Black Friday 2026: kids smart watch deals
to buy now, wait for or skip
Our best buy is the TickTalk 5. Black Friday is 39 days away and Amazon has not announced its dates. We checked six kids smartwatches from Garmin, Fitbit, TickTalk and Gabb on October 19 to see which are worth buying now, which to wait on and which to skip.
How we picked: we shortlist by Amazon Best Seller rank and number of ratings, then compare published specs. We don't test these products hands-on.
By Jamilur Rahman, Founder & Editor · Updated October 19, 2026
- Owner reviews checked
- Features side by side
- Quick & easy compare
- Smarter purchase
The short answer
When do Black Friday 2026 deals start? Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026, the day after Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 26), and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30. Amazon has not announced its 2026 Black Friday sale dates yet (we checked on October 19). In past years its Black Friday deals started about a week before Black Friday and ran through Cyber Monday.
This page is a buying plan for kids smartwatches that make calls and share location, sold on Amazon, checked on October 19. Buy now: the TickTalk 5, which the listing shows about 19% under its list price, and the original Garmin Bounce, which Amazon.com sells at roughly half the price of the newer Bounce 2. Wait: the Garmin Bounce 2, the Fitbit Ace LTE and the TickTalk 6. They are current models, and none showed a markdown in the price box when we looked. Skip: the Gabb Watch 3e, which is the most expensive pick here before you add its activation fee and monthly plan.
Don’t wait if your child’s birthday or a new school year is close, because a watch you can set up now beats a small saving. Check the running cost too. Every watch here needs a plan or subscription for calls, texts and location, and that bill lasts longer than any Black Friday discount. We only mention a plan price when the listing states it. Prices move daily, so tap “View on Amazon” for today’s number. Apple Watch is not covered here: see our Black Friday Apple Watch guide for that.
Compare them side by side
Everything that matters, in one table. Swipe to see all 6.
| Product | Best Buy Now TickTalk 5 Kids 4G smartwatch with GPS, calls and texts |  Best Garmin Buy Now Garmin Bounce (original) Kids LTE smartwatch with two-way messaging |  Best Garmin to Wait For Garmin Bounce 2 Kids LTE smartwatch with calling and texting (43mm) |  Best Game-Style Watch to Wait For Fitbit Ace LTE Kids LTE smartwatch with games and activity tracking |  Best Newest Model to Wait For TickTalk 6 Kids 4G smartwatch with video calling |  Skip at This Price Gabb Watch 3e Kids GPS watch with calls and texts, no internet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BeastScore | 90 / 100 | 88 / 100 | 86 / 100 | 84 / 100 | 85 / 100 | 80 / 100 |
| Our call | Buy | Buy | Wait | Wait | Wait | Skip |
| Best for | Ages 3 to 12 on a budget | A Garmin kids watch at the lowest price | Calls, texts and music in one Garmin | Kids who like games that make them move | Video calls and a brighter screen | Only if you already use Gabb’s plans |
| Typical price (checked October 19, 2026) | $120–$140 | $140–$160 | $280–$300 | $170–$190 | $160–$180 | $220–$240 |
| Model | TickTalk 5 (previous generation) | Garmin Bounce (original) | Garmin Bounce 2 (current) | Fitbit Ace LTE | TickTalk 6 (newest) | Gabb Watch 3e |
| Plan needed | See listing (a cellular plan is needed) | Active subscription and LTE required (per listing) | Active subscription and LTE required (per listing) | Ace Pass data plan required (per listing) | Plan or separate subscription required (per listing) | $30 activation fee plus a monthly Gabb plan (per listing) |
| Why it’s here | Shown about 19% under its list price | Listing says a newer model exists | Current model with no markdown shown | No markdown shown on the listing | New model priced above the TickTalk 5 | Highest upfront price here, plus fees |
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BeastScore here is our overall rating out of 100, based on published specs and Amazon owner reviews. Prices change daily, so tap "View on Amazon" for today's price. We may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Learn more
Why each one made the list
What each pick does best, where it falls short, and the typical Amazon price when we checked.
- 1. Best Buy Now
TickTalk 5
BeastScore 90 / 100Typically $120–$140 on Amazon (checked October 19, 2026)The TickTalk 5 is the kids watch with the clearest deal on its page. The listing shows a list price and a current price about 19% lower, and it is sold by the brand, MyTickTalk. It is made for ages 3 to 12, and the listing says it is IP67 water-resistant, shockproof and dustproof, with a ScreenSafe design to protect the screen. It does calls, texts, GPS tracking and SOS. The catch is that the TickTalk 6 is out now, at a higher price. If you do not need the newer camera and screen, the older watch at a lower price is the safer buy-now pick. Check the plan details before you order.
