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8 best phones for kids to buy in 2021
真正的父母选择的圣诞节最佳手机（智能和更模拟）可以购买。
由Mumsnet总部| Last updated Nov 3, 2021
The best mobile phones for kids (both smart and more analogue) to buy this Christmas, chosen by real parents.<\/p>"},{"meta_id":109710,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body","meta_value":"a:42:{i:0;s:7:\"content\";i:1;s:3:\"mpu\";i:2;s:5:\"image\";i:3;s:6:\"button\";i:4;s:18:\"third-party-iframe\";i:5;s:6:\"button\";i:6;s:5:\"image\";i:7;s:6:\"button\";i:8;s:18:\"third-party-iframe\";i:9;s:7:\"content\";i:10;s:6:\"button\";i:11;s:6:\"button\";i:12;s:5:\"image\";i:13;s:6:\"button\";i:14;s:18:\"third-party-iframe\";i:15;s:5:\"image\";i:16;s:6:\"button\";i:17;s:18:\"third-party-iframe\";i:18;s:7:\"content\";i:19;s:6:\"button\";i:20;s:5:\"image\";i:21;s:6:\"button\";i:22;s:18:\"third-party-iframe\";i:23;s:7:\"content\";i:24;s:6:\"button\";i:25;s:5:\"image\";i:26;s:6:\"button\";i:27;s:18:\"third-party-iframe\";i:28;s:6:\"button\";i:29;s:5:\"image\";i:30;s:6:\"button\";i:31;s:18:\"third-party-iframe\";i:32;s:5:\"image\";i:33;s:6:\"button\";i:34;s:18:\"third-party-iframe\";i:35;s:6:\"button\";i:36;s:7:\"content\";i:37;s:6:\"button\";i:38;s:7:\"content\";i:39;s:3:\"mpu\";i:40;s:7:\"content\";i:41;s:6:\"button\";}","value":["content","mpu","image","button","third-party-iframe","button","image","button","third-party-iframe","content","button","button","image","button","third-party-iframe","image","button","third-party-iframe","content","button","image","button","third-party-iframe","content","button","image","button","third-party-iframe","button","image","button","third-party-iframe","image","button","third-party-iframe","button","content","button","content","mpu","content","button"]},{"meta_id":109717,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_0_content","meta_value":"
Deciding when is the right time to allow your child a phone is a huge decision for most parents. You want them to be safe and contactable as they become more independent but with that you\u2019re handing them all sorts of freedoms that come with their own concerns too. You\u2019re definitely not alone if you\u2019re finding it all a bit of a minefield. But once you\u2019ve made the decision to go for it, choosing the right model is the next hurdle to jump, and the array of phones out there is mind-boggling.\u00a0<\/p>
To help you choose, we\u2019ve put together a guide to the best phones for kids, as chosen by Mumsnetters, from the products they\u2019ve bought and rated highly themselves. We also took notes on which models didn\u2019t cut the mustard for various reasons. Browse our shortlisted models, with pros, cons and all you need to know to find the right phone for your child.\u00a0<\/p>
Here are the best kids' phones to buy for Christmas 2021.<\/p>","value":"
Deciding when is the right time to allow your child a phone is a huge decision for most parents. You want them to be safe and contactable as they become more independent but with that you\u2019re handing them all sorts of freedoms that come with their own concerns too. You\u2019re definitely not alone if you\u2019re finding it all a bit of a minefield. But once you\u2019ve made the decision to go for it, choosing the right model is the next hurdle to jump, and the array of phones out there is mind-boggling.\u00a0<\/p>
To help you choose, we\u2019ve put together a guide to the best phones for kids, as chosen by Mumsnetters, from the products they\u2019ve bought and rated highly themselves. We also took notes on which models didn\u2019t cut the mustard for various reasons. Browse our shortlisted models, with pros, cons and all you need to know to find the right phone for your child.\u00a0<\/p>
Here are the best kids' phones to buy for Christmas 2021.<\/p>"},{"meta_id":1072955,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_edit_last","meta_value":"11","value":"11"},{"meta_id":1072956,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_expiration-date-status","meta_value":"saved","value":"saved"},{"meta_id":1072957,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_edit_lock","meta_value":"1635960007:11","value":"1635960007:11"},{"meta_id":1072961,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_metadata_meta_title","meta_value":"field_5ff8482f6b791","value":"field_5ff8482f6b791"},{"meta_id":1072962,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_metadata_meta_description","meta_value":"field_5ff848406b792","value":"field_5ff848406b792"},{"meta_id":1072963,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"metadata_do_not_allow_indexing","meta_value":"0","value":"0"},{"meta_id":1072964,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_metadata_do_not_allow_indexing","meta_value":"field_60255d5f751c0","value":"field_60255d5f751c0"},{"meta_id":1072965,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