Let’s face it: Youngsters need iPhones. Their favourite celebrities use them, their dad and mom use them, and a few of their pals have them, too. However which iPhone is greatest for your child? There are many elements to contemplate, not the least of which is the age of the kid in query. When ought to a baby be given their very own iPhone? We’ll talk about that in a piece under.
For toddlers who want a easy machine for watching parent-approved movies and taking part in some video games or instructional apps, we advocate avoiding iPhones altogether and getting a primary iPad. It’s reasonably priced, you don’t have to fret about mobile connectivity, and the big dimension is simple for toddlers nonetheless engaged on their high-quality motor expertise. You’ll be able to try our greatest iPad for youths information to see if this is able to be a greater match to your little one, and we advocate a take a look at our greatest iPad offers roundup so you may get the very best costs.
However, as soon as a baby will get sufficiently old for cellphone connectivity to be helpful (for cell web, texting pals, monitoring and being contactable by you), it’s time to step as much as a correct iPhone. Apple has simply up to date the iPhone for 2024, introducing the iPhone 16 collection and decreasing the costs of the present handsets. How does that change the panorama for the very best iPhone for youths? Learn on to seek out out and see our suggestions.
No matter iPhone you get, it’s best to think about using Display Time to handle their use. Constructed into iOS, Display Time permits you to set limits on how lengthy your child can use their cellphone, what apps they’ll obtain and use, and when they should put it down for the evening. It’s an effective way for busy dad and mom to maintain tabs on what their youngsters are doing once they’re not inside eyeshot, and must be the very first thing you arrange.
Finest iPhone for youths
Beneath one can find our high selections for iPhones for kids. We aren’t recommending the final word iPhones as a result of we predict that until you could have a cash tree within the backyard you gained’t need to be spending a complete lot of cash on a cellphone for a kid who’s simply as more likely to depart it on a bus or drop it. However for those who’d like a wider vary of iPhones to select from learn our iPhone shopping for information and our iPhone comparability.
Apple iPhone 14: Finest iPhone for older youngsters
Professionals
- Value
- Show dimension
- Good battery life
- Respectable digicam
Value When Reviewed:
£599 (was £699)
Older youngsters (younger teenagers and highschool college students) have demanding requirements. An iPhone SE could serve them effectively, however that smaller display is a bit archaic and so they’re going to need to look cool in entrance of their pals. Extra importantly, photo-taking and social media have began to turn out to be an vital a part of their social life. So for those who’re keen to spend extra on an iPhone with a extra succesful digicam, Face ID, and a full-screen show, we advocate trying no additional than the iPhone 14.
With a 6.1-inch show, it’s significantly larger than the iPhone SE, which older youngsters will admire, and it has a extra trendy design and options. The iPhone 14 will ship, with battery life that may simply final a full day.
You could be questioning why we picked the iPhone 14 over the iPhones 15 and 16. It’s cheaper, which is an efficient sufficient motive. However we additionally suppose that the iPhone 14 compares very favorably with the iPhone 15. Certain, you’re giving up a number of the newer options, resembling enhancements to the digicam, or the iPhone 15’s USB-C port as a substitute of Lightning. The iPhone 14 nonetheless has a sooner chips and glorious battery life.
The iPhone 14 begins at $599/£599 for 128GB, you pay one other $100/£100 for the iPhone 15 and one more $100/£100 for the iPhone 16. Since your ninth grader might be going to replenish the reminiscence shortly making TikTok movies and taking selfies and pics for social media and texting with pals, we’d recommend that for those who do have a much bigger finances that the additional cash is spent on growing the storage within the iPhone 14 moderately than the bells and whistles of the newer fashions.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 14 overview
Apple iPhone SE (2022): Finest iPhone for youthful youngsters
Professionals
- Value
- Small dimension
- Sturdiness
Cons
- No Face ID
- Older, much less trendy, design
Value When Reviewed:
$429 (64GB) | $479 (128GB) | $579 (256GB)
If in case you have a child at grade faculty/elementary/main faculty who’s mature sufficient to deal with their very own cellphone, it’s best to look no additional than the iPhone SE. It’s obtained the identical A15 processor used within the iPhone 13 vary, so you already know it’s going to carry out effectively and get software program updates for years. With a 4.7-inch display, it’s additionally fairly small, which is sweet for youthful youngsters’ fingers and pockets. It’s a greater than serviceable iPhone, and there’s actually nothing your child could need to try this they gained’t have the ability to, exterior of utilizing options like Memoji or Animoji, which require the TrueDepth digicam discovered within the Face ID-equipped higher-end iPhones.
The most effective half is that it’s cheap (for an iPhone) at $429/£449, though that’s for the 64GB model, which might replenish shortly if the kid in query needs to obtain loads of video games and content material to observe. Stepping as much as the 128GB model ($479/£499) can alleviate this, however the value does begin to creep up. Nonetheless, slicing again on options just like the all-screen Liquid Retina show and twin cameras, and sporting Contact ID as a substitute of Face ID saves loads of price, so the SE will nonetheless be cheaper than all the opposite iPhones. And since younger youngsters are usually tough on stuff, even with a superb case and display protector (that are extremely beneficial), you’re not going to need to threat placing a $700 cellphone of their fingers.
