Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

The best phones for kids in 2023

Kids are people too, and often those little people are clamoring for the best smartphone tech money can buy, complete with the latest talk, text, games, apps, photos, and video conferencing features their parents are willing to buy for them. The good news is that you don't have to mortgage your home to purchase a decent smartphone for your kid. With their (sometimes) smaller hands and more limited needs — and the reality that kids tend to lose or destroy delicate things more frequently than adults — there are plenty of choices for powerful handsets that are ideal for kids.

Whether they're in the next room studying, yakking with or texting friends, walking the dog at the park, or gearing up to go back to school, their smartphone helps you to monitor their activities and keep them out of trouble. Double down on this by pairing their new phone with one of the best parental control apps or, for Android devices, Google's Family Link. Here are our top picks for the best phones for kids ranging in age from about elementary school to teen.

Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Jump to details
Motorola - Moto G Power (2022) 64GB (Unlocked) - Dark Grove
Moto G Power (2022)
Jump to details
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Jump to details
Google Pixel 6a
Google Pixel 6a
Jump to details
Motorola Moto E6
Motorola Moto E6
Jump to details
Moto G7 Play
Moto G7 Play
Jump to details
iphone se 2022 review starlight back in hand
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends / Digital Trends

Apple iPhone SE (2022)

Pros
  • Compact and light
  • Very powerful
  • Touch ID works really well
  • Wireless charging
  • IP67 water resistance
Cons
  • Poor battery life
  • 60Hz screen
  • 64GB won't be enough

The iPhone SE (2022) is a small, neat phone with a tiny 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display and a 60Hz refresh rate. This may be old hat for adults, but it's perfect for your adolescent or teen. There's a lot going on with the new iPhone SE including Apple's latest A15 Bionic chip, 4GB of RAM, 64GB, 128GB, or 256GB of storage, decent battery life, and a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera. Add 5G connectivity, iOS 15, and several years of OS updates, and it's easy to see why the iPhone SE (2022) is a great smartphone investment for responsible children.

Apple iPhone SE (2022)
Apple iPhone SE (2022)
moto g power 2022 review motog back
Erika Rawes/Digital Trends

Moto G Power (2022)

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Amazing battery life
  • Accurate biometrics
  • Decent amount of ROM
  • Good camera system and software
  • Water repellent
Cons
  • No 5G connectivity
  • Comes with Android 11
  • Plastic backing
  • Slow responses at times

When you're buying a smartphone for the discerning youngster in your family and don't want to scrimp on features, check out Motorola, an affordable smartphone brand. While many high-end features are absent and the body is plastic, the newest Moto G Power is ideal for everyday web browsing, emails, calls, and social media. This is for kids who prefer — and can handle — a larger phone. The Moto G Power has a huge 6.5-inch 90Hz display, 4GB of RAM, a MediaTek Helio G37 chip, 64GB or 128GB of storage, and a massive 5,000mAh battery that can last for days. That's in addition to a decent camera setup of 50MP main, 2MP macro, 2MP depth sensor, and 8MP selfie camera.

Motorola - Moto G Power (2022) 64GB (Unlocked) - Dark Grove
Moto G Power (2022)
samsung galaxy a53 5g review back
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G

Pros
  • Pretty design
  • IP67 water-resistance
  • Camera is great for social media
  • Vibrant screen
  • Two-day battery life
Cons
  • Performance can be sluggish
  • Not an upgrade to the A52 and A52S

The Samsung Galaxy A53 5G, with a plastic exterior, sports a two-day battery life, a capable camera, a gorgeous AMOLED display, and a great looking design. The IP67 rating for water resistance means extra durability for whatever mischief your kid gets into. It's on the large side — so this is for a teen — and it's got many advanced features. You have the option of 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of storage — and there's a microSD card slot. The camera setup features a solid quad-lens on the back and a 64MP main lens, a 12MP wide-angle, and a pair of 5MP lenses for macro and depth. Up front, there's a 32MP selfie lens. The battery can manage two days of moderate use — without gaming.

Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
Samsung Galaxy A53 5G
google pixel 6a review
Joe Maring/Digital Trends

Google Pixel 6a

Pros
  • Compact, lightweight design
  • IP67 water resistance
  • Flagship-grade performance
  • Excellent cameras
  • Clean software
  • Years of guaranteed updates
Cons
  • Display is only 60Hz
  • Tensor chip runs hot
  • Lacking battery life

This is an excellent, up-to-date, stylish, moderately priced phone for young people who seek performance. Google's Tensor chip is the same silicon as in the company's flagship Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro and it's great for gaming. Although 6GB of RAM is less memory than found in more expensive handsets, it works to keep apps open in the background for school kid multitasking. This is a one-day smartphone for most kids, who can easily charge it up at bedtime.

Google Pixel 6a
Google Pixel 6a
nokia g50 review blue back
Andy Boxall/Digital Trends

Nokia G50

Pros
  • Long battery life
  • Strong build quality
  • Fuss-free, reliable software
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • 5G for the future
Cons
  • 60Hz refresh rate screen
  • Low-resolution screen
  • Big and heavy

The Nokia G50 is a very large phone with a massive 6.82-inch screen, a body that is nearly 9mm thick and 174mm tall, and weighs 220 grams. It’s not a rugged phone, but it's naturally tough and able to withstand the rough and tumble of school kid activities. The Snapdragon 480 chip is a decent performer for school work and games, with 4GB of RAM and 128GB of storage space, and a microSD card slot. Call quality is good, accompanied by a 5,000mAh battery offering two to three days without a recharge. The software, battery life, and build quality, decent-but-basic camera, and 5G make this a good choice for a young family member.

Nokia G50
Nokia G50
moto e6 review 7
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Motorola Moto E6

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Clean Android software interface
  • Decent screen
Cons
  • Still no USB Type-C charging port, no NFC
  • Price is too close to the better value Moto G7 Play
  • Exclusive to Verizon for now
  • Won’t get Android Q

With a 5.5-inch HD display and an 18:9 aspect ratio, your kid gets a large, clear, responsive touchscreen. The phone features a Qualcomm Snapdragon Octa-Core processor running Android 9 and lets you add up to 256GB of photos, songs, and movies with a dedicated MicroSD card slot. The water repellent body keeps the Moto E6 protected from splashes and spills. A smart camera with Google Lens features text recognition while the built-in camera shoots 13MP photos. You can use your phone on any carrier.

Motorola Moto E6
Motorola Moto E6
Nokia 3310 in hand.
Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Nokia 3310

Pros
  • Colorful plastic exterior
  • Bright screen at all angles
  • Durable
Cons
  • Inferior camera

Who wants to play Snake? It’s likely that if your child is of a certain young age, they will readily take to Snake and several other games that the Nokia offers in its updated, retro-styled Nokia 3310. The updated version of the phone is plastic, comes in four friendly colors, and features a fresh custom interface with a 2.4-inch polarized, curved screen that’s clear and bright at all angles and even in sunlight. Light and compact, it will stand up to the rough and tumble of child play and keep on trucking with battery standby for up to a month.

Nokia 3310
Nokia 3310
moto g7 play review feat
Simon Hill/Digital Trends

Moto G7 Play

Pros
  • Very affordable
  • Good performance
  • Solid camera
  • Great battery life
Cons
  • No NFC
  • Ugly notch

For kids with bigger hands who are into sports or gaming, you can get a larger phone at a good price. The Moto G7 Play, a grown-up style phone for an older child or teen, features an advanced Qualcomm Snapdragon 632 processor and a 5.7-inch display with a 19:9 aspect ratio, 2GB of RAM, and 32GB of internal storage, up to 512 GB with a MicroSD card. Because it’s water-repellent, with a P2i nano-coating and scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla Glass 3, it can withstand considerable punishment while your kid gets a stable grip. It’s easily unlocked via the fingerprint sensor and facial recognition. It comes unlocked, but is compatible with AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Amazon Alexa, Music, Audible, and Shopping come preinstalled.

Moto G7 Play
Moto G7 Play

Editors' Recommendations

Jackie Dove
Contributor
Jackie is an obsessive, insomniac tech writer and editor in northern California. A wildlife advocate, cat fan, and photo app…
Don’t miss this hidden Samsung Galaxy S24 pre-order deal
The Samsung Galaxy S24 laying on a shelf with its screen turned on.