"metadata","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1072966,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_metadata","meta_value":"field_5fd3830066848","value":"field_5fd3830066848"},{"meta_id":1072967,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"meta_data","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1072968,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_meta_data","meta_value":"field_5fdb8d25a910f","value":"field_5fdb8d25a910f"},{"meta_id":1072969,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"show_sponsored_content_disclaimer","meta_value":"1","value":"1"},{"meta_id":1072970,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_show_sponsored_content_disclaimer","meta_value":"field_607046b8f3d5e","value":"field_607046b8f3d5e"},{"meta_id":1072971,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_standfirst","meta_value":"field_5fdb8d25a9512","value":"field_5fdb8d25a9512"},{"meta_id":1072972,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"content_author","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1072973,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_content_author","meta_value":"field_5fdb8d25a9b5f","value":"field_5fdb8d25a9b5f"},{"meta_id":1072974,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"hero_image","meta_value":"19163","value":"19163"},{"meta_id":1072975,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_hero_image","meta_value":"field_6001d021460de","value":"field_6001d021460de"},{"meta_id":1072976,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"hide_hero_image","meta_value":"0","value":"0"},{"meta_id":1072977,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_hide_hero_image","meta_value":"field_60d1d15460010","value":"field_60d1d15460010"},{"meta_id":1072978,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_0_content","meta_value":"field_5ff5e32e00b35","value":"field_5ff5e32e00b35"},{"meta_id":1072979,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body","meta_value":"field_5ff5e30b00b34","value":"field_5ff5e30b00b34"},{"meta_id":1072980,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1072981,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by","meta_value":"field_5ff71851b83af","value":"field_5ff71851b83af"},{"meta_id":1072982,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"default_hub","meta_value":"8049","value":"8049"},{"meta_id":1072983,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_default_hub","meta_value":"field_5fdb8d25a9d5c","value":"field_5fdb8d25a9d5c"},{"meta_id":1072984,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"hub_data_hub_image","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1072985,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_hub_data_hub_image","meta_value":"field_5ff46fa656d18","value":"field_5ff46fa656d18"},{"meta_id":1072986,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"hub_data_hub_title","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1072987,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_hub_data_hub_title","meta_value":"field_5ff847a9e8dce","value":"field_5ff847a9e8dce"},{"meta_id":1072988,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"hub_data_hub_teaser_text","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1072989,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_hub_data_hub_teaser_text","meta_value":"field_5ff8686325fd2","value":"field_5ff8686325fd2"},{"meta_id":1072990,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"hub_data","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1072991,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_hub_data","meta_value":"field_5ff470adba7db","value":"field_5ff470adba7db"},{"meta_id":1072992,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"manual_related_links","meta_value":"a:6:{i:0;s:4:\"7312\";i:1;s:4:\"7834\";i:2;s:4:\"7629\";i:3;s:5:\"26761\";i:4;s:5:\"27919\";i:5;s:5:\"19928\";}","value":["7312","7834","7629","26761","27919","19928"]},{"meta_id":1072993,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_manual_related_links","meta_value":"field_5fdb8d25aa157","value":"field_5fdb8d25aa157"},{"meta_id":1072994,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"sponsor","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1072995,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_sponsor","meta_value":"field_5fdb8d25aa25b","value":"field_5fdb8d25aa25b"},{"meta_id":1781906,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"requires_login","meta_value":"0","value":"0"},{"meta_id":1781907,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_requires_login","meta_value":"field_611253d0ce5be","value":"field_611253d0ce5be"},{"meta_id":1781908,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_1_id","meta_value":"1","value":"1"},{"meta_id":1781909,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_1_id","meta_value":"field_605356a45ac1b","value":"field_605356a45ac1b"},{"meta_id":1781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Best