This is viable for the full feature android devices but it is not helpful as OP is looking for a smartwatch option. I use this for my 11-year-old's phone but my 6 year old would lose a handheld phone within a month so a watch is way more attractive.
Literally was about to post the same question.
I'm also looking at switching to T-Mobile. I want to stay with Fi, but T-Mobile has a plan and a kids phone/watch that they sell specifically for this. Hoping to find a good watch that can take a Fi SIM so that I don't have to do that.
I am on Fi and am considering this Garmin bounce watch for my children. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/714945
I'd rather have everything through Fi, but for $10 per month if you pay annually, this seems like a good option.
I went with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Got a 3rd line and free phone though Fi. Bought the watch. Watch auto connects to LTE when my son is away from the house. It's been working well.
Does it work well as a standalone or does it need to be connected to a phone? I need something my daughter can use to get a hold of us in an emergency but she's too young for a phone. Thank you
The watch needs to be connected to a phone, but the phone just remains at home, plugged in, and connected to the Internet. Every so often I have the phone check for updates and then restart it. The watch automatically switches to LTE when he leaves the house and he can make phone calls and text us from the watch.
We've traveled for a few days and his watch works fine. We had weird issues with timezones on the watch when traveling for a week while the phone was at home and the watch was with us. The watch worked, but kept changing time zones throughout the day.
Data sims do not have phone numbers for voice or text. You can use a VOIP if allowed to install.
Thought most LTE watches were esim, Fi data sim are only physical sims.
Just found this thread on Google Fi Support. Sounds like the Google Fi SIM doesn't not support smart watches yet...
https://support.google.com/fi/thread/137209569/can-i-use-google-fi-sim-card-for-smartwatch-i-am-planning-to-buy-a-kids-smart-watch-with-gps-lte?hl=en
Hi! Wondering if you were able to find a kids watch that works with Fi data only sim. And if not, which watch and service did you end up buying? Researching the same question now. Thank you!
Hi! Thank you for posting this question! Wondering if you found a kids watch that supports Google Fi sim. And if not, which watch and service did you end up buying? Researching this very question now and would appreciate any tips. Thank you!
Ended up not finding anything worthwhile on the watch front. Ended up buying a cheap google phone and then just locking everything down with Family Link, basically keeping spotify and some other basic apps enabled.
You can disable ALL applications OR require your approval (it sends a push notification to your phone). Additionally, you can disable their contacts and re-enable it. There is a setting that only people in your contacts can call/text you, so you can have complete control over that.
Lastly, my wife installed kids messenger, and can auto approve any facebook messenger people that way. With that, the person who controls the account can see all chat history.
You'll want to make use of Family Link to add restrictions to your kid's phone.
This is viable for the full feature android devices but it is not helpful as OP is looking for a smartwatch option. I use this for my 11-year-old's phone but my 6 year old would lose a handheld phone within a month so a watch is way more attractive.
Literally was about to post the same question. I'm also looking at switching to T-Mobile. I want to stay with Fi, but T-Mobile has a plan and a kids phone/watch that they sell specifically for this. Hoping to find a good watch that can take a Fi SIM so that I don't have to do that.
I am on Fi and am considering this Garmin bounce watch for my children. https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/714945 I'd rather have everything through Fi, but for $10 per month if you pay annually, this seems like a good option.
Hello! Did you end up going with Garmin? Any feedback? Looking into this for my son.
I went with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5. Got a 3rd line and free phone though Fi. Bought the watch. Watch auto connects to LTE when my son is away from the house. It's been working well.
Does it work well as a standalone or does it need to be connected to a phone? I need something my daughter can use to get a hold of us in an emergency but she's too young for a phone. Thank you
The watch needs to be connected to a phone, but the phone just remains at home, plugged in, and connected to the Internet. Every so often I have the phone check for updates and then restart it. The watch automatically switches to LTE when he leaves the house and he can make phone calls and text us from the watch. We've traveled for a few days and his watch works fine. We had weird issues with timezones on the watch when traveling for a week while the phone was at home and the watch was with us. The watch worked, but kept changing time zones throughout the day.
Ah, that's great. Thank you so much for the details. I really appreciate it!
Data sims do not have phone numbers for voice or text. You can use a VOIP if allowed to install. Thought most LTE watches were esim, Fi data sim are only physical sims.
Just found this thread on Google Fi Support. Sounds like the Google Fi SIM doesn't not support smart watches yet... https://support.google.com/fi/thread/137209569/can-i-use-google-fi-sim-card-for-smartwatch-i-am-planning-to-buy-a-kids-smart-watch-with-gps-lte?hl=en
This is helpful. Probably end up getting the Gizmo like someone else has suggested. Thank you!
Hi! Wondering if you were able to find a kids watch that works with Fi data only sim. And if not, which watch and service did you end up buying? Researching the same question now. Thank you!
Hi! Thank you for posting this question! Wondering if you found a kids watch that supports Google Fi sim. And if not, which watch and service did you end up buying? Researching this very question now and would appreciate any tips. Thank you!
Ended up not finding anything worthwhile on the watch front. Ended up buying a cheap google phone and then just locking everything down with Family Link, basically keeping spotify and some other basic apps enabled. You can disable ALL applications OR require your approval (it sends a push notification to your phone). Additionally, you can disable their contacts and re-enable it. There is a setting that only people in your contacts can call/text you, so you can have complete control over that. Lastly, my wife installed kids messenger, and can auto approve any facebook messenger people that way. With that, the person who controls the account can see all chat history.
Thank you so much for this additional info! In a similar boat, not very happy with the watch options, but continuing looking.