There are so many considerations when it comes to choosing a phone for your teenager, whether you’re searching for a dumbphone that limits your child to basic communications, or a smartphone that gives them a little more freedom. With so many options on the market, how do you pick? We’ve made it easy with our round-up of the best phones for kids currently available. Find our recommendations from leading brands, or browse refurbished phones to grab a great pre-owned deal.
What factors should you consider for your teenager’s first smartphone?
It goes without saying that your choice of phone is just that: your choice. Deciding when to give your child their first phone is entirely up to you. Our roundup takes durability, safety, battery life and security into account, so you can decide exactly what works best for you.
The best phones for teenagers
Best overall iPhone: iPhone 13
The iPhone 13 is an excellent choice for teenagers, offering a perfect blend of performance, durability, aesthetics, entertainment and productivity.
One of the standout features of the iPhone 13 is its 6.1-inch display. Whether your teenager is streaming their favourite shows, playing games, or scrolling through social media, the screen has vibrant colours and sharp details. Plus, the improved 800 nits – 28% brighter than the iPhone 12 - makes outdoor use easier, reducing glare and lessening the risks of eye strain.
The handset itself has seen an upgrade, alongside the beautiful screen. In keeping with the classic iPhone design, the iPhone 13’s slightly rounded corners and immersive screen are covered with a Ceramic Shield, and offer IP68 water resistance add durability, making the phone more resistant to (frequent) accidental drops or spills.
Performance-wise, the A15 Bionic chip ensures that the iPhone 13 can handle apps and smoothly, moving from screen to screen without any lag or slowdowns. Despite being a slightly older phone – the iPhone 13 was released in 2021 – it benefits from Apple’s excellent software updates, and so you’ll get regular security and software updates until 2028. Overall, the iPhone 13 is a great investment for a teenager, combining entertainment, productivity, and longevity.
- Release date: September 2021
- Dimensions: 71.5 x 146.7 x 7.65 mm
- Weight: 173g
- Display size and resolution: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, (2,532 x 1,170 pixels)
- OS: iOS 18.3.2
- Refresh rate: 60Hz
- Storage: 512GB
- CPU: A15 Bionic chip
- RAM: 4GB
- Battery: Up to 19 hours
- Rear cameras: Dual 12MP Main and Ultrawide cameras
- Front camera: 12MP
- Improved camera system compared to older iPhones (including Cinematic Mode and Photographic Styles)
- Powered by a powerful A15 bionic chip
Best Samsung: Samsung Galaxy S24 FE
Samsung’s most recent FE (Fan Edition) offering, the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE ticks all the boxes your teen will need. Balancing performance, style and durability, the S24 FE wraps up a range of favourite features within a budget-friendly device.
One of the biggest draws is the huge 6.7-inch display, with vibrant colours and 120Hz refresh rate making the screen feel fast and responsive. This big, bold screen is encased in sturdy Gorilla Glass Victus Plus, with an additional IP68 water and dust rating meaning the S24 FE is more than equipped to handle teenage life.
The camera setup is another major plus. With a 50MP main sensor, 12MP ultra-wide, and 8MP telephoto lens, teens (and everyone else) can capture high-quality photos and videos ideal for budding photographers or influencers. Samsung’s much-loved Galaxy AI features like Generative Edit and Photo Assist also make it easy to tweak and enhance pictures as and when wanted, ideal for budding photographers as well as fun daily shots.
- Release date: October 2024
- Dimensions: 162 x 77.3 x 8mm
- Weight: 213g
- Display size and resolution: 6.7-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X (1,080 x 2,340 pixels)
- OS: Android
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Storage: 128GB
- CPU: Snapdragon 8s Gen 3
- RAM: 8GB
- Battery: 4,700mAh
- Rear cameras: 50MP (main), 12MP (Ultrawide), 8MP
- Front camera: 10MP
- 7 years of OS and security updates, meaning your phone will be regularly updated all the way up to 2032
- IP68 water and dust resistance
- 25W wireless charging – ideal for quick battery top-ups before school
While the display on this phone is made even better with the huge 6.7-inch-sized screen, the brightness level is slightly lower than on other flagship models. This won’t cause you or your teen any problems day-to-day, but the phone might be a little trickier to use in bright sunlight.
Best Google: Google Pixel 8a
Offering a balance of performance, durability, and AI-driven features, the Pixel 8a’s high-quality specs and powerful performance make it an ideal starter phone. With its 6.1-inch display and 120Hz refresh rate, apps and videos appear bright and cinematic, while the powerful Google Tensor G3 chip makes sure games can be loaded and played almost intuitively.
One feature that stands out particularly is the 64MP dual-camera system, which, combined with Google’s AI-powered tools, takes social media-worthy photos effortlessly. The Magic Editor lets you reshape or remove any unexpected objects once you’ve snapped your shot, while Best Take ensures that everyone in a group photo looks their best.
