phones
The best smartphones for teens are here
Christine Ottoni • May 14, 2019
Teenage smartphone ownership is a win-win for parents and kids. You get a direct line to your teen and they get access to talk and text, surfing and social media. If you’re looking to get your teen a phone, this roundup of the best smartphones for teens is for you.
On Ting, you also get admin control of the account and how much any phone can use while your teen gets to demonstrate how responsible they can be without the risk of accidentally using a ton of mobile data.
If your kid is due for a new phone or has shown responsible ownership with an old flip phone or hand-me-down, it might be time to look into a new model. Smartphones make great toys but they’re emergency cell phones for kids. With a smartphone, make sure your teen can always reach you, no matter what.
Our top three best smartphones for teens
So what kind of gear does a teen really need? A user-friendly OS, fast processing and a sharp selfie front camera can’t hurt. We’ve included an affordable Android option as well as an iPhone.
Don’t forget, the best phones for kids come with smart service. Try Ting, where you’ll only pay for what your teen actually uses, and be able to set caps and limits on what they use.
Best starter smartphone: Android phones for under $200
At Ting, we love Motorola phones. Their lineup of smartphones shows that you can truly get a quality smartphone experience for less than $200.
We think Moto G7 Play ($199 in the Ting Shop) would make a great phone for teens. Moto G7 Play comes with 40 hours of battery life, a spectacular camera set and a bright and beautiful display. What’s more, it’s 100 percent faster than G6 Play, which makes for an awesome gaming and streaming experience (on Wi-Fi, of course).
Looking to splurge on an iPhone?
iPhone 7 ($449 in the Ting Shop or $21/mo with financing from Affirm) offers an undeniably user-friendly experience and is easy to navigate. You don’t have to get your teen the latest (and most expensive) iPhone. We think iPhone 7 is still a great phone, and will do everything your teen needs from a smartphone.
Hey parents
Check out some of our other smartphone suggestions for kids of all ages. We also let you in on some tips for curbing screen time at home and raising responsible smartphone users.
Don’t forget, the less you use, the more you save on Ting. Share our data saving tips with the kids and save even more.
*Subject to credit approval. Rates from 0-30% APR for 6, 18, and 24-month terms based on creditworthiness. Down payment may be required. Offer is subject to change at any time. Previous purchases are ineligible for offer. For purchases under $100, limited payment options are available. Affirm loans are made by Cross River Bank, a New Jersey-chartered bank, Member FDIC.
In the Ting shop you’ll find everything from good ol’ flip phones to the latest iPhone and Android phones.
What’s in store?