Samsung's Galaxy Watch for Kids software makes Wear OS a family affair

Samsung and Google are introducing a new Wear OS software experience called "Galaxy Watch for Kids" that's designed to make the Galaxy Watch 7 LTE (and presumably future wearables) safe and fun for children to use. The new software features and setup process is similar to Apple's "Apple Watch For Your Kids" just with Android devices rather than iOS ones.

According to Samsung, parents will be able to set up their child's Galaxy Watch 7 directly from their phone and activate its eSIM. After that, kids don't need a phone to use the Galaxy Watch. The core features of Wear OS are available, just with added guardrails for kid's safety and parent's peace of mind. Those include the ability to enable location sharing, manage who kids can contact through the Galaxy Watch, and set up a Do Not Disturb mode that's enabled during school hours. Settings can be tweaked at any time from Google's Family Link app.

To make being tracked more enticing, Galaxy Watch for Kids will come with new kid-friendly customization options, like a Rubik's Cube or Tech Deck watch face (admittedly right up my alley when I was 10), Wear OS apps featuring characters from Barbie, Marvel, or PBS Kids and new colorful watch band options. Activity tracking and health data are accessible in the Galaxy Watch for Kids experience, too.

Samsung isn't reinventing the wheel with this feature — Google's Fitbit Ace LTE kid smartwatch just launched in 2024 — but parents love being able to keep track of their kids, and a smartwatch might ultimately be a healthier to make your children always-connected than a phone.

Galaxy Watch for Kids is available to use now on Galaxy Watch 7 LTE models from Samsung, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/samsungs-galaxy-watch-for-kids-software-makes-wear-os-a-family-affair-190332986.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/wearables/samsungs-galaxy-watch-for-kids-software-makes-wear-os-a-family-affair-190332986.html?src=rss
Created 1mo | Jan 22, 2025, 7:50:12 PM


Login to add comment

Other posts in this group

Atari’s side-scrolling Breakout reboot arrives on March 25

Proving that truly no IP is safe from modern reboot

Feb 25, 2025, 5:40:10 PM | Engadget
Paramount+ adds 50 classic MTV Unplugged episodes

If you're a music fan of a certain age, there's a good chance MTV Unplugged has special place in your heart. With the first episode airing in 1989, over the decades the series has produced some of

Feb 25, 2025, 5:40:09 PM | Engadget
UK creatives protest AI copyright law changes with silent album and campaign

British creatives are speaking out against the government's proposed changes to copyright law. Take Kate Bush, Annie Lennox and Ben Howard, who join over 1,000 musicians in releasing a protest albu

Feb 25, 2025, 5:40:08 PM | Engadget
Philips Hue Sync now available on LG smart TVs, eliminating the need for a control box

The Philips Hue Sync app is now available for many LG televisions, allowing synchronization between smart lights and TV screens. This eliminates the need for one of those

Feb 25, 2025, 5:40:07 PM | Engadget
Clicks is finally releasing its keyboard add-on for some Android phones

First announced at CES 2024, the Clicks physical keyboard add-on for iPhones

Feb 25, 2025, 5:40:06 PM | Engadget
OnePlus is delaying the Watch 3 launch because of a typo

One thing writers and multinational consumer electronics corporations have in common is we both need a good editor. Or, failing that, at least a good spell-checker. OnePlus somehow missed that step

Feb 25, 2025, 5:40:05 PM | Engadget