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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I can find a phone for DS for under £100?

54 replies

raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/12/2017 19:30

I'd like to get a PAYG or simless phone for my 9 year old.

It'll be his first phone. It needs a good camera as he's into stop frame animation. He also likes games of course.

It needs to have GPS so I can track him!

AIBU to think such a thing exists?

What phones have your DC got? Can you recommend them?

Or are there any I should avoid?

OP posts:
Original poster
raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/12/2017 21:22

I did originally think about a second hand phone - but I reckon I've probably left it too late now haven't I?

OP posts:
JakeBallardswife · 20/12/2017 21:24

Game do second hand iPhones.

ratspeaker · 20/12/2017 21:26

Have a look at the tesco mobile site

hungryhippo90 · 20/12/2017 21:33

I bought my DD a N8 for Christmas, I like that it's got touch security, camera isn't bad, I think they are 13mp and 5mp- which doesn't seem too bad.
Runs on android, all in all seems a pretty good phone for the £79.99 I got it for.

I didn't want to splurge too much as she's only 9, but I'm fairly impressed!

Original poster
raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/12/2017 21:47

Thanks for your help people. I find this such a faff but doing it with MN makes it much easier!

The best specs on the Tesco website seem to be the

alcatel a3 xl

and the

Alcated U5 HD

Does anyone know anything about them?

OP posts:
Original poster
raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/12/2017 21:51

Haha Carphone warehouse is trying to sell me something that's "mumsnet approved" apparently! Not on this thread is isn't (yet, anyway)

"Monqi is a great starting point to introduce your kids to mobile technology, and Mumsnet-approved"

What's a kid's phone? Is it a gimmick?

We got DS the Amazon standard version Fire tablet for £39 (IIRC) last year instead of the Kid's Fire for £99 - the only difference we could see was a funky cover and a longer guarantee.

OP posts:
ineedamoreadultieradult · 20/12/2017 21:56

If you don't want him begging you to upgrade it in a year or two go for an iPhone or a Samsung. I got an iPhone for DS from Music magpie they sell as well as buy things from you. It's very good quality. Another good place for second hand phones is CEX. I wouldn't recommend buying from a private seller on Gumtree etc.

TheHungryDonkey · 20/12/2017 22:18

I had the same question as you recently and after research decided a second hand iPhone is best. My 10yo has my old iPhone 5c but not sure how much longer it’s worth getting one of these due to updates. He uses it all the time for animated shorts though.

MycatsaPirate · 20/12/2017 22:26

I bought DD2 an Nokia Lumia for Xmas this year. She has a contract with EE for £10 a month through my account which gives her unlimited texts and some call minutes (which she rarely uses). The phone I got from Amazon and is unlocked so she can put her sim straight into it.

I would really not go for an iPhone. My DD1 got a brand new iPhone 5s 18 months ago. The screen has packed up twice requiring a replacement at £45 a time. Not a cracked screen, just the screen pixelating and then just going blue and then black.

The guy in the phone repair shop said Samsung are the best make on the market at the moment.

Original poster
raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 20/12/2017 23:46

This is probably a stupid question - but it's been the best part of 2 decades since I was on PAYG!

If you have PAYG is it still like the old days - you can top up but when you run out the phone simply doesn't work. And you can change sim to a new sim if you like, you don't have to stick with the PAYG tariff you bought the phone with- is that right?

OP posts:
WishingOnABar · 20/12/2017 23:56

A bit late to the party but I bought an Alcatel Pixi while my Samsung S7 was having a screen repair, it was so good I have kept it and still use it when I have forgot to charge my main phone or want to watch Netflix in bed without draining the Samsung. It’s really surprisingly good for the £40 - £50 I paid for it, if a little laggy when running a movie for a while. If you buy from Argos or somewhere similar it’ll come with a payg sim but you can replace with a contract one on a low budget if preferred and ask the network not to allow them to go over budgeted minutes, if you want to set a max spend?

Singlebutmarried · 21/12/2017 00:03

If you’re getting a phone only, you might want to look at some of the sim only contracts to go with it. I’ve got loads of data, unlimited calls and messaging for about £12/month.

I’ll admit I do t know how quick it is to use up PAYG these days, last time I had that you had to scratch the number off a card 😂😂

Willow2017 · 21/12/2017 00:08

I got ds a galaxy j5 unlocked on a phone site (cant remember name and cant check on phone) for xmas for £80 which was cheaper than they were going for on ebay 2nd hand. Plus a guarentee.
We already have o2 sim from old phone and they are doing great deals at the moment for loads of data.
Will try to remember to post site tomorrow.

