BIGGERFIVE Kids Smart Watch Without a Phone Review

Finding the best fitness tracker for kids without a phone can be surprisingly difficult. Many children’s smartwatches are built around calling, messaging, GPS tracking, SIM cards, subscriptions, or constant smartphone connectivity. For parents who simply want a child to track activity, build healthier habits, and enjoy a few age-appropriate features without handing over a phone, that can be more technology than necessary.

The BIGGERFIVE Kids Smart Watch takes a different approach. The BIGGERFIVE Brave 2 is primarily a kids’ fitness and activity watch, offering step counting, activity tracking, sports modes, heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and built-in puzzle games. Most importantly for families trying to avoid another phone contract, BIGGERFIVE says the watch can be used independently without the app or a phone, while the optional companion app adds additional functionality and parental controls.

That makes it an interesting option for children roughly in the elementary-school age range—but it is important to understand what this watch doesn’t do. It isn’t a cellular safety watch designed for calling or live location tracking.

So, is the BIGGERFIVE kids smart watch worth considering for children ages 5–12? Here’s what parents should know before buying.

Quick Verdict

The BIGGERFIVE Kids Smart Watch is a good choice for parents who want a simple activity-focused wearable without turning it into a child’s first phone.

Its biggest strengths are its phone-free core operation, activity tracking, sports modes, sleep monitoring, customizable watch faces, and the ability to restrict its built-in games through the companion app. The Brave 2 supports up to 80 sports modes and has a 1.8-inch HD touchscreen.

The main limitation is equally important: it isn’t a communication or location-tracking smartwatch. Parents looking for GPS, voice calls, texting, or emergency communication should look at a different category of kids’ wearable.

BIGGERFIVE Kids Smart Watch at a Glance

What Is the BIGGERFIVE Kids Smart Watch?

The BIGGERFIVE Brave 2 is essentially a fitness tracker designed in the form of a children’s smartwatch.

Instead of trying to replace a smartphone, it concentrates on movement, exercise, sleep, and simple entertainment. BIGGERFIVE lists step counting, distance, calories burned, active minutes, heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and numerous sports modes among its functions.

That distinction matters.

A parent buying a cellular smartwatch usually wants communication and safety features. A parent buying the BIGGERFIVE kids smart watch may instead be saying:

“My child isn’t ready for a phone, but I’d like them to have a watch that encourages activity.”

For that particular use case, the product makes considerably more sense.

Is BIGGERFIVE the Best Fitness Tracker for Kids Without a Phone?

It can be a strong option, especially if your definition of “without a phone” means the child should be able to wear and use the device without having their own smartphone.

BIGGERFIVE specifically states that the Brave 2 can be used separately without the app and phone. The optional app is compatible with Android 6.0+ and iOS 9.0+ smartphones and provides additional functionality.

That creates a useful two-level setup.

Level 1: Child Uses the Watch

The child can use the watch for core activities such as:

• Counting steps
• Tracking activity
• Recording sports
• Monitoring heart rate
• Tracking sleep
• Using the touchscreen
• Playing built-in puzzle games
• Viewing the time and watch information

This is the closest fit for families searching specifically for a kids fitness tracker without a phone.

Level 2: Parent Uses the App

Parents who have a compatible smartphone can connect the watch to the BIGGERFIVE app to access additional functionality.

The app is designed to record activity, workouts, sleep, and other wearable data. BIGGERFIVE kids smart watch also provides controls around the watch’s puzzle games.

The important point is that the child’s watch does not have to become dependent on a smartphone for its basic fitness functions.

BIGGERFIVE for Ages 5–12: Is It Age Appropriate?

The answer depends heavily on the child’s age and what you expect the watch to accomplish.

For a younger child, simplicity can be an advantage. There is no need to introduce cellular service, messaging apps, social media, or a full smartphone ecosystem simply to count steps.

For an older child, expectations may be different.

A 5- or 6-year-old might be perfectly happy with a colorful watch, activity goals, sports tracking, and a few games. A 10- to 12-year-old may begin expecting communication, navigation, music, or more sophisticated smartwatch features.

That means the BIGGERFIVE is best viewed as a fitness-focused first wearable, rather than a replacement for a phone.

Best Fit by Age

Ages 5–7:
Potentially a very good fit if the child wants a watch and parents mainly want activity tracking and simple functions.

Ages 8–10:
A particularly useful middle ground for children who want more independence but aren’t ready for a smartphone.

Ages 11–12:
Still useful as a fitness tracker, but older children may find its feature set limiting if they want communication or advanced smartwatch functionality.

Parental Safety: What Does BIGGERFIVE Actually Offer?

This is where parents need to read the product description carefully.

