Do most 11-16 year olds really have an iPhone?

[SDRyan]

I wasn't too sure which section this was best for, although this one does meet the age range.

DSD (12) keeps asking for an iPhone and banging on about everyone except one or two people (or sometimes ten, it seems to keep changing) people in her class have an iPhone and that almost everyone in the school has one. So, it's left my curious how common it actually is? I tried looking for UK stats, but kept on finding US ones, or stats for adults. I have a feeling it's not very common and just one of those arguments kids try to use, but I could be wrong.

iPhones are overpriced and overrated to be honest! Yes, a few years ago they were much better than other phones, but since then other phones have come on massively and currently there are lots of phones better than the iPhone - HTC One M8, Samsung Galaxy S5, LG G3, Sony Xperia Z2 just to name a few. It may change when the iPhone 6 comes out, but at the moment all of the above phones (and others) beat the iPhone hands down for battery, screen, camera etc etc. iPhone has the brand name, but actually the phones really aren't that great compared to the other phones on the market.

I would say they do.

My ds (12) does, I work for one of the networks so I get it cheap. I'd say about 30% of his mates have one too.

No. Ipods and a cheap mobile is the sensible way to go.

@purplepenguin86, I absolutely agree with you regarding overpriced (although being the mug nice husband I can sometimes be I did get my wife an iPhone 5). I'm very happy with my Samsung S5. DSD kept saying Android phones are rubbish, until I got a new one and she asked for my old Samsung S2. (I have a feeling she would have kept nagging for an iPhone anyway.)

A lot of kids do have iPhones (including my 8yo nephew), but mostly they have the old ones from mum/dad/other when they upgrade. My 8yo nephew has my DH's old iPhone 4, without a contract. He got it for his birthday and only had Wifi on it at home (and at ours, at his grandparent's place, etc). Basically, it is just a very fancy iPod. His greatest joy is sending me emoticons via iMessages.

I know a lot of teens that either have an old model from a family member or have saved up for it.

Most if ds1 friends have iPhones. He's 17 and has the 4s. He's in payg with Giffgaff as he can't be trusted with a contract phone he had my old 4s but smashes it so brought a reconditioned one from birthday money.

Ds2 is 12 (yr8) and I'd say it was 60/40 with most having an iphone of some description. Ds has a nokia as ha, he's had about 5 phones in the last year but broken them all. He to is on payg. He's in tesco. I brought what was supposed to be an unlocked phone but is locked to tesco and despite what the internet says about O2, tesco and Giffgaff being interchangeable they aren't.

He's asked for an iphone for Christmas a reconditioned 5c but I'm not sure as he's broken so many phones. He has an older iPod touch but he says he doesn't want to carry two devices around. So we'll see. He knows if he does get one it will be his only Christmas present other than stocking fillers (pens, socks, deodrant, maybe an iTunes and Starbucks card)

Should have said he wil be 13 in January.

I said he should wait until my upgrade in a years time but he wants the 5c not 5s.

My niece and nephew are 12 and 10 and have iPhones (their parents upgraded and they have the old ones).

My DS is 13 and he had my old iphone4. Had an EE sim which costs £9.99 a month for unlimited texts and calls and 500 data

My two 13&16 have just, last week got iPhone5Ss (lastyears Xmas and birthday for DD1, this years for DD2. Just the way DD1's contract ran out).

DD1 has always wanted to replace her Ace that she hates and her ipod which she loves (but is too old to upgrade and dying) with an iphone. DD 2 loves her Nexus, but couldnt find an Android phone that she liked. A lot seem to be designed for blokes, they are too big.

They know they are very expensive toys and will treat them with respect.

DD is 12 (going into Y8) and she doesn't know anyone who has an iPhone. We live in a rural and not hugely affluent area in the north.

She has one friend who is bragging that she might get one for Christmas, but she said that last year and it didn't appear so that's not certain.

Her friends mostly have very cheap phones. DD has a £7.50 contract from Tesco with an HTC Wildfire, and she's had it for almost two years. Her contract is up in November, which is when she turns 13, and I've said she can choose from the £10 range and it will be her birthday present.

She does have an iPod though, and most of her friends have some sort of iPod or a Hudl, so they can get on Instagram / Facebook at home in the evenings. She bought her iPod herself after saving up birthday and Christmas money for two years.

I guess it depends on where you live, but I wouldn't buy an iPhone for myself so I'm definitely not buying her one.

Even if EverybodyElse has one that doesn't mean it's either necessary or a good idea.
It's a slippery slope......

At 12 my DC were getting their first phone, only because we are rural and they were on school bus.
They got PAYG cheapies. In fact PAYG still rules in this house. Both DS now 16 and 18 use giffgaff £7.50 a month which covers texts, calls and data.

Lots of kids had iPhones when DS2 was at school.

He has an HTC one now it is much better than my iPhone. iPhones, or any smartphones, don't have to be expensive. You can buy them refurbished in immaculate condition and pay £10-12 a month on GiffGaff.

DD 16 has just got my 4S, DS 13 (far more tech savvy) got a secondhand 4 for £100. Neither on contracts. The sensible one is DS 18 who got a new Moto E £92.00 new.

DD (12y) has an iPhone 4S.
We have a lot of Apple stuff in terms of phones, iPads, iPods so her getting an iPhone made most sense - all her music, films and apps are on iTunes already.
The phone was DD's 11th birthday present, ready for starting secondary school. Np doubt she will get the upgrade for her 13th birthday present.

Have to say though that DD is naturally careful with her stuff. She has had her phone over a year now and it looks like new. She;s had her iPad longer and that also looks like new.

IME iPhones and iPads are no less fragile than any other tablet/phone. If they look after things they are not an issue at all.

Mine does he's 15
I pay £18 a month for it
( was his last years Birthday pressie)

Does it matter? Decide if you can afford it, and if use deserves it. Quite a few do, and they're parents have bought it for them. Not all though.

My eldest three have iPhones. I'm not sure that many of their friends do.

About half do I think. Often not the latest model though.

DS1 age 15 has a 4s on £18 pm contract with O2. DS2 age 13 is waiting till the end of the year. Then he will get my 4, I will get DH's 5 and DH will get a 6, all three paid for by DH's work. DS2 currently has a Wildfire on PAYG. Until June DS1 had a Galaxy Ace on £7.50pm contract. And that is kept as a spare so if anyone loses their iPhone (except DH I suppose!) they will have that.

DD1-15 has an iPhone 4. DD2-12 has a blackberry but wants to upgrade to an iPhone when her contract is due an upgrade. I will let her do that as long as the contract cost is reasonable.

My two had old iPhones with Giffgaff sims, and both suffered cracked screens, one was dropped in a lake whilst fishing, and DD left hers unattended in club and it went in seconds. Based on my pairs experiences I really don't think most teens lifestyles are conducive to owning expensive phones, they don't mean to break them but just do....

None of my kids have one. We hall have battered, uninteresting phones because walking with an i phone gets them mugged. need that? no.

I was just about to give my 13 year old niece my old one and buy her a payg card. Is this spoiling her? Should I flog it instead. I never really thought about it.