In fact, we don’t actually advocate the iPhone SE (2022) for adults (though it may be ultimate for the aged), as in trendy phrases it appears a bit dated and restricted, however for a child’s first step into the Apple world it will be a fantastic alternative.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone SE (2022) overview
Apple iPhone 16 (128GB): For teenagers who need every part
Professionals
- Newest iPhone
- Enormous enchancment in battery life
- Helps macro and spatial images and video recording
Value When Reviewed:
$799
There may be in fact a sure standing that you would be able to solely get from having the most recent iPhone, and children actually aren’t resistant to that. There are much more causes to purchase the iPhone 16 than there have been for the iPhone 15 in 2023, together with the brand new Digicam Management button and an improved digicam that’s able to taking macro and spatial images. That could be useful in case your little one is commonly engaged on tasks and needs to broaden their creative eye for the photographs they take.
Maybe the most important change for 2024 although, is the large enchancment in battery life. In our assessments, we noticed a four-hour increase in battery life for the iPhone 16 over the iPhone 15. That’s a drastic enchancment. Youngsters are by no means conscious of the quantity of battery their cellphone makes use of, so the iPhone 16’s battery life offers them even much less to consider.
We additionally advocate getting a case, see Finest iPhone 16 circumstances.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 16 overview
iPhone 15: Finest iPhone for youths who need higher-quality images and video
Professionals
- 48MP sensor within the digicam
Cons
- iPhone 16 affords significantly better battery life
Value When Reviewed:
From $699 (Was $799)
Whereas the iPhone 16 is a greater total cellphone, the iPhone 15 isn’t any slouch. It has a greater digicam than the iPhone 14, taking pictures at larger decision to offer higher high quality. It additionally data glorious video that youngsters can use in shows or social media.
The primary downside to the iPhone 15 is its battery life–it’s really excellent however the iPhone 16 affords a dramatic enchancment. However in any other case, the iPhone 15 is a high performer and may deal with something you little one needs to do on it, together with streaming movies, video games, and much more.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 15 overview
iPhone 13 mini – Finest worth iPhone for youths
Professionals
- Implausible dimension
- Light-weight
- Nice cameras
Cons
- Discontinued by Apple so more durable to seek out
- Battery life isn’t wonderful
Value When Reviewed:
Was $599
Apple has discontinued the iPhone 13 mini, but when you may get maintain of 1 it is a wonderful alternative for kids with a small body that’s excellent for small fingers.
The machine shares a lot of the attributes of its larger brother the iPhone 13, together with the processor and twin rear cameras. Someway the engineers at Apple nonetheless managed to suit a 5.4-inch show into a tool that’s smaller than the iPhone SE.
One factor to remember is that the smaller nature of the mini signifies that battery life is usually a little missing. So, for those who’re anticipating your child to be on it on a regular basis, particularly when out and about, we’d recommend perhaps choosing up a transportable energy financial institution to high up the battery if issues get low. Because the iPhone 13 mini helps MagSage, you’ll be able to select one from our roundup of the very best MagSafe transportable battery packs and energy banks.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 13 mini overview
Purchase a refurbished iPhone
Before you purchase one of many telephones talked about above our recommendation is to discover the second-hand and refurbished market. Shopping for a second-hand or refurbished iPhone can prevent some huge cash.
Your first port of name must be Apple’s Refurbished retailer the place Apple sells iPhones which have both been returned as defective or undesirable. These iPhones (and different merchandise) are fastened up so they’re good as new and offered at round 15% off their regular value.
There are numerous advantages to purchasing from Apple’s Refurbished Retailer within the U.S. or U.Okay., together with the truth that all merchandise within the Refurbished Retailer include a one-year guarantee.
You might even have the ability to discover an older iPhone mannequin that Apple doesn’t promote anymore, such because the iPhone 12 mini or an iPhone 13 Professional in Apple’s refurbished retailer.
However Apple’s not the one place that sells refurbished iPhones although; there are many corporations that make a residing from refurbishing and promoting iPhones. Take a look at our the place to purchase second-hand and refurbished iPhones information for extra particulars.
musicMagpie
There’s a rising market for older units which might be fastened up and offered on. Before you purchase from one in all these do examine their insurance policies concerning refurbishment and returns, and in addition we’d advise shopping for current fashions of iPhones – a few of these shops have a lot older fashions. Seek the advice of How lengthy does Apple help iPhones for extra details about the handsets to keep away from.
Refurbished iPhone sellers within the U.S.
- Decluttr: A well-liked vacation spot for refurbished units, typically with gross sales that slash much more cash off. You may also commerce in any of your outdated tech, devices, and media (together with books and CDs) to get steeper reductions.
- The iOutlet on eBay: Gives aggressive pricing for refurbished units and in addition accepts different devices resembling iPads, Apple Watches, and gaming consoles.
- Amazon Renewed Retailer: This web site’s biggest profit is that purchases are all backed by Amazon’s customary returns coverage and its “Renewed Guarantee” permits you to get a refund or substitute inside 1 yr of receiving your product.
