Best phone for kids: What parents should look for

Cell phones have become an integral part of our lives, especially as parents. As your child gets older, a cell phone can be a valuable tool for both communication and teaching them personal responsibility. But with so many available models, and so many features to consider, how do you know which one is the right choice for your kid’s first phone? Below, we’ll discuss all the things to consider when trying to figure out what the best phones for kids actually are.

Before buying a kids cell phone

Once you’ve decided your child is the right age for a new phone, you should make sure you and your child are on the same page when it comes to expectations. For example, will they have set screen time limits? Will you be using parent controls? Is it solely to be used on certain occasions, such as when they need to be picked up from extracurricular activities? Make sure to outline what exactly you expect from your child (and their behavior) before they get their first phone.

What to consider when researching phones for kids 

Here are a few factors to consider when researching the best phones for kids:

Price

This is likely one of the first things to consider. Your kid, like many adults, might think they need the latest and greatest phone. But that’s just marketing doing its thing. Since we’re all about transparency here, we can assure you, there are plenty of phones out there that have the features you and your child need at a very affordable price. 

Parental controls

There are several apps available in the App Store and Google Play that can help you monitor screen time, filter web content and just keep track of what your kid’s doing on their phone. This means you don’t have to worry about the phone itself having these features built-in, giving you more options to choose from. 

Battery life

Your kid may not always have access to a charger, so you’ll want to ensure they have a phone that will last from drop-off to the final bell. 

Durability

Kids are notoriously not great at “handling with care.” Let’s be honest, most adults aren’t either. Consider a phone that isn’t made entirely of glass, and be sure to get them a screen protector and a good phone case… preferably with their favorite animated character on it.

Device protection

In addition to the aforementioned protective gear, consider adding a protection plan, like Mint’s Phone protection from Allstate, to your kid’s phone for greater peace of mind.

Physical size of the phone

Remember when phones got smaller and smaller, only to go full touchscreen and start getting bigger and bigger again? Well, your kids probably don’t. However, as beautiful as their favorite game may look on a massive tablet-sized screen, getting a phone that’s difficult to manage with their kid hands could make it harder to dial or text, as well as result in more drops.

What are the best phones for kids? 

Best is subjective, so it really depends on you and your child’s unique needs. You may want their phone to have the same operating system as yours, so you can link accounts and track activity easier. This means if you have an iPhone, you probably want them to have an iPhone; if you’re an Android user, you probably want them to be an Android user too. Here are a few different phone models to consider, depending on what’s most important to you:

• iPhone SE (3rd generation): 
  • Same processor as iPhone 13
  • Affordable
  • Good battery life
  • Parent-friendly features like Screen Time controls and Family Sharing
  • Can limit calls to contacts/emergency lists only
  • Find My iPhone for location tracking

• Samsung Galaxy A14 5G: 
  • Robust battery life
  • Large display
  • Compatible with Samsung’s Kids Mode
  • Can enable parental controls via Google’s Family Link

• Google Pixel 8A: 
  • Offers many of the same features as higher-end models at a more affordable price
  • Great battery & quick charge 
  • Highly resistant to hacking due to Titan M2 chip
  • Comes with Google’s Digital Wellbeing features and Family Link

• Moto G Pure: 
  • Very affordable
  • Large display
  • Basic features perfect for younger kids

Best phone for kids? Check. What about best phone plan for kids?

Once you’ve decided on the right first phone for your kid, the next logical step is finding the best phone plan for kids. No need to worry, we’ve got you – Mint Kids, our full-size plan for your mini-me, offers the same great features as a regular Mint plan but allows you, the parent, to manage and monitor for added peace of mind. Wanna know more? Just tap that button below.