Pros- Listed about 19% under its list price
- Sold by the brand, MyTickTalk
- Built for ages 3 to 12 with an IP67 rating
Cons- TickTalk’s newer model, the 6, is also on Amazon
- The listing says little about the monthly plan, so check it first
- A list price is the seller’s own, so compare with other watches
- 2. Best Garmin Buy Now
Garmin Bounce (original)
BeastScore 88 / 100Typically $140–$160 on Amazon (checked October 19, 2026)Garmin’s first Bounce is the cheap way into the Garmin Jr. app. The listing says it sends two-way text and voice messages, shows your child’s live location and alerts you when they enter or leave a boundary you set. It is swim-friendly, with up to two days of battery. Amazon.com sells it, and the listing notes that a newer model exists: the Bounce 2. That is why we say buy now. The older watch already costs about half as much as the new one, so a Black Friday cut may be small. An active subscription and LTE connection are required for the connected features, so factor in that bill.
Pros- Roughly half the price of the Bounce 2
- Garmin Jr. app with messaging, location and boundaries
- Sold by Amazon.com
Cons- An older model, and the listing says a newer one exists
- Needs an active subscription for messages and location
- Battery life drops with heavy connected use, says the listing
- 3. Best Garmin to Wait For
Garmin Bounce 2
BeastScore 86 / 100Typically $280–$300 on Amazon (checked October 19, 2026)The Bounce 2 adds two-way calling to what the first Bounce does, and the listing says its LTE connection is managed by Garmin, so you do not have to switch phone providers. It has a swim-friendly AMOLED display and up to two days of battery, with connected use cutting that. We checked the Amazon.com listing and it showed no markdown. A current model with no discount on October 19 is a candidate for a Black Friday cut, but only Garmin knows. If it stays near full price, the original Bounce is the better value. Wait and see.
Pros- Adds calling to texting and location
- LTE subscription managed by Garmin
- Sold by Amazon.com
Cons- No markdown shown on the listing
- Costs about twice the original Bounce
- Needs an active subscription for connected features
- 4. Best Game-Style Watch to Wait For
Fitbit Ace LTE
BeastScore 84 / 100Typically $170–$190 on Amazon (checked October 19, 2026)Fitbit built this watch around movement games. The listing says kids earn play through activity, and the Fitbit Arcade games are included with the plan. Parents can add up to 20 contacts for calls and messages, and School Time limits gameplay in class hours. The title says the Ace Pass data plan is required. The listing shows no markdown in the price box, and Amazon.com is the seller. A Black Friday cut is plausible but not promised. We would wait before paying the full price.
Pros- Movement games that reward activity
- School Time limits for class hours
- Sold by Amazon.com
Cons- Ace Pass data plan required, per the listing
- No markdown shown today
- Listing says contacts must be ages 13 and up
- 5. Best Newest Model to Wait For
TickTalk 6
BeastScore 85 / 100Typically $160–$180 on Amazon (checked October 19, 2026)The TickTalk 6 is the newest in the line. The listing says it has a 5MP camera for FaceTalk video calls, a 1.6-inch AMOLED touchscreen and real SMS to family phones without an app. It also names a bigger antenna system for stronger LTE, and parents can add up to 100 approved contacts. It costs more than the TickTalk 5, and the listing shows no markdown. A new model like this may get its first real price cut during a big sale. Wait, then compare it with the older TickTalk 5.
Pros- Video calling with a 5MP camera
- Brighter AMOLED screen than older models
- Up to 100 approved contacts, per the listing
Cons- Costs more than the TickTalk 5
- No markdown shown on the listing
- Listing says a plan or separate subscription is required
- 6. Skip at This Price
Gabb Watch 3e
BeastScore 80 / 100Typically $220–$240 on Amazon (checked October 19, 2026)Gabb’s watch is built for parents who want no internet, no browser and no app store. The listing says it runs Gabb OS, has Safe Zones and an SOS button, and is IP68 water resistant with Gorilla Glass 3. Those are real strengths. The cost is the problem. It is the most expensive watch in this guide, and the listing states a $30 activation fee plus a monthly Gabb phone plan. Next to the TickTalk 5 or the original Bounce, that is a lot to pay up front. Unless you are already on Gabb, skip it, or revisit it if Black Friday cuts it deeply.