budget phone for kids: Alcatel Pixi 4","value":"2. Best budget phone for kids: Alcatel Pixi 4"},{"meta_id":1781947,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_6_title","meta_value":"field_602a92c901c21","value":"field_602a92c901c21"},{"meta_id":1781948,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_6_image_image","meta_value":"24374","value":"24374"},{"meta_id":1781949,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_6_image_image","meta_value":"field_5ff70e497941a","value":"field_5ff70e497941a"},{"meta_id":1781950,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_6_image_text","meta_value":"
Price: \u00a383.99 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cI got my daughter an Alcatel Pixi from EE for school.\u201d - Maz99<\/a><\/em><\/p> Getting your child set up with their first phone needn\u2019t cost the earth and if you can spend just a little more and shop carefully you can get some really great features without breaking the bank. The Alcatel Pixi 4 is about as cheap and cheerful as you\u2019re going to get for a decent smartphone under \u00a3100 and there are lots of good refurbed models available for even less. It has an Android operating system and 3G connectivity, with 4GB of internal memory, a slim yet premium design, and dual cameras.\u00a0<\/p> On the downside, it\u2019s quite slow and adding apps such as Facebook and Skype are likely to cause lag. Still, for the price, what you get is fair and it\u2019s great as a first phone that isn\u2019t offering \u2018too much\u2019 for a first-time user. You can always add more memory with an SD card, too.\u00a0<\/p> For a functional, no-frills option, opt for the Pixi.\u00a0<\/p> Price: \u00a383.99 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cI got my daughter an Alcatel Pixi from EE for school.\u201d - Maz99<\/a><\/em><\/p> Getting your child set up with their first phone needn\u2019t cost the earth and if you can spend just a little more and shop carefully you can get some really great features without breaking the bank. The Alcatel Pixi 4 is about as cheap and cheerful as you\u2019re going to get for a decent smartphone under \u00a3100 and there are lots of good refurbed models available for even less. It has an Android operating system and 3G connectivity, with 4GB of internal memory, a slim yet premium design, and dual cameras.\u00a0<\/p> On the downside, it\u2019s quite slow and adding apps such as Facebook and Skype are likely to cause lag. Still, for the price, what you get is fair and it\u2019s great as a first phone that isn\u2019t offering \u2018too much\u2019 for a first-time user. You can always add more memory with an SD card, too.\u00a0<\/p> For a functional, no-frills option, opt for the Pixi.\u00a0<\/p> Just select your budget \u2013 it can be anything from \u00a310 to 20+ \u2013 and pick the bundle that\u2019s right for you. If this is your child's first phone, you could start them on the following tariff:<\/p> Just select your budget \u2013 it can be anything from \u00a310 to 20+ \u2013 and pick the bundle that\u2019s right for you. If this is your child's first phone, you could start them on the following tariff:<\/p> Price: \u00a3179.99 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cMy 15-year-old daughter recently got a Huawei smartphone, after great reviews and me refusing her an iPhone. Loves it. Well worth considering if you want to stretch to a smartphone.\u201d \u2013 Circular<\/a><\/em><\/p> If looking cool is a must (when isn't it with teenagers?) and you have a bit of money to spend, take a look at the Huawei Y7. Mumsnetters have been buying this one for their 14-year-olds (and older) as it comes with studio-quality lighting effects for all their photos. Older kids will appreciate this feature far more and will have already proved that they can handle the responsibility \u2013 or not, as the case may be.\u00a0<\/p> The screen is a really generous size and easy to read, and the battery life is good \u2013 both things that are useful for enthusiastic new phone users.\u00a0<\/p> This high-tech phone also lets them use their face as a password, as well as their fingerprint, so they\u2019ll never get locked out. In fact, it has all the features you would expect from more expensive Apple or Samsung smartphones without the hefty price tag. Get a cheap pay as you go SIM or opt for an affordable monthly contract.<\/p> Price: \u00a3179.99 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cMy 15-year-old daughter recently got a Huawei smartphone, after great reviews and me refusing her an iPhone. Loves it. Well worth considering if you want to stretch to a smartphone.