Best Phones & Devices For Kids: Smartwatches, Tablets & More

You want a phone or other device that’s fun for the kids, but also simplifies your world—offering a little peace of mind, while helping everyone stay connected. We've rounded up some of our best smartphones for kids—plus other devices that are kid-ready right out of the box or easily customizable with features to fit your family's needs. Whether you need something that's perfect for playing games, doing schoolwork, keeping in-touch, or staying entertained on road trips—we've got ideas that both you and your kids will appreciate. Let's start with kids' phones and go from there.

Best iPhone for Kids: Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

This phone is a big win for any kid. No, it's not the latest-generation iPhone—but they'll barely miss the features and you'll love the deal that comes with getting an ever-so-slightly older phone. iPhone 14 Pro Max is an excellent, easy-to-use smartphone with an impressive A16 Bionic chip on board, plus a larger-than-life, 6.7-inch Super Retina XDR display that delivers everything in jaw-dropping color and clarity. Here's what else we love:

Everything at a glance. The Dynamic Display with Always On feature keeps your kids up-to-date on everything from weather to messages to activities at a glance—even when the Lock Screen is on.
Emergency SOS via satellite. Get peace of mind even when your kids are camping, hiking or just off the grid, thanks to Emergency SOS that still lets them text emergency services when they don’t have cell service or Wi‑Fi.
Pro-style camera. This phone has a powerful 48MP camera for mind-blowing detail. Plus, for parents who have a budding director or Hollywood hopeful in the family, Cinematic Mode shoots in 4K HDR at 24 fps (the film industry standard!)

Best Android Phone for Kids: Samsung Galaxy S23 FE (Fan Edition)

This is an excellent smartphone for kids and parents who want a colorful, stylish device that also packs a lot of punch for the price. The big, bright display of the Galaxy S23 FE makes text messaging, video and web browsing easy. And while it shares many of the amazing features of some of the newest Samsungs, its price and (barely) streamlined capabilities make it an excellent choice for those who want some impressive bells and whistles on a 5G-ready device. Here are a few other things that make this Samsung a good phone for kids:

Big, sleek display. The crisp, clear 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic display is stunning and gentle on the eyes, thanks to adaptive display that automatically adjusts screen brightness based on light levels.
Impressive camera setup. The pro-grade camera turns just about any shots into instant works of art, thanks to smart capabilities and a high-resolution sensor. Kids will love capturing and sharing all their best moments with friends and family on the powerful, triple-lens camera.
Long-lasting performance. The super-fast 4,500mAh battery means it can take just about anything your kid has to throw at it and still keep going.
Premium Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor. This device can handle all their content and activities without missing a beat, whether they're researching homework projects, watching their go-to show, livestreaming, video editing or just listening to their favorite tunes.

Best Phone for Kids Under 12: REVVL 6 5G

We like this phone for kids because of its great price, big display, powerful battery and 5G capabilities that make doing homework, collaborating on school projects, or just downloading games and videos quick and seamless. From the awesome camera set up, to the expansive and crisp display, to the long-lasting battery—it's got everything they want and more:

6.5-inch HD+ display. All their favorite games, movies, shows, apps, and other content will take center stage on the big, beautiful screen.
Triple-camera system. Now they can capture the ultimate pics—from perfect selfies, to stunning landscapes, to big group photos.
Performance when they need it. This phone has a fast, reliable octa-core processor, plus 4GB RAM, 64GB of memory, and up to 2TB of expandable memory.
The energy to keep up. Boasting a 4,500mAh battery, your kids can stay powered up and in-touch on the go.

Two children walking while wearing their SyncUP KIDS watches.

