I have a brother with autism and I’ve used this feature with an SE mainly to track him incase he wanders off. He knows how to tell time and he knows how to answer phone calls and tell Siri who to call. Although he is not high functioning this watch has given me and my family a peace of mind knowing where he is and always have a way to contact him.
This is what I was looking for. My autistic son went out the back gate and took me about 10 minutes to find him playing at the park. How accurate is the GPS to find your brother?
Good on you guys that finally a tech company is making something somewhat affordable for autistic children. The extra 10 dollar a month and 330 dollars is small price to pay for the peace of mind. It’s worth every penny.
I like this feature because it allows parents to postpone giving their kids a full on phone until they're older. One of my biggest concerns for the future of society is the rising rate of depression in kids being linked to them having phones - this could help alleviate that. Much harder to spend hours on instagram or Facebook on an apple watch than on a phone
Yes my point exactly I have 3 teens and have given them all cell phones just to have to take them from them months later because it became bad for them
@@thelordisgood62 I personally don’t have kids yet but I could only imagine how tough it is to balance their digital presence with being able to make sure their safe and can get into contact with you or vice versa
Yeah, it’s the best way currently I think to prevent one’s children from being phone addicted until they’re grown up without losing important communication. It’s the best of both worlds. The only thing missing is a camera though. I’m not a parent yet, but this is the best way currently I think.
dumb parents are the problem, download kids software on the phone and that's it... Samsung has very cheap smartphones with the Knox software that allows you to personalize-limit your children's phone, That plus a child proxy service and you're good to go. No inappropriate websites, no Instagram, no TikTok, no Twitter, limited game time, etc. (Maybe the parents are short on money and not short on brains, my apologies. But to see that ADULTS are depriving their children of learning how to use technology just because they themselves have smooth brains and they don't know how to use it it's nasty)
Could this dude have made worse points throughout the video? “$349 is the price of a phone!” No it’s not. “You have an extra charge for cellular!” Yeah, $10 unlike the $40 you’re paying for a phone line. “Health sharing for kids is weird!” No, it’s not. It’s a great way to have information to share with a doctor. “School time is weird!” Why? “Tracking my kid’s location is weird!” No, it’s not. All parents do it. If you don’t want to do it, don’t. “A kid won’t want to wear an Apple Watch!” Yes, they will. If they want a phone, they’ll take the watch over nothing.
Totally agree, the only thing weird here was this guys review. Health tracking and school time made total sense- being all passive judgy about it was well…weird. This vid bugged me more than it should have 😂
Exactly. Health sharing is such a fantastic option regardless of it’s a kid or elder. The only thing he did throughout the whole video is fail to make a point
Finally someone tells me that even tho your kid has it, it still needs to be allocated to it own phone number ! Shady from Apple they never state that ! Great video !
I was thinking this would be better for my older parents. They don’t ever use internet on their phones and they only call/text and would love a watch anyhow. And me being able to set it up from my own phone is like a million times easier.
I agree, you would get this for my dad if was less techy… he definitely could or would not want all the features. (In love them). It needs to be easy button simple for my dad and longer battery life. This product would be amazing!!!!
All my providers are saying that the $10/mo will not give the watch it's own number. So, when you set this up as a Family Shared device, how does it become it's own stand-alone device?
Hi here at best buy when we activate a celular apple watch it will give it a stand alone number to that watch. It's just normally when you set it up with your personal number it will share that phone number. But the watch still have its own number in the system.
This review was weird. All of his cons were about his kid not wanting to use it as a phone. I think the purpose to to have your kid be able to communicate with you and be able to track them WITHOUT giving them a phone with full access to the intervener. Also the Apple Pay feature is great because if your kid is at a sleepover/camp/retreat/family then you can send them funds if they need it. The lockdown wasn’t going to last forever, being able to leave your home and purchase things is always going to be an options for kids if they’re not with their parents.
So couple things to add. First 10/mo is way better then minimum 35/mo for a phone. (Verizon) also 330 is still cheaper then 400 for an iPhone SE(2020) and that assume you don't get a deal I work for a retailer and alot of customer get a 150 off apple watch offer. Also compared to a Gizmo watch which is the only competition Verizon offers this is far and away better option and kids would like it alot more. Also note this is coming from a and Android guy I don't use apple products
flip-phones are cheap and don't break as easily as a smartphone. Sometimes they are free from the service provider, sometimes less than $50 on amazon. No one will steal a flip-phone. flip-phones aren't distractions - no internet
Awesome explanation and breakdown about your kid actual use of the expensive Apple Watch. I have been contemplating about getting my 10yr old a watch because he should know what time it is during the day so he can engage in staying on schedule. Another reason is walks to and from school alone and not too many kids are walkers. I want to be able to track his whereabouts. A cell phone is my plan now and I think it’s more practical and he’ll use it more.
