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Choosing the best phone for your child as they start or head back to school can be a challenge. With so many smartphones and dumb phones for kids now on the market, and children becoming more tech-savvy than ever, the decision isn't just about calls and texts anymore. Kids today want phones that are modern, safe, and capable; meanwhile, parents want something affordable, durable, and age-appropriate.
In this guide, we’ll help you navigate the options to find the best phones for kids, whether you're looking for a simple dumb phone, a refurbished smartphone, or something that balances entertainment and safety.
In this Article:
Most parents agree that a child doesn’t need a phone until they’re becoming more independent, whether that’s travelling to school alone, going to after-school clubs, or spending time with friends. For many, this happens around the start of secondary school. Even if kids have access to the web for studying or communicating with their friends, this should typically be on a household desktop or tablet.
When looking to buy your child’s first phone, a budget of around £100 to £200 is ideal. Spending over £300 could be risky, especially if your child is still learning responsibility or commuting with the phone.
✅ Tip: A refurbished phone is often a smart choice; it’s better value, environmentally friendly, and still supported with security updates.
When choosing a phone for your child, ask yourself why they need it.
Just calls and text?
For taking pictures?
Social media?
Once you'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 occasional entertainment
✅Has parental controls or a family link
✅Ideally has around 2-6GB of RAM for both simple use and multitasking
✅Easy to repair and also low-cost
✅For photos, a minimum of 6-12MP will provide decent images for your child.
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.
| Phone | RRP | Battery | Age Group | Smart/Dumb | Parental Controls | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Pixel 8a | £400 | 4,492 mAh | 12+ | ✅ Smart | ✅ Yes | Long Support, great camera |
| Refurbished iPhone SE 3 (2022) | £180 or less | 2,018 mAh | 11+ | ✅ Smart | ✅ Yes | Compact, future-proof iOS updates |
| Motorola E14 | Just £70 | 5,000 mAh | 10+ | ✅ Smart | ✅ Yes | Reliable, budget-friendly |
| Xiaomi Redmi 12 | £100 approx. | 5,000 mAh | 11+ | ✅ Smart | ✅ Yes | Smooth display, expandable storage |
| OnePlus 12R | £400 approx. | 5,500 mAh | 12+ | ✅ Smart | ✅ Yes | Premium specs at mid-range price |
| Nokia 3310 | £50 approx. | 1,200 mAh | 7+ | ❌ Dumb | ❌ Basic | Indestructible, distraction-free |
| TCL 4022S | Just £27.99 | 1,900 mAh | 9+ | ❌ Dumb | ❌ Basic | Safe, no internet or social apps |
The Google Pixel 8a is one of the best smartphones for older kids and teens ready to step into the world of full-featured devices. Despite being marketed as a budget phone, it offers impressive software updates until 2031, excellent battery life, and a 64MP rear camera that’s great for capturing memories or posting to social media.
It’s also slightly lighter than the Pixel 7a and features a durable plastic back, making it more forgiving if dropped. With a 6.1-inch screen and Google’s latest AI tools, it’s both powerful and kid-friendly.
We recommend buying the refurbished Pixel 8a for kids over 12 years old. You'll save a significant amount compared to buying new, especially if you're budgeting or anticipating the occasional drop or scratch. Refurbished models are tested, restored, and often look like new, especially in "pristine" condition. Plus, choosing refurbished is more sustainable, reducing e-waste and extending the life of a perfectly good device. For families looking to balance performance, longevity, and cost, the Pixel 8a is a top-tier back-to-school pick.
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 inches which is a perfect size for a child wanting to play games and easily use the phone.
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 comes in a selection of colours: Pastel Green, Graphite Gray, and Pastel Purple.
If your child loves mobile gaming, the Xiaomi Redmi 12 is a fantastic budget-friendly choice. It features a large 6.79-inch 1080p display with a smooth 90Hz refresh rate, which automatically adjusts to save battery when needed. With solid performance, excellent battery life, and a surprisingly premium screen for the price, it’s built for kids who want to play, stream, and stay connected throughout the day.
Despite its low price (around £100), the Redmi 12 doesn’t skimp on features. It includes a 50MP main camera, an 8MP selfie camera, and a 2MP macro lens, making it great for photography as well. While its glossy glass back gives it a more polished look than earlier models, it still feels sturdy and reliable. Add in a side-mounted fingerprint scanner for quick security, and you’ve got a stylish, capable device that easily competes with pricier alternatives—perfect for parents who want value without sacrificing quality.
