The children’s smartwatch market is moving beyond simple GPS trackers, and the myFirst Fone S4 is a clear example of where the category is heading. Designed for children aged five to 12, it combines 4G communication, parental controls, fitness features and a built-in eSIM in a device intended to delay — rather than imitate — a child’s first smartphone.

Priced at €199.99 in Europe, the Fone S4 sits in the middle of the connected kids’ watch market. It is less expensive than Garmin’s latest Bounce 2, but it asks families to commit to a recurring connectivity plan. In Europe, myFirst currently lists service at €9.99 per month or €95.88 when billed annually. The company also offers regional plans elsewhere, including a $12 monthly US plan.

A watch built around communication

The most noticeable upgrade is the 1.65-inch always-on AMOLED display with a resolution of 348 × 443 pixels. That is relatively large for a children’s watch and should make messages, video calls and basic navigation easier to handle on a small wrist. Underneath, the watch uses a quad-core Spreadtrum W377E processor with 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, plus Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2.

A 5MP front-facing camera supports photos and video calls, including group calls with up to eight approved family members or friends. Children can also send text, voice notes, photos, emojis and polls through the myFirst Circle ecosystem.

For quieter communication, the new magiCode feature lets parents and children create vibration patterns with agreed meanings — perhaps “time to come home” or “I’m okay” — without starting a call.

READ MORE: Deutsche Telekom introduces children’s smartwatch with eSIM

There is an MP3 player as well, with Bluetooth support for wireless headphones. However, this is still a deliberately restricted device. Third-party apps cannot be installed, contacts are managed by parents, and Class Mode disables most functions while preserving emergency access.

That closed environment will appeal to families worried about browsers, social media and unsolicited contact, although older children may quickly find it limiting.

Safety without a smartphone

The Fone S4’s main job is not entertainment; it is providing a controlled connection between child and parent. The myFirst Circle app offers real-time location tracking, safe zones and notifications when a child enters or leaves a defined area.

A side button can trigger an SOS alert, while the unusual Care Call feature automatically answers a parent’s next call after three consecutive missed calls.

The watch also includes activity and habit tracking, gamified missions and rewards. This reflects a wider change in the category: children’s wearables are increasingly being positioned as tools for independence and healthy routines, not merely electronic leashes.

Still, parents should treat location tracking as reassurance rather than a guarantee. GPS performance depends on satellite visibility, network coverage and software quality. Even Garmin’s more expensive Bounce 2 has received criticism for inconsistent rural GPS performance and one-to-two-day real-world battery life.

The eSIM advantage — with limits

The integrated eSIM is one of the Fone S4’s strongest travel features. Parents can manage connectivity through the app without handling a removable SIM, while smart carrier selection can connect the watch to participating networks such as Vodafone, Orange, O2, Movistar and Deutsche Telekom in Europe.

“Worldwide” needs some qualification, however. myFirst says its FreeSIM service works in approximately 85 countries, with roaming included only inside the subscribed geographic zone. Moving between zones can require a different plan and may substantially increase the cost.

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Families travelling from the EU to the Middle East, for example, should check pricing before departure rather than assuming the standard subscription follows them everywhere.

Battery expectations also deserve closer scrutiny. The 605mAh capacity sounds generous for a watch, but always-on display use, GPS, LTE and video calling are demanding. myFirst promotes all-day use but does not provide a clear multi-day battery estimate on the main product page.

For a device sold partly as a safety tool, transparent real-world endurance figures would make the buying decision easier.

Conclusion

The Fone S4 enters a market that is splitting into two camps. Products such as Garmin Bounce 2 and Fitbit Ace LTE emphasise activity, games and tightly managed communication, while cellular Apple Watches offer a broader ecosystem for older children but bring more apps, complexity and distraction.

Apple’s family setup allows parents to manage a cellular watch from their own iPhone, although it remains a more open and generally more expensive route.

myFirst’s advantage is balance: a large display, video calling, controlled contacts and travel-friendly eSIM management at a lower listed hardware price than Garmin Bounce 2. It makes the most sense for younger children who are beginning to move independently and for families who travel within the same connectivity zone.

It is less convincing for parents seeking week-long battery life, subscription-free tracking or a watch that can grow into a teenager’s full smartwatch. In those cases, a basic GPS tracker, Garmin’s more fitness-focused platform or an Apple Watch for an iPhone household may offer better long-term value.

The real trend is not simply “smartwatches for kids.” It is the emergence of a managed first mobile connection. The Fone S4 understands that shift, but its success will depend as much on reliable roaming, battery performance and app support as on the watch itself.