\u201d \u2013 Circular<\/a><\/em><\/p> If looking cool is a must (when isn't it with teenagers?) and you have a bit of money to spend, take a look at the Huawei Y7. Mumsnetters have been buying this one for their 14-year-olds (and older) as it comes with studio-quality lighting effects for all their photos. Older kids will appreciate this feature far more and will have already proved that they can handle the responsibility \u2013 or not, as the case may be.\u00a0<\/p> The screen is a really generous size and easy to read, and the battery life is good \u2013 both things that are useful for enthusiastic new phone users.\u00a0<\/p> This high-tech phone also lets them use their face as a password, as well as their fingerprint, so they\u2019ll never get locked out. In fact, it has all the features you would expect from more expensive Apple or Samsung smartphones without the hefty price tag. Get a cheap pay as you go SIM or opt for an affordable monthly contract.<\/p> Price: \u00a3149.99 | Buy now from Argos<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \"The Nokia 5.3 gets good reviews for a budget first phone. It shouldn't cost more than \u00a3150.\" - CruelAndUnusualParenting<\/a><\/em><\/p> This Android-powered touchscreen phone may not be the cheapest option compared to more basic models, but it is great value for money. It looks modern, has a decent quad camera so your kids can snap their own pictures (rather than clogging your camera roll), and comes in a sleek, dark green version if your child is wanting something a little more standout.<\/p> The battery-life is high too \u2013 you should get two days of use out of the phone when it's fully charged. Reviewers love its quality and functionality for the cost, making this a great entry-level option for a first smartphone.<\/p> Price: \u00a3149.99 | Buy now from Argos<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \"The Nokia 5.3 gets good reviews for a budget first phone. It shouldn't cost more than \u00a3150.\" - CruelAndUnusualParenting<\/a><\/em><\/p> This Android-powered touchscreen phone may not be the cheapest option compared to more basic models, but it is great value for money. It looks modern, has a decent quad camera so your kids can snap their own pictures (rather than clogging your camera roll), and comes in a sleek, dark green version if your child is wanting something a little more standout.<\/p> The battery-life is high too \u2013 you should get two days of use out of the phone when it's fully charged. Reviewers love its quality and functionality for the cost, making this a great entry-level option for a first smartphone.<\/p> From \u00a36 per month you can get:<\/p> From \u00a36 per month you can get:<\/p> Price: \u00a3159.99 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cI definitely recommend getting a Wileyfox smartphone. They are brilliant and my hard-to-please 11-year-olds love them. It has all the features they need but can be customised by parents. Excellent quality and value for money \u2013 especially if you team it with a \u00a36 monthly Goody Bag PAYG deal from GiffGaff.\u201d - CrystalGlitz<\/a><\/em><\/p> Preteens don\u2019t need jaw-droppingly expensive smartphones (no matter what they tell you). Instead, try them on the iPhone-inspired Wileyfox Swift 2. It looks the part, comes with 32GB of storage \u2013 plus 128GB of expandable memory \u2013 and comes in a cool, gold colour (perfect for those teens who are conscious about having a nice looking phone).<\/p> The screen is made from Gorilla Glass, which is 10 times tougher than normal glass, so the phone should survive the odd drop. It has fingerprint scanning too, so they won\u2019t be able to lock themselves out of the thing.\u00a0<\/p> For a reliable \u2013 yet chic \u2013 iPhone alternative, look no further. Suitable for ages 11+.<\/p> Price: \u00a3159.99 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cI definitely recommend getting a Wileyfox smartphone. They are brilliant and my hard-to-please 11-year-olds love them. It has all the features they need but can be customised by parents. Excellent quality and value for money \u2013 especially if you team it with a \u00a36 monthly Goody Bag PAYG deal from GiffGaff.\u201d - CrystalGlitz<\/a><\/em><\/p> Preteens don\u2019t need jaw-droppingly expensive smartphones (no matter what they tell you). Instead, try them on the iPhone-inspired Wileyfox Swift 2. It looks the part, comes with 32GB of storage \u2013 plus 128GB of expandable memory \u2013 and comes in a cool, gold colour (perfect for those teens who are conscious about having a nice looking phone).<\/p> The screen is made from Gorilla Glass, which is 10 times tougher than normal glass, so the phone should survive the odd drop. It has fingerprint scanning too, so they won\u2019t be able to lock themselves out of the thing.\u00a0<\/p> For a reliable \u2013 yet chic \u2013 iPhone alternative, look no further. Suitable for ages 11+.