The Gabb Watch 3 is a solid kids smartwatch for ages 6-12 that prioritizes safety over features. GPS tracking, geofencing, and calling are the core tools. No internet, no social media, no games. Plans start at $12.99/month with a $30 activation fee. The main drawback is battery life at 14-18 hours and the locked Verizon-only network.
The Gabb Watch 3 sits in an odd spot. It’s a smartwatch that deliberately does less than the competition.
No browser, no app store, no camera.
For most adults, that sounds like a downgrade. For parents of an 8-year-old? That’s the entire selling point.
Here’s what actually matters for a kids smartwatch that deliberately does less.
- GPS location updates every 15 minutes by default, with on-demand refresh for real-time tracking through the MyGabb app.
- IP68 water and dust resistance with Gorilla Glass 3, built to handle rough kid use.
- Battery lasts 14-18 hours under normal use, meaning nightly charging is non-negotiable.
- Up to 100 parent-approved contacts with full-text keyboard, speech-to-text, and voice messaging.
- Runs exclusively on Verizon's network with no Wi-Fi fallback, so coverage gaps mean no connectivity at all.
What Is the Gabb Watch 3?
The Gabb Watch 3 is a standalone 4G LTE smartwatch designed for kids ages 6-12. It has its own phone number, its own SIM card, and doesn’t need to pair with a parent’s smartphone to work.
The watch runs on Gabb’s proprietary software, which strips away everything parents worry about. No web browser.
No social media. No downloadable apps. No games beyond a virtual pet that encourages physical activity. What’s left is calling, texting, GPS tracking, and a step counter.
Current pricing: the Gabb Watch 3 costs $149.99 upfront, plus a $30 one-time activation fee. Monthly plans run $12.99/month (2-year contract), $14.99/month (1-year), or $17.99/month (month-to-month). That’s more expensive than the old $9.99/month pricing the original Gabb Watch launched with.
GPS Tracking and Safety Features
This is where the Gabb Watch earns its price tag. The MyGabb parent app gives you a map view of your child’s location at any time. The watch pings its location every 15 minutes automatically. You can also tap “refresh” for an on-demand update whenever you want.
How Accurate Is the GPS?
Outdoors, the watch places a child closely enough to answer the question most parents ask: is my kid still at school? Indoors, accuracy loosens, which is typical for any GPS watch at this price point.
One thing to note: GPS accuracy depends entirely on cellular signal strength. With strong Verizon coverage, tracking stays consistent; in rural areas with weak coverage, expect more frequent “location unavailable” messages.
Safe Zones (Geofencing)
You set custom geofences from 100 m to 750 m; crossing one pushes a notification.
Set a geofence around a school and a pickup alert arrives after the child leaves the zone.
Not instant, by design.
The delay follows the periodic ping model.
If you need faster alerts, hit the refresh button in the app as pickup time approaches.
Emergency SOS
Press and hold the side button, and the watch calls the designated SOS contact.
Triggered on purpose or by accident, the SOS call goes to the designated emergency contact. It’s a simple feature, but for a worried parent, knowing the watch has a one-button emergency path is exactly the point.
Lock Mode for School
Lock Mode disables all functions except the SOS call and clock display. You schedule it through the app. During school hours, the watch becomes essentially a regular timepiece that can still reach a parent in an emergency, which teachers tend to appreciate.
Calling, Texting, and Communication
The Gabb Watch 3 supports up to 100 parent-approved contacts.
That’s a big jump from the original Watch’s 10-contact limit. Kids can call any approved contact directly from the watch.
Common Sense Media’s review recommends the Gabb Watch for families wanting a phone-free alternative with parental controls. Call quality still depends on Verizon coverage and the noise around the child.
For texting, kids get three options:
- 20 preset messages you customize in the app (“On my way home,” “Practice is done,” etc.)
- Full-text keyboard for typing custom messages
- Speech-to-text for voice-dictated messages
- Voice messages and emojis
The full-text keyboard is cramped on a 1.41-inch screen.
Small fingers struggle with accuracy on it, so most kids lean on speech-to-text or preset messages instead. That’s probably fine for most kids.
Design, Comfort, and Durability
The Gabb Watch 3 weighs about 2 ounces with the silicone band. It’s light enough that a kid forgets they’re wearing it, which is the best compliment a kids watch can get.
Its 1.41-inch full-color touchscreen uses Gorilla Glass 3, a tougher glass choice than generic plastic covers.
The Gorilla Glass 3 screen is there for playground slides, soccer, and roughhousing, while the polycarbonate body is the usual lightweight kids-watch trade-off.
IP68 water and dust resistance covers hand washing, rain, and sweaty play. Skip the pool despite the IP68 rating. SafeWise’s review found that the IP68 rating held up for accidental drops in water but recommends against sustained swimming. IP68 covers accidental submersion, not sustained swimming.
The wireless charging on the 3e update is a welcome improvement over the Watch 3’s pogo pin charger.
Just drop the watch on the charging pad. No fumbling with alignment.
Is Battery Life the Gabb Watch's Biggest Weakness?
According to Gabb’s product specifications, the watch delivers 14-18 hours of battery life per charge.
On a school day with light use - a few calls, some texts, background GPS pings - that rating is meant to cover the day, but heavier calling days can drain it sooner. That’s cutting it close if your kid has after-school activities.