- Finest Purchase: Finest Purchase doesn’t supply a substantial amount of info on pre-owned iPhones’ situation, however you’ll be able to return inside 14 days if the merchandise is “unopened or defective in any way.”
- Walmart: Walmart doesn’t promote refurbished iPhones instantly; moderately, they’re sourced from different sellers. Return insurance policies differ from vendor to vendor, however there are minimal necessities that apply universally.
Refurbished iPhone sellers within the U.Okay.
- Music Magpie: The UK model of Decluttr and a superb place to begin in search of refurbished iPhones. You might discover that gross sales scale back the value nonetheless additional.
- The iOutlet or The iOutlet on eBay: Gives aggressive pricing for refurbished units and in addition accepts different devices resembling iPads, Apple Watches, and gaming consoles.
- Amazon Renewed Retailer: Whilst you can’t actually promote on Amazon Renewed until you’re a enterprise, these trying to purchase a refurbished iPhone Amazon Renewed have loads of choices to select from. Its biggest profit is that purchases are all backed by Amazon’s customary returns coverage and its “Renewed Guarantee” permits you to get a refund or substitute inside 1 yr of receiving your product.
- Envirofone: Additionally means that you can commerce in your outdated cellphone for money in direction of buying a refurbished cellphone. Nonetheless, it principally focuses on telephones so that you gained’t have the ability to commerce in your DVDs or books for money.
- 4Gadgets: Gives a 12-month guarantee for all on-line orders.
- Reboxed: Pledges that units “are fully tested and in perfect working order.” All include a 12-month no quibble guarantee.
- Smartfone Retailer: Look out for the extra 10 % low cost for college kids and younger folks.
- Refurb-Cellphone: Like most refurb sellers, this web site affords a 12-month guarantee. Much less commonplace is its coverage of permitting returns inside 14 days for those who merely change your thoughts.
- The Huge Cellphone Retailer: Says it ensures refurb telephones “are thoroughly tested, repaired, and cleaned before being sent out.” Backs this with a 12-month guarantee.
- Laptops Direct: You get a 12-month guarantee on elements and labor. Be careful for barely complicated grading system: “A3,” for instance, means “Average condition.”
- Again Market: You get 30 days to alter your thoughts and a 12-month guarantee… or sometimes extra.
Corporations like musicMagpie (UK), Decluttr (US), Amazon and eBay are all now offering this service, together with one-year warranties and money-back ensures for those who’re not fully happy together with your buy. In fact, investing in older tech can be higher for the atmosphere, because it stops the iPhones from being thrown into landfills despite the fact that they’re able to offering years extra service to a contented child.
So, they arrive with ensures, prevent cash, and shield the planet. What’s to not love?
Go on an outdated iPhone to them
One other path to discover is handing over your present iPhone and shopping for your self a brand new one! In case you’ve had yours for some time, then it could be out of its contract interval, however for those who purchased it outright then all you want to do is get a brand new SIM card to your teen, give them your handset, then head off to the Apple retailer to present your self a gift for being such a magnanimous guardian. In case you’re uncertain what to deal with your self to, our greatest iPhone roundup ought to show a useful information.
Earlier than you hand over your outdated iPhone be sure to set it up appropriately to your little one. Take a look at 5 issues to do earlier than giving an outdated iPhone or iPad to your child, the right way to put together an iPhone on the market, the right way to reset an iPhone and the right way to arrange parental controls on iPad & iPhone.
Ought to youngsters have iPhones?
It is a enormous query and a subject fraught with professionals and cons. Everyone seems to be totally different. There are nonetheless dad and mom who don’t enable their youngsters to observe TV, not to mention play laptop video games. Different dad and mom don’t see any hurt in letting their youngsters be conversant in expertise. And others simply want a couple of minutes of peace whereas they push a toddler round a grocery store, or one thing to cease the tweens preventing at the back of the automotive on an extended journey. Certainly permitting the youngsters a couple of minutes right here and there with a cell phone gained’t harm their improvement.
You could possibly give them your individual iPhone in fact, however that is determined by how ready you might be for the danger of them sending their favourite YouTube video to your supervisor at work. A greater answer could also be to present them an outdated iPhone or iPad: it will probably nonetheless be linked to your account so there isn’t a must pay for the apps you’ve already downloaded for them.
Older youngsters will little doubt desire a handset with a little bit of credibility. It’s additionally at this age that the dangers related to cell phone possession turn out to be extra outstanding as considerations about their use of, and affect of, social media turn out to be obvious. It would be best to familiarise your self with Parental Controls and be sure that they’re actually mature sufficient to deal with all that comes with this reference to the world and that they can keep away from changing into hooked on their handsets.
Apple founder Steve Jobs famously restricted his child’s use of expertise, so perhaps we should always take a leaf out of his e-book. Or perhaps we should always settle for that our youngsters are rising up in a world so immersed in expertise that it will be part of their lives whether or not we prefer it or not. We simply want to regulate their entry to it, moderately than cease it altogether.