<\/p> Giffgaff Goody Bag deals start at just \u00a310 per month. For this, you\u2019ll get:<\/p> Giffgaff Goody Bag deals start at just \u00a310 per month. For this, you\u2019ll get:<\/p> \u00a0Price: \u00a318.49 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cTry them with a festival phone like the Nokia 105. Basic but functional.\u201d - AuntieStella\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p> \u201cI work in the mobile phone industry and have done so for over 10 years. I constantly see parents shelling out loads of money on expensive phones for their children. Those same parents end up coming back into the store, having to spend even more money on insurance excess fees or, even worse, a full repair cost of hundreds of pounds. It happens because the children getting the phones don't understand the value of them and, as a result, aren't careful with them. Always start them on a cheap pay-as-you-go mobile. They\u2019re perfect.\u201d -\u00a0RibenaMonsoon<\/a><\/em><\/p> Remember the good old days when everyone had a trusty Nokia 3310? Well, the Nokia 105 is as close as you\u2019re going to get to that old faithful these days. It doesn't have 3G connectivity, or a camera, but it does come with Snake pre-loaded onto it, and it\u2019s still just as addictive.\u00a0<\/p> If you\u2019re not sure about your child having a smartphone, you can easily find \u2018basic\u2019 phones still and the great news is they are so cheap these days, so you won\u2019t have to worry too much about them losing it and, just like its 00s predecessor, they'll have to try very hard to break it. You might have to explain what 2G is to them but we think they\u2019ll like the simplicity of this phone. And did we mention that it has SNAKE on it?<\/p> If they\u2019ve asked for a phone, but you\u2019re not convinced they\u2019re ready, this Nokia is the ideal compromise.<\/p> \u00a0Price: \u00a318.49 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cTry them with a festival phone like the Nokia 105. Basic but functional.\u201d - AuntieStella\u00a0<\/a><\/em><\/p> \u201cI work in the mobile phone industry and have done so for over 10 years. I constantly see parents shelling out loads of money on expensive phones for their children. Those same parents end up coming back into the store, having to spend even more money on insurance excess fees or, even worse, a full repair cost of hundreds of pounds. It happens because the children getting the phones don't understand the value of them and, as a result, aren't careful with them. Always start them on a cheap pay-as-you-go mobile. They\u2019re perfect.\u201d -\u00a0RibenaMonsoon<\/a><\/em><\/p> Remember the good old days when everyone had a trusty Nokia 3310? Well, the Nokia 105 is as close as you\u2019re going to get to that old faithful these days. It doesn't have 3G connectivity, or a camera, but it does come with Snake pre-loaded onto it, and it\u2019s still just as addictive.\u00a0<\/p> If you\u2019re not sure about your child having a smartphone, you can easily find \u2018basic\u2019 phones still and the great news is they are so cheap these days, so you won\u2019t have to worry too much about them losing it and, just like its 00s predecessor, they'll have to try very hard to break it. You might have to explain what 2G is to them but we think they\u2019ll like the simplicity of this phone. And did we mention that it has SNAKE on it?<\/p> If they\u2019ve asked for a phone, but you\u2019re not convinced they\u2019re ready, this Nokia is the ideal compromise.<\/p> \u00a0Price: Around \u00a3120 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cI'd recommend maybe just hopping up a grade or two with an iPhone and get a reconditioned one. Online sellers come with a year guarantee and will fix without quibble. DD has a nice iPhone 8 which was about \u00a3200.\u201d -\u00a0Beamer<\/a><\/em><\/p> If only an iPhone will do, make it a reconditioned one, so there aren\u2019t <quite> so many tears when they inevitably lose it or it gets nicked at school. Once they\u2019ve seen that happen a few times, kids generally have a better appreciation for the sense of not dropping \u00a3500 on the brand new, latest model.<\/p> There are lots of iPhone 8s on the market and it\u2019s a great model with waterproofed casing, dual speakers and a much snazzier camera than the previous iPhone.\u00a0<\/p> On these reconditioned models, Amazon Renewed promises that there will be no visible scratches or other damage when the phone is held 30cm away, and that the battery will exceed 80% capacity compared with a new model. The accessories may not be original but will all be compatible, and it comes with a one-year guarantee if it isn\u2019t as expected.<\/p> Sulky teens hoping for an iPhone 12 might pout about a 8, but they are welcome to save up for several years to buy one. If you\u2019re shelling out for a phone for them, you can be confident that this one is a decent model that won\u2019t let them down and yet isn\u2019t quite covetable enough for it to be stolen within seconds of them showing it off at the school gate.