What are the best phones for kids?

If you do decide to buy your child a mobile phone, the good news is that there are plenty of quality phones out there to choose from — and it doesn’t have to break the bank. As smartphone technology improves each year, devices are packed with more features and better quality tech, and prices for quality tech are dropping. In this guide we’ll take a look at some considerations parents will need to make when choosing a phone for their kids, and some devices that might be suitable for your child.

Best phones for kids

There is no one-size-fits-all for what constitutes the ‘best’ phone for kids. However, if you are looking for a phone for your child, especially a younger child, you might want to look at cheaper phones. Set a budget and consider the types of features that are important for your child’s phone. You might want to also consult with your child as to devices they might have in mind, or the features they might want.

Have a look at the features and specifications of devices in your price range to get an idea of what is available at that price. Some manufacturers might also subject their devices to more vigorous testing, which could be useful if you’re hoping to find a more durable or long-term device for your child. You might also want to check for features such as water and dust IP ratings as well.

With that being said, we’ll run through some current mobile phones at certain budget-friendly price ranges to give you an idea for what’s out there. Keep in mind that there are many phone brands releasing new devices every year and some older phones may be out of stock, so the below phones might not be available everywhere.

Phones for kids under $400

OPPO A78 5G

The OPPO A78 5G is one of the latest devices released in OPPO’s budget-friendly A series. Featuring a fun design, 5G connectivity and dual rear-camera setup, the OPPO A78 5G offers a good all-round performance for under $400. Read our hands-on review of the OPPO A78 5G to find out more.

OPPO A78 5G specifications

Shop the OPPO A78 5G

 

Phone	Features	Storage Size	Price
	OPPO A78 5G 6.56-inch HD+ display Rear cameras: 50MP AI main + 2MP portrait Front camera: 8MP 5,000mAh battery Octa-core processor Glowing Blue and Glowing Black colours	128GB	$359	Shop Now
			^^View important information

More phones under $400

If you’re really looking at some of the cheapest of cheap mobile phones, you’ll find devices in this price range from brands like OPPO, Nokia, Samsung and Motorola. The following list includes a selection of mobile phones for under $400 that have been released in the past couple years (the prices listed are AUD RRP prices and may not reflect discounts on offer):

• Motorola Moto E13 — $149
• Nokia C32 —  $249
• Motorola Moto G32 — $299
• Samsung Galaxy A14 — $329
• Motorola Moto G53 5G —  $329
• OPPO A76 — $349
• Samsung Galaxy A14 5G — $379
• Motorola Moto G62 5G — $399
• TCL 30+ — $399
• OPPO A96 — $399

Phones for kids under $800

TCL 30 5G

TCL has been in the smartphone market for a couple years, and as you would expect from a TV manufacturer, its phone screens are a big focus for the brand. Its most recent 30 series has seen the brand focus on producing smartphones that reduce eye strain thanks to its screen technology. The TCL 30 5G features TCL’s NXTVISION display technology and also reduces blue light by 30%, but without yellowing the display. If you’re considering a phone for your child and are concerned about their eye health, TCL might be the way to go. Read our hands-on review of the TCL 30 5G to find out more.

TCL 30 5G specifications

Other phones under $800

If you’ve got a bit more budget, or perhaps are shopping for older kids and are considering devices around that more middle price range, there are plenty of devices around $400 to $800. Often phones in this range might have a few more features and better tech packed in, including compatibility with expanding 5G networks for a faster online experience. You also start to see devices from Apple and Google make an appearance at this price range, while devices from Samsung, OPPO, Nokia and Motorola will offer a bit more value for money compared to its phones under $400.

Here’s a range of devices currently available between $400 and $800 that might be suitable for kids (the prices listed are AUD RRP prices and may not reflect discounts on offer):

• OPPO A77 5G — $449
• Nokia G60 5G — $549
• Samsung Galaxy A34 5G — $599
• Motorola Edge 30 Neo — $599
• OPPO Reno8 Lite 5G — $599
• Samsung Galaxy A54 5G — $699
• iPhone SE 2022 — $719
• Google Pixel 7a — $749
• Nokia XR21 — $799

In addition to mobile phones in these price ranges, another option for kids is the Spacetalk Adventurer smartwatch, for $349 AUD. It’s a smartwatch which includes call, SMS and GPS functions, as well as SOS alerts and parental controls. While the Spacetalk watches aren’t exactly a mobile phone, they include many of the essentials you need from a mobile phone. In order to use either Spacetalk watch, you will need to pay a monthly subscription to the Spacetalk app for $5.99 per month, or up to five watches for $8.99 per month. You will also need a SIM card and compatible phone plan.

