The best first phones for your kids

Thinking of getting your child their first phone? It’s a big step.

Whether you’re ready to buy that first phone or still shopping there are lots of options on the market. Which device is best? Then there’s the choice of plan: prepaid or postpaid. It’s a lot to consider.

Here are some options for you to make your life a little easier.

You might like to choose a postpaid mobile phone plan for your child which means you’ll pay a known, set amount per month. The latest phones are available on these month-to-month plans so you can get the latest iPhone and pay it back interest free in monthly instalments. A popular option for parents is to upgrade your own phone and gift the old phone as a hand me down when your child is ready for their first phone.  

Optus postpaid mobile plans enable access to all of our network features as well as a growing list of partners on Optus Sub Hub like Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube Premium that feature loads of kids content like movies and documentaries.

Here’s some phones on a plan to make your choice a little easier.

Ok, so if your child is ready for a phone, then the iPhone SE is a great option. It’s the most affordable iPhone on the market but doesn’t compromise on quality. It’s an Apple after all… It’s got the same processor used in the iPhone 13 range. Big battery life, super tough glass. Billed as being “fast, easy, secure”, it also has a location sharing feature, so you can share your location with family members. While you can disable this setting, there’s a setting that prevents kids from doing so without your permission. Add in 5G capability and you’ve got yourself the bee’s knees of kid’s phones with the iPhone SE.*

Looking for an affordable phone with features for your child? Consider going with the Oppo A16. It has an appealing large screen with HD+ Eye-care Display which adjusts the phone’s brightness and adapts to the lightning environment. It also features a 8MP front and 13MP rear camera. And there’s handy Side Fingerprint Unlock and Face Unlock functions plus a long-lasting battery. Add in the AI Beautification function that enhances complexions with effects that can be adjusted, and you’ve got the perfect phone for your tween.

Another fantastic budget option is the Samsung Galaxy A13 4G that offers sleek good looks and comes in a durable plastic body. It also sports a quad rear camera and HD screen. A welcome addition is a headphone socket allowing your child the choice of headphones – old fashioned wired or Bluetooth earphones. Handy and thrifty.

If you choose to go with a prepaid mobile phone plan for your child, you’d pay a certain amount of money upfront for mobile credit that your child can use on calls, texts, mobile data or a combination of all three, depending on the phone and the plan. Prepaid plans can be great value for money, and you can typically save even more with longer expiry prepaid options.   

If you want a budget-friendly phone you can’t go past the Realme C21 is a good-looking smartphone and feels nice to use. It’s quick to unlock via facial or fingerprint recognition. It has a big battery with power saving mode. Then there’s a 6.5 inch HD+ display with 89.5% screen ratio and 64GB internal storage (with up to 256GB Micro SD expandable storage). Plus, an instant fingerprint sensor and 13MP Triple camera. Done deal.

Motorola… does the name take you back to your own childhood and the pre-smartphone era mobiles? These people are experienced at building phones and this one is a great option for those mindful of price.  Luckily there’s little compromise on features with the Motorola moto e32. This smartphone delivers a pleasing slim design with HD+ display. 16MP AI triple camera system and 4 GB of RAM. Add a long-lasting battery and the search for your child’s first phone may be over. Tick.

Rounding out our review of budget phones for kids, Optus X Lite 4G phone packs a punch for less moolah. This no-frills unit is a great value 4G phone that will keep your kid connected without burning a hole in your pocket.

It features a generous screen, radio and the basic functions you’d expect from a phone these days like camera, calculator, organiser, converter, alarms and more.

Optus Digital Thumbprint

Optus Digital Thumbprint are free, curriculum-aligned workshops that teach young people to participate safely online, with the tools they need for positive, responsible and authentic experiences. Program delivery includes face-to-face workshops and teacher-led digital workshops.

*T&Cs apply. 5G available in selected areas (excl. NT) and on selected plans. See www.optus.com.au/ coverage website for offer and coverage details.

These are just a few suggestions to help you choose your child’s first phone. We’ve also rounded up the best tech and solutions for equipping your child for the new school year. The phones and tablets on our month-to-month plans (excluding Prepaid) are also available for you to pay off over time, helping to ease the cost of new technology.

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