\u00a0<\/p> \u00a0Price: Around \u00a3120 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cI'd recommend maybe just hopping up a grade or two with an iPhone and get a reconditioned one. Online sellers come with a year guarantee and will fix without quibble. DD has a nice iPhone 8 which was about \u00a3200.\u201d -\u00a0Beamer<\/a><\/em><\/p> If only an iPhone will do, make it a reconditioned one, so there aren\u2019t <quite> so many tears when they inevitably lose it or it gets nicked at school. Once they\u2019ve seen that happen a few times, kids generally have a better appreciation for the sense of not dropping \u00a3500 on the brand new, latest model.<\/p> There are lots of iPhone 8s on the market and it\u2019s a great model with waterproofed casing, dual speakers and a much snazzier camera than the previous iPhone.\u00a0<\/p> On these reconditioned models, Amazon Renewed promises that there will be no visible scratches or other damage when the phone is held 30cm away, and that the battery will exceed 80% capacity compared with a new model. The accessories may not be original but will all be compatible, and it comes with a one-year guarantee if it isn\u2019t as expected.<\/p> Sulky teens hoping for an iPhone 12 might pout about a 8, but they are welcome to save up for several years to buy one. If you\u2019re shelling out for a phone for them, you can be confident that this one is a decent model that won\u2019t let them down and yet isn\u2019t quite covetable enough for it to be stolen within seconds of them showing it off at the school gate.\u00a0<\/p> Price: \u00a321.24 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cNo, they do not need an iPhone. My son got a basic flip-flop phone that we got free from our cellphone company when he started high school (and not before).\u201d - LiveOutLoud<\/a><\/em><\/p> If you\u2019re looking for something robust that won\u2019t get a scratched screen (or accidentally butt-dial you during Geography), a flip phone is a great choice. This Jitterbug model in snazzy red is actually aimed at the older market, for elderly people who find it difficult to press tiny buttons and perhaps don\u2019t want too many frills. But those characteristics also make it the perfect choice for a first phone for kids, particularly if you\u2019re starting them a little younger and don\u2019t want to give them a full-on smartphone yet.\u00a0<\/p> It might be basic but it does what it sets out to do really well, with nice chunky buttons that are easy for little fingers to use, and an ergonomic hand set. It also has a few handy little functions like a calendar, calculator, alarm, FM radio and video\/MP3 player.\u00a0<\/p> Obviously, it doesn\u2019t have internet access but you might want to avoid this anyway for a younger child, and while it\u2019s a nice-looking phone its nickability is low. Plus, at \u00a324 plus your PAYG, if they do lose the phone, you\u2019re less likely to lose your rag. Everyone\u2019s a winner.<\/p> Price: \u00a321.24 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cNo, they do not need an iPhone. My son got a basic flip-flop phone that we got free from our cellphone company when he started high school (and not before).\u201d - LiveOutLoud<\/a><\/em><\/p> If you\u2019re looking for something robust that won\u2019t get a scratched screen (or accidentally butt-dial you during Geography), a flip phone is a great choice. This Jitterbug model in snazzy red is actually aimed at the older market, for elderly people who find it difficult to press tiny buttons and perhaps don\u2019t want too many frills. But those characteristics also make it the perfect choice for a first phone for kids, particularly if you\u2019re starting them a little younger and don\u2019t want to give them a full-on smartphone yet.\u00a0<\/p> It might be basic but it does what it sets out to do really well, with nice chunky buttons that are easy for little fingers to use, and an ergonomic hand set. It also has a few handy little functions like a calendar, calculator, alarm, FM radio and video\/MP3 player.\u00a0<\/p> Obviously, it doesn\u2019t have internet access but you might want to avoid this anyway for a younger child, and while it\u2019s a nice-looking phone its nickability is low. Plus, at \u00a324 plus your PAYG, if they do lose the phone, you\u2019re less likely to lose your rag. Everyone\u2019s a winner.<\/p> Like so many parenting decisions it depends on the child. The average age is apparently 10 years 3 months these days, but many parents wait until the last term of year six or the start of secondary school.