Kids alternatives to smartphones in the UK (2023)
In summary:
A basic phone, without Wi-Fi or internet, will allow your child to stay connected and safe and will be easier for your child to understand and use safely.
Get a call-and-text-only SIM and avoid deals that require a data plan.
When you buy a smartphone, the product you get is designed for adults. They come with mobile data and Wi-Fi as standard, an app store, wallet and browser and without any requirement or support to set up restrictions or parental controls. Phone products designed for children do not exist in the UK. We are working to set this right. In the meantime, the range of options for keeping in touch with your child safely are set out below. For younger children, we recommend smart watches such as Xplora. The only alternatives to adult smartphones are basic phones or ‘dumbphones’. However, many basic phones are in-fact internet enabled and, because they are basic they are unable to run parental control software. Models with no internet are mostly discontinued and are only available second-hand. Parents often don’t get their child one of these because the child would prefer a new and up-to-date device. Parents fear their child would be teased with an old ‘dumbphone’.
Google provides free parental controls through Google Family Link. However, Google Family Link has limitations compared to other parental control options. It can only block internet access by locking the device completely. You can set app restrictions, but you cannot remove or block access to the Google Play Store or the browser and your child can delete their browsing history. You will need to give your child their own Google account and email, agreeing to let Google collect and use your child’s data to personalise their experience across Google products and services. When your child turns 13 they can manage their own Google account and stop your supervision without needing your permission.
Third-party parental controls
There are great third-party parental controls out there. However, third-party applications can run into compatibility problems with operating system updates. In addition, there are known ways that children can find ways around third-party controls. There are many posts and short videos on forums and social media made by children explaining the methods to circumvent parental controls.
Managing parental controls such as web-filters and app restrictions is a full-time job. Children know what smartphones are designed to be capable of and so they continually campaign for more and more apps such as games and social media on the phone. Automated web-filtering is always limited in its ability to protect children from age-inappropriate content. On the other-hand, managing web filtering manually is virtually impossible. The only safe solution is to not give your child a smartphone.
We are campaigning for safe phones designed for children.
Networks and SIMs.
Most cybercrime affects children using the internet at home over the Wi-Fi connection. So-called child-safe SIMs offer no protection here. And, even if you have good security on your home network your child could still access other Wi-Fi networks, for example at a friends house, or using a mobile hotspot.
Child-safe SIM cards allow you to prevent calls and texts to and from unknown numbers. You can switch off your child’s mobile data connection, or set a schedule with time limits. However, third-party parental control applications can offer the same functions. A child-safe SIM cannot prevent your child connecting to the internet on a Wi-Fi network. So, with these SIM cards you will still need to use a third party parental control application to control your child’s use of the internet.
Any smartphone, even with a child-safe SIM, allows your child to access the internet over Wi-Fi networks and personal hotspots, either at home or elsewhere, unless you use third-party parental controls to disable both Wi-Fi and mobile data.
Xplora Watches
Xplora provides smartwatches designed for kids. These watches are a great alternative to a smartphone. Especially designed to allow children to have fun, playing and exploring the outside world while staying in-touch safely.
Check out Xplora watches here.
Basic phones
It is surprisingly difficult to find phones built without any internet capability. Some have Wi-Fi, some don’t. If you put a calls-and-texts-only SIM in the the ones with Wi-Fi your child can still go online with no option for parental controls.
Lots of basic phones appear to be dumbphones but are able to connect to the internet. So you need to make sure that it doesn’t have Wi-fi capability and you need to use a calls-and-texts only SIM without a mobile data plan. Its really important as basic phones won’t work with third-party parental controls.
Then there are more upmarket simple phones that look like smartphones but have no dangerous apps. For example, the Wisephone II by Techless (see below).
Here are a few examples of basic phones available in the UK to keep your child safe in 2024:
Nokia 105
This phone is not discontinued and is available from stores such as Argos, Asda and Currys. This basic-looking phone has no camera and doesn’t look like a smartphone. It can only connect to the internet with a mobile data plan. No Wi-Fi capability, which is great. It has several fun basic retro games too. This is safe if you give your child with a calls-and-texts-only SIM.
Oakcastle F100
One of the cheapest phones on the market so great if you don’t want to worry about your kid losing or damaging it! It is also one of the only mobile phones still in production that doesn’t connect to the internet at all! It comes from a less well-known brand but is reliable. It has no camera or games and and offers no Wi-Fi or internet functions at all. It is less durable than most. However, we have successfully road-tested one of these and, so far so good.
Doro 6820
This seniors flip-phone wont appeal to kids. It has a clam shell style case that protects the screen and buttons. It doesn’t have Wi-Fi or pre-loaded apps so is a good choice to keep your child safe from online dangers but make sure you choose a calls-and-texts-only SIM!
Doro 1370
again, the Doro 1370 is designed for older people. Although technically this works on 2G networks it is not designed to connect to the internet. It has a camera but doesn’t come with any apps. You wont be able to install any parental controls on this phone. But you probably won’t need them. Only the very tech-savvy will be able to install any internet applications on this device.
Nokia 3310 (2017)
Although this phone is marketed as a remake of the legendary original 3310 from the days before smartphones this device does have internet capability. But only over mobile data - no Wi-Fi capability. So, with a calls-and-texts-only SIM no internet.
It comes with some apps such as Facebook and Twitter pre-installed. Unlike the original Nokia 3310 this phone has a camera (2MP) and a full colour screen (not a touch-screen). That said, its interface makes use of the internet less engaging and enjoyable than a quality touch screen.
Nokia 110
The Nokia 110 works over 4G networks so could potentially connect to the internet but again, only with a data-plan. No Wi-Fi connectivity so, with a calls-and-texts-only SIM this is an internet-free device. It comes with a few pre-loaded games like Snake. It has large buttons and only has the basics but with a great battery life.
Nokia 8210
This phone also offers no Wi-Fi connectivity so with a calls-and-texts only SIM your child will not be able to connect to the internet on this device. It has a good battery life and a large screen.
Simple smartphones (minimal phones)
Wisephone II