Simpler than a phone, but better than a regular watch - A73 is a children's smart watch. This watch is designed for children who already spend time away from their parents and for parents who want to be able to track their children's location and contact them at any time.
Children's watch A73
Assessment:
What did we like?
What didn't we like?
Intro
Previously, we tried the LT21 watches and the Lithuanian Gudruti Super-G Active Pro. We will try to answer questions about whether this A73 is superior to others and which one should be chosen for your little ones at the end of this review.
What's inside?
Inside the A73 box, you will find the watch itself, an English user manual and a charging cable. It's a modest package and it would be nice if it included a protective glass or an additional charging cable. We received the latter together with LT21, and Gudrutis came with an additional bracelet.
First impressions and quality
The case of this watch is made of hard plastic and its bracelet is made of silicone. Nothing crunches in it and does not rattle when shaken, so the quality of the assembly looks quite solid. In the back part, you will find the place for magnetic charging, on the right side of the case, the activation and SOS buttons, and on the left side, the SIM card slot.
The disadvantage of the SIM card slot is that it has a small slot for removal without tools, and a curious child could remove the SIM card that way.
Preparation for use
The smartphone app that controls this watch is already tested (with LT21) SeTracker2, so the registration steps are the same. We insert the SIM card into the A73, turn it on and select the QR code from the menu, and follow the steps to connect to the app on the phone. The entire connection and preparation for use takes only a few minutes.
Clock management
The operation of the A73 watch will be easy for little ones to understand very quickly due to its simplicity. Unlocking is done using the button on the side. By swiping from left to right, you will see the favorite functions that you can adjust.
It's like a quick menu where you can leave frequently used functions for quick access. On the main screen, swiping from top to bottom will show you basic watch information (battery level, connection strength, etc.), as well as recent notifications and events.
The main menu is accessed by swiping from the right to the left of the main window. In the menu, you will find all available functions of the watch, including camera, pedometer, stopwatch, calculator, calendar, etc.
GPS tracking
Perhaps the most important feature that drives the purchase of these watches is GPS tracking. This feature allows users of the SeTracker2 app to see the real-time location of the watch. Location determination can be done in several ways - it is a built-in GPS receiver in the watch, WiFi and mobile connection.
In use, depending on the method, the location is determined within 10-30 seconds and is usually determined with great accuracy. When inside a building, you will see which part of the building the clock is located on. You can adjust the frequency of tracking as needed in the app - choose between 10 minutes, 1 hour or a manual call.
An additional function related to GPS tracking is the replication of steps, that is, you can see the movement of the watch on the map at the selected time. This function will repeat the locations according to the selected tracking frequency mentioned earlier.
The SeTracker2 App itself uses the Google Maps map, so you can change the map display to an ortho photo for easier orientation. The app also allows you to set a geofence, so when the watch moves out of the set zone, SeTracker2 users will receive a notification about crossing the zone.
Another useful feature is the route planning from the phone to the watch. By pressing the navigation button on the map, you will get navigation directions to the watch (using an Apple iPhone navigation switches to the Apple Maps app).
Communication
In addition to the traditional methods of communication (call and SMS), a chat group can be created between the watch and SeTracker2 users. You can share voice messages, text messages or even photos here. Because of its simplicity, voice messages have become our most used communication feature. You just need to hold the sound recording button on the screen, speak and release the button.
Another convenient method of communication is video calls. A full video connection (depending on whether you are using WiFi) can take up to 30 seconds between users, and one of the biggest advantages of video calls is group chat. At the same time, you can chat using multiple devices. The sound quality from the watch's microphone is good, and the watch's speaker is loud enough for easy conversations even in noisy environments.
An additional SOS button on the side will allow the little ones to quickly call the phone numbers saved in the SeTracker2 app. You don't even need to turn on the watch, just hold down the SOS button for about 5 seconds and the watch will call the first phone number. In this case, if the first one does not answer or rejects the call, the second number is called in order.
Secret photos and eavesdropping
The SeTracker2 app allows you to take photos from the watch camera secretly. Just select the "remote photo" function and you will get a photo from the watch instantly. And although the quality of the camera has room for improvement, parents are usually satisfied with the resulting photo in which the environment is visible.
Similar to the secret photo, using the sound guardian function you can receive a call from the watch and listen to what is happening around the watch. The advantage of both of these features is that the watch does not display any information about the photo or call you are taking.
Battery
A full day - that's how long the battery of the A73 watch lasts using all the offered functions: GPS tracking every 10 minutes, several video calls and voice messages. And although the battery level usually reaches 20-30% in the evening, it will not be enough for the next day and it will have to be charged. It takes just over an hour to fully charge the A73.
Verdict
For its price, the A73 watch has a lot of useful features. GPS tracking is accurate, video calls are quality, and additional communication features are simple and valuable. This watch is similar in price and phone app to the LT21 watch, but has several differences - instead of a searchlight, it has an SOS button, which makes it very easy to quickly call certain numbers.
It's a pity, but there is no quick option to set the screen brightness or sound level (choices through settings and it can be difficult for a child). Due to their similarity, A73 and LT21 can be compared together against the Lithuanian Gudrutis, and here our opinion has not changed - A73 and LT21 are a much better choice in terms of price and offered functions. The opinion of the little reviewer is also important - after testing all 3 watches, she categorically chose the best watch for herself - LT21.