Prices on the SE have come way down so we got one for our 11 year old precisely because she's too young for a smart phone. This was un upgrade for her after 2 years with the Gizmo - it was easy to carry the phone number over to the new watch. Apple Pay is a nice feature but so far we haven't been able to figure out how to fully set it up.
@@alifigueroa2720 so far so good. The watch is prone to getting hot. It's important to restart it regularly. Still haven't figured out the Apple pay but haven't really needed to.
Yeah I'm wondering about this for my kid. I want to be able to get a hold of him up the street if he's playing but my worry is that if I'm spending $300-ish plus $10 a month if he's not gonna be wearing it all the time and ya know...damaging it. The other question about just getting a phone...not for my kid. He'd put it down at a friends house and leave it. He's not as likely to do that with a watch. That's one my biggest draws for the watch over a cheap phone.
Just buy a new kid. 👍🏾 But if you really want to, I suggest giving him an allowance and have him decide whether he wants an iPhone or a watch. If he picks the phone, set up the “find my” app. This will allow you to track his phone if he were to leave it somewhere.(get a case of course, I suggest rhino shield and SUPcase) If he picks the watch, get him a heavy duty case. Most features like “find my” will automatically show up in setup.
Super refreshing to hear that someone that works at CNET hasn't given their child a phone at 11 years old. My wife and I are not alone in being pro tech, but anti kids having smartphones
Any change you can get ahold of the Gizmo 2 kids watch and compare? One feature I really like on the gizmo is I can track where my kid been when he wears his watch. Does the Apple Watch have that feature now? (Not where he’s at when I look at the app) also wondered if there’s location based check in options on the watch?
The device works and is understood by someone who needs and wants it benefits. It is up to the parent to say, “this is not a toy! This is your way to reach me and mom when something is wrong.” Being able to call for help or reach your kid in an instant without necessarily opening them up to all forms of social media as with a full smartphone is excellent. Then you have the health tracking for kids with serious medical conditions. Any modern city has countless contactless payment terminals and a responsible parent would know the places their kids frequent unsupervised so that they can make use of digital funds. (slip a $20 for emergency money in there pocket to cover the unexpected). In the age of school shootings and child abductions, this couldn’t come sooner! Another CNET junk review.
Right! For my 10yrs old kid, she is going to school with smart phone but switching off the power all the time because school do not allow to use phone in school time.
I know this is a 2 year old video, but if I have an android phone and an apple watch ultra, If i were to set up the watch under a family member's iPhone and activate the cellular line, would I be able to have my phone number that is on my android be the same number on the apple watch ultra?
Thank you so much for this, I also am getting my daughter an Apple Watch with cell data but I don’t want to get a phone for her, at least not yet. This was very helpful
My son has little use for a phone. But now that he is working we are looking for a cheaper solution to his phone needs. Basically I want to know if he can receive calls and texts from non apple products. My wife is a droid user. She can never get in touch with him. We want to be able to call him like we would anyone. And visa versa. Would this work in the family setup up off my iPhone? Before anyone says it’s not a cheap idea, remember a smart phone costs more than $10 a month. You get smart phone fees also. And you need to buy a phone.
I caught a sale on Apple Watch SE Cellular. It was $50 off so it cost $280. I'm planning to give it to an elderly parent because of the fall detection and emergency SOS features. She refuses to wear a medical alert bracelet, so hopefully this will be a workable alternative. I added it to our Verizon plan, and I was pleased to discover that there's no monthly cost for it, even though it has its own phone number.
Can you use the Samsung Galaxy LTE watch as a stand-alone device or only with Apple? I am looking for a device for my teenager for just phone calls and texting only.
Good video but I wish you’d focused more on the Find My aspect. You may not care about tracking your 11 year old, but we absolutely want to be able to trust our 7 and 9 year olds. I wish Life360 had a stand-alone Apple Watch app.
