The phone watch my daughter had been asking about finally arrived a few days ago. After using it for several days, I would say it is doing a decent job.
Its main functions are fairly straightforward: voice calls, video calls through the companion app, voice messaging, location tracking, a class mode that disables the watch during lessons, and activity history. There is no option to install apps independently, and the watch does not support Wi-Fi. Everything is managed through the app on the linked phone.
Compared with some flagship phone watches that can play videos and games, this one is deliberately limited. I have to wonder whether those entertainment features are really necessary for children. Perhaps they mainly help manufacturers justify a higher price, without paying much attention to children's physical and mental well-being.
For the cellular service, I used my China Unicom primary number to apply for a secondary SIM. Apart from the last four digits, the number is the same as the main one. The additional cost is 10 yuan per month, and it shares the main line's calling allowance and data. Since this watch has relatively few functions, it is unlikely to use much data anyway.
Starting this semester, I am planning to let my daughter walk to and from school on her own. The trip takes about ten minutes on foot, and this should save her grandmother from making several pickup and drop-off trips every day.
She is rather timid and seems to have some degree of social anxiety. Even though she is already in third grade, she does not want to go downstairs to buy something from the small shop nearby or collect a package. Her younger brother is the complete opposite. He is a little over four years old, not shy around strangers, and can usually be heard shouting wherever he goes. If my daughter needs to go downstairs to get something, she often insists that her brother come along with her.
As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. The watch's workmanship and overall build do not feel particularly impressive, so I have no idea how long it will last. 😂