Back To School: Best Phone For Kids 2024

When it comes to choosing a mobile phone for your kids as they get ready to go back to school, it can be quite a difficult decision to make as there’s so much choice available. Not to mention, the market has changed a great deal over the past ten years with the modern child’s taste and expectations rapidly developing. Some handsets that were originally recommended for kids to do the basics, like calls and texts, are now from a bygone era, which could cause frustration and embarrassment.

These days, kids will be looking for something modern that suits their needs and aptitude at using the latest technology especially when they get back to school. The youngest generations spend the most time browsing the internet on their phones, so you’ll want to purchase a device that enables them to do this effectively and safely. With this in mind, you should try to find a device that will be the best option for your child, their age and ultimately what they want to use it for.

Check out our guide below to give you an idea of which mobile phones to consider for your child as they get back to school:

In This Article:

• When Should You Give A Child Their First Phone And How Much Should You Spend?

• How To Choose A Mobile Phone For Your Kids

• Best Back To School Phones For Kids

• How To Set Up Parental Controls On Your Child's Device

When Should You Give a Child Their First Phone And How Much Should You Spend?

Kids communicate with their friends on social networks, and many will have had access to the web in one form or another, either through a household desktop computer or a tablet. Nowadays, a phone is more personal. It's taken with them wherever they go, and children have some inherent responsibility in terms of keeping it charged, switched on when it needs to be and switched off (or on silent) when appropriate. Not to mention most decent mobile phones are quiet expensive so it's worth doing your reasearch and deciding on a budget as soon as possible. So let's narrow it down to the price range you would be looking at for a first phone. Over £300 would be far too much for a child who is new with the responsibility of owning a smartphone and a brand new flagship handset may be targeted by thieves. Our recommendations can be found closer to £200, which can still get a featured-filled device. You can still bag an older model flagship mobile phone if you opt for a refurbished one, which would still include all the latest updates as well as at least 1 years warranty for peace of mind.

As many experts and the parents here at Compare and Recycle agree, your child might not need a phone until they start being more independent, travelling to school by themselves, visiting friends or staying at after school clubs, and this would usually be around secondary school.

How To Choose A Mobile Phone For Your Kids

When it comes to choosing the right phone for your child, you should firstly figure out what exactly you want the phone to do. Is it simply to call and text whilst they are away from home or other uses such as using the internet, camera and other features? Once ypu're clear on this, looking for mobile phones with those features will be a lot easier for your decision making. We understand that giving your child their first phone can feel like you are opening them up to a world outside of your control. With all the reports of anxiety and social media addiction, it's no surprise that parents aren't jumping at the thought of placing their child into the world of superfast communication and media. Here are a few features we recommend looking out for when choosing a mobile phone for your child:

✅A minimum battery life of 2000 mAh or above should keep your child’s phone switched on all day

✅Manufacturer support is guaranteed for 2+ years

✅A 720p HD screen or above will be perfect for playing games or streaming

✅Has parental controls or a family link

✅Having around 2-6GB of RAM is ideal for both simple use and multi-tasking

✅Picking a mobile phone that's easy to repair and also low cost

✅For photos, a minimum of 6-12MP will provide decent images for your child.

Is Handing Down An Old Phone A Good Idea?

If you are thinking about handing down an old phone, here's what you need to do before handing it to your child:

✅Factory Reset - ensure that the phone has been completely wiped of all data and reset to factory settings

✅Create A New Account With Parental Controls - make sure you log out of any previous accounts and disconnect any devices linked to the phone. Once you’ve done this you can create a new account ID e.g. AppleID, GoogleID and set up any parental controls and restrictions that can only be accessed and changed by a parent or guardian.

✅Make Sure The Phone Is Updated - this is a super important step in ensuring the phone's operating system is up to date. This will mean the phone is still supported by the manufacturer whilst also lowering the risk of any security threats.

Checking a mobile phone before handing it to a child is extremely important and gives you the opportunity to perform checks to see whether the phone still has a decent battery life and receives the necessary software and security updates. This advice may change in the coming years, but for now, avoid handing down unsupported and non-updated devices.

