The Garmin brand has certainly become known for its high-quality smartwatches with impressive outdoor activity tracking functionality. Now, this iconic brand brings its benefits to the youth market with the Garmin Vivofit Jr. Aimed squarely at the youth audience, this innovative smartwatch is as visually appealing as it is functional, and is the perfect first activity tracker for your son or daughter.
The Background
Garmin has already introduced a number of smartwatches and activity trackers aimed at the serious adult market, however finally, the brand has recognized the need for young people to also benefit from the advantages that this kind of device can bring. Enter the Vivofit Jr.
This stylish smartwatch has been designed specifically to appeal to children with attractive and relevant theming paired with excellent functionality that makes this watch a perfect purchase for any young person who needs to get more active.
The Features
This smartwatch boasts features which have been specifically designed with the needs and interests of kids in mind. The In-App Adventures features allows children to have fun and get adventurous with niche games which are strategically developed so that kids need to personalise a specific activity in order to complete each level.
There is also sleep monitoring functionality – something which isn’t always found even on adult smartwatches. Capable of tracking light and deep sleep as well as awake time, this function even makes detailed in-app reports to parents who can then check the metrics do determine how well their child is sleeping.
This device also has an integrated sedentary reminder with a Move Bar that calculates periods of inactivity and suggests moving around to reset the counter. Meanwhile, the clock alarm, stopwatch and timer will prove to be indispensable, especially to children who are learning how to tell the time.
One of the best features of this device is its in-app rewards system which allows parents to make deals with their child, while the Chores function allows parents to set up regular chores for their child to accomplish which their device will then alert their son or daughter to carry out.
The Design
The Vivofit Jr has a small but colourful MIP display. Weighing just 17.5g, this lightweight device has an 88 x 88 pixel display and so is easy to see, even in direct sunlight.
Furthermore, as you’d expect for an activity tracker aimed at the youth market, this device is durable and robust enough to be worn in a wide range of situations. It even has a 5ATM waterproof rating, so it can be used for swimming in depths of up to 50 meters.
There are two band styles to choose from. One is stretchy and aimed at children aged between 4 and 7 years. The other strap is more traditional with a buckle and is aimed at children aged 6 or over. Both straps are made from silicone for extra comfort.
There are no less than six different themed bands to choose from, all of which are appealing to children including popular cartoon and movie themed designs.
The Fitness Tracking
The activity tracking functions are very simple to use with this device, and even though it’s aimed at children, its features are innovative and useful. It can do all of the basics, from counting steps to tracking active time, however the integrated step challenge function is one of the most useful features integrated into the device. Kids can even link two devices together, allowing them to compete against each other.
What Are The Main Advantages?
- Water resistant to 5ATM
- Appealing themed bands in two varieties to suit different age groups
- Gamification to appeal to children
- Fun challenge functions
- Chores function
- Sleep monitoring
- Lightweight construction, ideal for children
What Are The Main Disadvantages?
- Limited activity tracking functionality
- No heartrate monitor
Competition
There are a couple of other competitors aimed at the youth market when it comes to activity trackers. Two of the main child-centric brands in this market are Vtech and LeapFrog. Yet, while these companies specialize in developing kid-related technology, their devices are clunkier and less sophisticated than the Vivofit Jr. While these may be an option for parents on a budget since they are around half the price of this Garmin device, the benefit is that the Vivofit Jr offers more features and has a more mature look and feel.
How Do We Test Smartwatches?
We bring you all the information you require to choose the right smartwatch for you and take pride in testing each device to its limits so you can determine whether you’ve made the right decision. We look at every aspect of the tracker so you can have all the data you need to make a choice. Firstly, we look at the design and whether it’s visually appealing.
We also look at comfort and how easy it is to wear. Next, we check out the activity tracking functions as well as any downloadable apps. We check out how this affects battery life, memory and processing power as well as determining how well these features work overall. Finally, we collate all of these details and present them to you so that you can make your choice.
In Summary
In conclusion, if you’re looking for a feature full and well-designed activity tracker for your child, the Vivofit Jr could be the perfect choice for you. While it isn’t cheap, it does offer more style and a more mature feel than many of its rivals, and it’s also waterproof and robust – something which is essential when worn around a child’s wrist!
The gamification elements of this tracker make it more appealing to children, and while it isn’t the most exciting device on the market, it could be an excellent addition to your existing activity regime for your little ones. The stylish themed bands are certainly the most appealing element of this device, and most children will love to wear this device on a daily basis. Whether it will encourage them to get more active, however, remains to be seen.
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