Nightly charging is mandatory. There’s no getting around it.
For comparison, the GizmoWatch claims 48 hours. The TickTalk 4 claims similar battery life to the Gabb Watch. None of these kids smartwatches should be treated as a weekend-trip device without a charger.
What Do Parents Need to Know Before Buying
Verizon-only network. The Gabb Watch runs exclusively on Verizon's cellular network. No Wi-Fi calling, no alternative carriers. If Verizon coverage is weak in your area, the watch won't perform well. Check Verizon's coverage map before buying.
A few more things worth knowing:
Monthly cost adds up. At $12.99/month on the cheapest plan, you’re spending $311.76 over two years plus the $149.99 device and $30 activation. Total two-year cost: $491.75. That’s not pocket change for a device your kid might outgrow.
No Wi-Fi. The watch relies entirely on cellular data. In buildings with thick walls or basements where cell signal drops, the watch loses all connectivity including GPS. A Wi-Fi fallback would solve this, but Gabb hasn’t added it.
MyGabb app required. All management happens through the parent app, available on both iOS and Android. Setup includes activation and contact setup.
Gabb Watch 3 vs the Competition
| Feature | Gabb Watch 3 | GizmoWatch 3 | TickTalk 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $149.99 | $149.99 | $169.99 |
| Monthly Plan | From $12.99/mo | $10/mo add-on | From $9.99/mo |
| Network | Verizon only | Verizon only | T-Mobile / AT&T |
| GPS Tracking | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Camera | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Video Calling | ✗ No | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Water Resistance | ✓ IP68 | ✓ IP67 | ✓ IPX7 |
| Battery | ⚠ 14-18 hrs | ✓ Up to 48 hrs | ⚠ ~24 hrs |
| Internet Access | ✓ None | ✗ Limited | ✗ Limited |
The Gabb Watch’s biggest differentiator is what it doesn’t have.
No camera, no video calling, no internet access of any kind. If your primary concern is keeping a connected device as locked down as possible, Gabb wins that category. If your kid wants video calls with grandparents or a camera for school projects, look at the GizmoWatch or TickTalk instead. Our GizmoWatch vs Apple Watch comparison covers the screen time and feature trade-offs.
For a closer look at specific matchups, see our TickTalk vs Gabb Watch comparison.
- Zero internet access eliminates cyberbullying, predator, and content risks
- GPS tracking with customizable geofencing
- IP68 water resistance and Gorilla Glass 3 handle rough kid use
- 100 parent-approved contacts with full-text keyboard and speech-to-text
- Wireless charging (3e update) eliminates finicky pogo pins
- 14-18 hour battery requires nightly charging without exception
- Verizon-only network with no Wi-Fi fallback
- No camera or video calling
- $491.75 total cost over 2 years (device + activation + plan)
- GPS pings every 15 minutes, not truly real-time
Bottom Line
The Gabb Watch 3 does exactly what it promises: give kids a way to call, text, and be located, without giving them the internet. If that’s your priority, buy it. The feature set is intentionally narrow, and the parental controls leave zero loopholes.
Skip it if battery life is a dealbreaker, if you need carrier flexibility beyond Verizon, or if your kid is old enough to want a camera and video calls. If you want activity motivation instead of a stripped-down watch, our Gabb Watch 3 vs Fitbit Ace LTE comparison covers the gamified alternative.
In those cases, the GizmoWatch or TickTalk 4 offer more features at similar price points.
For a full comparison of all options, see our best GPS trackers for kids guide, and our best GPS smartwatches for kids ranking focuses specifically on the watch category.
Parents deciding between a watch and a family location app like Life360 will find our comparison helpful.
FAQ
How much does the Gabb Watch 3 cost per month?
Plans start at $12.99/month on a 2-year contract, $14.99/month for 1 year, or $17.99/month with no contract. The watch itself costs $149.99 plus a one-time $30 activation fee. Total 2-year cost runs about $491.75.
Does the Gabb Watch work without a phone plan?
No. The Gabb Watch requires an active Gabb Wireless service plan to use any features, including GPS tracking, calling, and texting. Without a plan, the watch only displays the time.
Can kids access the internet on a Gabb Watch?
No. The Gabb Watch has no web browser, no app store, and no way to access the internet. This is by design. There's no workaround or hidden setting to enable internet access.
Does the Gabb Watch have a camera?
No. Unlike the GizmoWatch 3 and TickTalk 4, the Gabb Watch 3 doesn't include a camera. This means no photos, no video calling. Gabb made this choice intentionally to reduce potential risks for younger children.
What carrier does the Gabb Watch use?
The Gabb Watch runs exclusively on Verizon's 4G LTE network. You can't use it with AT&T, T-Mobile, or any other carrier. There's no Wi-Fi calling option either, so Verizon coverage in your area determines whether the watch works well.
Can you call 911 from a Gabb Watch?
Not directly. The watch can only call numbers in the parent-approved contact list. However, the SOS button lets a child instantly call their designated emergency contact (usually a parent) with a long press of the side button.
How long does the Gabb Watch 3 battery last?
Gabb rates it at 14-18 hours. That rating is built for a school day, but heavier calling can drain it sooner. Plan on charging every night.