<\/p> Having said that, a phone is not a must for secondary. If they\u2019re getting two trains there and back it might give you peace of mind, but if their school is a short stroll from your house you\u2019d be forgiven for wondering what exactly it is they need a phone for. Weigh up the pros (safety and contactability) against the cons (exposure to potential bullying and the whole of the internet if it\u2019s a smartphone).\u00a0<\/p> There may be other factors at play too. Perhaps if you are separated from your child\u2019s other parent, it\u2019s an easy way to contact them when they\u2019re at \u2018the other house\u2019. Or maybe they do a lot of after school activities and payphones are no longer in evidence where you live.\u00a0<\/p> Don\u2019t simply bow to pressure if you think your child isn\u2019t ready, though. It\u2019s worth remembering that Bill Gates didn\u2019t let his kids have smartphones until they were 14. And if anyone knows about the pitfalls of the internet it\u2019s Bill!<\/p> First, decide on whether you\u2019re going for a smartphone or a good old fashioned mobile. That will narrow it down a lot. And think about whether you want pay as you go or a contract, and see what\u2019s on offer with both.\u00a0<\/p> Here are a few more things to consider:<\/p> Like so many parenting decisions it depends on the child. The average age is apparently 10 years 3 months these days, but many parents wait until the last term of year six or the start of secondary school.<\/p> Having said that, a phone is not a must for secondary. If they\u2019re getting two trains there and back it might give you peace of mind, but if their school is a short stroll from your house you\u2019d be forgiven for wondering what exactly it is they need a phone for. Weigh up the pros (safety and contactability) against the cons (exposure to potential bullying and the whole of the internet if it\u2019s a smartphone).\u00a0<\/p> There may be other factors at play too. Perhaps if you are separated from your child\u2019s other parent, it\u2019s an easy way to contact them when they\u2019re at \u2018the other house\u2019. Or maybe they do a lot of after school activities and payphones are no longer in evidence where you live.\u00a0<\/p> Don\u2019t simply bow to pressure if you think your child isn\u2019t ready, though. It\u2019s worth remembering that Bill Gates didn\u2019t let his kids have smartphones until they were 14. And if anyone knows about the pitfalls of the internet it\u2019s Bill!<\/p> First, decide on whether you\u2019re going for a smartphone or a good old fashioned mobile. That will narrow it down a lot. And think about whether you want pay as you go or a contract, and see what\u2019s on offer with both.\u00a0<\/p> Here are a few more things to consider:<\/p> For its robustness, excellent battery life and intuitive design, we would choose the Motorola Moto G10 phone<\/a> as the best all-round phone for a child.\u00a0<\/p> To find the best phones on the market for teens and tweens, we first scoured all the most recent reviews to see what the experts were saying and what was new to the market, and assessed them against our own criteria for what we\u2019d choose for our own kids.<\/p> We then went to the Mumsnet Talk boards to ask real parents what they had bought for their children and at what stage, and found out how those phones had fared and whether they were still happy with those purchases some time on. We also made sure we made notes on any models that hadn\u2019t impressed Mumsnetters too.<\/p> From there, we collated both lists to come up with a shortlist of phones that had both won industry awards and accolades as well as those that had won applause from real parents, and we chose the phones that we felt represented the best choices and the best value for money.\u00a0<\/p>","value":" For its robustness, excellent battery life and intuitive design, we would choose the Motorola Moto G10 phone<\/a> as the best all-round phone for a child.\u00a0<\/p> To find the best phones on the market for teens and tweens, we first scoured all the most recent reviews to see what the experts were saying and what was new to the market, and assessed them against our own criteria for what we\u2019d choose for our own kids.<\/p> We then went to the Mumsnet Talk boards to ask real parents what they had bought for their children and at what stage, and found out how those phones had fared and whether they were still happy with those purchases some time on. We also made sure we made notes on any models that hadn\u2019t impressed Mumsnetters too.<\/p> From there, we collated both lists to come up with a shortlist of phones that had both won industry awards and accolades as well as those that had won applause from real parents, and we chose the phones that we felt represented the best choices and the best value for money.