Pros- No browser, social media or app store
- IP68 water resistance and Gorilla Glass 3
- Safe Zones and an SOS button
Cons- Highest upfront price of the six
- $30 activation fee plus a monthly plan, per the listing
- The listing shows no markdown
All 6 compared, in one look
See every pick on one chart, or tap one to put it head to head with TickTalk 5. Ratings out of 10 are our estimates from published specs and Amazon owner reviews, not hands-on tests. Bigger shape = better.
- Deal valueTickTalk 5 · 9.4/10
- Fit for kidsTie
- Parent controlsGarmin Bounce 2 · 9.2/10
- Running costTie
- Buy-now confidenceTickTalk 5 · 9.0/10
Which one should you buy?
Find your situation below. That's your pick.
BuyThe only watch here with a clear markdown on the page, and last year’s model has little room to fall. Check the plan before you order.
- You want a kids watch with a real markdown today
- Your child is between 3 and 12
- You do not need video calling
BuyAn older model at about half the Bounce 2 price, with little room left to fall. Buy now if you want Garmin.
- You want the Garmin Jr. app at the lowest price
- Texts and location are enough
- You are fine with an older model
WaitA current model at full price. Wait for a real cut, and if it does not come, buy the original Bounce.
- Your child needs to make calls, not just send texts
- You want Garmin to manage the LTE plan
- The sale price lands near the original Bounce
WaitNo markdown on the listing today, and a plan is required. Wait for a real cut before you pay full price.
- Your child loves games
- You want movement to earn playtime
- The sale price drops below $150
WaitA new model with no markdown that costs more than the TickTalk 5. Wait for its first cut, or buy the 5.
- Your child wants video calls
- You want a brighter screen
- It falls to or near the TickTalk 5 price
SkipThe highest price here, with an activation fee and a monthly plan on top. Skip unless you already use Gabb.
- Your family already uses Gabb plans
- You want no internet access at all
- Black Friday cuts it sharply
TickTalk 5
A kids watch with calls, texts and GPS that the listing shows about 19% under its list price, sold by the brand. If you buy one kids watch before Black Friday, make it this one.
- About 19% under list price
- Built for ages 3 to 12
- Sold by the brand
Quick tips before you buy
Some watches need the parent’s phone to run an app. Fitbit’s listing names the Android and iOS versions it works with. Confirm yours before the sale so you can decide fast.
Calls, texts and location run over a cellular plan or subscription. Multiply the monthly cost by 12 and add it to the price. A cheap watch with a pricey plan is not a deal.
Look for a listing sold by Amazon.com or the maker’s own store. Third-party bundles with earbuds or extra bands often cost more than the plain watch, as one Bounce 2 bundle does.
A watch can be activated and returned only inside a limit. Open the listing’s return details so you know the window before the gift is wrapped.
Quick answers
When does Black Friday 2026 start on Amazon?+
Black Friday is Friday, November 27, 2026, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30. Amazon has not announced its 2026 sale dates yet, as of October 19. In past years its deals started about a week before Black Friday. If it repeats that, early deals could start around November 20. That is a guess, not an announcement.
Are kids smartwatches cheaper on Black Friday?+
Often, but nobody can promise it before the sale. A watch with a clear markdown already, like the TickTalk 5, has less room to fall. A current model with no markdown, like the Garmin Bounce 2, has more. That is why we split the six into buy and wait.
Where can I find the best deals on smartwatches for kids on Black Friday?+
Start with Amazon.com-sold listings and the brand’s own Amazon store, since those are the sellers we could check. Garmin, Fitbit and TickTalk all sell here. Compare each watch with others of the same type, not just with its own crossed-out list price.
Is it better to buy a kids smartwatch now or wait for Black Friday?+
Buy now if the watch is already marked down or an older model with a newer one out, or if you need it soon. Wait if it is a current model at full price. If you buy now and the price drops later, do not count on a refund. Read the return details first.
Do kids smartwatches need a monthly plan?+
The calling and texting ones do. Garmin’s listings say an active subscription and LTE are required. Fitbit’s says the Ace Pass data plan is required. Gabb’s states a $30 activation fee plus a monthly plan. Check the plan before you buy, because it can cost more over a year than the watch.
What is the best kids smartwatch for Black Friday 2026?+
On October 19, our buy-now pick is the TickTalk 5 because its listing shows a clear markdown and it is sold by the brand. The original Garmin Bounce is the Garmin to buy now. If you want calling and video, wait on the Bounce 2 or TickTalk 6.
What age is a kids smartwatch right for?+
It depends on the watch. TickTalk’s listings say ages 3 to 12, and Gabb’s says ages 5 and up. Younger kids need simple calls and SOS. Older kids may want games or texts. Read the age on each listing and see our best kids smartwatches guide for more.
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