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How to choose the best phone for kids

  • 20 September 2019
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How to choose the best phone for kids
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Are you thinking about buying your child their first smartphone? There are loads of great handsets out there, but which ones are best suited for young owners? Here’s what to look out for…

 

What’s the best mobile phone for kids?

 

SIM free phones are the most popular option for parents. Buy the phone upfront without a SIM, then you can choose a SIM only deal that’s perfect for your child. If you don’t want to buy a phone outright before choosing a SIM, Pay Monthly combines the cost of the handset and airtime in monthly bills over a certain period, usually 24 months.

You won’t need to break the bank, either. There are plenty of good value mid-range models that have flagship features that kids will love.

 

1. Display

These days, even cheaper smartphones have pretty great screens. Budget phones usually have an HD 720p resolution display, which is still great if they want to play games or stream their favourite YouTuber.

 

2. Camera

Kids love taking photos and selfies, and the MP (megapixel count) of each lens will give you a good idea of the phone’s camera quality. Anything over 5 MP is ideal for capturing colour and detail.

 

3. Design

Flagship phones are usually made from glass and metal and look slim. Less expensive phones tend to be made from plastic and look slightly bulkier, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if you’re buying it for a child. A tough plastic shell offers better protection against bumps, scratches and scrapes. That said, it’s always worth getting a case for peace of mind.

 

4. Battery life

If your child will be using their phone to keep in touch with you when they’re out and about, they’ll need to stay powered up all day. The good news is that most budget smartphones have great battery life – quite often better than flagships. This is because budget phones tend to have lower resolution displays and less powerful processors, so the battery doesn’t need to work as hard. As a rough guide, a 2,000 mAh battery should be big enough to keep the phone powered throughout the day.

 

Best parental control apps

 

 

One big concern for parents is that their kids could be exposed to inappropriate content online, or that they’ll be in contact with someone they’re not supposed to.

Fortunately, there are some great parental control apps out there for keeping an eye on their online habits, and even their whereabouts. Here are two of the best:

  • Kidslox is the perfect way to manage your kids’ phone time. You can set daily screen time limis, block third-party apps individually or by category, create daily schedules and set period of lockdown. And don’t worry about your tech-savvy kid finding ways to change the restrictions – it’s all PIN protected.

Get Kidslox for Android or iOS.

  • Qustodio filters web content, monitors and block calls, and has a ‘child location’ feature with a 30-day history. It even includes a panic button, so your child can contact you in an emergency with just one click.

Get Qustodio for Android or iOS.


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