The battery life is another big win. With all-day battery life and the ability to last up to 72 hours with Extreme Battery Saver mode, you don’t have to worry about your teen’s phone running out of juice in the middle of the day. Even without Extreme Battery Saver switched on, Google’s progressive battery life keeps apps running smoothly, even with repeated use.
- Release date: May 2024
- Dimensions: 152.1 mm x 72.7 mm x 8.9 mm
- Weight: 189g
- Display size and resolution: 6.1-inch OLED Actua display (1,080 x 2,400 pixels)
- OS: Android
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Storage: 256GB
- CPU: Google Tensor G3
- RAM: 8GB
- Battery: 4,492mAh
- Rear cameras: 64MP (main), 13MP (wide angle)
- Front camera: 13MP
- Impressive storage options are more than enough for regular photos, apps and contacts
- Extreme Battery Saver extends battery life for up to 72 hours
Best Motorola: Motorola Moto E14
Motorola’s focus on durability and reliability makes the Moto E14 a great first smartphone, or an excellent upgrade for your teen. With modern software updates, a sturdy build, and essential security features like Face Unlock, it’s a smart and budget-friendly choice that makes keeping up with digital life easy.
The large 6.56-inch HD+ display is perfect for watching videos, browsing social media, or playing games, delivering unwavering visuals that load effortlessly thanks to a 90HZ refresh rate. Despite the large screen, this phone is one of the lightest on our shortlist; it’s easy to hold and ideal for growing hands, whether they’re scrolling or on video calls with friends.
Running on Android 14 (Go Edition), the Moto E14 is optimised for efficiency, ensuring smooth performance even with its budget-friendly hardware. This means teens can enjoy their favourite apps without constant lag or slowdowns. Plus, with a 5,000mAh battery, it easily lasts through a full day of texting, streaming, and social media use — so there’s no need to worry about running out of charge before the day is over.
- Release date: June 2024
- Dimensions: 163.49 x 74.53 x 7.99 mm
- Weight: 178.8g
- Display size and resolution: 6.56-inch HD+ display
- OS: Android 14 (Go Edition)
- Refresh rate: 90Hz
- Storage: 64GB
- CPU: Unisoc T606
- RAM: 2GB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Rear cameras: 13MP
- Cover camera: 5MP
- In classic Motorola fashion, the long battery life on this phone is enough to last throughout the day and more
- Budget-friendly option with high-quality specs
Powered by AI, the E14’s editing suite lets you streamline your shots, but the camera itself captures less-detailed shots than other handsets on our lineup. If your teen is really into photography, it might be worth choosing a phone with a slightly more advanced camera setup to get them started.
Best value: Samsung Galaxy A55 5G
The Samsung Galaxy A55 5G offers a premium experience without the flagship price tag. With its stylish design, vibrant display, and reliable performance, this powerful handset lets you explore some of Samsung’s most high-end features, for less.
The A series stand out for their personality-filled designs, and the A55 5G is no exception. Including beautiful lilac and yellow tones, the handset’s range of unique colourways shimmer behind a tough Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ finish – meaning it can withstand some wear and tear if any accidents happen.
This sense of personality continues within the suite of AI features on offer, particularly visible when it comes to editing photos. Image Clipper lets you cut and paste from a range of shots to create truly unique images, while Photo Editor offers inbuilt tips to update your snaps. These nice touches are bolstered by the impressive camera system itself. The 50MP main camera captures sharp, high-quality photos, while night photography capabilities highlight accurate colours and details to ensure great shots even in low light. Whether it's snapping selfies, recording videos for social media, or taking group pictures, the A55 is a great creative option for your teen.
- Release date: March 2024
- Dimensions: 161.1 x 77.4 x 8.2mm
- Weight: 213g
- Display size and resolution: 6.6-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED (1,080 x 2,340 pixels)
- OS: Android
- Refresh rate: 120Hz
- Storage: 256GB
- CPU: Octa-core
- RAM: 8GB
- Battery: 5,000mAh
- Rear cameras: 50MP (wide-angle), 12MP (ultrawide), 5MP (macro)
- Front camera: 32MP
- Samsung’s Knox Vault helps keeps passwords and personal information super-secure
- Fantastic range of photo editing tools sits alongside an impressive 32MP selfie camera
While it may take a little longer to fully recharge than flagships on the market, the fantastic battery life – with up to 25 hours of Internet usage on offer - means the A55 5G is more than reliable enough for teens who need their phone to last through school, activities, and social time.
In summary
Parental apps and security extras aside, there’s a wide range of smartphones at every budget to suit your teen’s tastes. If you’re looking for more inspiration on phones that will keep your teen reachable without a charger in hand, browse our guide to the phones with the best battery life.