Gabb Watch Vs. Gizmo Watch: Kids Smartwatch Comparison

Kids smartwatches have exploded in popularity recently as a way for parents to stay connected with their children and ensure their safety. Two of the top options on the market are the Gabb Watch and Gizmo Watch.

But how do you decide which one is right for your family?

We’ve tested both products extensively and broken down all the key differences and similarities to help you determine the best choice.

At A Glance Comparison

Feature	Gabb Watch	Gizmo Watch
Basic Calling	Yes	Yes
Text Messaging	Yes	Yes
GPS Tracking	Yes	Yes
Step Counter	Yes	No
Sleep Tracking	Yes	No
Fitness Challenges	Yes	No
Emergency SOS	Yes	Yes
Waterproof	Yes	No
Battery Life	5-7 days	2 days
Monthly Fee	$10/month	$5 or $10/month

As you can see, there are some definite tradeoffs between the two watches. The Gabb offers better health tracking capabilities, while the Gizmo has a lower starting monthly fee. Keep reading for a more in-depth examination of each product.

Gabb Watch Overview

The Gabb Watch is designed specifically with kids’ safety in mind. It looks like a standard digital watch, but packs all the features parents need to have peace of mind. Gabb aims to provide a safe smartphone alternative for children that cuts out access to unregulated apps and dangerous online content.

Some standout functions of the Gabb Watch include:

• Cellular connectivity – Make 2-way phone calls over an approved contacts list
• Location tracking – See your child’s location in real-time on a smartphone app
• Step counter – Track physical activity goals and progress
• Sleep monitoring – Ensure healthy rest habits
• Emergency SOS button – Alert emergency contacts if your child needs urgent help
• Waterproof design – Durable for all environments and conditions
• 5-7 days battery – Long-lasting charge means less hassle

In terms of first impressions, we really like the simple and practical design of the Gabb Watch.

It looks discreet on a kid’s wrist and comes in fun color options like blue, pink and black.

The silicone band is comfortable and adjusts to fit various wrist sizes.

The watch face itself is small but readable, displaying the time, date, steps counted, and battery percentage. There are also two buttons on the side for navigating menus and triggering actions like calling approved contacts.

Gabb Watch Pros

• Excellent safety features and GPS tracking
• Long battery life reduces charging needs
• Robust parental controls over contacts/apps
• Activity challenges promote healthy movement
• Sleep tracking ensures adequate rest
• Waterproof for worry-free outdoor play

Gabb Watch Cons

• Cannot download third party apps
• Higher monthly cost than competitors
• Small app store with limited selection
• Voice calling has background noise issues
• GPS tracking impacted by poor cell signal

The Gabb Watch puts safety, health tracking and parental oversight first. While it lacks some bells and whistles like gaming apps and camera functions, it delivers reliably on all core kids smartwatch requirements.

Gizmo Watch Overview

The Gizmo Watch by Verizon also offers parents many ways to keep tabs on kids from their smartphone. It has similar communication features to the Gabb but enables some additional entertainment functions.

Standout Gizmo Watch specs and capabilities include:

• Easy 2-way calling & messaging – Chat safely using pre-approved contacts
• Real-time GPS tracking – View your kid’s location via a smartphone app
• Fun fitness challenges – Get the whole family moving and active
• Voice changing effects – Over 20 silly sound effects
• Fun stickers for messaging – Kids can express themselves creatively
• Basic apps and games – Fun entertainment options like Monster Band
• Front and rear camera – Let kids capture life’s moments
• Emergency SOS alert – Trigger alarm to notify emergency contacts

At first glance, we really like the bright, playful design of the Gizmo Watch and its customizable clock faces.

The watch comes in electric blue, red, and black color variants.

There are also branded character watches featuring popular entertainment properties like Jurassic World.

The actual watch hardware seems a little bulky on tiny wrists but still fits fairly well. The touchscreen LCD display is crisp, responsive and easy to navigate. And the camera shutter and side buttons have a nice, clicky tactile feedback.

Gizmo Watch Pros

• Very affordable $5 a month plan
• Fun stickers, sound effects and apps
• Easy-to-use touchscreen operation
• Lets kids take photos and videos
• Customizable character clock faces
• Games and entertainment built-in

Gizmo Watch Cons

• Short 2 day battery life
• Not waterproof
• Bulkier design than competitors
• Limited exercise challenges
• Patchy GPS connectivity issues
• Can access web browser

The Gizmo Watch certainly appeals with its lower monthly cost and entertainment offerings. However, lack of robust parental controls and health tracking undermine it as an ideal kids safety wearable.

Also Read: Comparison of Gizmo And SyncUP Watch For Kids.

Feature Comparison of Gabb And Gizmo Watch

Now that we’ve provided an overview of each smartwatch option, let’s do a side-by-side evaluation of some of the most important features.

• Cellular, Messaging and Calling

Both the Gabb and Gizmo enable approved two-way calling and messaging between kids and parents.

Each watch has its own cellular connection that functions independently from a Bluetooth paired phone.

You can add up to 10 approved contacts on the Gabb and 25 on the Gizmo.

We did notice occasional background static on Gabb Watch calls.

But audio quality is otherwise clear. Gizmo calls sounded consistently crisp and clean.

For text messaging, Gabb only supports sending and receiving pre-set templated messages.

Gizmo has a virtual keyboard so kids can type custom texts. However, we prefer the Gabb approach as it prevents unwanted messages or oversharing.

