Since its establishment in 2012, imoo has focused on a simple question: what would a high-quality technology product designed around children’s developmental needs, usage habits, and growing independence look like? The answer has shaped the smartwatch brand’s approach ever since, informing everything from product design and testing to the way children interact with its devices.
Why children’s technology requires a different approach
Designing technology for children means accounting for how they actually use it. “We believe that for a child’s growth, they need to run, go outside, and spend time outdoors,” explains Alex Wang, senior product R&D engineer at imoo. That child-first mindset extends from product design to testing, with devices developed around the realities of childhood. imoo claims its product testing includes 60,000 camera flip tests, 20,000 micro-drop tests, and 10,000 charging-port plug-and-pull tests to ensure its smartwatches can withstand the demands of everyday use.
Beyond laboratory testing, the company also relies on real-world feedback. Employees’ own children are often among the earliest users of new products, living with prototypes and providing feedback that helps shape development. “Products are refined through constant, real-life interaction rather than isolated testing phases,” explains Wang. He gives the example of a temperature-monitoring feature developed in response to a colleague’s child who was running a fever.
The growing demand for an alternative to smartphones
Research suggests many parents are increasingly cautious about introducing smartphones at a young age. In the United States, 66% of parents surveyed said they would prefer to delay smartphone ownership until at least high school, driven in part by concerns about screen time, social media, and mental wellbeing.
As parents seek alternatives, the global kids’ smartwatch segment continues to expand despite slower demand in the broader smartwatch market. According to IDC’s 2024 rankings, the technology group behind imoo was among the world’s top five wrist-worn device companies, making imoo the only children’s smartwatch-focused brand represented among them. At the product level, the imoo X10 has also attracted attention from international technology media, with laboratory testing by German technology magazine connect’s Testlab highlighting its dual-camera system, intuitive interface, and well-designed communication management.
“Parents today are seeking to stay involved, not as gatekeepers who block the digital world, but as active guides who help their children build awareness, balance, and resilience,” says Wang. For imoo, that means creating a system that supports growing independence while maintaining parental oversight. Children can make video calls, send messages, and stay connected with family members, but communication takes place within a parent-managed network of approved contacts. “Our responsibility is not to avoid innovation, but to identify those risks and design safeguards that address them,” he adds.
Technology that fits around a child’s day
Many features across the imoo watch range are designed to support children’s routines. Class Mode disables messaging and calling functions during school hours, while the Bump Wrist feature allows children to add friends within a parent-monitored ecosystem. The X10 also introduced a one-touch emergency alert function that can quickly notify parents if assistance is needed.
Features such as health monitoring and screen-time controls are designed to provide additional peace of mind without preventing children from exploring the world on their own. “The intention is to help parents feel confident enough to gradually let go,” says Wang. “Ultimately, our goal with this product is to support children in growing up independently, healthily, and happily.”
The company’s flagship X10 smartwatch offers perhaps the clearest example of imoo’s child-focused design. Durability was a key consideration, with the X10 featuring a stain-resistant body and water resistance up to 20 meters. Its Flip & Detach dual-camera system was also developed around an observation that children often communicate through what they see and experience. The detachable camera can be repositioned or removed entirely and worn around the neck, allowing children to capture and share their surroundings. “At its core, it is about preserving memories,” says Wang. “Whether it is everyday moments or special family trips, these experiences become shared memories and an important emotional connection within family life.”
Building technology for children requires understanding how children think, play, communicate, and explore. In a category often defined by technology, imoo smartwatches are designed around childhood itself, balancing connectivity, safety, independence, and responsible technology use.
Learn more about how imoo helps families stay connected here.
