VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 Review

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The VTech Kidizoom DX2 smartwatch is the latest VTech watch for kids and is a great offering from a well-loved company.

This smart wearable geared towards younger kids not only tells time but also includes the functionality to take pictures and videos, play educational games, and record audio. And for parents who are anxious to purchase a smartwatch for a younger child, the Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 comes with built-in parental controls to limit screen time.

If you’re interested in learning more about this fun wearable, read on! I’ll start this VTech Kidizoom DX2 review with details about features and then explain briefly how to use the watch. I’ll end by answering common questions and providing my top pros & cons of this VTech smartwatch for kids.

What’s Included With the Kidizoom DX2?

If you purchase the Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2, you’ll find the following in the package:

The VTech kids’ smartwatch itself
A micro-USB cable for connecting the watch to your computer
User manual for parents

Two of the color options (vivid violet and royal blue) do come with one additional wristband.

The Look and Layout

The Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 comes in 8 different colors: blue, pink, black, camouflage, vivid violet with a bonus floral birds wristband, royal blue with a bonus skateboard swoosh wristband, purple, and lastly red with a unicorn pattern. Enough colors that both boys and girls will find something they’ll like!

There are two cameras on the device: one on the front of the watch face for selfies and the other on the superior edge of the watch.

The right of the smartwatch features a micro-USB port on top of the camera shutter button. Connecting the watch to your computer via micro-USB cable charges the watch and allows for file transfer. Pressing the shutter button launches the camera to take photos and videos.

Pressing the Home Button on the left side returns the user to the home screen with the clock or to the list of activities. Holding this button down also turns off the screen.

The power switch is on the underside of the device. Turning off the device stops even battery charging and resets the date and time. Thus, toggling the power switch to off is only beneficial if the watch is going to sit around unused for a period of time.

Features of the Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2

Here’s a little more information about each of the features of the DX2 and how to use the watch. With this information, you can decide if this device fits your parental smartwatch criteria. That, and determine if your child is tech-savvy enough to fully appreciate the features of this wearable device.

Clock Display & Teaching Children to Tell Time

When picking a new watch, how easy it is to read the time and how stylish the faceplate is are two important criteria.

With the Kidizoom DX2, your child can choose from 55 analog, digital, and “3-D” clock faces to display. And if that’s not enough options, he or she can snap a photo with the built-in camera and turn it into a new, custom clock face!

Younger kids who don’t know how to read a clock yet will benefit from the “Speak Time” function. When pressing down this icon on the clock screen, the DX2 smartwatch verbalizes the current time.

An included Time Master activity also helps younger kids learn to tell time. Children can set a time within this learning module, and the watch speaks the time they set. I appreciate tech devices that teach children rather than provide only entertainment value!

Camera and Media Details

With the VTech Kidizoom DX2 smartwatch, your child can capture pictures, videos, and sounds and then view or play them back.

Picture resolution is 0.3 MP (640×480) for a JPEG, and video resolution is a slightly lower 320×240 or 160×120 for an AVI. The maximum video length is one minute, so kids will be limited here. VTech estimates that the device’s built-in memory of 256 MB will hold around 1520 photos, 10 minutes of high-resolution video, or 22 minutes of lower-resolution video.

Since there are two cameras, kids can record their environment or use the selfie camera on this kids’ smartwatch. Fun photo effects are also available for both pictures and videos. There’s a Silly Yourself function to allow the watch to distort and “silly” up a picture of a face. One of the main differences between the older generation DX and this VTech DX2 is the inclusion of the second selfie camera.

Children can also record their voice or sounds around them in up to 1-minute snippets. Five built-in voice effects allow them to have a little extra fun with the recording. A Sound Shaker function includes 10 different built-in sound effects that will play with the shake of a hand.

Transferring Files

The great news is if your child snaps or records a great photo or video, you can save it to your computer! Once you blow the video up to computer size, though, the picture won’t look as good as it did on the 1.44″ watch screen due to low resolution.

After connecting the Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 to your computer via the micro-USB cable, transfer files from computer to watch or watch to computer. Files available for transfer are photos, videos, and recorded sounds. Just be careful if transferring to the watch that you’re only using compatible media types.