The OnePlus 12R is a great option for older kids or teens who are ready for a more advanced smartphone. It features a large 6.78-inch AMOLED display, ideal for gaming, streaming, and everyday use, along with a massive 5,500mAh battery that can last up to two days on a single charge, perfect for busy school days or long travel. Built with an anti-fingerprint matte aluminum frame and rated IP64 for dust and water resistance, it’s designed to handle everyday use with ease.
Camera-wise, it offers a 50MP main camera and a 16MP selfie camera, delivering sharp, high-quality images. Parents will also appreciate the 3 years of software support and 4 years of security updates, helping ensure the device stays secure and reliable over time. While it’s priced around £400, the OnePlus 12R delivers flagship-level performance and durability at a much more reasonable cost—making it a smart long-term investment for a child’s first high-end phone.
Looking for no distractions? Dumb phones are ideal for younger children or those who only need to call/text.
The Nokia 3310 4G certainly has that nostalgic appeal for a lot of parents, especially with its popular Snake game. If you’re looking for a simple, distraction-free first phone for your child, the Nokia 3310 is a great choice. It has only the essentials like calls, text, and a basic camera, and the interface is quite straightforward as well, making it an ideal first choice for younger kids.
One thing to bear in mind is that some kids may find the T9 keyboard a bit cumbersome, but it may not be a bad thing, as it could limit excessive texting. Overall, the Nokia 3310 4G is ideal for emergency use, basic communication, and giving kids a safe introduction to mobile phones without the distractions of the internet.
The TCL 4022s is another great entry-level phone for children, especially if it’s their first one. It’s lightweight and compact, and the battery typically lasts a day on light use. In addition to the essentials like calls and text, it also has a few additional features such as a rearview camera, FM radio, and a flashlight. But, being a dumb phone, it doesn’t support social media or app downloads, easing parents’ concerns about distractions.
One of the standout features of the TCL 4022s is its 4G LTE compatibility, which means it works on modern networks and can offer clearer call quality and broader coverage. However, it still keeps internet access minimal, often limited to basic browser functionality (which parents may want to monitor). Overall, the TCL 4022S is a practical, low-cost phone that gives kids the essential tools to stay in touch with family—without opening the door to the distractions and risks of a smartphone.
Regardless of what phone you choose, it's important to set up parental controls to help keep your child safe. 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 can 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.
To set up parental controls on Android, you’ll need to download the Family Link app on both your phone and your child’s phone and set up accounts for both of you. You’ll both need Google accounts to create separate accounts on the Family Link app. 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.
If your family has iPhones, you’ll need to go to Screen Time to set up parental controls on your kid’s iPhone.
✅ 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 and content restrictions.
✅ Create a passcode to protect your parental 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, coupled with your network and device protection, should mean they can safely surf the web and consume media and knowledge.
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 outdated devices.
Choosing the right phone for your child can bring up a lot of questions about safety, features, cost, and what’s age-appropriate. To help you make a more informed decision, we’ve answered some of the most common questions parents have when shopping for their child’s first phone or a back-to-school upgrade. Whether you’re leaning toward a basic device or a full-featured smartphone, this section should give you the clarity you need.
The Motorola G31 or the Nokia C21 Plus are great options. If you prefer a smartphone, Motorola offers budget-friendly features with parental control support.
A dumb phone is a device that only allows basic functions like calling and texting. It doesn’t support social media, internet browsing, or app downloads — making it a safer first phone.
Yes. They’re affordable, eco-friendly, and usually include a warranty. Opt for one in “Pristine” condition with verified seller reviews.
Both have pros and cons. iPhones offer tighter security and longer software support. Androids offer more budget flexibility and greater control with Google Family Link.
Whether your child is just starting out with a basic feature phone or ready to take on the responsibility of a smartphone, there’s a wide range of options to suit every age and stage. Devices like the Nokia 3310 and TCL 4022S are perfect for younger kids who need simple communication without the distractions of internet access or apps. For older students who are ready for more functionality, smartphones like the Google Pixel 8a offer powerful tools for learning, organisation, and staying connected—with features like parental controls to help set healthy boundaries. No matter which route you choose, the best back-to-school phone is the one that fits your child’s maturity level, your family’s values, and your comfort as a parent.
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