Best Back To School Phones For Kids

Preparing your child to go back to school can be a challenging task, especially when it comes to mobile phones. We would recommend avoiding expensive flagship devices as a back to school phone or first phone, because while your child may have the coolest tech in the playground, they could also be a target for thieves. Flagships also tend to be less rugged, and the constant appeal of the apps could wear the battery down or interfere with time that should be spent paying attention in the classroom. You’ll also have cyber-bullying, internet safety and awareness to consider (especially important if your child is young) which should be a priority when giving your kid a phone that will be taken to school.

Refurbished Google Pixel 8a

One of our top picks for children is the Google Pixel 8a. This phone not only has a good reputation amongst android users, but it also has a lot of attractive features. If we remove the fantastic price point of this smartphone and just focus on the features that it offers, there’s nothing budget about the Google Pixel 8a. It has software support up until 2031, good battery life and an excellent camera for kids who love snapping pictures on social media. It’s a great size for kids with it being 5.5g lighter than its predecessor and is made with plastic instead of glass which gives parents peace of mind when it comes to durability. It has a 6.1-inch screen, 13MP selfie camera and 64MP back camera which is more than enough for a child being introduced into the smartphone world. Not to mention they'll be able to play around with the brand new AI features to help keep them creative!

While it’s this model we would recommend as one of the suitable Google phones for kids, more specifically we would say that you should opt for a refurbished one. For this option, it will cost much less for a very good condition, which is a good deal considering that the latest brand-new Google phones cost upwards of £1000 on the top end.

You could argue that anything above £100 for a first phone for a kid is simply throwing money away, but if you have them contribute to the cost of the iPhone or the SIM plan, maybe even both, you will teach them the value of money, developing their understanding around costs and they will be taking better care of the iPhone.

We would recommend buying a refurbished phone across the board for many reasons. Firstly, you’ll make some significant savings on the cost of the device (which could be useful if your child breaks their phone and you need to repair it later on). It’ll be in full working order like a new phone as it’ll be fully restored by the retailer, and it could even look brand-new to the untrained eye, if you opt for a phone that’s in pristine condition.

What’s also important to note is that you’ll be purchasing a device that’s already in circulation, which is a much better option for the environment than buying a brand-new phone.

Relevant reading

What Are Refurbished Phones? A Complete Guide

Buying a refurbished phone can be a bit tougher to know what you're getting but our handy guide runs through exactly what you can expect, including price, condition and where to get them so you get the phone you want, for less!

6 MIN READ

Refurbished iPhone SE 3 2022

Up next on our recommendations list is the iPhone SE 3 2022, which is a great option if you want to get your child one of the latest iPhones without breaking the bank.

In terms of specs, it’s a lightweight device with a powerful chipset that will work well for extended use. With an A15 processor which is the same one that is used in the iPhone 13 range, you can expect to have a high-end experience with this mobile phone. It comes in the classic compact iPhone design that we know and love, and it’s a phone that’s likely to get several years of use. This is because Apple will continue to add iOS and security updates over the next four years which will include further advancements to performance and parental controls. The iPhone SE 3 2022 also has a smaller screen at 4.7-inch which is a perfect size for a child wanting to play games and easily use the phone.

Motorola E14

If you want a super budget-friendly phone for under £100, that provides reliable performance, then the Motorola E14 could be the one to go for.

The Motorola E14 has a 5000 mAh battery that lasts up to two days, so children won't need to worry about charging it overnight. Additionally, it is a stylish phone with an excellent camera for children and a processing speed that can keep up with the demands of the modern child. With an LCD panel with a 90Hz refresh rate, you can be sure that this budget phone will produce vibrant on screen colours. Another fantastic feature is that it also offers expandable storage which is an important feature to consider. With the ever growing choices of apps that continue to be released and updated, having the option for expandable storage is key to ensuring a mobile phone serves its purpose the way you need.

While this phone isn’t as flashy and desirable among children as one of the iPhones, it's still quite a stylish phone with a sleek design and coming in a selection colours; Pastel Green, Graphite Gray, Pastel Purple.

Xiaomi Redmi 12

Our next pick of a phone for kids is the Xiaomi Redmi 12. If gaming is your child’s priorities, then this would be a great choice because this device automatically optimises its refresh rate whilst you're using it no matter what you're doing. It has an impressive performance when it comes to gaming and battery life, which makes it perfect for children who want to play all day long on their mobile devices. Its 6.79-inch 1080p LCD display offers high-quality graphics quality and power ensures that they will be able to enjoy their favourite games with ease, and the battery life is perfect for those long gaming sessions. Although the Redmi 12 swaps out the plastic for a glossy glass back panel since the Redmi 10 (2022), it is still a durable phone. With a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, security is at your fingertips, ensuring quick and secure access to your device.

