KidiZoom SmartWatch DX4 Review

VTech has introduced yet another model in its KidiZoom Smartwatch line. The DX4 features a slightly larger color touchscreen (1.69 inches) and 256 MB of built-in memory. Kids will be able to use the dual cameras to take about 1,400 photos and 20 minutes of low-res videos (or 10 minutes of high-res videos). Like the previous model, the DX4 will connect to another DX4 so that kids can play games together and send each other cards. It runs on a rechargeable battery, and a micro-USB cable is included. It takes about three to four hours for a full charge, and depending on usage, a charge can last for up to two weeks. The watch is splash-proof, but you can’t submerge it in water, so it needs to come off when bathing, showering, or swimming.

This does function as a watch, so kids will be able to see the time. Swiping left or right will show 50 clock faces to choose from, some digital and others analog. Some even have 3-D features. Kids can even make their own clock face using pictures they’ve taken with the Photo Clock Face Maker app. With any clock face, when you shake the watch or double tap the screen, you’ll hear the time said out loud.

The Home Menu is where you’ll select all the different activities, and there are a lot. You can record videos and take photos using either the Front Camera or the Selfie Camera, and then view them in the Gallery. A Music Player plays 20 built-in melodies. The Pedometer counts your steps, and Daily Reminders help kids remember up to 30 daily activities. You can even set an alarm with different sounds and animations. There’s also a Voice Recorder complete with five silly voice effects. And the DX4 has a  Calculator, a Calendar, a Stopwatch, and a Timer. Downloads is where any downloaded content will appear, but a parent will need to download and install the VTech Learning Lodge onto a computer in order to download any extra content. Screen Light adjusts the brightness of the screen, and in Settings you can adjust volume and other features, plus access parent controls.

Then we get into the really fun stuff. The Games app has three built-in games: Super Tile Match where you match tiles before time runs out, Planet Escape where you help the UFO reach the end of the level, and Fossil Expert where you help the fossil experts find what they’re looking for. Then there are a couple of games that have their own app. Puzzle Solver lets kids create their own digital jigsaw puzzles from photos and then solve them – or challenge a friend to solve them. Dash Reaction includes three quick reaction games to test your speed and visual acuity. Tap & Jam is a music app where kids can make music with different instruments and sound effects. Similarly, Music Composer lets kids choose composing elements to help the DX4 create a unique piece of music. Mind Reading challenges kids to think of a number from one to 30 and see if the DX4 can guess the correct number. Monster Detector uses augmented reality to put digital monsters in your real world. You can collect the monsters or just explore and learn more about the monsters you’ve discovered. Action Challenge gets kids running and jumping. The Time Master app helps kids practice telling time. And in Free Draw, kids can create and save their own drawings.

If you know someone who also has a DX4, you’ll be able to connect with them and play games using the Connection Activities app. In order to play Treasure Hunt or send your friend a Greeting Card, you’ll need to scan a pairing code on your friend’s DX4 (or vice versa). If you don’t know someone with a DX4, you can still play the activities but against the computer. 

The DX4 is available in black, blue, pink, or purple.