The Best Kids Smartphone of 2024
By Linus Tan
Updated Jan 2024
Kids today are just as tech-savvy as adults. Like us, they want the best devices. If you're unsure which phone to buy for your child, we've compiled a list of the best smartphones for kids to help you make the right decision.
Best Overall: Apple iPhone SE (2022)
✓ Super-powerful and fast
✓ High-quality camera
✓ Durable & water-resistant
✓ Compact & pocketable
Best Smartwatch Phone: TickTalk 4
✓ Phone & video calling
✓ GPS location tracking
✓ Activity tracking
✓ Listen to music
Best for Restrictions: Gabb Phone
✓ Parental companion app
✓ Zero internet access
✓ Take photos & videos
✓ Child safety features
Best for Basics: Nokia 3310 3G
✓ Essential phone functions
✓ Impressive battery life
✓ Full-colour display
✓ Retro classic design
#1 Best Overall: Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Our current top pick for the best smartphone you can buy for your kid is the Apple iPhone SE (2022). Blending a vast array of features and high-quality camera capabilities, this is the smartphone you should get for your kid.
A relatively compact handset, the Apple iPhone SE (2022) is one of the more lightweight and pocketable iPhones out there. While Apple may have designed the iPhone SE (2022) similarly to the iPhone 8, the innards have been upgraded to include the super-powerful A15 Bionic chip that’s in iPhone 13. From looking up information for homework to watching videos, there's little the iPhone SE (2022) can't do.
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
With the A15 chipset, camera performance has improved as well to power advanced photography features. The iPhone SE (2022) takes bright photos that will please most people, allowing your kid to capture their best memories growing up. It is also highly durable and water-resistant, providing you with greater peace of mind when it comes to your kid's accidental stumbles and spills.
Although Apple has greatly supercharged the iPhone SE (2022)'s engine, some drawbacks include a lacklustre battery life unless your kid is a light user and lacks a headphone jack at the bottom.
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Best Overall
✓ Super-powerful and fast
✓ High-quality camera
✓ Durable & water-resistant
✓ Compact & pocketable
#2 Best Smartwatch Phone: TickTalk 4
TickTalk 4
Don’t want to get your child started with a mobile device? A smartwatch phone might be the next best alternative for you then.
The TickTalk 4 is a kids smartwatch phone that does all the basics of a mobile phone like calling and messaging right from their wrist. It works just like a mobile phone so you will need a sim card with data and call time to be able to use the full range of functions of the smartwatch phone.
Stay connected to your child with video calls, voice calls, Wi-Fi calls, Talk-To-Text, preset text responses, voice messages, photos, emojis, and GIFs. Your child will never be short of ways to stay in touch with their loved ones.
TickTalk 4
The TickTalk 4 works as a great safety device as well for your kid. With accurate GPS location tracking and emergency SOS, you can have peace of mind knowing where your child is and be alerted if help is needed. It also comes with over 20+ parental controls where parents can approve all watch contacts, block unknown numbers, and more in the companion app.
The TickTalk 4 is designed with kids in mind, featuring a drop-proof and shock-proof exterior. It is also IP67 water-resistant, so it can handle splashes of water, but it is not suitable for swimming.
TickTalk 4
Best Smartwatch Phone
✓ Phone & video calling
✓ GPS location tracking
✓ Activity tracking
✓ Listen to music
#3 Best for Restrictions: Gabb Phone
Gabb Phone
The Gabb Phone is a great introduction to your kids without the freedom of the internet and apps.
Looks and feels like a smartphone, the Gabb Phone has zero internet access. This means no games, no YouTube and no inappropriate searches on the internet which can go a long way towards easing your mind. With limited things to do, the Gabb Phone probably sounds boring. But, it's not that so, as it features, a radio, music player, front and back cameras and a photo and video editor.
Gabb Phone
What separates the Gabb Phone from the other phones is the companion app for parents. The MyGabb app provides insights into the phone's battery status, phone location and many more. The Safe Zones feature within the app blew our minds. Once you've set up a geofence, you'll be notified whenever the Gabb Phone enters or leaves a zone you've designated.
It's a shame that the Gabb Phone is missing a form of water resistance. The phone is more likely to be ruined if your kid isn't careful about the Gabb Phone coming into contact with dirt or water. Nevertheless, it has a great battery life which lasts for a day.
Gabb Phone
Best for Restrictions:
✓ Parental companion app
✓ Zero internet access
✓ Take photos & videos
✓ Child safety features
#4 Best for Basics: Nokia 3310 3G
Nokia 3310 3G
The Nokia 3310 3G is a blast from the past and may look similar to the kind of phone you used as a kid. Like its predecessors, it looks great and has an impressive battery life.
The Nokia 3310 3G has a retro design that is surprisingly pocketable. It is found that it can fit comfortably next to a wallet. Despite its full-colour and bright display, the resolution of 240 x 320 is not impressive compared to modern smartphones but works great for all basic needs. In addition to texts and calls, the Nokia 3310 3G comes with a variety of basic apps, including Internet, Messaging, Calls, Contacts, and more.
Nokia 3310 3G
The games on the Nokia 3310 3G take you back to the classic era. Popular titles such as Snake Xenzia, Doodle Jump and Diamond Twister 2 can be found on the phone. It is found that the performance of the Nokia 3310 3G is average, with apps taking a slight delay to open. The battery life is impressive, lasting up to a week.
Nokia 3310 3G
Best for Basics
✓ Essential phone functions
✓ Impressive battery life
✓ Full-colour display
✓ Retro classic design
Compare Kids Smartphones
Final Thoughts
Children are embracing technology from a young age, for better or worse. When deciding which phone to buy for your child, understanding the features and functions can help you manage their screen time.
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