobody’s squinting to check their step count.

Puzzle games are built in, but with parent controls, you can keep the fun from taking over algebra class. Battery life is strong, and we made it through showers, pool splashes, and dishwashing without frying anything.

If your kid is especially “active” (read: tornado), you might want to keep an eye on the band. The BIGGERFIVE brings plenty of fitness and fun at a price that leaves pizza money in your pocket.

YOUSOKU Kids Smart Watch

If you want a smartwatch that won’t empty your wallet but still keeps kids entertained, this little gadget checks most of the boxes.

Pros

• Stays charged longer than our patience on family road trips
• Survives endless hand-washing, rainstorms, and even pool dips
• Kids can swap watch faces and show off their style every day

Cons

• No texting or calling—sorry, no secret spy missions yet
• The wake-up feature is hit or miss, so keep your alarm clock handy
• Watch band is sturdy, but the face could be tougher for clumsy hands

Right out of the box, this thing looks sharp. We set it up without much drama, and the magnetic charger actually made us wish our own watches charged this easily.

Adjustable brightness is a win, especially for sneaking a glance at the time during class. There are plenty of sports modes, so if your teen wants to track sprints or random dance-offs, they’ll be set.

Swapping out the watch face kept them busy, and they loved competing for top step counts—even if it meant pacing the kitchen before bed. You can’t send messages or make calls from the watch, but honestly, that’s kind of a plus if you’re not ready for your tweens to go full spy mode.

The wake feature didn’t always work, so our group still had to rely on old-school alarm clocks. For a watch that puts health, activity, and a little style on your teen’s wrist, YOUSOKU Kids Smart Watch offers good value and enough fun to keep everyone interested—well, until the next must-have gadget shows up.

KALINCO Kids Smart Watch

If you’re after a teen-friendly smartwatch that’s actually fun and works well, this KALINCO watch stands out for most families. But heads up—the band is so big it could fit King Kong.

Pros

• Extra comfy strap keeps our kids happy all day
• DIY watch faces let us turn embarrassing family photos into wrist art
• Loads of workouts and cool features keep boredom away

Cons

• The band is big—brace yourself if your teen is a twig
• Setting up Alexa took us some patience (and a snack break)
• App access means teens might need some guidance with their phones

We noticed right away how soft and flexible the strap felt. No marks, even after hours, and the anti-lost clasp actually kept the watch on our kids’ wrists.

Customizing the face with goofy selfies made setup a blast. Nothing says “family bonding” like putting Dad’s weird dance pic front and center.

The exercise features really pop. With more sports modes than we even knew about, our kids never ran out of things to track.

When our teen hit her basketball goal and got a digital badge, she acted like she’d just won a Nobel Prize.

Answering calls on the watch looks straight out of a spy movie—very serious teenage business. But connecting Alexa made us feel like tech support, so keep the manual handy.

The parent app is easy to set up, but we still have to stay involved. If your teen has tiny wrists, you might have to punch a few extra holes or grab new bands.

Still, it’s tough to find this much fun and function at this price.

TYKOIT Smart Watch

If you’re looking for a smartwatch that crams in features for teens without emptying your wallet, this one’s worth a peek.

Pros

• Tracks health and fitness stats like our own personal trainer (minus the yelling)
• Water-resistant enough for cannonballs and soda spills
• Customizable watch faces for showing off questionable fashion sense

Cons

• Can’t send text replies or answer calls (no secret agent moments)
• Sleep tracking gets confused if we wander the house at 2 a.m.
• Instructions could really use a “For Dummies” section

We tried out the TYKOIT Smart Watch and quickly realized it’s built for teens—or anyone who still feels like one.

The big screen is easy to read, health tracking is solid, and the band didn’t try to rip out our arm hair.

Switching up the watch faces is genuinely fun, especially when we’re in that “change my whole vibe” mood every week. Notifications from friends pop up without us needing to pull out our phones in class.

We really wish we could reply right from the wrist, but nope—no luck there.

Battery life is solid—we charged it about once a week, which fits our forgetful style. It survived showers, hand washing, and even a couple pool dips.

The only real letdown? If you move around at night, sleep data gets a bit wonky.

All in, this is a smart pick if you want a watch that won’t get you grounded for blowing your allowance.

Choiknbo Smart Watch for Teens

If you’re tired of your teenager “borrowing” your phone just to check the time, this watch might finally save your sanity.

Pros

• Tracks heart rate, sleep, and steps so we know how much “exercise” our kids actually get from the fridge run
• Sends call and message alerts—saves us from yelling across the house
• Big, bright 1.83-inch screen with fun faces and meme backgrounds

Cons

• No texting back from the watch—so teens still have to pick up their phones
• Some watch faces look like ’90s screensavers
• Navigating all the features might make us feel ancient

From the second we strapped it on, the Choiknbo Smart Watch made us feel like we’d joined the Jetsons—minus the flying cars.

