Let’s face it: Children need iPhones. Their favourite celebrities are seen utilizing them, they see their mother and father utilizing them, and a few of their buddies have them. 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.
No matter iPhone you get, you need to think about using Display screen Time to handle their use. Constructed into iOS, Display screen Time enables you to set limits on how lengthy your child can use their telephone, what apps they’ll obtain and use, and when they should put it down for the night time. It’s an effective way for busy mother and father to maintain tabs on what their children are doing after they’re not inside eyeshot, and must be the very first thing you arrange.
Now onto the iPhone itself. For toddlers that want a easy gadget for watching parent-approved movies and enjoying some video games or instructional apps, we suggest avoiding iPhones altogether and getting a primary iPad. It’s inexpensive, you don’t have to fret about mobile connectivity, and the big measurement is simple for toddlers nonetheless engaged on their advantageous motor expertise. You’ll be able to try our greatest iPad for teenagers information to see if this could be a greater match in your baby, and we suggest a take a look at our greatest iPad offers roundup so you will get one of the best costs.
However, as soon as a baby will get sufficiently old for telephone connectivity to be helpful (for cell web, texting buddies, or being contactable by you), it’s time to step as much as a correct iPhone. Right here’s our suggestions.
Greatest iPhone for teenagers
Apple iPhone SE (2022) – Greatest iPhone for youthful children

Execs
- Value
- Small measurement
- Sturdiness
Cons
- No Face ID
- Older, much less fashionable, design
MSRP:
$429 (64GB) | $479 (128GB) | $579 (256GB)
When you’ve got a grade-school aged child who’s mature sufficient to deal with a telephone, you need to look no additional than the iPhone SE. It’s bought the identical A15 processor used within the iPhone 13 vary, so you recognize it’s going to carry out effectively and get software program updates for years. With a 4.7-inch display screen, it’s additionally fairly small, which is sweet for youthful children’ fingers and pockets. It’s a greater than serviceable iPhone, and there’s actually nothing your child could need to try this they received’t have the ability to, outdoors of utilizing options like Memoji or Animoji, which require the TrueDepth digital camera discovered within the Face ID outfitted 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 may refill rapidly in the event that they baby in query desires 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, reducing again on options just like the all-screen Liquid Retina show and twin cameras, and sporting Contact ID as an alternative of Face ID saves a variety of value, so the SE will nonetheless be cheaper than all the opposite iPhones. And since younger children are typically tough on stuff, even with a superb case and display screen protector (that are extremely really helpful), you’re not going to need to danger placing a $700 telephone of their fingers.
In fact, we don’t actually suggest the iPhone SE (2022) for adults, as in fashionable phrases it appears a bit dated and restricted, however for a child’s first step into the Apple world it might be an incredible alternative.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone SE (2022) assessment
Apple iPhone 12 – Greatest iPhone for older children

Execs
- Value
- Show measurement
- Good battery life
- Respectable digital camera
MSRP:
$599 (64GB) | $649 (128GB) | $749 (256GB)
Older children—younger teenagers and highschool college students—have extra demanding requirements. An iPhone SE should still serve them very effectively, however that smaller display screen is somewhat archaic and so they’re going to need to look cool in entrance of their buddies. Extra importantly, photo-taking and social media begin to turn into an necessary a part of their social life. So should you’re keen to spend extra on an iPhone with a extra succesful digital camera, Face ID, and a full-screen show, we suggest trying no additional than the iPhone 12.
With a 6.1-inch show, it’s significantly greater than the iPhone SE, which older children will recognize, and it has a extra fashionable design and options with out costing almost as a lot because the iPhone 13. You’re giving up some options, just like the newer chip and larger battery, however the iPhone 12 is the candy spot between efficiency, battery life, and fashionable options that any “older child” could be proud to have, but it surely prices $200 lower than the
iPhone 13 and even $100 lower than the
iPhone 13 mini.
Your ninth grader goes to need to take nice selfies and pics for social media and texting with buddies, and the iPhone 12 will ship, with battery life that can simply final a full day. And for the reason that footage they take are going to be your reminiscences in a decade, it’s value investing in a telephone with an incredible digital camera.
Learn our full
Apple iPhone 12 assessment
iPhone 12 mini – Greatest worth iPhone for teenagers