2023 update : At your timestamp of a 1:40 . And this secondary Apple Watch under family share cannot be set up. I have talked to multiple carriers that swear it cannot work. Only one watch per iPhone will only allowed to be number sync. It is a great idea to give your kids an Apple Watch with cellular. But an iPhone is required to set up the secondary watch. Otherwise it will not work. ….. there needs to be an update video regarding this.
Not to be that guy but, if your willing to leave the ecosystem, you could buy a decent cheap budget Android for a third to half the price of a cellular Apple Watch, such as the Nokia 1.3 for $100 or the Moto E 2020 for $130, for “covering the basics” need of a child. In fact, you could buy 2 of the Motorolas or 3 of the Nokias for less than the Cellular Watch SE with money leftover to pay for a month or two of service. And if the kid was to lose or break it, you’re less financially invested. However, the real problem is that Apple doesn’t want to have products that are “cheap” or “budget” as it will erode its position as a premium luxury brand. For years, their answer to a cheaper iPhone was to keep selling last year’s model with a hundred dollar discount
Hello. Thanks for the good video. I just tried using a Series 9 with an iPhone 14 Pro for Family Sharing. My wife really only needs the Apple Watch. Is it really possible that Apple doesn't release the GPS Version for family sharing? That would be some serious information. Or can someone help me? Thank you guys.
Thank you for this review. I also have an 11 year old son that I am contemplating doing this for. He has a basic cell phone right now with no internet or apps but in light of recent events w school shootings and such, I worry about something happening and he might drop his phone or it might get taken away. A watch isn’t as obvious and would (hopefully) stay on his person if god forbid he needs to run or something.
Yeah I like the gps. My son got kidnapped in 2016 and since I’ve been cutting a hole in his shoes and buying damaged GPS Apple Watch heads to shove into them. He is now 6 and this is nice. Can be jewelry.
We went down this route for our 11 yo instead of a phone. It works well for calling, messaging, Find My etc but we can barely download any apps that we/she wants. Strava, Google Maps, Spotify can’t be used on the standalone device and I can’t really figure out why, it’s so frustrating though. We may have to look at other options.
I tell my kids when I need them to wear it simple lol yes kids can have independence but you are still the adult the parent and they are still under your roof, jurisdiction, and guidance but the difference is I have teens so if I don’t trust them with a phone and I give them the watch and I leave my house and need to contact them then the rule is they must wear it even in the house they don’t get a choice in that matter. I’ve tried house phone as well still didn’t work as great and how is the school restriction thing weird I actually find it useful. Restrict the watch during school hours if he comes out of it put it back on don’t allow him to take the restriction off during school hours period And explain why to him before hand that these are the rules it’s a good thing if he doesn’t know how to yet take it off take advantage of that while you can if he decides to wear it during virtual school or in person school. How is that weird!? You are just simply limiting distractions for your child 🤷🏽♀️
Yeah for kids who can be trusted with one. I’ve literally tried everything. Cheap basic phones, house phones, etc I’m really glad apple came up with this
I wanna get this for myself so I can stop using my phone- hoping I’ll have access to calls, messages and emails on the go plus maybe Spotify too. But won’t have the temptation to “just check social media quickly” and all the other ways my phone intrudes into my daily life. I know some people don’t have this issue and will say why not just use your phone less but the sad fact for me is I’ve tried and it doesn’t work.
How is that weird for a kid to track their health? Aren’t you supposed to be tracking the kids health anyways? It helps when you go to doctors appointment. And another thing Apple Watch isn’t meant for kids anyways so that’s what interface is not meant for kids to know what they’re doing. If you give them an actual kids watch they would know how to use it. My daughter is only four years old and she knows how to use her watch because it’s meant for kids.
Not trying to make you worry or something, but I think walking around with an Apple Watch on the wrist makes a kid much more of a target for street robbers than a phone in his pocket.. Good review 👍
shakeal huggins I don't think anyone can tell from afar if it's the SE or 6 and even if it's older and cheaper - street robbers would go for anything... And I'm sure many don't know about the auto lock or whatever it is.. And if you think 150$ is too cheap and not worth the effort for street robbers..Then you must be living like a king
Is their any way I can set up apple watch for my kids but me not having an iphone? Because samsung doesn't have watch options for its own cellular option
Believe me DO NOT GET HIM A PHONE AT 11!! I’m 20 years old and I got a flip phone for my whole first year of high school, and I’m so happy that happened cause 1 it was funny, and 2 it kept me safe from bad ppl online, and you’re letting go at 11? If that works out I’d love to know
I think its still easier just to get the phone at that age. You'll eventually get to a scenario with an app needed for the kid to use that isn't on the watch
This setup would probably work better for older children aged 8 above. But then again it’d lose its novelty around middle school age cos by then the kids would want a real smartphone. Interesting video nonetheless for trying to offer another use case for technology.