If you’re looking for great phone deals with an eye on buying the latest Samsung Galaxy S24 or S24 Plus, we’ve got the one for you. Right now, both phones offer a hefty number of benefits when you pre-order from Samsung direct. These include up to $550 enhanced trade-in when buying the S24 or up to $650 when buying the S24 Plus, along with $25 Samsung credit with the S24 and $75 Samsung credit with the S24 Plus. Both benefit from a free storage upgrade while there’s 5% or 7.5% student discount depending on the phone you pre-order. Even better though, use our links below and you can benefit from an extra $50 Samsung credit without having to do anything different. Pretty cool, right? Let’s take a look at what the phones offer.

Why you should buy the Samsung Galaxy S24
We’re expecting to see the Samsung Galaxy S24 take over from the S23 as the best Android phone for those looking for something a little smaller. It’s had a small increase in size meaning it now has a 6.2-inch screen but that’s all good. Said screen now has 2,600 nits of peak brightness along with variable 120Hz refresh rates that scale all the way down to 1Hz instead of 48Hz as before. The Samsung Galaxy S24 Pus now has a 6.7-inch screen with the same brightness and refresh rate but a Quad HD+ panel compared to the S24’s full HD+ resolution.

Read more
Best Verizon new customer deals: Galaxy S23, iPhone and more
Verizon logo on a smartphone screen in a dark room and a finger touching it.

When it's time to upgrade your phone or open a new line, there's another decision you have to make besides choosing your new smartphone. Which carrier would you like to use? Often, one of the deciding factors is what kind of promotions and discounts they're offering. Take a look at the deals Verizon offers new customers, for example. You can snag some perks like a new phone, bonus subscription plans, or accessories for the phone you already have. Switching carriers just for the new customer perks might be worth your time. Below, we've gathered up some of the best Verizon new customer deals happening right now.
Free iPhone SE (3rd Gen)

The 2022 release of the Apple iPhone SE is yours for free when you sign up for a new 5G data plan on Verizon -- no trade-ins required. It's the best small smartphone in our list of the best smartphones with a 4.7-inch Liquid Retina display, but it doesn't sacrifice performance as it's powered by Apple's A15 Bionic chip that's also found in the iPhone 13 line and pre-installed with iOS 15. The latest iPhone SE is equipped with a single 12MP rear sensor and 7MP selfie camera, which are boosted by Apple's software to enable better photographs.

Read more
Best cell phone plan deals: T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon, Mint Mobile and more
Woman

When it comes time to upgrade your phone, or sign someone in your family up for a new line, picking just one cell phone provider isn't simple. Every service provider has their own cell phone plan deals for new customers, and they can get confusing. If that's you, and you're searching for the best deal, there's a good chance you're going to save some serious money in the long run. You should always consider perks like smartphone deals and 5G phone deals that could get you a new phone for free. Because there are so many, we've collected all the best cell phone plan deals from the major and minor providers. These are general plans, so if you're searching for something more specific, like the best cell phone plan for home use or the best cell phone plan for small businesses, we encourage you to continue researching after you check out the deals below.
Mint Mobile: Get any 3-month plan for $15 per month
For a limited time, Mint Mobile has dropped the three-month price for all of its plans to just $15 per month. That means, the Unlimited plan, normally $30 per month, or $90 for three months, is no just $15 per month or $45 for three months. The base 5GB of data per month plan is $15 per month, and the 15GB per month plan is $15 per month, or $45 for three months. That is an incredible deal. All Mint Mobile plans include unlimited talk and text, access to 5GB high-speed data, free calling to Mexico and Canada, free mobile hotspot access, and WiFi calling support. You can't beat that!

U.S. Mobile: Pre-pay $23 per line per month
Prepaid wireless plans are a great option for light users, kids, and anyone else who won’t be consuming a lot of data on a daily basis. U.S. Mobile is one of the best prepaid service providers available today, allowing you to build your own custom plan, so you’re only paying for as many minutes, texts, and gigabytes of data as you want to. As just one example, its Unlimited Starter plan is just $23 per line, or $276 for 12 months -- saving you $72 per year. You get unlimited talk, text, and data, 10GB of hotspot data, international calling and texting, and more. If you're adding multiple lines to a plan, you can also unlock free extras like Disney+ and Netflix.

Read more