Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

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The Other Phone is £30 off for Black Friday - the safety-first smartphone designed with kids (and parents) in mind

If you’re thinking about your child’s first phone, now is the moment to buy. The Other phone - the safety-led smartphone co-designed with Mumsnet users - has £30 off for Black Friday.

By Laura Westerman | Last updated Nov 17, 2025

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Mumsnet Badge Child using the Other phone

If you’ve ever reclaimed your own phone from your child only to realise they’ve somehow been glued to it for an hour, you’ll understand why many parents hesitate before buying that all-important first smartphone. Being able to contact your child is reassuring, but the thought of opening them up to messaging apps, social feeds and late-night notifications can be unnerving.

That’s where the Other phone comes in. Built on Nothing’s award-winning CMF hardware and powered by SafetyMode’s next-generation parental controls, it aims to give families a middle ground: a proper smartphone, but one that doesn’t let algorithms run the show. And with the price reduced from £279 to £249 for Black Friday, it’s arrived at the perfect moment.

What we like
  • Safe for children

  • Sleek, minimalist design

  • High-quality camera

  • Phone interface is simple to navigate

  • Quick, adjustable safety settings

  • Parental controls and app usage can be managed remotely

Things to know
  • Setup may be less intuitive if you're used to iPhones

Key specs

RRP: £279 (now £249) | Manufacturer: Nothing | Hardware: CMF 2 Pro | Storage: 128GB | Camera: 50MP back 16 MP front | Operating system: Android | Size: 164 x 78mm | Weight: 185g | Battery life: Good

Why parents asked for something different

Earlier this year, Mumsnet surveyed thousands of parents about online safety, and the results were striking.

  • 77% say keeping their child safe online feels almost impossible

  • 88% worry about excess screen time

  • 86% are concerned about the impact on their child's mental health and attention span

  • Only 34% rate their current parental-control tools as very effective

This feedback helped shape the Other phone from its earliest stages, with Mumsnet users involved in discussions, focus groups and testing to pinpoint what families genuinely needed.

SafetyMode: an invisible layer of protection

At the heart of the device is SafetyMode, a system that quietly monitors content across the phone. It filters harmful material - from inappropriate language to nudity - and alerts parents if worrying messages or images appear. Crucially, it checks activity inside apps such as WhatsApp and social platforms, which is where many traditional controls fall short.

Parents can approve or block app downloads, set usage windows for specific apps and pause notifications during homework or bedtime. All of this is managed through a web dashboard, meaning you don’t need the phone in your hand to adjust settings.

For families who want to avoid the lure of bright icons and visual triggers, the optional streamlined home screen offers a deliberately pared-back layout to reduce mindless tapping.

Grown-up hardware, child-friendly setup

Although it’s designed with safety in mind, the Other phone still looks grown-up. It’s built on Nothing’s CMF 2 Pro hardware - widely praised for its performance - so it feels like a modern smartphone, complete with a sharp screen, solid battery and a great camera.

What sets it apart is flexibility: parents can start with a very simple set-up for younger children and then gradually unlock new apps and features as they become more independent.

Why the Black Friday deal is worth a look

Even at full price, the Other phone comes in lower than many mainstream smartphones. With the £30 Black Friday reduction, it’s even better value at £249. Because you can adjust the safety settings over time, it’s designed to grow with your child rather than needing to be replaced every couple of years.

For families who want their children to stay connected without falling into the traps of addictive design, the Other phone offers a balanced alternative - and the Black Friday saving makes it an appealing time to buy it.

The Other phone is available now for £249 for Black Friday.

About the author

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. Mum to a three-year-old, she is fully invested in finding the best and most affordable products for families.

With over nine years' experience as a full-time editor, seven of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing product reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what parents love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier. 

In addition to her work as a writer and editor, she has also appeared in a number of product review videos for Mumsnet's YouTube channel.