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I just went hands-on with the Bark smartwatch for kids and its seriously easy to set up and use.

Best of all, unlike competitor devices from Fitbit and Pinwheel, theres no added software bloat.

Close-up of the Bark Smartwatch for kids

Games and apps are non-existent, instead, its all about safety and communication.

Here’s everything you gotta know.

After two years, when the watch is paid off, it drops back to $15 a month.

Close up of the Bark Smartwatch for kids in a user’s hand showing the basic menus

ThePinwheel Watch, meanwhile, is $159 for the unit and $15 a month for connectivity.

But that also means that the AMOLED touchscreen is decently sized at 1.6 inches and fairly responsive.

That should be enough protection for sledding, running through sprinklers, jumping in puddles and other childhood hijinks.

Close-up of the Bark Smartwatch for kids shown in it’s circular packaging

However, the screen lacks any sort of bezel protection.

So, I do worry about its impact-resistance.

There are two physical buttons on the side of the case, a power button and and SOS button.

Close up of the Bark Smartwatch for kids in a user’s hand showing the basic menus

Theres also a Bark app that displays your childs name and phone number.

Pressing the power button returns you to the homescreen.

Outside of those options, theres little more to the Bark Watch.

Close-up of the back of the Bark Smartwatch for kids

That said, Ive stumbled across numerous forum posts complaining that the battery barely makes it through a day.

It’s priced similarly to the competition and just as functional where it counts.

Screen aside, my biggest hesitation about the Bark Watch is the size.

Close-up of the side of the Bark Smartwatch for kids with two physical buttons

The case is 42mm x 50mm and 15mm thick with a weight of 50 g. Thats pretty darn chunky!

Meanwhile, the Fitbit Ace LTE is 41 x 34 x 13mm and 28g.

If not, it could be a dealbreaker.

Close-up of the Bark Smartwatch for kids

If that appeals to you, too, then it might be the kid-friendly smartwatch for you.

Close-up of the Bark Smartwatch for kids

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