| General | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Garmin |
| Type | Kids’ LTE smartwatch |
| Series | Bounce |
| Released | 17 September 2025 |
| Price at launch | GBP 259.99 / USD 299.99 (plus required LTE subscription, $9.99/month or $99.99/year) |
| Predecessor | Bounce (original) |
| Successor | Not yet announced. See Release Radar. |
| Sizes | One size, 43mm |
| Colours | Slate Grey, Light Purple, Turquoise |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Jump to: Expert opinion | What’s new | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Activity profiles | Further reading
Expert opinion
Bounce 2 pairs geofencing with two-way LTE calling that needs no smartphone, but its messaging network only reaches other Garmin app users, and real-world battery life falls well short of the two-day claim once LTE calling or texting is in regular use.
The required LTE subscription roughly doubles the effective cost of ownership over the watch price alone, and the watch’s value depends heavily on whether a child’s friends and school also use the Garmin ecosystem. Against that, the geofencing and chore-tracking features are genuine differentiators against the equivalent Apple Watch SE 3 setup.
What’s new versus the original Bounce
Hardware
- Display upgraded from LCD to a 1.2 inch AMOLED panel
- Case made slightly smaller with a reduced bezel around the larger display
Software
- Full two-way calling, not available on the original Bounce
- Amazon Music support
- Full on-screen QWERTY keyboard for messaging
- Voice message transcription
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Size | 1.2 inch (30.4mm) diagonal |
| Type | AMOLED |
| Resolution | 390 x 390 pixels |
| Lens | Chemically-strengthened glass |
| Touchscreen | Yes |
| Physical | |
| Case size | 43mm |
| Thickness | 12.4mm |
| Weight | 26.5g case only, 40.4g with included band |
| Case material | Fibre-reinforced polymer |
| Water rating | 5 ATM |
| Band fit | 115mm to 180mm wrist circumference |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GPS | GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
| Other sensors | Accelerometer, ambient light |
| Connectivity and storage | |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, LTE (subscription required) |
| Storage | 4GB |
Bounce 2 has no heart rate sensor and no health monitoring features, in keeping with its focus on communication, location tracking and activity logging rather than fitness metrics.
Battery life
| Mode | Battery life |
|---|---|
| Standard use | Up to 2 days |
Garmin’s 2-day figure assumes moderate use. LTE voice calls and text messaging draw noticeably more power than passive tracking, and heavy use of either can bring real-world battery life below one day.
Features
Feature explanations are covered in the relevant the5krunner Garmin features hub.
Communication
- Two-way LTE voice calling
- LTE voice messaging with transcription
- LTE text messaging with full QWERTY keyboard
- LiveTrack location sharing
- Voice commands
Safety and tracking
- Real-time location tracking
- Geofencing with boundary enter/exit alerts
- Location check-ins
- Assistance, sending location to family contacts
Kid activity features
- 60-minute daily activity goal
- Movement-based sleep tracking
- Step counter
- Chores and reward coins
- Task timers
- Do not disturb and school mode
- Games
- Watch face themes
- Amazon Music playback (subscription required)
Activity profiles
| Category | Profiles |
|---|---|
| Running | Running, Outdoor Track Running, Trail Running, Treadmill Running, Indoor Track Running |
| Cycling | Biking, Mountain Biking, Gravel Biking, Bike Commuting, eBiking, Indoor Biking, BMX |
| Swimming | Pool Swimming for Kids |
| Gym and fitness | Cardio, Elliptical Training, Stair Stepping, Indoor Rowing, Jump Roping, Walking, Yoga, Indoor Walking, Boxing, Mixed Martial Arts |
| Outdoor | Hiking, Mountaineering, Horseback Riding, Disc Golf, Archery |
| Other | Winter sports: Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Classic Skiing, Ice Skating, Snowshoeing. Water sports: Stand Up Paddleboarding, Kayaking, Fishing, Rowing, Snorkeling, Boating. Team sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Football, American Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Ultimate Disc, Cricket, Softball, Baseball. Racket sports: Tennis, Pickleball, Badminton, Squash, Table Tennis, Padel, Platform Tennis, Racquetball. Motorsports: ATVing, Motocrossing. Other: Inline Skating. |
Further reading
- the5krunner Bounce 2 buyer’s guide
- Garmin watch specifications
- Release Radar: upcoming Garmin watches
Related watches
Looking at alternatives to the Bounce 2?
- Also consider: Apple Watch SE 3, a similarly priced kids-capable smartwatch with deeper iPhone integration via Family Setup.
