myFirst Fone M1 Review: Robust children’s smartwatch with AMOLED display

After models such as the Fone S3 and R2, manufacturer myFirst is following up with the launch of a new children’s smartwatch. The myFirst Fone M1, as it is called, is packed with features. These include an AMOLED display, 4K connectivity and GPS tracking. But is it worth buying? Our test.

Technical data

Design and workmanship of the myFirst Fone M1

The myFirst Fone M1 impresses with its modern, child-friendly design, which is available in the colors Steel Blue and Sakura Pink and was specially designed for children aged 4 to 12 years. With compact dimensions and a weight of just 47 g (33 g without strap), the watch sits lightly and unobtrusively on the wrist, allowing it to be worn for long periods without strain.

The rectangular case has IP67 certification, which offers protection against dust and water. This is, of course, ideal for active children who sweat while playing or briefly submerge the watch under water (or in puddles).

The square 1.6-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 320 x 360 pixels ensures rich colors, high brightness and energy-efficient display, while the slim profile increases wearing comfort and the display remains easy to read even in sunlight.

Thanks to the robust plastic housing, which can withstand shocks and everyday wear and tear, the workmanship is of high quality for a children’s smartwatch and is absolutely fine for the price. Plus points are also awarded for the interchangeable wristbands and the option to personalize the watch using the stickers included.

myFirst Fone M1 Review: The features

The features of the myFirst Fone M1 correspond to what we are used to from children’s smartwatches. It focuses on safety, communication and playful elements, while distracting features such as game apps, social media access or browsers are consistently left out to protect children from digital overload.

A practical feature is the 4G LTE connectivity with nano SIM slot, which enables seamless video and voice calls. Supported by an integrated 2-megapixel front camera with a wide-angle lens. The youngster is located using a combination of GPS, Wi-Fi hotspot scanning and LBS (Location-Based Services), which allows real-time location tracking with an accuracy of 5-10 meters. Of course, there is also geo-fencing so that virtual safety zones can be created, which trigger immediate push notifications to the parent app when they are entered or exited.

Particularly noteworthy is the prominent one-touch SOS button on the side, which in emergency situations sends the current location, a 30-second ambient audio recording and an emergency message to up to three predefined contacts with a single press – a lifesaver function that works with automatic repetition if confirmation is not received.

To keep the fun going, the Fone M1 has an MP3 player with Bluetooth headphone support for up to 1500 songs, an integrated speaker for hands-free calls, a pedometer with a reward system to encourage exercise and a child-safe contact list that is only approved by parents.

FoneOS (based on Android 8.1) is used as the operating system on the smartwatch itself. The myFirst Circle parent app is available to download free of charge for iOS and Android and serves as a control center: parents can manage contacts (max. 20), usage times, sleep modes and even reward points that children can collect for good habits.

Battery life of the myFirst Fone M1

The battery life of the myFirst Fone M1 deserves praise, especially as the manufacturer’s previous models were weaker in this respect. The children’s smartwatch owes this above all to the larger 730 mAh lithium polymer battery, which lasts for over two full days with moderate use (calls, occasional tracking).

In standby mode, the watch remains active for around 4-5 days, but intensive scenarios such as all-day video chatting or music playback noticeably reduce the runtime to a meagre 24-36 hours, with AMOLED technology and adaptive brightness intelligently reducing consumption – a low-power mode automatically deactivates unnecessary sensors.

The magnetic USB-C charging cable is included in the scope of delivery and enables a full charge in under 90 minutes. Before the battery runs low, a charging indicator provides an early warning of a low level and the parent app also receives information on the charging status.

Practical test

In the practical test, the myFirst Fone M1 cut quite a good figure. Once set up, the smartwatch needs to be connected to the parent’s smartphone using a QR code, which works more or less reliably. Once this is done, the watch is ready for use.

Operation is based on normal smartwatches. The top right button switches the display on or off, while the bottom button is used to return to the previous screen or activate the SOS function (by holding it down). A swipe from top to bottom opens the quick settings, a swipe to the right shows the step counter and a swipe to the left opens the app overview.

There is also a choice of different clock faces, which can be selected by pressing and holding on the display. The AMOLED screen is pleasantly bright and easy to read even in direct light, but it and the operating system often react very sluggishly and slowly, so that many actions are triggered with a certain delay or you have to select menu items several times before they open.

The GPS tracking works quite precisely and allows a fairly accurate location. Accuracy only suffers when reception is weak. The microphone and camera function prove to be practical, enabling problem-free communication – even though the camera doesn’t take the cake in terms of image quality, but it’s fine for snapshots.

Video calls run smoothly over 4G, and the SOS button responds at lightning speed with location and audio transmission. The alarm clock function, which allows you to be woken up directly by the watch, also proves useful. The app integration in myFirst Circle is user-friendly, geo-fencing alerts or notifications arrived promptly when changing test zones.

However, the Fone M1 lacks many practical settings. For example, it is not possible to set when the screen switches off automatically (which happens far too quickly), nor can watch faces be adjusted with regard to the information displayed.

Praiseworthy: The German translation within the smartwatch, as well as in the myFirst Circle app, has been noticeably improved in recent months, so that there is no more guesswork involved with some functions.

The included SIM card

Included with the myFirst Fone M1 (and conveniently pre-installed) is a SIM card in nano-SIM form factor. However, this so-called myFirst Free SIM is not aptly named, as only the first month is free.

After that, usage costs 9.99 euros per month or 7.99 euros per month if paid annually. The price includes the following functions:

• unlimited data volume
• free roaming in certain European countries

Free minutes for calls and free text messages are not included, but are not included with the Fone M1. The price is quite reasonable, but classic smartwatch tariffs are already available in this country for around 5 euros per month, and are even significantly cheaper during promotions. Nevertheless, if you like, you can simply insert and use your own SIM card in the myFirst Fone M1.

myFirst Fone M1 Review: Conclusion

With the myFirst Fone M1, the manufacturer has created a convincing smartwatch for children. The main positive aspect is that the smart watch has been significantly improved in all respects compared to its predecessor models. The Fone M1 has made noticeable gains in terms of functionality, translation and user-friendliness.

In terms of features, it offers pretty much everything you would expect from a children’s smartwatch. GPS tracking with precise location, geo-fencing with fast and reliable notifications to parents, a camera for video chats and photos and no additional apps that would distract the offspring.

There is also a really good battery life and a practical SIM card slot including an included card, which can also be easily replaced with a separate SIM if desired, making the wearable very versatile.

OK, the operating system works rather slowly and the camera quality is only sufficient for quick snapshots, but in view of the positioning on the market and the attractive price, this is easy to get over.

PRO

• Robust workmanship
• IP67 certification
• Successful functions
• Simple operation
• Reliable GPS
• Practical geo-fencing
• Camera; SIM card
• Good battery life

CONTRA

• Slow operating system
• Camera quality only moderate
• Screen timeout too fast

myFirst Fone M1

Workmanship

Hardware

Features

Functions

Battery

Value For Money

85/100

The myFirst Fone M1 presents itself as a robust, versatile and well-equipped children's smartwatch at an attractive price.