What phone for 11 year old

[Captianthunderpants]

Just that really ds will be starting school September and I'd like to get him a phone now.
Obviously it's not going to be a brand new one but I was looking at an iphone 7 and as I don't use apple was just wondering if anyone has one and knows if these are worth buying?

[DarlingCoffee]

Watching with interest as I have a 10 year old badgering me for a phone!!

[KylieCharlene]

My DD has an iphone 8. Apparently she wishes she'd got the iphone X as they're about the same price but the X has a better camera? I've zero idea on iPhone but she refused the 7 that I offered to buy and saved to put money towards the 8.

[KylieCharlene]

DD is 10.5

[Captianthunderpants]

I mean I don't think he'd really know the difference I would just like him to have a basic phone that makes calls whilst going to and from school

[actiongirl1978]

We just bought DS a xiaomi poco on offer after Xmas. It cost £175 brand new.

It was the same price as buying a refurbished Samsung 8.

[Sausagis]

DD2 has one of the cheaper iPhones (2020 se?) but I also use iPhones. As such it's really easy for me to set parental controls, approve apps, etc. if you're not an iPhone person would it make sense to match yours (android)?

Disclaimer: I don't know what parental control options are like on android, although I'm willing to bet there are some.

DD2 claims she would have rather had an android (although possibly because I don't know how to put parental controls on one!!)

[Stokey]

The Xiaomi ones are really good value. They can be a bit big to hold though. Motorola do good mid-range ones too. They're quite likely to lose or damage it so I would be looking at no more than £200.

[LethargeMarg]

We just got my ten year old the Samsung a12 which is only £17 per month and a big screen so good for playing games

[MaizeAmaze]

If you don't have an iPhone, I wouldn't get your son one.
DH and I are both android (Samsungs) and DS got on old handset of ours in a new case.
There is no way I'd have him on a different operating system having had to play IT tech to my parents Apple devices.

[Jmaho]

We much prefer android to apple but it's personal preference. My work phone is an iPhone and I really don't like it. I've had lots of Samsungs and I really prefer them although I have a Huawei at the moment which is also great
My almost 11 year old has a Samsung a12 and it's a great phone. Pretty sure we paid about £130 for it with a £6 a month sim from ID mobile where the data rolls over every month

[Pedallleur]

Why do they need smartphones? My daughter has internet access at home, a tablet and pc available to her and internet at school for learning. She needs a phone only to make/receive calls

[TattiePants]

DD got a Moto G30 for Christmas and it's great. Even better, we bought it from Sainsburys so was mainly paid for with Nectar points.

[Captianthunderpants]

Because that is what I'm choosing to get my child @Pedallleur

I will be upgrading soon and going back over to apple after many years, so thought it would be best to get and iphone for him for parental controls.

[actiongirl1978]

@Pedallleur my DC have an hours bus journey morning and night. They listen to Spotify, watch movies or YouTube and play games on the bus. DD reads kindle on hers. All the children on the bus are the same.

So while they don't NEED a smartphone, it makes their lives a bit better during the very long school commute.

[CoastalWave]

Lol'ing at the number of children with a better phone than me!

[Bevvyoc]

My nearly 11 year old got an iPhone 7 for his 10th birthday and I'll give him my old iPhone 12 for his 11th. Definitely start off with an older phone until they can prove they can look after a better phone.