Freckle Phone aims to give kids more freedom, but faces AI gadget doubts

Freckle Phone is a wearable 5G device for children ages 7 to 13, built around outdoor exploration. TechRadar's Lance Ulanoff spoke with creator Sam Terris about the product and its chances in a market where some AI gadgets have struggled.

The device is about 3 by 3 inches and 0.61 inches thick. It runs a customized Android system without downloadable apps or internet access, and connects through Freckle Mobile's MVNO. It has a phone number, texting, calls to parent-approved numbers, and two cameras rated at 12MP and 5MP.

Its features include Quests, AI Chat or questions sent to parents, Maps, walkie-talkies, and custom characters. Children can ask about things they see or photograph, and use NFC to start walkie-talkie mode by tapping phones together. The device also has tap-to-pay and an onboard wallet that parents can load. Freckle says its AI uses a mix of models, including Gemini and a small local model.

Freckle Phone is designed for children while keeping them connected to parents. It has an IP54 rating and is expected to ship with a shoulder strap in green, blue, and burnt orange. Magnetic “dots” attach to its back, and digital cards can be swapped using NFC.

The device is expected to start at $199 with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of non-expandable storage. Wireless service will cost $25 a month. The article raises doubts about whether Freckle Phone can avoid the problems faced by other AI gadgets, but does not include Terris's answer.