BadFeminist · 21/12/2017 00:13

Yeah loads, go into Carphone at the weekend.

Btw, 9 year olds don't need phones.

LadyDeadpool · 21/12/2017 00:13

my 14 year old and her friends really don't like iPhones they seem to be falling out of popularity with her group due to how easy they break and the lack of upgrade-able memory.

And, yes PAYG phones work just the same as they used to except now you can top up online or at a cash point. Bigger range of tarrifs now and some are very good.

Adarajames · 21/12/2017 00:19

Samsung have better battery life and cameras usually than older (and therefore somewhere near your price range) iPhones

NaughtToThreeSadOnions · 21/12/2017 00:24

If they are at school or visiting an absent parent that means you know where they are, so why would you need to track them?

Walking to school, walking to friends house, walking home from said non resident parent

GrainOfSalt · 21/12/2017 00:38

Alcatel pixi 4 is currently available on giff gaff for £29 with a £10 'goody bag' if you don't have an account with them, £19 if you do. As said above it's a great little phone and far less than £100

haveacupoftea · 21/12/2017 00:50

I've had every phone under the sun and all have broke within months except my trusty iPhone SE. I wouldn't have any other phone now.

Original poster
raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 21/12/2017 01:23

Btw, 9 year olds don't need phones.

True - 9 year olds don't need phones.

But we've decided - after careful consideration - that a phone would be useful for DS as he's gaining more independence.

A smartphone is more than a phone, it's a pocket computer. DS doesn't want it to chat to a lot of people - he wants it to spend hours doing stop frame animation (something I'm keen to encourage), to text his one good friend in school (I am keen to encourage this), to email his pen friend in the States (again something I'm keen to encourage). Why should I discourage any of these activities?

I want him to have it so he can contact me if he needs to. So, for example, when he's visiting his friend round the corner after school, he can call me when he's coming home and let me know he's setting off. As he gets older and ventures further, it'll be reassuring for me and him to know we can contact each other if needs be.

I also want it so I can track him! If he ever gets lost (happened once this year on a trip to the park when he walked ahead) I know where he is, and he can contact me in an emergency. Why wouldn't I use technology to keep my kids safe if I can?

I don't see anything wrong with any of that.

When I was 9, I'd been taking myself and my younger sibling to school for years on a 2 mile journey across inner London. I used to get the intercity train for 2.5 hours by myself to visit my grandparents and when I was 10 I flew on a 5 hour plane journey by myself.

DS doesn't have anything near that kind of independence. The world has changed. But I do want DS to learn to be independent in an age appropriate way. I see a phone as a safety device that helps us as a family support DS to be a bit more independent.

OP posts:
kaytee87 · 21/12/2017 02:57

If they are at school or visiting an absent parent that means you know where they are, so why would you need to track them?

So you've never in your life heard of a child getting lost or going missing?

tabbycatbythesea · 21/12/2017 03:58

I think it’s a great idea! I’ve got my almost 9 year old a phone for Christmas - she is starting to walk home from school on her own and to her grandparents who also live in our village. She is craving independence and I feel the area we live in is a place should be able to assert this in. I also strongly believe in things in moderation, teach them good morals with technology now and they’re likely to grow up with it sensibly in my opinion.

I’ve got her a second hand iPhone, she’s going to be made up!

csigeek · 21/12/2017 11:17

Does it need to be a phone?
Could you get a pre loved iPod touch?

Original poster
raisinsarenottheonlyfruit · 21/12/2017 12:15

I did it! Went for the Nokia 5 on PAYG in the end. And insurance!

Now need to work out how what features for safety and to encourage sensible use we need to put on it before he gets it. Anyone got any tips on that?

I think there might be Andoid apps to help with child safety on phones?

He's only allowed to use his tablet in the same room as us so we know what he's up to and cam take an interest. Phones are different by nature though aren't they as he'll be taking it out and about with him from time to time.

OP posts:
EmilyChambers79 · 21/12/2017 12:49

I was anti mobile phones for children until about two hours ago!!

If you didn't mind second hand, CEX also sell second hand phones and often have newer models in too.

I can't really offer much phone advice as I'm not into gadgets as such and my current phone is a year old and my first smart phone Blush

And it's not majorly expensive, £14 a month.

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