Smartwatch & Accessories

Two children's models are listed: the Green Lion 2G Kids Smart Watch Series 5 and the Porodo Kid's 4G GPS Smart Watch. The 4G version makes calls and reports location, which is what most parents want on the school run, and it needs its own nano-SIM on a UAE carrier; the 2G version is the simpler, cheaper option. Either way, expect to charge it most nights, and set up the companion app before the first day of term.

The Bluetooth models pair with both iOS and Android phones through the maker's app, so check that the app is listed in the regional App Store before you buy and confirm the minimum phone version if your handset is a few years old. The 4G models need a nano-SIM as well as phone pairing, so check that a UAE carrier supports the network bands they use. Note that the Samsung Galaxy Watch4 listed here is the Bluetooth version and will not take calls on its own.

It depends on the screen and the radios more than on the brand. Slim bands such as the Porodo TrackFit and the Porodo TrackFit Fitness Smart Band are sold for long battery life, while AMOLED models like the Green Lion Ultra Amoled, Porodo Ultra Lumina and Green Lion G-Wear draw more power, and cellular models like the Green Lion 4G Ultra and the Porodo Vista 4G Cellular need charging far more often with the 4G radio active. Treat the quoted runtime as a best case: GPS, maximum brightness and constant heart-rate tracking all shorten it.

Three listings here bundle audio with a watch: the Green Lion Active Duo Earbuds Pro2 + Ultra Active, the Green Lion SyncFit Duo Earbuds Pro2 + Active SE, and the Porodo Pulse Smartwatch With Earbuds. A bundle is usually cheaper than buying the two pieces separately, but confirm what the earbuds actually are — a TWS set with its own charging case is not the same as a single bud or a neckband — and check whether the watch and the buds share one case. Confirm the stock status of both items in the bundle before you pay.