Buying guide
Best Apple Watch for Kids (2026): What You Need and Which to Buy
The best Apple Watch for kids, what you need to set one up for a child without an iPhone, and what the watch lets them do.
The best Apple Watch for kids is the Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular): your child can call and text approved contacts and share their location without a phone, and it gets watchOS 27. The SE (2nd gen) Cellular is the budget option. You need a cellular model and an iPhone of your own to set it up.
Find the right kids Apple Watch
How old is your child?
What matters most?
Our picks
- Cellularmodel
- watchOS 27supported
- Always-Ondisplay
Buy it if you want a current watch your child can use to call, text and share location without a phone.
Skip it if your child is very hard on gear. Any watch needs a case or a sport band at that point.
Why we picked it
With a GPS + Cellular SE 3 your child can call and message approved contacts, share their location, and use Schooltime to lock the watch during class. It gets watchOS 27, and the always-on screen shows the time without a tap.
- Cellularmodel
- Falldetection
- watchOS 26latest
Buy it if you want a budget kids Apple Watch for calls, messages and location.
Skip it if you want it to get new features for years. It stays on watchOS 26.
Why we picked it
The SE (2nd gen) with cellular supports Apple's family member setup, so the core features work: calls, messages, location and Schooltime. It does not get watchOS 27, so new features will skip it.
- Cellularmodel
- Double tapgesture
- watchOS 27supported
Buy it if your teen is active, plays sports and wants a brighter screen and more health features.
Skip it if it is for a young child. The SE 3 covers everything they need.
Why we picked it
Series 9 adds a brighter screen, the ECG app and double tap. It gets watchOS 27. Pick 41 mm for smaller wrists.
Compare the picks
| Watch | Case size | Always-On | ECG app | watchOS 27 | Battery (Apple rating) | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch SE 3 | 40 or 44 mm | Yes | No | Yes | Up to 18 hours | $252.99 |
| Apple Watch SE (2nd gen) | 40 or 44 mm | No | No | No (stays on watchOS 26) | Up to 18 hours | $217.99 |
| Apple Watch Series 9 | 41 or 45 mm | Yes | Yes | Yes | Up to 18 hours | $252.99 |
watchOS 27 support from apple.com/ca/os/watchos, features and battery ratings from Apple's tech specs (battery ratings are for new watches). Checked October 24, 2026.
What you need
- An Apple Watch Series 4 or later with cellular, or an SE or later with cellular. GPS-only watches cannot be set up for a child.
- Your own iPhone to set it up and manage it.
- An Apple Account for you and one for your child, in the same Family Sharing group. You must be the organizer or a parent or guardian.
- A cellular plan for the watch. Setup works without one, but calls, messages and location away from Wi-Fi need it. Ask your carrier if it supports Apple Watch for kids.
From Apple Support, "Set up Apple Watch for a family member". Checked October 24, 2026.
What kids can and cannot do
| Feature | How it works |
|---|---|
| Calls and messages | Only with contacts you approve, through Communication Limits. |
| Location | You see where they are in the Find My app. You can get alerts when they arrive or leave places. |
| Schooltime | Locks the watch to the time display during class, with emergency calls still allowed. |
| Apps | Ask to Buy sends app requests to you. |
| Emergency SOS | Press and hold the side button to call emergency services. |
| Activity | Kids move goals in minutes instead of calories. |
Watch or phone for a first device?
A cellular Apple Watch is a good step before a phone: calls, messages and location without social media or a browser. Many families switch to a phone around middle school. If you are there already, see the best first phones for kids.
Every device we sell is inspected, repaired and graded by our own technicians, factory reset, and covered by a warranty of 90 days to 1 year depending on grade, with 14-day returns. Grades describe looks only: Fair has visible scratches, Good has light signs of use, Excellent has hairline marks at most and Premium looks like new.
Questions people ask
What is the best Apple Watch for kids?
The Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS + Cellular). The SE (2nd gen) Cellular is the budget pick, and Series 9 suits older kids and teens.
Can a kid use an Apple Watch without an iPhone?
Yes. You set it up from your iPhone with Apple's family member setup. The watch must be a cellular model.
Does a kids Apple Watch need a cellular plan?
Setup works without one, but calls, messages and location away from Wi-Fi need a plan for the watch.
What age is good for an Apple Watch?
Many families start around 6 to 10, when kids walk to school or activities alone. Schooltime and Communication Limits keep it simple.
Can I see my child's location?
Yes, in the Find My app, with notifications when they arrive or leave places you set.
Will the SE (2nd gen) keep working?
Yes. It stays on watchOS 26 and keeps its features, but it will not get watchOS 27.
Which size fits a child's wrist?
The smaller case: 40 mm for SE and 41 mm for Series 9, with a solo loop or sport band in a small size.
See also which Apple Watch to buy, the best tablet for kids and every refurbished Apple Watch.
Skip the new-phone price
Get the Apple Watch SE 3 pre-owned from $252.99, tested by real technicians with up to a 1-year warranty and 14-day returns.