The BIGGERFIVE Brave 2 can support parental control over its built-in puzzle games when the watch is connected to the BIGGERFIVE app. Parents can restrict games during school or lock them entirely.

That’s a meaningful form of digital moderation, but it isn’t the same thing as emergency safety technology.

What It Can Help Parents Control

The app can be useful for:

• Managing game access
• Reviewing activity information
• Managing wearable data
• Customizing certain watch functions
• Encouraging exercise habits

What It Doesn’t Replace

Parents should not buy this watch expecting:

• Live GPS location tracking
• Cellular emergency calling
• Two-way voice communication
• Text messaging
• A dedicated SOS communication system

That distinction is crucial.

A fitness watch can support healthy routines and reduce the need for a smartphone. It cannot provide the same safety infrastructure as a cellular kids’ smartwatch.

Screen-Time Moderation Is One of Its Strongest Advantages

The irony of many children’s smartwatches is that parents buy them to avoid phones, only to introduce another screen.

BIGGERFIVE kids smart watch doesn’t eliminate screen exposure, but its feature set is relatively focused. The Brave 2 includes five built-in puzzle games, and BIGGERFIVE says parents can restrict game access through the app, including locking games completely.

That makes the watch easier to fit into a household’s existing screen-time rules.

For example, a parent could treat the watch primarily as:

A fitness tool → not a miniature tablet.

That mindset is more important than the device itself.

A child can wear it during the day, check activity, use it for sports, and still have clear boundaries around entertainment.

Activity Tracking and Sports Features

Fitness tracking is where the BIGGERFIVE makes the strongest case for itself.

The Brave 2 automatically tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and active minutes. BIGGERFIVE kids smart watch also lists support for up to 80 sports modes, including activities such as walking, running, cycling, swimming, and basketball.

For parents, this can turn exercise into something visible and engaging.

Instead of simply telling a child to “be more active,” the watch can give them a way to see their daily movement.

That doesn’t mean every measurement should be treated as medically precise. Consumer wearables are better viewed as tools for general fitness awareness rather than diagnostic medical devices.

The BIGGERFIVE app itself states that its health and fitness information is intended for general fitness and wellness purposes and is not intended for medical use.

Heart Rate and Sleep Tracking

The Brave 2 also includes heart-rate and sleep-monitoring features.

For parents, these features may be useful for encouraging children to notice healthy routines, such as getting enough rest and staying active.

However, these measurements shouldn’t become a source of anxiety or constant monitoring.

For younger children especially, the best use of wearable data is usually simple:

• Encourage movement.
• Establish healthy routines.
• Make exercise more engaging.
• Use trends as conversation starters.
• Avoid treating consumer-watch readings as medical diagnoses.

The goal should be healthier habits, not turning childhood into a data dashboard.

How Easy Is the BIGGERFIVE to Set Up?

One of the most attractive aspects of the BIGGERFIVE concept is its flexible setup.

If your goal is simply to give a child a basic fitness watch, the Brave 2 can operate without the app and smartphone connection.

If you want additional functionality, you can use the BIGGERFIVE companion app.

The app is available for Android and iOS, although app-based functionality naturally requires access to a compatible smartphone.

This creates an important distinction:

No child smartphone required does not mean no smartphone can ever be involved.

A parent can use their own phone for setup and management without giving the child a phone of their own.

That’s arguably the sweet spot for families trying to delay smartphone ownership.

BIGGERFIVE Kids Smart Watch vs. a Cellular Kids Smartwatch

Before buying, decide which problem you’re actually trying to solve.

This is why calling BIGGERFIVE simply “the best kids smartwatch” is misleading.

It’s better described as a kids fitness smartwatch for families that don’t need cellular communication.

BIGGERFIVE Brave 2 vs. BIGGERFIVE Vigor 3

BIGGERFIVE also sells other children-focused models, so parents should pay attention to the exact version.

For example, the BIGGERFIVE Vigor 3 is specifically marketed as a kids fitness tracker that requires neither a phone nor an app for its basic operation. BIGGERFIVE lists an AMOLED screen, up to 10 days of battery life, step counting, heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and sports modes.

That makes the Vigor 3 particularly interesting for parents who want the simplest possible setup.

The Brave 2, meanwhile, makes more sense if you value the larger 1.8-inch HD display, extensive sports-mode support, customizable watch faces, and optional app-based controls.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Brave 2 if you want more customization and app-supported parental controls.

Choose Vigor 3 if your priority is a more independent, phone-free fitness tracker with a longer stated battery life.

What About the BIGGERFIVE App?

The companion app is useful, but parents should understand that it changes the experience from completely standalone to connected.

