WHICH MODEL SHOULD YOU SELECT FOR YOUR CHILD’S FIRST PHONE?
BEST FOR 8 TO 11-YEAR-OLDS SPACETALK ADVENTURER:
($350 spacetalkwatch.com)
There are lots of reasons children might need to call home – from afterschool sport to sleepovers – and lots of reasons why they should not have an expensive, uncensored phone. This kid-friendly smartwatch is a middle ground – it will let them call and message approved contacts, share their location and track their steps, but there is no social media or open internet allowed.
ALTERNATIVE: Nokia 800 Tough:
($176, officeworks.com.au)
This smartphone could survive school bags where other handsets perish. The aptly named Tough phone is designed to withstand drops and dunks in water, it has a long-lasting battery life, a 2.4inch screen and a basic two-megapixel camera. It also comes unlocked, so parents can add any prepaid SIM.
BEST FOR 12 TO 14-YEAR-OLDS SAMSUNG GALAXY A22 5G:
($349, samsung.com/au)
This newly released, budget-friendly smartphone from Samsung ticks the major boxes for less than $350, making it ideal for early high school. It has a 6.6-inch screen, speedy 5G connection, sizeable battery at 5000mAh and three rear cameras, including a 48-megapixel main shooter. Telstra customers can buy it as a prepaid device for $329.
ALTERNATIVE: APPLE IPHONE 8:
($299, refurbished.boost.com.au) An option for families who want to keep devices within the Apple family, using Find My Friends and other options, this refurbished 4G phone is among the cheapest solutions. Boost Mobile sells refurbished iPhone 8 models based on their condition, ranging from “very good” to “as new”.
BEST FOR 15 TO 17-YEAR-OLDS APPLE IPHONE SE (2ND GEN):
($679, apple.com.au)
The cheapest new Apple iPhone on sale features a water-resistant body, Touch ID fingerprint scanner and a smaller touchscreen. The second edition iPhone SE also comes with a 12-megapixel rear camera and it will unlock Apple-only features like iMessage and FaceTime for kids whose parents or friends also use the platform.
ALTERNATIVE: SAMSUNG GALAXY S20 FE:
($698, harveynorman.com.au)
Dubbed FE for “fan edition,” this Samsung smartphone steals many of its features from the company’s pricier flagship phones but keeps it within a budget. Its features include three rear cameras, a 32-megapixel selfie camera, and a 6.5-inch touchscreen with a 120Hz refresh rate that makes games look smooth.