Many kids these days have phones, and for good reason. They're phenomenal emergency tools, but they're also key devices for many kids' social lives.
Whether you're a parent who wants to give their child a comprehensive smartphone for social reasons or an adult who wants to limit screen time, you need to know about the best child’s phones in 2023. Let's get started.
Apple iPhone SE
The Apple iPhone SE is one of the best phones for kids overall. It features a 4.7-inch display and a powerful A15 Bionic processor, so your kids can play their favorite games and use the best apps without worrying about stuttering or other connectivity issues on this cell phone.
Importantly, it has just enough memory to get the job done: 4 GB of RAM and optional storage space of up to 256 GB. This is a good phone for kids who need a versatile handset that can do everything from schoolwork to social media without you having to pay excessive money or break the bank. The iOS operating system is also a fairly easy one to learn if it is your child’s first phone.
On top of that, this phone comes with a seven-megapixel FaceTime camera: perfect for checking in with your kid from time to time while they are out and about. The rear 12-megapixel camera is also great, so they can take photos and socialize with their friends.
Perhaps most important, this phone comes with Screen Time parental control apps, so you can decide what your child views and what apps they interact with. Family Sharing, Find My Phone, and other features round out this device's exceptional offerings.
Samsung Galaxy A32 5G
Don’t forget the Samsung Galaxy A32 5G, a top kids' phone for Samsung fans. It’s available for a great price, and it has solid battery life.
The screen is larger than the iPhone SE as well, measuring 6.5 inches with a 90 Hz refresh rate. Everything runs on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 665 chip, ensuring good performance and excellent phone responsiveness.
It only comes with 4 GB of memory and 64 GB of storage space, but MicroSD card support is available if you need to expand storage later.
More importantly, your kid might appreciate this phone thanks to its excellent camera suite, which includes a 48-megapixel main camera, an eight-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a five-megapixel macro camera, a 13-megapixel front camera, and a two-megapixel depth sensor. Choose this phone if your child is a budding photographer.
Battery life is pretty good, with a 5000 mAh battery, and it's an overall affordable device. Though it comes with limited internal storage, you may wish to choose this if your phone budget is very small or if you just want to get your child a phone that they'll upgrade sometime over the next few years.
Nokia 2780 Flip
Are you an old-school parent? If you want your kid to use a flip phone without all the bells and whistles of modern smartphone devices, the Nokia 2780 Flip could be perfect. This is indeed a very affordable flip phone that gives you direct call access to your kid, but it also prevents any social media apps from distracting them or causing them to waste time at school.
This unlocked flip phone can be used with practically any carrier network and still retains basic web browsing and email functionality. However, it’s not a fun or smooth experience, reducing how much screen time your child will likely have.
Texting with a number pad can be slow and difficult, but it may also limit how much data your child uses from your family phone plan. Bottom line: consider this if you need a phone for kids with deliberately limited functionality, perhaps as an “emergency only” device.
Palm Phone
The Palm Phone isn’t the most affordable phone for kids, but it has a unique cellular plan option and a very small size. Thus, it’s great for kids who have yet to grow into their full adult bodies. It’s about the size of a credit card, but it still features front and back cameras plus access to popular Android apps.
Parents have total control over the apps downloaded onto the phone, and it works with very affordable Palm and US Cellular $5 per month plans. The Google Family Link app can also be used to track the device, limit screen time, and provide other parental controls.
While the phone retails for around $200, it’s a good choice to save on recurring monthly costs or to serve as an emergency phone for tweens and teenagers who are testing their limits by going out more often than before.
Gabb Phone
The Gabb phone is another stellar phone for kids, which you can purchase online at Amazon or from Gabb Wireless. It’s locked from the beginning and doesn’t include an app store, social media platforms, or even a web browser.
It’s one of the best kids' phones overall, comparable to many top Android phones, since it provides limited Internet access, text messages, and Bluetooth compatibility with various other wireless devices.
The point is to provide a very limited digital experience. It includes a GPS so parents can determine the phone’s location, plus front and rear cameras so your younger kid can still take pictures of their friends. This exceptionally cheap phone has 32 GB of space and runs on the Verizon Gabb network.
On the downside, there’s a $25 activation requirement. But parents have full control over the limited app downloads available on this device. Gabb Guard and Gabb Messenger, two proprietary apps installed onto the phone, leverage smart filtering to prevent your child from clicking on risky links and eliminate explicit content or spam calls. Overall, it's a good limited-use phone for kids who struggle to put down more comprehensive, modern smartphone devices.
Google Pixel 6A
Google's Pixel 6A might also be a great phone for kids, especially if you enjoy Google's functionality and operating systems. With this phone, you'll find a 6.1-inch display plus a powerful Google Tensor chip. 6 GB of memory and 128 GB of storage space make this a great all-around handset and device for teenagers.
The cameras are also pretty good, featuring a 12-megapixel wide, 12-megapixel ultra-wide, and eight-megapixel front camera suite so your child can take photos with their friends. Twenty-four hours of battery life ensures that your kid only needs to recharge the phone occasionally. Parents will further appreciate the Titan M2 security chip, which makes the phone exceptionally resistant to tracking, hacking, and spyware.
The fingerprint unlock control is also great if your kid has a habit of losing or misplacing their phone. The quick charging feature lets you stay in touch with your child all day, and the IP67 rating means that the mobile phone is resistant to water and dust.
Apple Watch SE
While the Apple Watch SE might not technically be a phone, it can act as a traditional handset in more ways than one. Because of this, you might give it to your child if you don’t want them on the phone all day. As a smartwatch, it can also serve well as a caregiver’s device or a new phone for a 10-year-old.
If you purchase the cellular model of the Apple Watch SE, then activate the Apple Family Setup feature, you can turn this device into a smartphone worn on your child's wrist. It's affordable, functional, and has a battery life of about 18 hours, plus water resistance down to 50 m. This is a terrific choice if you want to track your child’s movements or send them basic messages while they are at school.
The GPS tracking or location tracking is similar to the tracking you can find on Android devices. Knowing a child’s location is important to many parents’ peace of mind.
You can always call your kid when you need to chat if they are at a friend’s house or socializing. The big plus is that your child won't use this as much as a traditional smartphone, so they may not be overly absorbed in social media or time-sucking apps. The School Time feature is another excellent element, as it allows you to block applications during school hours to ensure your kid focuses on their studies.
Try Navi Today
As you can see, there are plenty of stellar phones for kids, whether you want to get them something with a bunch of bells and whistles or a simple phone only to be used as an emergency tool.
Phone Navigator service can further help you identify the perfect handset for your child based on hardware, special features, and more. Try it today!