Heart rate and sleep monitoring kept us honest about how much we were actually sleeping—or scrolling TikTok under the covers.

Call, message, and social media alerts mean our kids don’t miss anything important. Of course, that also means we’re on the hook when they ignore our “Did you do your homework?” text.

The big, colorful screen is easy to read, even outside. We spent way too long picking between a dog photo and a pizza for the watch face.

It’s not perfect. Replying to texts from the wrist would be nice (and save us from the “I forgot to text back” excuse).

Picking the right watch face can be a pain, and not every graphic is a winner. But for teens who want health tracking, notifications, and a little more connectivity without too many distractions, this watch checks a lot of boxes.

Just be ready to spend the first afternoon scrolling through options and pretending you understand what your kids are doing.

YOUSOKU Kids Fitness Smartwatch

If you want something that can handle pool dives, surprise rainstorms, and wild teenage moods, this is the watch to grab.

Pros

• Handles water like it’s training for the Olympics
• Tracks steps, workouts, and sleep for those who forget what “healthy” means
• Easy and comfortable to wear, even when we’re running late

Cons

• Strap durability might not keep up with the next Ninja Warrior
• No GPS, so we can’t track that secret snack run
• Some features need an app, so expect to mess with Bluetooth

Getting our hands on the YOUSOKU Kids Fitness Smartwatch was honestly more fun than expected.

It survived a splashy pool day, multiple fridge runs, and a suspicious number of step challenges. The display is bright and simple, and the menu doesn’t leave us confused—unlike math class.

Wearing it feels like a soft, friendly bracelet, not a clunky computer on your wrist. The heart rate and sleep trackers gave us just enough info to brag about our “elite athlete” sleep at breakfast.

Smart notifications pop up fast, so we never missed a call from mom (lucky us).

If only the band was tougher—one of us tried showing off on the monkey bars and the strap started to lose the fight after a few months.

It’s not a spy watch, since GPS is missing, but for counting steps and keeping up with friends in style, this YOUSOKU keeps us moving with a smile (and maybe a few jokes about our “training”).

Monowul Kids Smart Watch

If you want a tall glass of features in a kid-sized package, this smartwatch covers fun and safety.

Pros

• Packed with fitness, health, and entertainment tools
• Offers creative rewards and learning features
• Holds up through tumbles and splash fights

Cons

• Some functions need an app to unlock
• Not every school allows it (even with class mode)
• Battery life depends on how many gadgets you use

Honestly, we all wish we’d had something this cool on our wrist at age 9. The Monowul Kids Smart Watch manages to pack activity, learning, and safety into one bright, sturdy gadget.

That 1.85-inch display is big and colorful, making it easy for kids (and their clumsy thumbs) to explore—or, let’s be honest, for us to set up when they hand it over.

We love the reward system—kids earn “coins” for walking more or finishing learning cards, then spend them on games or audiobooks. The camera is great for silly selfies, and with music, even the walk to school becomes a dance party.

Waterproofing and drop resistance mean we can finally stop panicking when the watch dives into a puddle or bounces down the sidewalk.

Safety isn’t forgotten. SOS mode is easy for younger kids, and the customizable class mode lets us block games and distractions during school.

Some features—like learning cards and extra games—need an app, but the basics work without it. That’s reassuring if you’re worried about privacy.

Big win for us, big fun for our kids!

Buying Guide

Let’s try to make sense of the smartwatch jungle together. Honestly, who wants another tech headache?

First, we should ask: what do we even want from this thing? Is it tracking steps, texting friends, or just having a calculator handy so we don’t embarrass ourselves with basic math?

Key features to consider:

• Battery Life: Nobody enjoys plugging in their watch every hour. Especially if the charger’s already gone missing.
• Compatibility: The watch has to actually work with our phones. Otherwise, it’s just a shiny bracelet.
• Durability: Let’s be real, teen smartwatches need to survive a few drops. Probably more than a few.

Here’s a quick table to keep things straight:

Feature	Why It Matters
Fitness Tracking	Keeps us moving—or at least pretending to
Notification Alerts	So we never miss a meme or group chat
Swim Proof	For those who forget to take it off before a cannonball

We should also look at customization. Swapping straps or faces lets us show some personality. Shoes can’t do all the work, right?

Think about parental controls or security. Nobody wants to wake up to a surprise pizza delivery bill.

And yeah, comfort matters. If the watch pinches, it’s going to end up buried in a backpack, forgotten forever.