\u00a0<\/p>"},{"meta_id":1782275,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_38_content","meta_value":"field_5ff5e32e00b35","value":"field_5ff5e32e00b35"},{"meta_id":1782276,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_39_id","meta_value":"2","value":"2"},{"meta_id":1782277,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_39_id","meta_value":"field_605356a45ac1b","value":"field_605356a45ac1b"},{"meta_id":1782278,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_40_content","meta_value":" We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.<\/p> Looking to buy the perfect Christmas present for the men<\/a>, women<\/a> and children<\/a> in your life? We've got loads of gifting inspo on our Christmas page<\/a> including gift guides, product roundups and Christmas planning advice as well as festive competitions.\u00a0<\/p>","value":" We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful articles like this one.<\/p> Looking to buy the perfect Christmas present for the men<\/a>, women<\/a> and children<\/a> in your life? We've got loads of gifting inspo on our Christmas page<\/a> including gift guides, product roundups and Christmas planning advice as well as festive competitions.\u00a0<\/p>"},{"meta_id":1782279,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_40_content","meta_value":"field_5ff5e32e00b35","value":"field_5ff5e32e00b35"},{"meta_id":1782280,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_41_label","meta_value":"Read next: 11 best backpacks for school","value":"Read next: 11 best backpacks for school"},{"meta_id":1782281,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_41_label","meta_value":"field_5ff71419318af","value":"field_5ff71419318af"},{"meta_id":1782282,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_41_url_type","meta_value":"internal","value":"internal"},{"meta_id":1782283,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_41_url_type","meta_value":"field_602111f6cb5a9","value":"field_602111f6cb5a9"},{"meta_id":1782284,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_41_url_internal_url","meta_value":"7489","value":"7489"},{"meta_id":1782285,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_41_url_internal_url","meta_value":"field_5ff8640994fab","value":"field_5ff8640994fab"},{"meta_id":1782286,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_41_url_click_id","meta_value":"content-button","value":"content-button"},{"meta_id":1782287,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_41_url_click_id","meta_value":"field_6021122fcb5aa","value":"field_6021122fcb5aa"},{"meta_id":1782288,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_41_url","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":1782289,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_41_url","meta_value":"field_5ff7142f318b0","value":"field_5ff7142f318b0"},{"meta_id":2187629,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"second_sponsor","meta_value":"","value":""},{"meta_id":2187630,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_second_sponsor","meta_value":"field_614aef4c5ba7f","value":"field_614aef4c5ba7f"},{"meta_id":2494810,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_2_title","meta_value":"1. Best overall phone for kids: Motorola Moto G10","value":"1. Best overall phone for kids: Motorola Moto G10"},{"meta_id":2494811,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_2_title","meta_value":"field_602a92c901c21","value":"field_602a92c901c21"},{"meta_id":2494812,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_2_image_image","meta_value":"24377","value":"24377"},{"meta_id":2494813,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"_body_swears_by_body_2_image_image","meta_value":"field_5ff70e497941a","value":"field_5ff70e497941a"},{"meta_id":2494814,"post_id":7831,"meta_key":"body_swears_by_body_2_image_text","meta_value":" Price: \u00a3119.97 | Buy now from Amazon<\/a><\/strong><\/p> \u201cAll the kids I know have cheap-ish smartphones. Lots of them seem to have Motorola ones or older iPhones. I agree that it's ridiculous for a child to be carrying around several hundred pounds worth of breakable, loveable and steal-able kit.\u201d - FurryCushion<\/a><\/em><\/p>Pros<\/h3>
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EE PAYG deals<\/h3>
EE PAYG deals<\/h3>
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Carphone Warehouse SIM only deals<\/h3>
Carphone Warehouse SIM only deals<\/h3>
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Giffgaff Goody Bags<\/h3>
Giffgaff Goody Bags<\/h3>
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What age should a child get a phone?<\/h2>
How do I choose the best phone for kids?<\/h2>
What age should a child get a phone?<\/h2>
How do I choose the best phone for kids?<\/h2>
What is the most child-friendly phone?<\/h2>
\u00a0How we chose our recommendations<\/h2>
What is the most child-friendly phone?<\/h2>
\u00a0How we chose our recommendations<\/h2>
Why you should trust us<\/h2>
Why you should trust us<\/h2>