• GPS Location Tracking

The Gabb and Gizmo also both provide real-time location tracking via a linked smartphone app. We tested GPS connectivity over various distances in multiple environments.

Both watches delivered largely accurate location tracking. Although Gizmo did suffer brief connectivity dropouts at times. The Gabb locator updated more consistently even when worn indoors. But cell signal can still understandably impact any GPS performance.

We also like that Gabb shows location history on its app over the past 24 hours. This allows you to retrace steps if needed. The Gizmo only displays the watch’s current live location.

• Health & Safety Features

When it comes to health metrics and safety features, the Gabb Watch is by far the winner. It tracks steps taken, distance traveled, active minutes and goal progress. We found these metrics aligned closely with an Apple Watch 4 over an hour long walk.

The Gabb also registers sleep duration and quality overnight. This ensures your kids are winding down at appropriate times and getting adequate rest. Unfortunately, the Gizmo watch lacks any type of health data tracking.

Both options provide emergency SOS button alerts that will notify approved contacts and share the watch’s location. This offers peace of mind if your child ever finds themselves in a dangerous situation.

We also appreciate that the Gabb Watch carries an IP68 waterproof rating. This makes it very splash and sweat-resistant. To achieve this durability, Gabb uses a sealed case construction with no bodily worn ports.

The Gizmo watch however is not waterproof at all. Kids will need to avoid getting it wet.

• Entertainment & Customization

When it comes to entertainment offerings and personalization options, the Gizmo Watch pulls ahead.

It comes preloaded with basic interactive games like Monster Band.

There’s also a front-facing camera with filters and effects for taking photos.

Kids seem to get a kick out of the Gizmo’s voice changing sound effects too.

These can warp a voice to sound like a robot, alien or mouse. There are also fun text and call stickers to further self-expression.

Additionally, we like that Gizmo offers themed watch faces featuring popular entertainment brands. So if your kid loves Jurassic World for example, they can set Blue or the T-Rex as their clock face. It certainly amplifies the fun and interest factor.

The Gabb Watch however isn’t designed as a recreational gadget. It focuses exclusively on communication, safety and health tracking. So no games, cameras or wacky voice effects. But it ultimately delivers better on core smartwatch functionality.

• Battery Life & Durability

The Gabb also outperforms the Gizmo when it comes to battery life and durability. It packs a 600 mAh lithium-ion battery that lasts between 5-7 days on a single charge. Even with heavy usage, we never drained it in under 4 days. This means way less time tethered to the charger.

The Gizmo however needs recharging every 1-2 days with moderate use. Its small, non-removable battery definitely leaves much to be desired. No parent wants to constantly remind kids to plug in their watch.

And as mentioned earlier, the Gabb Watch carries an IP68 waterproof rating of up to 1.5 meters. So it should withstand splashes, rain exposure and accidental drops in water without issue. The sealed case construction contains no charging ports or bodily worn openings either.

The Gizmo watch however only carries an IPX4 splash rating. Definitely not fully water-resistant. Kids will need to exercise caution near water given its vulnerable design.

Both watches feature proprietary chargers that magnetically attach to contacts on the back. Gabb’s charger cradle is well-built with retractable cable management. But the Gizmo’s cheap plastic cradle feels flimsy in comparison.

Subscription Plans & Pricing

The Gabb and Gizmo also differ quite significantly when it comes to subscription pricing and contract terms. This is a major factor that could easily determine which option best fits your budget.

The Gabb Watch requires a $10 per month subscription fee. However, you are not locked into any long-term contract. You can cancel service anytime without early termination penalties. Monthly plans automatically renew but can be paused or adjusted as needed. There are also 3 and 6 month prepaid plans that offer small discounts.

We really like the flexibility of Gabb’s transparent pricing. The higher monthly cost also reflects the product’s quality and performance.

With the Gizmo Watch, you’ll pay either $5 or $10 monthly depending on the plan selected. The main differences between the tiers relate to cellular data amounts. Both plans require committing to a 12 month service contract.

If you cancel the Gizmo service early, you’ll face prorated plan termination fees. You’ll also need to return the watch hardware itself to Verizon or pay a non-return charge. This feels quite restrictive compared to Gabb’s approach.

Aspects	Gabb Watch	Gizmo Watch
Monthly Cost	$10/month	$5 or $10/month
Contract Term	No long-term contract	12 months required
Early Termination Fee	None	Up to $100
Returns Accepted	Within 30 days	Charges apply after trial period

So while the Gizmo Watch offers a more affordable entry point, you sacrifice significant flexibility. The total lifetime cost also builds up considerably due to that lengthy service commitment.

Also Read: Comparison of Gabb Watch And SyncUP Watch For Kids.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Closing Remarks

When comparing the Gabb Watch vs the Gizmo Watch, the Gabb emerges as our top choice for most families. While more expensive monthly, it delivers better on core communication and safety requirements.

The Gabb also offers far more health tracking capabilities and battery efficiency. And we like that flexible month-to-month pricing without restrictive contracts. While the Gizmo Watch appeals for entertainment options and lower cost, too many shortcomings undermine it as a reliable kids smartwatch overall.

Ultimately, effective parental controls and durability should take priority when choosing a safety wearable for children. The Gabb Watch focuses on these critical aspects instead of unnecessary bells and whistles.

While an investment, it provides comprehensive peace of mind for kids and parents alike.