From dumb phones to hand-me-downs: the ultimate guide to buying phones for kids

As the schools go back, pressure mounts on parents to give their children their first phone. If you’ve decided the time has come, there are many options to choose from, whether it’s a smartphone, a basic handset, or an upgrade to something newer.

From the handset to the mobile service that goes 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 taking the plunge – including which models are the best.

A hand-me-down

The best option may be a phone you already have, particularly if you are looking to replace it in the near future. With a thorough cleaning, a new battery and a new case, a hand-me-down might be the best way to give your child a phone while helping the planet and your wallet in the process, as long as it still has software support.

Battery replacements typically cost £50 to £150 depending on the model and shop, and your familiarity with the way the phone works will make it easier to wipe and set up for your child.

A basic phone

Mobile operator EE recently advised parents not to give primary school-age children their own smartphone. So if the handset is only for calls and texts for arranging pickups and emergency phone calls, then a basic “dumb” phone could be the answer. Note 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 handful have basic parental controls for locking down the camera, the browser and picture messaging (MMS). The lack of restrictions on things such as contacts for calls and texts may be a deal-breaker, too, so check what’s possible in the manufacturer’s help documents before you buy.

Nokia makes a range of feature phones, such as the 110 4G and 225, that cost about £30 to £60. More fun ones include nostalgia models such as the remake of the Nokia 3210 or even movie tie-ins such as the recently released HMD Barbie phone. Whichever model you choose, make sure it supports 4G, as most 3G services in the UK will have been switched off by the end of 2024.

Nokia 110 4G, £39.99
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Nokia 225, £59.99
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Nokia 3210, £59.99
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Budget Android

A budget Android phone could be a good starting point. There’s a range of models at about the £80 to £180 mark. They won’t have great cameras and may be sluggish in launching and using apps, but they typically have large screens and solid battery life.

Avoid models running Android Go or without access to the Play Store and Google services. In terms of software support, check how long is left. Phones at this level typically only receive two to three years of updates from their first release, not the point at which you buy it. Make sure good cases are available as children drop phones even more than adults do, and some level of water resistance is a good idea.

HMD has a range of Androids available under its own or the Nokia brand, and offers longer software support than many. The HMD Pulse costs less than £100, has Android 14 with security updates until May 2027 and can be repaired at home if something gets broken.

Motorola has some good-value offerings. The £130 Moto G34 has 5G, a big battery and large screen, with Android 14 and security updates until January 2027.

The Galaxy A15 may be a better choice if you are a Samsung family. It costs about £170, has Android 14 with security updates until January 2029, and has lots of first- and third-party case options to choose from to make sure it’s protected.

HMD Pulse, £99.99
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Moto G34, £149.99
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Galaxy A15, £199
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Google Pixel 7a

If you want something better for an older child, Google’s Pixel 7a was great value in 2023 and costs about £300 or less if you buy refurbished today. It offers 90% of the high-end phone experience with a fast screen, a fantastic camera, high-end performance, solid battery life, water resistance, software updates until May 2028 and plenty of case options – there’s nothing budget about the 7a.

Refurbished Google Pixel 7a
£220
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£239.99
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Apple iPhone

If you are an Apple family your options are more limited. The cheapest new iPhone is the 2022 iPhone SE at £429 from Apple or less elsewhere, which offers a solid, if expensive, route into the Apple ecosystem.

Refurbished models may be more economical. The 2020 iPhone SE costs about £110 refurbished and will probably be supported with updates for at least two to three years. The base 64GB storage is a bit tight but the phone is water resistant, and there are buckets of third-party cases. A battery service from Apple for it costs £65, should that be required.

For newer models with Face ID and longer support, the iPhone 13 costs from about £300 refurbished and should see four years of software support or more. Note that the prices for second-hand phones sometimes change daily.

New 2022 iPhone SE
£359
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Refurbished 2020 iPhone SE £105
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£124.99
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Refurbished iPhone 13 £315.70
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from £354.99
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Network service

Once you’ve chosen the right phone, it’s time to select a service provider. Most of the phone networks block 18-plus content by default over the mobile connection, but some offer more advanced controls on top, so it is worth checking they do what you need.

The cheapest starter option is usually a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) sim card. All the major networks provide them with some, such as O2’s giffgaff, specialising in providing better-value packs or bundles of minutes, texts and data that you buy for a month at a time.

Check the network coverage around your local area before deciding. PAYG sims are usually free, so you can always test them out first if you live in a weak signal area.

For heavier users, PAYG can work out more expensive than a contract, but you can use managing credit, minutes, texts and data to teach financial responsibility. And once the credit runs out, there’s no chance of bill shock.

Alternatively, a sim-only plan typically includes an allowance of minutes, texts and data on a rolling monthly, yearly or longer basis. Monthly contracts provide greater flexibility to change things but are usually a little more expensive.

The best-value deals can typically be found with the smaller virtual networks, such as Tesco Mobile, Asda Mobile, Smarty, iD Mobile or Lebara – there are lot to choose from. In many cases you might be looking at spending at between £5 and £10 a month, though there are some on offer for less than that.

Then there are family plans. If your family already uses one particular network for its phones, adding another line to your existing plan can be cost-effective and easy to manage with one bill. Most of the big networks provide discounts for additional lines, while some, such as EE, allow you to share data from your plan with other sims on an ad hoc basis.

Some parental controls are available on all networks, though, if you need something stronger, ParentShield from Derby-based Engine Mobile promises a “child-safe” network by providing extensive control and surveillance tools. These include allowing parents to read all texts, record all calls, set alerts for concerning words or phrases in messages, block all premium-rate services and blocking usage at set times of the day or night.

The plans are typically more expensive – ParentShield’s sim-only deals start at £9.99 a month – but will provide peace of mind for many parents. They won’t help restrict content while the phone is on wifi, but could be a good solution.

Under 13: they need a child account

Apple and Google provide the ability to create child accounts fthat are linked to your own account for children under 13, allowing them to use an iPhone or Android device. Which one you create will probably be based on which platform you use as the parent. For example, if you use an Android phone with a Google account, it will be much easier to manage your child’s usage as 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 either an Android phone or iPhone at 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 access to the camera, and allow you to track their location. It is worth having a dig through Apple’s parental controls and Google’s Family Link guides to get the settings right.

Websites of organisations such as the NSPCC and the UK Safer Internet Centre have tips and resources that can help parents.