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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Do most 11 year olds really have iPhone 14s?

126 replies

MaxwellCat · 05/07/2023 15:35

My son is starting secondary school in September. I was looking at getting him an iPhone but unsure of which one. I want something that is acceptable to not be made fun of (sorry but being realistic here) but not the latest as he is only 11. I asked on a Facebook group and a lot people were saying their 11 year olds had iPhone 14s and “all their friends do” the others were ranging from iPhone 11 and above which is still around £300 so would be on top of all his uniform and shoes etc. I wasn’t expecting to spend that much. Do most 11 year olds really have iPhone 14s? What phone does your 11/12 year old have for starting secondary school (only these ages please)

OP posts:
Undervaluedandsad · 05/07/2023 15:37

No. Mine have an older model, refurbished iPhone.

KnitMePurlMe · 05/07/2023 15:39

Nope. None of my kids’ friends have them either. Ridiculous. They have our iPhone cast offs 😄

Icecreamalaska · 05/07/2023 15:39

No, mine doesn't, but maybe it depends on the circles you move in.

whatsinanameeh · 05/07/2023 15:41

No, my year 7 has a refurbished 2021 iphone se. He has no idea what his friends have, as long as it can do WhatsApp they don't care.

ChessieFL · 05/07/2023 15:43

My 13yo has my old iPhone 8. No way would I give a child that young a brand new iPhone to take to school. So much risk of it getting lost, broken or stolen.

cheezncrackers · 05/07/2023 15:44

No! My kids have Samsungs.

redskytwonight · 05/07/2023 15:45

No. Lots of Year 7s have old cast offs from their parents or basic phones.

I'd suggest it's ridiculous to spend that much on a child that young that probably won't look after it.

Though, if you're genuinely in circles where all the Year 7s have iPhones, this will only be the start of your worries.

kessiebird · 05/07/2023 15:45

Nope a Samsung worth £130 so that I can link it to my android on Family Link. And she only got that once the old one she had died. Maybe a couple of her friends (Year 7) have the latest iPhone so it's not unheard of.

CatsOnTheChair · 05/07/2023 15:46

My Y7 has my old Samsung, in a case of his choice.
But then, he cares not about fashion, being cool or fitting in - and still has friends. I was horrified by the recent thread saying loads of 11 year olds have Nike air force ones as their trainers.

ZairWazAnOldLady · 05/07/2023 15:46

Mine started with a very basic phone (not smart) from Tesco. When they’ve shown me they can keep it charged, on on the school run, and not lost it they get my cast offs. All the kids round here bar the crazy £xxx hairdo for kids ones do the same.

Marblessolveeverything · 05/07/2023 15:47

Nope, he doesn't have a phone, doesn't want one. Older son 15 , offered my barely used pristine defunct work iPhone 11 was told nope he wasn't buying into the Apple Cult wanted a Nokia smart phone.

Honestly buy something you are happy to replace, give yourself peace of mind.

fgsstopbs · 05/07/2023 15:47

Mine started with an iPhone 7 in year 6 to prove he could look after a phone and then he got my old iPhone 12 when starting year 7.

LondonMummer · 05/07/2023 15:47

Two kids at private school who have our old iphones. They are not outliers by any means.

Jules912 · 05/07/2023 15:48

Mine has an iPhone 11 but it was DH's old one.

CactusPricks · 05/07/2023 15:48

My 11 year old, going to secondary in sept has an 2021 iPhone SE

Isitthathardtobekind · 05/07/2023 15:48

Nope. Mine has my old iPhone. She is 12 and has never mentioned anyone being unkind to her because of her phone- but then I chose a secondary school who don’t allow children to get their phones out whenever they fancy. Personally I find it ridiculous that children are bought such expensive phones when many adults don’t have the latest iPhone because they cost so much. I’ve seen 11 year olds bragging that they have the best/new iPhone. I don’t think it does them any favours really. Just my opinion.

MetaverseMavis · 05/07/2023 15:48

My 16 yr old has an iPhone 13.

BringOnSummerHolidays · 05/07/2023 15:49

No, mine has my old iPhone SE.

MarmiteRoll · 05/07/2023 15:50

Most of the kids I know started Y7 with whatever phone their parent had just upgraded from. Some got an iPhone for Christmas but not the very latest model.

Mine has a basic Motorola, nobody has ever commented on it being unacceptable.

Beamur · 05/07/2023 15:51

DD had a refurbished Apple until this year - she's 16 and I have got her a new iPhone 11. She's taken good care of her phone and hasn't done anything daft with it.
To be fair it looks no different at all to the refurb ones.

EveryoneButSam · 05/07/2023 15:54

My teens have never had an iPhone. They had old Samsungs for Y7 on the condition that if they kept them all year without losing or breaking them they could have a new (cheap and basic!) one. Never been a problem at all.

EvenmoreDetermined · 05/07/2023 15:56

Mine are 19 and 17 and still happy with SEs

britespark1 · 05/07/2023 15:56

My 12 and 11 year olds both have iPhone SEs

JaninaDuszejko · 05/07/2023 15:59

My DC have Samsungs. Much cheaper. And we are in the top 10% of household income so no way do all kids have iphones.

wildfirewonder · 05/07/2023 16:00

Some - yes.
Most - no.

I think it is foolish to make choices based on whether something will be 'made fun of'. Teach your kids to not care about that stuff, as much as possible.

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