Real World - What age is it really practical to give a kid a watch rather than a phone? Age 5-11: For toddler to to big kid then a watch is a big and bulky block that offers no entertainment value Age 12-14: For tweens then its too awkward and inefficient as a communication tool Age 15-17: Teens most likely have a smartphone, but even a flip phone would feel more “practical” than only a watch. Parent: Spending money for hardware and service for an awkward child-tracker and a communication tool that literally screams “look at me!” Over speakerphone. So I’m genuinely curious. Is there a market for this? Are parents looking for a way to give their kids a feature-lite communication device? And are there kids that want a daily-charge handcuff that keeps them tethered to mom and dad? I’m a parent so I actually am interested in solutions for child tracking and communication. But I think a better solution would actually be something involving a Family Share phone that had strict parent control and limitations. For the kid it would be a family-centric communication device and entertainment device. For the parent it would be a monitoring device and a responsibility lesson that would work on an older hand-me-down phone.
I use a different watch for my 8 year old. I chose a watch because he would lose a phone, at school it would probably get stolen and he wouldn’t keep it in his pocket when he’s riding his bike. I am interested in the Apple Watch as in a few years if I get him a phone he can still keep the watch and turn off the school time feature when he’s mature enough. The watch he has now will just he tosses aide when he out grows it.
I think for me and my 8yo, it’s going to come down to interface. She has an iPad for school, so knows that interface well, and a phone is basically the same. We wouldn’t let her use dumb apps on the phone, so I’m not terribly worried about that, but I am concerned about it getting lost (about as worried as I am about the watch being broken). She doesn’t freely roam on her own, so it would be equally easy to remind her to take either a phone or watch when we need her to have it - but a watch is literally strapped to her in case we need to call or she needs to leave somewhere suddenly and might forget a phone. So then the real question… how easy is it to use, in practice, to call and text us? That’s what it’ll come down to with the watch.
Kids can pair wireless headphones to take calls and/or listen to music on the Apple Watch. So that is a good way to avoid speaker phone. My middle school kids are excited to get one and be able to use basic features. They understand the tracking is for safety and don’t mind it. That all depends on maturity of kid plus their day to day surroundings anyway. As far as the watches, they are testing my Fitbit for alarm and timer functions and really appreciate those benefits as opposed to a blaring alarm in the morning. The timer and reminders also help them learn accountability and responsibility for their own tasks as they grow up. These are our top reasons for choosing the watch over a phone.
Explain to me how kids are supposed to protect the Apple Watch? One fall or an arm lift against a hard surface and the watch is gone!! So don’t just mumble the same BS over and over again!!
Whilst I appreciate your response but that wasn't the point. What I am saying is that the current Apple Watch lineup is not designed for kids; that wasn't the original intent. Kids are kids with all their unique needs, playing hard and rough. Just imagine all the dirt and mud that goes under the casing should you opt-in for one. I think Apple should focus on creating a child edition Apple watch with all the above points taken into consideration plus material safety for children. A watch made of sturdy polymers is a far better option than the one with metal and glass.
It’s only creepy once your kid is over about 10. Wanting to know where your partially developed brained offspring is wandering is a normal parenting behavior.
My only issue is that the Apple Watch battery DOES NOT LAST - it barely lasts a school day before running out of battery and it defeats the whole purpose
Do you need to pay your phone carrier monthly for three standalone plan? I just tried setting up the new cellular SE for my 11 year old and got stuck at the cellular setup. Called Tmobile and they said I need to pay $17/month for unlimited text/call/data or $5 for unlimited text/call + 500mb data.
My kid is 8. She has had a phone since 6 which was the upgrade from the 3rd battery ridden tablet. I’d like her to have a watch for the sake of not wanting her to lose or have the phone stolen at school. I just wondered is the band small enough
Tbh for the price, you might as well get them a phone. I’ve seen 8 year olds walking around with smartphones. Sorry Apple, but I’m not buying my kid a $350 dollar watch where you have to pay extra for cellular
