Anyone recently bought a dumb phone for kids?

[hopefulsocks]

If you've recently bought a ‘dumb’ phone, would really appreciate recommendations for which model you have found works well. Ive been trying to research but theres many with extra features or are only 2G compatible.

I just need a very basic phone for emergency use only for DS for if hes away from me and needs to call or message me.

It seems it needs to be 4G to continue working in the future and I really dont want any other features as he will just play with it!

Also looking at SIM deals, it seems I have to sign up for a rolling contract even if very cheap, are there no ‘pay as you go’ where you just top up an amount any more (I may just be stuck in the 90s here!)?

Good question, we had to update my 9 year old's 2G Nokia 105 for the same reason. I'd really have preferred something with no camera, no browser and no games.

The 4G 105 we ended up getting has no camera. ✅️

Incredibly it does have a browser (must be total shit to use but still) but you can disable it by putting a password on it

And it has a few games that cannot be disabled unfortunately, e.g. snake and similar. Luckily she doesn't find these all that fun but I know what you mean, I also want the phone to be a tool, not a toy.

If anyone knows of something that is genuinely just a call and text brick I'd also be interested to know!

You can get new Nokia 3210s from Argos and John Lewis, would that do the job? I'm thinking about buying one for my (elderly) mum as she won't use a smartphone but I want her to have something with her.

It does have Snake but I doubt anyone is going to get addicted to that 😄

Glad you mentioned that one, Ive definitely looked at the 3210 as an option!

Any ideas about the SIM options? Will you be getting a monthly contract? Im not sure we’re going to use it enough to justify paying monthly but cant find much else!

There's a couple called 1p mobile I think or similar that you can put credit on. It's then 1p per text or minute call.
I believe you have to put it on in blocks of £30.
Well use a Nokia 3210 too

www.mumsnet.com/swearsby/best-dumb-phone-for-kids

Thank you, I did see this link but they’re mostly 2G or phones with lots of features.

I was wondering if there were any more 4G basic phone and text models that people have more recently bought.

I just got my mums friend a payg sim from a Welsh company called rwg.

https://www.rwgmobile.wales/webshop/offers/order-a-sim/

They are 5p a min or 5p a text.

She wanted it purely as an emergency mobile, and it is working well for her.

I got a standard cheap Samsung and locked everything down so all dd can do is sms messages and call, and she only has a few numbers for emergencies, and I can track her. I use 1p mobile.

I got a Nokia 105 for DS age 10. Just realised it’s only 2G- doh! It does have snake but I doubt he will get addicted to that. Most of the other games are only free the first couple of times then they disable unless you pay for them.

The SIM card is from ParentShield, it is a rolling contract but all calls and messages are recorded even if messages get deleted.

Thank you for all the recommendations. Looks like the Nokia 3210s will tick all the boxes (dont want to risk a basic iphone/samsung as hes likely to break the screen!).
I have found a uswitch deal on the Lebara network for £4 a month which looks the cheapest if I dont need data. Anyone used Lebara?

I just noticed the 3210 does have internet, I realise I can turn off mobile data but wonder how long it will be before DS can find he can switch it back on!

Are there any true 'dumb' phones that are for calls and messages only (also 4G)?

Stupid question but is it due to the 4G compatibility that they all seem to have internet connection?

Google says:

To set up parental controls, including internet restrictions, on the Nokia 3210, navigate to "Menu" > "Settings" > "Security" > "Parental Controls," set a password, and then use "Feature Locks" to restrict features like the browser and camera.

That implies you can indeed prevent the use of these features.

I couldn't find one that had no internet capability, but if you can pick a password he wouldn't ever guess then you can shut off access to the browser on the Nokia phones (or at least our one). You can't get rid of the icon, though, which is annoying.

I tested it and I couldn't use the browser once I'd set it up and I doubt there would be a workaround?

Also the browser is terrible and incredibly annoying. I opened a few sites with it when I first bought the phone as stupidly I'd assumed it wouldn't have a browser because the 2G 105 did not and I was so surprised I wanted to see how it was. You'd struggle to enjoy browsing the internet using it tbh.

I don't know why they put it on because it's next to worthless if you wanted a browser and off putting to users who didn't want a browser (i.e. most people buying dumbphones for children).

Ah thats good to know, I didnt realise you could password protect features. Thanks for the update!

Sorry, I didn't realise it had internet capability either! Sounds like it can be blocked though. I agree a dumbphone without internet would be valuable for parents trying to avoid smartphones. I'm sure they'll make one as soon as it's financially viable.

We have a very cheap sim card with either their broadband or TV package, so will use that.

We have a Nokia 105, and a £4 per month talk & text sim from Asda mobile. No data at all, but unlimited texts and calls without having to deal with top ups.

I use Lebara for my Yr7 DC, I am happy with it, rolling monthly contract, £5 per month does the job for us.

We downgraded from a smartphone to this one a few months ago (on a pay as you go) and it’s been great. There is data but the browser is slow and dc doesn’t like to use it other than for calls and texts. Pretty basic phone that does the job. Only disadvantage is that we can’t track it. https://www.vodafone.co.uk/mobile/pay-as-you-go/nokia/2660-flip

I've got parent controls to limit screentime to zero for all apps.

I got a Nokia 105 with giffgaff’s cheapest £6 monthly rolling sim for DS.

Dumb phones can limit kids’ creativity. I think it’s better to buy a smartphone with restrictions, like Pinwheel, MyWingo, Bark, or Mumsie’s own Other Phone though I haven’t heard much about that one

Asda 4£ deal on sim. No contract. Both my kids have a Nokia flip.

Talk & Text Plans - Asda Mobile https://share.google/zd2Tvz4tP9y3o7m0N

Just incase anyone else is wondering this one is a great phone- that blocks nudity pictures

https://www.hmd.com/en_gb/hmd-fuse?sku=101SQ503H078&srsltid=AfmBOoq3raO4lIc8ywqcvIqDt9PFi5KGikooRi1cTQN9zpCfNWoqZZGc