Execs
- Unbelievable measurement
- Light-weight
- Nice cameras
Cons
- Discontinued by Apple so more durable to seek out on sale
- Battery life is not wonderful
MSRP:
Discontinued. Was: $699 (64GB) | $749 (128GB) | $849 (256GB)
Okay, technically the iPhone 12 mini isn’t out there from Apple any extra, but it surely does crop up within the firm’s Refurbished retailer very often. If you happen to’ve not seen this a part of the Apple Retailer, then we suggest you test it out. Apple takes iPhones which have both been returned as defective or undesirable, then fixes them up so they’re good as new and sells them at round 15% off their regular value. You additionally get a full one-year guarantee that’s precisely the identical one you’d get with a brand new iPhone. Take a look at our the place to purchase second-hand and refurbished iPhones information for extra particulars.
That is excellent news, because the iPhone 12 mini is a good alternative for teenagers, particularly if you will get it a bit cheaper. The gadget shares many of the attributes of its greater brother the iPhone 12, together with the processor and twin rear cameras, but it surely all is available in a stunning, compact body that’s good for smaller fingers. Someway the engineers at Apple nonetheless managed to suit a 5.4-inch show into a tool that’s smaller than the iPhone SE. If you’ll find one on the Apple Refurbished retailer then we predict it may very well be an incredible choice. One factor to keep in mind is that the smaller nature of the mini signifies that battery life generally is a little missing. So, should you’re anticipating your child to be on it on a regular basis, particularly when out and about, we’d recommend possibly selecting up a conveyable energy financial institution to high up the battery if issues get low. Because the iPhone 12 mini helps MagSage, you’ll be able to select one from our roundup of the greatest MagSafe transportable battery packs and energy banks.
Do you have to not have the ability to discover the 12 mini on the Refurbished retailer, you’ll be able to all the time plump for the wonderful iPhone 13 mini as an alternative, though the value could make it considerably prohibitive.
Learn our full
iPhone 12 mini assessment
iPhone 14 – Greatest newest era iPhone for teenagers

Execs
- It is new
- Motion Mode for video
Cons
- It is not that totally different to the iPhone 13
MSRP:
$799 (128GB) | $899 (256GB) | $1,099 (512GB)
In case your child is insisting on the newest iPhone then we’d suggest the iPhone 14 – though we’d strongly advise that you just flip their consideration to the iPhone 13, which is virtually equivalent. If they’re wanting a telephone that appears like the most recent mannequin then they’ll simply idiot their classmates with the iPhone 13.
But when it’s the newest mannequin they’re after the iPhone 14 is the most cost effective choice and it brings options that the iPhone 13 lacks, together with the Motion Mode for video that we are able to see children profiting from. Swap Motion Mode on and you’ll movie when you stroll and even run and nonetheless get a easy video.
The opposite approach that the iPhone 14 is totally different to the iPhone 13 is within the coloration selections out there. This era is available in blue, purple, midnight, starlight and pink. The iPhone 13 had an identical choice that additionally included inexperienced and pink. Don’t get to caught up within the coloration alternative although – you’ll undoubtedly need to put a superb sturdy iPhone case on it.
Learn our full
iPhone 14 assessment
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 personal Refurbished retailer the place Apple sells ex-display and returned iPhones which were refurbished. 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 restricted guarantee.
However Apple’s not the one place that sells refurbished iPhones although; there are many corporations that make a dwelling from refurbishing and promoting iPhones.

musicMagpie
The truth is, there’s a rising market for older units which might be mounted up and offered on to delay their lives. Firms like musicMagpie (UK), Decluttr (US), Amazon and eBay are all now offering this service, together with one-year warranties and money-back ensures should you’re not utterly glad along with your buy. In fact, investing in older tech can also be higher for the surroundings, because it stops the iPhones from being thrown into land-fills despite the fact that they’re able to offering years extra service to a cheerful child.
So, they arrive with ensures, prevent cash, and defend the planet. What’s to not love?
The opposite benefit is you can choose up older units that will probably be nice for youngsters however not blow a gap in your checking account. Right here’s a couple of fashions that may be picked up for excellent costs and could be greater than ok for a younger consumer:
- iPhone SE (2020): Principally equivalent because the iPhone SE (2022) solely with an older processor and no 5G.
- iPhone 11: Nice all-rounder that introduces children to Face ID. Twin 12MP rear cameras, A13 Bionic chip, IP68 water resistance and good colors make this a wonderful alternative.
- iPhone XR: Identical construct because the iPhone 11 however with the earlier era A12 Bionic processor and solely a single rear digital camera. Nonetheless a strong iPhone.
Give them an iPhone you have already got
One other path to discover is handing over your present iPhone and shopping for your self a brand new one! If you happen to’ve had yours for some time, then it might be out of its contract interval, however should you purchased it outright then all you must do is get a brand new SIM card in your teenager, give them your handset, then head off to the Apple retailer to provide your self a gift for being such a magnanimous mum or dad. If you happen to’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 previous iPhone be sure you set it up accurately in your baby. Take a look at 5 issues to do earlier than giving an previous iPhone or iPad to your child and arrange parental controls on iPad & iPhone.
