If you don’t want to give your kid an adult smartphone but do want them to have a way to communicate as they become more independent, you have options.
Along with our own tween-agers, we tested 13 smartwatches, kid-focused smartphones, flip phones, and other communication devices designed for kids. Although we found that all of these devices make some trade-offs, we have a few to recommend.
The New York Times has reported on the May 2023 surgeon general’s report on social media use and kids’ health and considered the benefit of delaying the moment when a kid gets their first smartphone. We also have advice on establishing healthy phone habits with kids, privacy concerns for kids and devices, and what to know about wireless carriers.
Our pick
Verizon GizmoWatch 2
This affordable smartwatch designed for kids allows for voice calls and limited texting, and it lets you track your child’s location.
A smartwatch lets you talk and text with your child, as well as track their location and manage who they communicate with. Smartwatches can also be less distracting than a standard smartphone. Of the kids smartwatches we’ve tested, the Verizon GizmoWatch 2 is one of the most intuitive for kids to use (and for adults to manage), as well as one of the most affordable. The newer Verizon GizmoWatch 3 is similar, but includes a camera. We are testing it for our next update to this guide.
Our pick
TickTalk 4
The TickTalk 4 includes a camera for photos and video calls, and it allows for up to 50 contacts. The watch is durable but also big and bulky.
The TickTalk 4 offers everything the GizmoWatch 2 does, as well as more flexibility in who your child can contact and how they can communicate, including the ability to add up to 50 contacts, make video calls, and take photos. The TickTalk 4 is encased in a water-resistant, rubbery plastic shell, which protects the watch from damage but also feels big and bulky.
Our pick
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch SE is the most versatile and the easiest to use of the smartwatches we tested, but it’s expensive and available only for iPhone users.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $320.
If your child is responsible enough to care for a pricey device, the Apple Watch SE may be worth considering. It’s one of the best-performing smartwatches for adults, too, and it offers more versatility, independence, and seamless communication than our other picks do (while still offering some parental-control features). But it also has the most potential for distraction of our picks, as kids can download games and apps to it, and it’s available only to iPhone users.
Our pick
Gabb Z2
With no web browser or app store, this Android smartphone limits kids to sending text messages, making phone calls, taking pictures and videos, and listening to music.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $100.
If you want a cell phone for your child that has more restrictions than an adult smartphone, we recommend the Gabb Z2. It looks and feels like a smartphone, offering the ability to call, text, send group messages, take photos and videos, and listen to music, but it has no way to access the internet or download games. The GabbZ3, which we plan to test soon, allows parents to approve and add certain apps.
Our pick
Alcatel SmartFlip
If you want a basic phone that doesn’t do much besides making calls, the Alcatel SmartFlip is cheap, reliable, and easy to find.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $80.
Unlike smartphones, flip phones have limited access to games and social media sites, and they last for days on one charge, making them a good option for no-frills communication for kids. Most flip phones will do the trick, but we like the Alcatel SmartFlip because it’s inexpensive, readily available, and, unlike many phones of its type, made to run on a 4G network. We have more guidance below for selecting a flip phone for your family based on your carrier.
