You're planning to buy your teenager their first cell phone and wondering what the best choice is. A teen's first cell phone is an interesting experience, so it's important that you make a good choice. In this article, I’ll tell you about the best phones for teens!
What Do Teens Need in a Cell Phone?
It's important for your teen to be able to call or text if there's an emergency, or just to keep you updated, so an expensive phone isn’t required. After all, you probably wouldn’t want to put a $1,500 cell phone in the hands of a teenager, especially if it's their first phone. It could easily get lost or broken, then you’re $1,500 in the hole.
If you're interested in parental controls, iPhones have built-in features like Screen Time and Share My Location. Screen Time lets you keep track of the amount of time your child spends, as well as moderate the content they can engage with on their iPhone. Share My Location lets you keep track of your teen's location at any time, which is especially useful when they start driving.
For Androids, you can set up some parental controls in the Google Play Store and install third-party apps on your teen's device.
Having a phone with GPS that supports location features is also important for teens. These features are great for teens as they make it possible to use digital maps. They're great for parents as well because you can keep track of where your child is going at any time.
Fortunately, the best phones for teenagers today all support GPS and have map apps preinstalled.
Best Phones for Teens
Our top phone picks for the best cell phones for teens are a mix of budget iPhones and Androids. Each of these phones are on the cheaper side, as we don't believe you need to pay thousands of dollars for a great phone for you teenager.
iPhone SE 2
The iPhone SE 2 offers the latest in Apple technology into a more compact device. The 64 GB base model is fairly priced at just $399.99, despite having the same A13 processor as the iPhone 11. This phone has a 13 hour of battery life (talk time), 4.7 inch Retina HD display, and an advanced camera system, which includes Portrait Mode.
The powerful processor, IP67 water-resistance, and affordable price tag make this one of our favorite phones for kids.
iPhone XR
The iPhone XR was originally marketed to consumers as a budget iPhone. Even though it's a relatively new phone, it has a starting price of just $599 for the 64GB model. This phone has a reliable, 25 hour battery life as well as a 6.1 inch display and 12 MP camera. It also has an ingress protection rating of IP67, meaning it's designed to be water resistant for a maximum of 30 minutes when submerged up to 1 meter underwater.
The iPhone XR is great for teens because of the native parental controls and the Do Not Disturb While Driving feature, which will help prevent your teen from getting distracted while they're driving.
iPhone 7
The iPhone 7 is an older iPhone model, but it's still compatible with iOS 14, the latest version of the iPhone's software. This phone starts at about $200 outright from some carriers, but you'll have to pay at least $349 if you want to purchase it directly from one of the big four wireless carriers. The iPhone 7 has a 4.7 inch display, 12 MP camera, and a 14 hour battery life (talk time). Like the iPhone XR, this phone is rated IP67 for water-resistance.
We recommend this iPhone for a few different reasons. The iPhone 7 will be compatible with iOS updates for at least the next few years. Just like the XR, the 7 supports Screen Time and Do Not Disturb While Driving. Finally, it's one of the oldest iPhones still available on a wide variety of wireless carriers. If you're looking to get your teen a cell phone without breaking the bank, this might just be your best option!
iPhone 12 Mini
If your teen is big into the latest tech, we recommend the iPhone 12 Mini. As part of the first line of iPhones to ever have 5G compatibility, this A14 processor-powered device is a powerhouse with a compact footprint and price tag.
The iPhone 12 Mini is every bit as fast and efficient as the standard iPhone 12, it just happens to be slightly smaller and more affordable. One aspect of this phone that might be particularly beneficial is its Ceramic Shield display, as Apple claims the material to be more durable than any device currently on the market.
If your teen is a budding iPhone photographer or Instagram star, the iPhone 12 Mini has an excellent camera apparatus as well. Featuring 12 MP wide and ultra wide lenses with enhanced image stabilization and dark mode capabilities, the iPhone 12 Mini has unprecedented photography and videography abilities. Best of all, users can view and edit their work over the stunning Super Retina XDR display.
Samsung Galaxy S9
The Samsung Galaxy S9 is the oldest Galaxy phone available on most carriers. It has a starting price of around $449.00, but you can also lease it for $37.42 / month on a one-year term. It's a little more expensive than some other solid Android phones, but those phones don’t necessarily have all the bells and whistles that Samsung Galaxy does.
This phone has a 22 hour battery life (talk time), 5.8 inch display, and a 12 MP camera. It also has an ingress protection rating of IP68, meaning it's designed to last when submerged in 1.5 meters of water for up to to 30 minutes.
Google Pixel 3a
With a starting price of around $399.99, the Google Pixel 3a is a fairly new, but very affordable phone. In fact, it's our favorite Android! The Pixel 3a has a 32 hour battery life, 12.2 MP camera, and a 5.6 inch display. Unlike the other phones we've mentioned, the Pixel 3a hasn't been rated for water-resistance.
This phone only comes with 64 GB of storage, but you can save your photos and videos to Google Cloud Storage. Google Cloud gives you 50 GB of free storage space, which should be more than enough for most people.
Google Pixel 4a
The Google Pixel 4a is a great option for teens that is just as affordable (if not more) than other Androids. This device comes with 128 GB of storage and up to 24 hours of battery life. One of my favorite features is the durable Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display cover, which helps minimize the risk of damaging the phone if dropped.
Android 10 software comes preinstalled and your teen will be able to enjoy all the great features of a high-tech phone without the cost or complications other devices have. Read more about the Google Pixel 4a here.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE
The Samsung Galaxy S20 FE is another great choice. This is a premium smartphone for teens that comes without the premium price tag. There are several color options for your teen to choose from, a pro-grade triple lens camera, and tons of other features set to enhance user experience.
If you're a 5G user, you'll be glad to hear this device is compatible with 5G networks and has a battery life of over 24 hours. Plus, the Galaxy S20 FE is water and dust resistant, so you won't have to worry about the phone sustaining heavy liquid damage. For more information, check out Samsung's page all about Galaxy S20 FE.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
This is Samsung's most powerful phone to date. Its affordable cost and incredible features make it a great option for teens. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 features a 36 hour battery life, so you'll never have to worry about your teen being out of reach. Knox mobile software comes preinstalled to protect user data stored in both software and hardware. Plus, the expandable memory will ensure there's enough storage for any user.
This phone has a rating of IP68, meaning it's water and dust resisant. This is one of my favorite features because I can only imagine how many times I dropped my phone or spilled something on it as a teen. Check out more on the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 on UpPhone's bio page!
Want More Phone Recommendations?
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Smells Like Teen Spirit
We hope this article helped you choose between the best phones for teens. Looking for a phone recommendation from a carrier we didn’t mention? Leave us a comment below!