One thing that really makes it stand out for a budget phone is its screen – it's got a great 90Hz refresh rate that makes everything super smooth. And when you want to save battery, it's got a 60Hz battery saver mode that's perfect for any young person who uses their phone throughout the day. Not only will the Xiaomi Redmi 12 last you all day, but with a great screen, a stylish design, and a battery that will last, it really is a top pick if you want a phone that's reliable and packed with features. Even the camera on this phone comes with a 50MP main camera, 2MP macro camera and an 8MP selfie camera which is fantastic for a phone with a price tag of around £100. So if you are looking for a high-quality camera for your kids, then you may want to get your hands on this device because the Xiaomi Redmi 12 is a fantastic device with a competitive price tag (just over £100) that is the perfect alternative to the expensive Apple devices.

Oneplus 12R

Our last but definitely not least recommendation for a first phone for kids is the Oneplus 12R. With a 6.78 inch AMOLED display, it offers a vibrant and immersive viewing experience which is perfect for children who love to play games or watch videos. Boasting a 5,500mAh battery unit that can last up to 2 days on a single charge, parents can rest assured that the phone will last throughout the day. This is perfect for school kids who don't want to worry about their phone running out of battery during the day or while they're playing. It also has an anti-fingerprint matte aluminum frame that ensures that it doesn't get scratched or dirty easily which is one of the most important things to consider when buying a phone for your child. Not to mention that it has an IP64 dust and water resistance rating, adding that extra layer of durability for everyday activities.

With an 16MP front-facing camera and a 50MP main camera, that ensures that your child can take pictures without having to worry about blurry pictures or low quality images. Additionally, the Oneplus 12R offers an extra layer of peace of mind for parents with 3 years of software support and 4 years of security updates, meaning the device remains secure and up-to-date for safe usage. This is a device with outstanding features and comes with a slightly higher price tag (around £400), which is still a budget phone in comparison to most on the market right now exceeding the £1000 mark.

How To Set up Parental Controls on Your Child’s Device

Depending on what software version the device you buy runs, there are certain limitations you can put on the device, mainly to do with purchasing apps, adding content restrictions and using app timers. With the range of parental controls that you can place on the devices themselves, networks and on your home Wi-Fi, you rest assured that you have done as much as possible to keep your children protected from anything damaging online. Luckily with Android 10 and above as well as the latest iOS updates, there are various control options you can set up.

Android

In order for you to be able to manage and observe what your child is up to on their phone, you will need to download Family Link app from Google Play Store on both your and kid's phones, set up accounts for yourself and your kid using your Google accounts (if your child does not have a Google account, the app will allow you to create one to complete the process). Once you've set up the Family Link, you will be able to connect your kid's phone to your own. Next you will want to proceed with parental controls on your child's device.

✅ Open Settings on your kid's phone.

✅ In Settings scroll down and tap on Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls (or similar).

✅ Tap Parental Controls.

✅ Follow the on screen instructions to add or create your kid's Google account.

✅ Once the Google account you want to supervise on this device has been chosen, you can proceed with choosing apps that this device can use and set filters.

✅ Confirm the settings with a PIN code of your choice.

✅ Lastly, from your own phone, choose other controls like setting up bedtime, app timers and further access restrictions for example permissions on Google Play Store for app downloads.

Apple

For Apple devices, the steps to follow are a little different. You'll need to go to Screen Time on your child's iPhone as this is where you can control the usage of the phone.

✅ Go to Settings and tap Screen time.

✅ Tap on Turn On Screen Time and tap Continue.

✅ Select that this device is your child's iPhone.

✅ Next, you can proceed with setting up the downtime schedule for your kid's iPhone, adding limits to app usage content restrictions.

✅ Create a passcode to protect your parent controls, which will be later used to access parental controls or grant permissions.

You can find more detailed settings instructions on this Apple support page. Hopefully, you will instil a healthy caution of the web and applications to the point where their decision making coupled with your network and device protection, should mean they can safely surf the web and consume media and knowledge.