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TOAs school starts again, the pressure is mounting on parents to give their children their first phone. If you’ve decided the time has come, there are plenty of options to choose from, whether it’s a smartphone, a basic phone, or an upgrade to something newer.
From the phone itself to the cellular service that comes with it, and from key parental controls to how well the phone fits with the devices you already use, here are some of the things you should know before you take the plunge, including which models are the best.
The best option may be a phone you already own, especially if you plan to replace it in the near future. With a thorough cleaning, a new battery, and a new case, a used phone can be the best way to give your child a phone while helping the planet and your wallet, as long as it still has software compatibility.
Battery replacements typically cost between £50 and £150 depending on the model and store, and your familiarity with how the phone works will make it easier to clean and set up for your child.
Mobile operator EE has recently advised parents not to give their primary school-aged children their own smartphone. So if the phone is only used for making calls and sending text messages to organise pick-ups and emergency calls, a basic, “dumb” phone might be the solution. It should be noted that they only support SMS, not WhatsApp, iMessage or other messaging apps.
The downside is that many dumb phones still have limited internet access, and only a few have basic parental controls to block the camera, browser, and picture messaging (MMS). The lack of restrictions on things like contacts for calls and texts can also be a deal breaker, so check what’s possible in the manufacturer’s help documents before buying.
Nokia makes a range of feature phones, such as the 110 4G and 225, which cost between £30 and £60. Fun ones include nostalgic models, such as the new version of the Nokia 3210, or even movie-themed ones, such as the recently released HMD Barbie phone. Whatever model you choose, make sure it is 4G compatible, as most 3G services in the UK will already have been launched. Shutdown at the end of 2024.
Nokia 110 4G, £39.99
argos.co.uk
Nokia 225, £59.99
argos.co.uk
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Nokia 3210, £59.99
argos.co.uk
en.hmd.com
A budget Android phone might be a good place to start. There’s a range of models costing between £80 and £180. They don’t have great cameras and can be slow to launch and use apps, but they usually have large screens and long battery life.
Avoid models that run Android Go or don’t have access to the Play Store and Google services. As for software compatibility, check how much time you have left. Phones at this level typically only get two or three years of updates from their first release, not from the moment you buy it. Make sure there are good cases available, as kids drop phones even more than adults, and some level of water resistance is a good idea.
HMD has a range of Android phones available under its own brand or Nokia’s, and offers longer software support than many others. The HMD Pulse costs less than £100, has Android 14 with security updates until May 2027, and can be repaired at home if anything breaks.
Motorola has some good value deals on offer. The £130 model Moto G34 It has 5G, a big battery and a big screen, with Android 14 and security updates until January 2027.
The Galaxy A15 may be a better option if you have a Samsung family. It costs around £170, has Android 14 with security updates until January 2029, and has plenty of first- and third-party case options to choose from to make sure you’re protected.
HMD Pulse, £99.99
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Moto G34, £149.99
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Galaxy A15, £199
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If you want something better for an older child, Google’s Pixel 7a was excellent value for money in 2023 and costs around £300 or less if you buy it refurbished today. It offers 90% of the high-end phone experience with a fast display, fantastic camera, high-end performance, solid battery life, water resistance, software Updates until May 2028 and plenty of case options – the 7a is anything but cheap.
Refurbished Google Pixel 7a
£220
backmarket.co.uk
£239.99
musicmagpie.co.uk
If you’re in an Apple household, your options are more limited. The cheapest new iPhone is the iPhone SE 2022, which costs £429 at Apple or less elsewhere, offering a solid, if expensive, route into the Apple ecosystem.
Refurbished models can be cheaper. The refurbished iPhone SE 2020 costs around £110 and will likely be supported with updates for at least two or three years. The base 64GB storage is a little limited, but the phone is waterproof and there are plenty of third-party cases. A battery Apple service because it costs £65, if necessary.
For newer models with Face ID and longer support, a refurbished iPhone 13 costs around £300 and should come with four years of software support or more. Note that prices for used phones sometimes change on a daily basis.
New iPhone SE 2022
£359
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Refurbished iPhone SE 2020 for £105
backmarket.co.uk
£124.99
musicmagpie.co.uk
Refurbished iPhone 13 £315.70
backmarket.co.uk
from £354.99
musicmagpie.co.uk
Network service
Once you’ve chosen the right phone, it’s time to select a service provider. Most phone networks block 18+ content by default over the cellular connection, but some offer more advanced controls, so it’s worth checking they do what you need.
The cheapest starting option is usually a pay per use SIM Card (PAYG) – All the major networks offer one, such as O2’s Giffgaff, which specialises in offering best value packages or bundles of minutes, texts and data that are purchased for a month.
Before making a decision, check the network coverage in your area. Pay-as-you-go SIM cards are usually free, so you can always try them out first if you live in an area with a weak signal.
For more frequent users, PAYG may be more expensive than a contract, but credit, minutes, texts and data management can be used to teach financial responsibility. And once the credit runs out, there’s no chance of bill surprises.
Alternatively, a sim only plan It typically includes an allowance of minutes, texts, and data on a monthly, annual, or longer-term basis. Monthly contracts provide more flexibility to change things up, but are usually a bit more expensive.
The best deals are usually found on smaller virtual networks such as Tesco Mobile, Asda Mobile, Smarty, iD Mobile or Lebara – there are plenty of options. In many cases, you may have to spend between £5 and £10 a month, although there are some that offer lower prices.
Then there are family plans. If your family already uses a particular network for their phones, adding another line to your current plan can be cost-effective and easy to manage with one bill. Most major networks offer discounts for additional lines, while some, like EE, allow you to share data from your plan with other SIM cards on an ad hoc basis.
Some parental control features are available on all networks, though if you need something more powerful, ParentShield from Derby-based Engine Mobile promises a “kid-safe” network by providing extensive monitoring and control tools. These include allowing parents to read all text messages, record all calls, set alerts for worrying words or phrases in messages, block all premium-rate services and block usage at certain times of the day or night.
Plans tend to be more expensive (ParentShield’s SIM-only deals cost £9.99 a month) but offer peace of mind to many parents. They don’t help restrict content while the phone is connected to Wi-Fi, but they can be a nice solution.
Children under 13 years old: need a child account
Apple and Google both offer the ability to create child accounts linked to your own account for children under 13, allowing them to use an iPhone or Android device. Which one you create will likely depend on the platform you use as a parent. For example, if you use an Android phone with a Google account, it will be much easier to manage your child’s usage. part of your family account.
Parental controls
Even if your child is old enough to have their own account on their phone, you can apply various parental controls on an Android phone or iPhone during setup by connecting it to your account or a family account.
Both platforms can set screen time limits, block certain apps, limit age-appropriate content in the app store, put limits on permissions such as camera access, and allow you to track your location. It’s worth doing a little research Apple Parental Controls and Google Family Link Guides to make the adjustments correctly.
Websites of organizations such as The NSPCC and the The UK’s safest internet hub Has tips and resources that can help parents.