BIGGERFIVE’s app can record activity, exercise, sleep, and other wearable information. The Google Play listing currently identifies the app as compatible with multiple BIGGERFIVE smartwatch models, including Brave 2 and Brave 3.

The current iOS listing also shows the BIGGERFIVE app as a health-and-fitness application developed by BIGGERFIVE TECHNOLOGY CO., LIMITED.

Recent App Store reviews are mixed, with some users reporting helpful setup experiences while others have reported login or functionality problems.

That doesn’t necessarily make the watch a poor choice, but it is a reason to avoid assuming that the app experience will be perfect for every family.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Can be used without a child’s smartphone
• No cellular phone contract is required for its basic fitness use
• Tracks steps and activity
• Supports numerous sports modes
• Includes sleep and heart-rate monitoring
• Includes five puzzle games
• Parents can restrict games through the app
• 1.8-inch HD touchscreen
• Customizable watch faces through the app
• Suitable for families trying to delay smartphone ownership

Cons

• Not a cellular communication device
• No calling or texting
• Not a dedicated GPS safety tracker
• App features require a compatible smartphone
• Some app functionality may be unnecessary if you only want basic tracking
• Older children may outgrow the feature set
• Fitness and health measurements shouldn’t be treated as medical data

Who Should Buy the BIGGERFIVE Kids Smart Watch?

The BIGGERFIVE kids smart watch makes the most sense for parents who want a low-commitment first wearable.

It’s particularly appealing if your child:

• Wants a smartwatch
• Isn’t ready for a smartphone
• Enjoys sports or outdoor activities
• Needs motivation to stay active
• Likes simple games
• Doesn’t need calling or texting
• Can follow household screen-time rules

It’s less appropriate if your primary concern is knowing where your child is or being able to contact them independently.

In that situation, a cellular GPS kids smartwatch is a more appropriate product category.

How to Use BIGGERFIVE Without Turning It Into Another Screen

The best strategy is to establish rules before handing the watch over.

1. Define Its Main Purpose

Tell your child whether the watch is primarily for:

• Exercise
• Timekeeping
• Sports
• Activity goals
• Limited entertainment

This prevents it from becoming “another gaming device.”

2. Set Game Rules

If you’re using the BIGGERFIVE app, consider restricting the built-in games during school and other focused periods. BIGGERFIVE specifically provides game-control functionality through its app.

3. Avoid Constant Health Checking

A child doesn’t need to check their heart rate or activity every few minutes.

Use the watch to encourage healthy behavior rather than creating pressure around numbers.

4. Keep the Parent’s Phone Separate

If you’re using the app, the parent’s phone can remain the management device. The child doesn’t need to receive their own smartphone simply to get additional value from the watch.

5. Reassess as Your Child Gets Older

A watch that works beautifully for a 7-year-old may feel restrictive to a 12-year-old.

Review the child’s needs every year rather than assuming one device will remain appropriate throughout childhood.

Final Verdict: Is BIGGERFIVE Worth It?

For the right family, yes.

The BIGGERFIVE Kids Smart Watch is most compelling when viewed as an alternative to giving a young child a smartphone—not as an alternative to a dedicated communication or safety watch.

Its ability to work without the app or phone for core functions is a major advantage for families looking for the best fitness tracker for kids without a phone.

It provides enough activity tracking, sports functionality, sleep monitoring, and simple entertainment to feel like a real wearable without requiring a cellular plan. The optional app also gives parents additional control over features such as games.

The biggest caveat is its definition of “safety.” BIGGERFIVE can help parents establish healthier digital boundaries, but it isn’t a GPS communication device that lets you call or locate your child remotely.

Bottom line: If your child is between roughly 5 and 12, isn’t ready for a smartphone, and you primarily want activity tracking and a simple smartwatch experience, BIGGERFIVE is worth considering. If your priority is communication, GPS location, or emergency contact, choose a purpose-built cellular kids’ smartwatch instead.

Key Takeaways

• BIGGERFIVE is better viewed as a kids’ fitness smartwatch than a phone replacement.
• The Brave 2 can perform core functions without a phone or app.
• The optional BIGGERFIVE app adds management and customization features.
• Parents can restrict the watch’s built-in puzzle games through the app.
• The watch tracks steps, activity, sports, sleep, and heart rate.
• It doesn’t provide the cellular calling and GPS safety features of dedicated kids’ safety watches.
• It’s particularly suitable for families delaying smartphone ownership.
• Younger children are likely to get more value from its simple feature set than older children seeking communication tools.
• Health measurements should be treated as general wellness information rather than medical data.
• The Vigor 3 is another BIGGERFIVE option worth considering for parents prioritizing standalone, phone-free use.

Frequently Asked Questions