Best Phones For Kids In 2024

Another reason is based on their maturity level. A phone is not just a gadget. It’s a responsibility. Sadly, children will be children. They may become easily addicted and only see it as the former. Consider whether your child is old enough mentally and age-wise to make the right choices if you bought them the phone. 

For example, can your child still set aside time for homework? Will they throw a tantrum if you were to take away the phone so they could concentrate? Can you trust them to stay away from certain websites and content? Will they come to you freely if they face cyberbullying and other negative experiences online?

Getting your child ready for their first phone

If your answer to most of the above questions is “no”, that’s perfectly fine. You can hold off until your kid is ready. In the meantime, you can challenge them with activities or tasks that will build their maturity and sense of responsibility while using the phone as a reward. For example, get them to complete chores around the house and reward them with points. Each point they accumulate goes towards earning their phone.

Another thing you can do is to get them the phone while setting ground rules with consequences. You can set screen time limits with confiscation if they disobey your rules. But you can’t always be there to monitor them. In that case, set parental controls on the phone. Luckily, there are many such apps on the Google Play Store.

But discuss it with them first. If they find out you’re spying on them, you’ll break their trust. Instead, explain your concerns about their safety online and how parental controls help. If possible, involve them when choosing the appropriate restrictions. 

When should you get your child a phone?

One survey reveals that 42% of kids in the USA have a phone at age 10. 91% have them by age 14. However, different countries have various definitions of who a child is. The United Nations Convention defines it as any human being “below the age of 18 years” unless the law applicable to the child considers them an adult at an earlier age.

10 to 14 is a decent age range to get your child their first phone. Just remember to understand your motivations behind the act. It’s better to get it for them for communication and security reasons, rather than just following the trend or giving in to their requests. 

The Best phones for kids at a glance

• Best overall phone: Google Pixel 6a.
• Best value phone: Samsung Galaxy A23.
• Best phone for supervision: Bark phone.
• Best phone for connectivity: Moto G 5G.
• Best budget phone: Nokia 2780 flip.

Google Pixel 6a

Most children like taking goofy pictures, and making memories with friends. Google Pixel phones are renowned for their sharp cameras, and this one is priced lower than the Pixel 7 and 8 flagship models. It has a dual camera setup, with the main camera packing a wide 12.2MP lens and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The front camera is an 8MP wide sensor that supports panorama and auto-HDR features for clearer and wider selfies.

Children can be careless and pour liquids on their devices accidentally. Having a water-resistant and durable phone like the Pixel 6a means it’s better equipped to handle disastrous situations like that. The IP67 resistance rating means that the phone can stay up to one meter in water for roughly 30 minutes, and withstand dust.

Samsung Galaxy A23

The Samsung A23 smartphone comes from an affordable range of Galaxy devices with impressive specifications. Samsung phones also provide parental controls powered by Google’s Family Link. They allow you to remotely manage apps, screen time, website access, and more.

I recently gifted my niece this phone, and she’s overjoyed. It has all she needs for playing Roblox, chatting with her Snapchat buddies, and taking pictures. The phone has 4GB RAM with 128GB storage space, although there are different variations. It has four cameras on the rear, including the 50MP wide, 5MP ultra-wide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth lenses. The selfie camera is an 8MP wide lens.

Bark phone

Bark doesn’t manufacture its phones. What happens is that they take a random Samsung A series phone and customize it with their software. You’re buying a budget to mid-range phone from Samsung, but with Bark’s parental controls features — and it’s unremovable, so your child can’t disable the settings.

The phone system is specially designed for kids. You’ll be able to monitor who your kid texts and the contents, as well as what kind of apps or content they’re engaging with online. You’ll also have the right to approve or deny contacts and apps while setting time limits when they get too attached to their screen. Location tracking helps you know where they are at all times, even when they don’t answer your calls. 

Bark offers three plans. The starter plan costs $39 per month with unlimited talk and text. It supports basic phone functionality, but no internet, apps, or games. The advanced plans allow for more customization with app support and internet access. The phone itself is free. But you need to keep your subscription active for at least 90 days for it to become yours permanently. Otherwise, you’ll return it.

Moto G 5G

If your area has good 5G coverage, Motorola’s Moto G 5G is the ideal choice. Your kids will have faster internet speeds compared to older phone models. It’s beneficial for video calls when you’re far away from each other, video streaming, and large file downloads.

Like most smartphones, the Moto G 5G connects to Wi-Fi networks. Your children can access the internet at home or in other locations with Wi-Fi hotspots, without using up their mobile data plan.

Nokia 2780 flip

Nokia phones have a reputation for being well-built and longer-lasting than some competitors. It’s a good thing to consider if you prefer value over aesthetics. It’s one way to get your child their first foldable phone without going broke. The phone has a classic open-and-shut design with a mini screen on the outer cover. It shows the time and caller IDs, so your child knows who’s calling. When they’re done with a call, they can flip the phone shut to end it.

The 1450mAh battery seems small, but Nokia claims that it can last up to 18 days. It makes sense considering that the phone lacks most of the smartphone features that drain the battery. If your child has visual, motor, or hearing disabilities, you’ll find the big buttons and hearing aid features useful. With Real-Time Text (RTT) they can send messages back and forth while on a call if they struggle to hear the other party.

You should find a decently priced phone that fits both your and your child’s needs on this list. However, if you don’t mind going overboard for a flagship, you can check out the top gaming phones, and Samsung devices. But always discuss expectations, values, and boundaries around phone use before handing over the device. You should also look into buying phone cases and screen protectors to safeguard it, as well as research the best carrier plans for data and call minutes.