These devices might only be compatible with either the Telstra, Vodafone or Optus network, so you should check all of the relevant information before purchasing. Network compatibility means you’ll need to ensure the SIM card you buy to pair with the Spacetalk watch is on the right mobile network. For example, watches compatible with the Telstra mobile network, will need to be from providers using this network, such as Boost Mobile, Woolworths Mobile or indeed, Telstra itself. Woolworths Mobile actually offers the standard Spacetalk watch to buy outright on its own, or bundled with a long-term prepaid SIM card. You can also buy these devices at retailers such as JB Hi Fi and Harvey Norman.

Compare SIM-only plans

Most of the devices listed on the page are only available to buy outright, so you’ll need a phone plan to pair with the device. There are some good phone plans for kids out there, especially cheaper plans under $20 with small data inclusions. Consider whether you want a prepaid plan (where you pay in advance and recharge at the expiry period) or postpaid plan (where you receive a monthly bill to pay), and the call, SMS and data inclusions that will best suit your child’s needs.

To give you an idea of what prepaid and postpaid plans are available, the following tables include a range of plans from different providers. Switch between the tabs to look at prepaid and postpaid plans.

What to look for in a phone for kids

There are so many mobile phone brands around, with manufacturers releasing new phones each year, so there is definitely not a lack of choice when it comes to picking a mobile phone. To make this easier on you, you might want to set some criteria around choosing a phone for your child to help you narrow down the choices.

Price

Price is of course the most important criteria when choosing phones for kids. Considering some smartphones can cost well over $1,000, you don’t want to be spending that much if your child is likely to lose or break their phone. There are plenty of cheap phones around that are much more affordable, and with great features included.

Battery

Battery life might also be important, as you want to ensure the phone is going to last them during the day and into the night (especially if they have any out of school activities and you need to coordinate a pickup time).

Features (including parental control, security and usage monitoring)

Features might also play a part in which phone you choose for your child. If they’re really into making videos and photography, you might want to look at a phone that will nurture their hobby with decent cameras and camera features. You might also want to look at the sorts of security and usage monitoring features that are available, or if any parental control apps are compatible with the device.

Durability

Durability might be an important criteria if your child is quite active or accident-prone. While some drops will damage even the most durable of smartphones, there are some manufacturers or devices that might put more emphasis on durability, not to mention splash and dust resistance ratings.

What is the best age for a kid to get a phone?

Unfortunately there is no simple answer to this. Each child is different and has different needs, so you as a parent, will ultimately be able to work out when the right age is for your child to have their first mobile phone.

From research into Kids and Mobiles conducted by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) in 2020, the most common age range for phone ownership was the 12 to 13 year age group, with 76% of these respondents owning the phone that they used, compared to 33% of 10 to 11 year olds who owned the phone that they use. This drops to 15% of 8 to 9 year olds and 5% for 6 to 7 year olds.

This does seem to make sense, as this is also the age group where kids are starting High School and their school and social commitments are changing. However, there are some circumstances where it might make sense for younger children to have their own phone — such as if they have commitments outside of school hours and you need to be able to easily contact them, or perhaps in co-parenting situations where children divide time between two addresses. Your child’s maturity might also play a part in this decision, as you want to make sure that your child is able to handle the responsibility and also look after their device. With kids that are prone to damaging or losing things, you might want to hold off until you’re sure they can handle it.

Ultimately the decision does lie with the parents or guardian, no matter how much your kid might beg you for a phone. You’ll know when the timing is right and when you feel comfortable with them having their own phone.

Refurbished or second-hand phones

Another way to save a bit of money on your child’s first phone is to look into refurbished or second-hand phones. Refurbished phones are devices that might be previously owned and several years old, however they have typically been refitted and tested to ensure good working condition. These devices are then sold by retailers and telcos, such as Boost Mobile, and they might come with a quality rating such as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ condition. However, these phones may come with some scratches or scuff marks on the outside of the device, but should operate smoothly.

Buying a second hand phone that isn’t refurbished can be complicated. You may not receive the best quality, and if you’re buying online from places such as Facebook Marketplace, there is no guarantee that you’re getting a quality device. However, if you happen to have old devices lying around, or you’ve been considering upgrading your current device, parents might wish to pass on their older phone. Just make sure you factory reset the phone before giving it to your child, to ensure your data is wiped from the device.

What is the best mobile phone for kids in Australia?

Ultimately the decision is up to you, the parent or guardian, in terms of what phone is going to be best for your child. Set a budget first and look at devices in that price range. Once you’ve narrowed the list down to devices you can afford, you might want to have the discussion with your child over the phones and their features, and make the decision together over a phone you’ll both be happy with — one that your child likes, and one with the features and price you want.

FAQs about phones for kids