What are the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 games?

There are three games available for children to play: Ancient Adventure, Mousy Maze, and Puzzle Swap.

Ancient Adventure reminds me of Sonic the Hedgehog from way back in my childhood; Mousy Mazy involves guiding a mouse through a maze finding cheese and keys to exit through doors. These aren’t the most exciting of games, but what can you expect from a kids’ smartwatch under $50?

Puzzle Swap does have both educational and entertainment benefits as your child will be working to rearrange puzzle pieces into a photo.

Interactive Activities: Monster Catcher and Noodle Booster

While not technically games, there are two other activities on the DX2 smartwatch to entertain youngsters.

Monster Catcher is like a kiddy version of Pokemon Go, where you walk around finding “invisible monsters.” I don’t know about you, but we try not to mention the word “monster” to our young daughter. Because, well, we like to sleep the whole night without her joining our bed because she found monsters in her closet. However, for kids who are excited, not frightened, this is a fairly intricate game for a wearable device.

Noodle Booster is a set of three logic games to train your brain. I wholeheartedly support having educational activities for entertainment! Depending on the age of the child, these games may be too basic though.

Activity Tracking Features

While fun features like games and cameras are all fine and dandy, features that motivate children to be active are very important!

The VTech smartwatch for kids has a built-in pedometer to track steps and three fun action challenges.

The pedometer is NOWHERE near as accurate as a Fitbit for kids and is intended more for fun than function.

The three activities will encourage your child to get up and move! With Crazy Dance, the watch will play music and a character on the touchscreen dances to match your child’s dancing. Racing Run involves your child running as fast as possible while a mirror character on the screen runs too. Funky Jump will get your child jumping while a character on-screen mirrors his or her actions.

Timing Tools

As with all good smartwatches, this VTech smartwatch for kids features the ability to set an alarm or timer, use a stopwatch, and view a calendar. This isn’t a calendar, of course, that child can customize by entering appointments, for instance. It’s just like a wall calendar showing the grid of days for each month.

Battery Life and Charging

The VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2 has to be charged using the micro-USB and a computer connection. For a fully-depleted battery, charging will take around 3 hours on average.

Once charged, the battery can last up to 2 weeks with minimal usage. However, most commonly, the battery lasts around 2-3 days for kids actively and consistently engaging with the DX2. Activities like taking videos will drain more battery than simply checking the time, of course.

To monitor battery usage, just gaze at the top right of the home screen to view the remaining battery life.

What are the parental controls on the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2?

When picking a smartwatch for my daughter, the presence of parental settings was very important! With the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX2, parents can set a daily time limit for games (15, 30, 60, or 90 minutes) or disable them completely. Of course, if your child knows how to read and is tech-savvy, these settings can be easily altered.

What age is the VTech Kidizoom DX2 best suited for?

While the manufacturer recommends the VTech Kidizoom DX2 for kids ages 4-12, I think this watch can be juvenile or basic for preteens. I would consider a more mature smartwatch for kids 10 years and older. For children under 8, I wholeheartedly recommend the Kidizoom DX2 as their first smartwatch. Once they’re older and more responsible, you can then consider investing in something with more functionality.

Is the VTech DX2 waterproof?

No, the VTech DX2 is not waterproof. It is instead “splash proof.” What this means is submerging the watch while swimming or bathing, for instance, is not okay. However, during everyday play, the watch is resistant to splashes of water and even sweat.

Kidizoom DX2 Smartwatch Pros:

VTech is a reliable brand. This device is not another cheap knock-off that’s appeared on Amazon or Ebay. There’s actual customer service and a long track record of quality products.
It is an affordable watch that’s easy to use for kids of most ages.
Parental controls!

DX2 Cons:

The device has to be charged using a computer. Children without access to their own computer (most younger kids) will not be able to independently charge the device.
No GPS tracking if you’re looking to keep tabs on your child.
The lithium-ion polymer battery is not replaceable. Although, honestly, a new battery and the cost to put it in is probably close to the cost of a new device.
If looking for a fitness tracker, this isn’t as good as other options.