If your child is clamoring for an Apple Watch Ultra, Pinwheel offers a compelling alternative. This kid-friendly smartwatch, unveiled at CES 2025, provides peace of mind for parents at a fraction of the cost, retailing at just $160. Pinwheel, known for its smartphones designed to teach responsible usage with parental guidance, has incorporated robust safety features into this new wearable.
Pinwheel designed this smartwatch to function as a standalone device. Children can make calls, send texts, and enjoy pre-installed games, including a puzzle game reminiscent of Tetris. A unique feature is PinwheelGPT, a kid-friendly AI chatbot. Children can ask any question, and the chatbot provides age-appropriate responses. Importantly, inappropriate queries are met with guidance to discuss such topics with a trusted adult.
Render of the Pinwheel smartwatch.Pinwheel
Parental controls are a cornerstone of Pinwheel’s devices. Parents can remotely monitor text messages and call logs, customize features for individual contacts, and track their child’s location via GPS. Notifications alert parents when their child arrives at or departs from designated safe zones. Furthermore, parents can approve every contact added to their child’s list until the age of 14, and even review conversations with PinwheelGPT, even after deletion.
The Pinwheel smartwatch includes a side-mounted camera for video calls with family and friends, though this feature won’t be available until later this year.
The watch is priced at $160 with an additional $15 monthly service plan. For parents seeking a safe and affordable alternative to the Apple Watch Ultra or other smartwatches, the Pinwheel watch offers a compelling option. Interested parents can join the waitlist on the Pinwheel website.
