If you are hunting for a smartwatch for your primary school kid in Singapore and want to stay under S$200, you are not alone.
Most of us just want something that keeps our kids safe, does not die halfway through the school day and does not burn a big hole in the wallet.
Here are 5 options that fit into that money saving bracket, with pros, cons and which type of kid each watch suits best.
Xiaomi Smart Kids Watch
Xiaomi Smart Kids Watch usually goes for around S$80 to S$90 on the official store, sometimes a bit more or less during sales.
You get GPS tracking, 4G connection, calls, simple chat and an SOS button, all inside a kid friendly body.
Battery life is quite solid, thanks to a bigger battery, and it is splash resistant enough for sweat and light rain.
Best suited for
Lower primary kids (P1 to P3) and parents who want a budget friendly first smartwatch to test the waters.
Pros
- Very affordable, commonly under S$100 on promo.
- GPS and 4G give decent tracking for to and fro school.
- Simple interface that young kids can pick up quickly.
- 2ATM splash resistance and a big battery, so it can tahan daily school life.
Cons
- Design is a bit basic, older kids may find it kiddish.
- Features are enough for safety but not very exciting long term.
- Camera and speaker quality are fine but not on par with more expensive brands.
myFirst Fone S3c / entry models
myFirst Fone series can get pricey, but some models like the S3c and R1c can drop to around S$89 on sale, while others sit between about S$150 and S$200 at local shops.
You get proper 4G video and voice calls, accurate GPS, geofencing and a strong companion app designed for Singapore parents.
There is also school mode, so you can mute everything during class time.
Best suited for
Primary 2 to Primary 6 kids with CCAs, tuition and independent travel, plus parents who want strong control and communication.
Pros
- GPS and 4G tracking tuned for local use, good for bus and MRT commutes.
- Video and voice calls help kids feel closer to you without giving them a full phone.
- School mode and parental controls let you decide exactly when and how they can use the watch.
- Singapore brand, easier support and warranty, and designs that kids actually like.
Cons
- Many models are above S$200 if not on sale, so need to watch promo carefully.
- More features equals more setup; less techy parents may feel a bit overwhelmed at first.
- Heavy use of video calls and camera drains battery faster, so daily charging is usually needed.
Simple kids GPS watch (Gizmo style)
There are several brands selling basic kids GPS watches in Singapore that focus on location and calling, often priced around S$80 to S$150 depending on model and promo.
The idea is straightforward: GPS tracking, two way calls, voice messages and SOS, with a locked contact list controlled by parents.
These watches do not try to be mini smartphones, which reduces distractions for younger kids.
Best suited for
Parents who only care about safety and contact, not games or fancy apps, especially for P1 to P4 kids.
Pros
- Usually cheaper than full feature kids phones, many under S$150.
- Restricted contact lists and SOS button make it safer for kids to use independently.
- Tough casing and silicone straps handle rough school bag life.
- App tends to be simple, so Ah Gong and Ah Ma can also understand.
Cons
- Interface and screens can feel basic or laggy compared to bigger brands.
- Different brands have very different app quality, so you must research a bit before buying.
- No big ecosystem or resale value; usually just use until spoil.
Garmin Vivofit Jr 3
Garmin Vivofit Jr 3 is more of a kids fitness tracker than a full calling smartwatch, but it is very popular with active kids and parents who hate charging devices.
The watch tracks steps, sleep and chores, and links to a parent app with games and rewards. It is swim friendly and uses a coin cell battery that can last up to about one year before you need to replace it.
In Singapore, it usually sells around S$120 to S$140 depending on design and store.
Best suited for
Kids who love to move, swim and play, and parents who focus more on building good habits than real time calling.
Pros
- Swim friendly and tough, very suitable for outdoor and water play.
- Battery can last many months to a year, so no nightly charging drama.
- Fun themed designs like Marvel or Disney help kids actually wear it daily.
- Habit and chores system lets you reward kids for tasks without extra nagging.
Cons
- Does not have direct calling or full GPS like a kids phone watch.
- Screen is smaller and less flashy, some techy kids may find it boring.
- Parents who want constant location updates will still need another solution.
Older or second hand Apple Watch (under S$200)
Brand new Apple Watch is way above S$200, but older generations or second hand units in Carousell sometimes fall just under S$200.
Many Singapore parents share that Apple Watch, when set up with Family Setup and Schooltime, can actually last several years and feels more robust than some cheap kids brands.
You still get strong features like heart rate tracking, fall detection on some models and very tight parental controls when paired with an iPhone.
Best suited for
Upper primary kids (P4 to P6) in families already using iPhone, where parents are comfortable setting strict limits and want a watch that can last into secondary school.
Pros
- Solid build and long term software support, so it can be used for multiple years.
- Powerful parental controls via Family Setup and Schooltime mode.
- Deep integration with iPhone makes it easy to manage contacts and settings.
- Can grow with your child, from basic safety now to more health and productivity features later.
Cons
- Need to hunt carefully for older or used units below S$200, and condition varies.
- Battery life is roughly one day, so nightly charging is non negotiable.
- If parents are not strict with settings, it can be quite distracting with apps and notifications.
Our Choice and Review: Xiaomi Watch
For our own family, we eventually went with the Xiaomi Smart Kids Watch for our primary school girl, so can share a bit of real life experience and review.
Our Xiaomi setup and controls
One thing we like is how much control parents can have over the watch.
We can set Do Not Disturb hours so it keeps quiet during lesson time, and there is a separate School Mode using geo fencing, so once she steps into school compound it auto goes into another DND mode.
We also set different geo fence zones for places like home, student care and grandparents place, so the app will ping when she enters or leaves.
After her "probation", we turned off the school mode. Initially was not to let her misuse or abuse the usage of the watch. And when she only use it during recess time and after school.
We turn it off. So far so good.
For calls, only authorised numbers can reach her, which gives a bit of peace of mind.
Parents can approve and manage who is in the contact list, and there is also a friend function where kids who also own a Xiaomi watch can add each other and call.
We still monitor who ends up on her friend list, so it feels like a semi closed network rather than anyhow add.
SIM card, tracking and connectivity
We are running the watch with either Giga, eight or Maxx type prepaid SIM cards, those around S$8 to S$10 a month, so still quite wallet friendly.
Tracking is generally ok, accurate enough to know if she is in school, on the way home or at the nearby mall.
Once in a while the watch loses connectivity or lags, but a quick restart usually fixes the problem and the location updates again.
The main win is that it has made communication smoother during school days.
If we suddenly need to get her during school time, at least we have a way to reach her or see roughly where she is.
How our kid is using it
Like any kid, once she got the watch she was very excited.
During recess, she will sometimes call to ask small things like whether she can go to the bookshop to buy stationery or snacks.
At first it felt a bit extra, but over time she started to follow the guidelines we set, like only calling during recess or when there is something important.
That part feels like a positive habit, because she is learning when it is appropriate to use the watch and when to focus on school.
So far, for under S$100 plus a cheap data plan, this Xiaomi watch has given us a nice mix of safety, control and independence for her, without jumping straight to a full smartphone.
For parents with similar worries about P1 to P3 kids, this kind of watch can be a very decent middle ground.