Best Smartwatch for Kids (Android): SyncUP KIDS Watch

If you want to stay connected but have little kids who aren't quite ready for a phone, this cute kids' smartwatch is a win-win for you both. It has a lot of healthy-living tools and tracking capabilities built in, plus it's durable, boasts customizable characters/themes, and since it's made for children, it has Kids' Line Privacy features¹.That means, since the account is used by a child under the age of 16, their data won’t be used for advertising, plus, we’ll opt the line out of receiving marketing communications. Here are just a few other things it can help you do:

Stay connected with your kids via texts, calls, videos, or voice messages. See where your kids are 24/7, thanks to real-time secure location tracking and virtual boundary alerts.
Add an unlimited number of contacts, including emergency contacts—all pre-approved by you! There's even a designated 911 button for emergencies. Best of all, this device has the kidSAFE Certified Seal², which means it meets independent standards of online safety and/or privacy.
Give them access to full features or choose the School Mode setting to help them stay focused in class.
Let your kids capture all their best moments with a 5MP camera and have fun playing a selection of kid-friendly games.
Keep them challenged and on-the-move with a step counter that lets you set daily step goals. You can even set tasks, reminders, and rewards for your kids. There's also a built-in alarm, timer, and stopwatch.
Enjoy the peace of mind that durability brings. It's splash friendly and water resistant—and when you add a long-lasting battery to the mix—it's one of the best kids' watches for the littler ones.

Best Smartwatch for Kids (iOS): Apple Watch SE 2nd gen 40mm

Featuring a choice of cool band colors and the Apple design you love, this smartwatch is just right for parents who want to help their kids active, healthy and connected on the go. It has a huge Retina display with up to 1,000 nits of brightness, health tracking and notifications, emergency calling, and a powerful battery that lasts up to 18 hours. The best part? It works with Family Setup³ so you can keep tabs on your child via an app, even if they don't have their own phone. Here are the features you'll appreciate:

Connectivity for all. You can use the GPS + cellular model of the Apple Watch to hook your kids up to Family Setup in a blink. Just pair you child's watch to your iPhone and manage everything using the Apple Watch app.
Access to safety features. Kids can simply hold down the side button on the watch for help in an emergency.
Healthier goals. This watch can detect current heart rate, as well as high or low heart rates. Plus, you can customize it to help your child meet healthy activity goals by tracking Move minutes, time spent outdoors and more.
Grows with your kids. Even when your kids are old enough to have their own phones, they'll appreciate all the powerful features available to them on this smartwatch.

Best Tablet for Kids (Android): Alcatel JOY TAB 2

This kids' tablet boasts a vibrant 8-inch HD screen with adaptive eye care modes, which means it’s easier on the eyes. It also has two cameras (front and back) for recording HD videos, taking photos, or video-chatting with family, friends, teachers and more. Plus, it comes with a 1-year subscription to Kidomi, an award-winning content platform for kids featuring curated books, games, videos, and more (minus in-app purchases and ads). As if that's not enough, here are some other features we love:

Travel-ready design. Weighing-in at a mere 11 ounces, the JOY TAB 2 is easy to take along on the go. And thanks to the durable Asahi glass, it can handle just about anything your kids can dish out.
Performance on the go. This kids' tablet delivers plenty of battery power (up to 8.5 hours), plus a 2.0 GHz quad-core processor and 3GB RAM so they'll stay connected anytime, anywhere.
Baked-in privacy features. Because the JOY TAB 2 is designed with children in mind, the T-Mobile Kids’ Line Privacy settings² we mentioned earlier are already preloaded on the device. You can also customize your own parental controls on this device (or any connected device in your home) the easy way, using T-Mobile FamilyMode.

Best Tablet for Kids (iOS): iPad 9th Gen

For the Apple families out there, this powerful, easy-to-use tablet is a great choice. Boasting a stunning 10.2-inch Retina display, powerful chip, ultra-wide camera and compatibility with the 1st-gen Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard (both sold separately), it's perfect for playtime, school days and beyond. Since the newer iPads are now available, it also has a price tag that budget-conscious parents will appreciate. Here are more reasons to love it:

Powerful performance. The A13 Bionic chip makes it super responsive, which is great for kids who like to do everything all at once. Plus, the fast GPU delivers amazing graphics, great for playing immersive games and more.
Cool camera capabilities. The 12MP ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage brings everything to life and lets kids easily create fun videos, while the 8MP rear camera helps them capture sharp, bright images, scan documents for school, and even experience immersive augmented reality (AR) apps.
Compatibility. Since this iPad works with Apple Pencil, it's easy for kids to jot down notes, create a works of art, mark-up screenshots, and more. Add to the mix an Apple Smart Keyboard and they've got a slim, lightweight keyboard that also attaches magnetically to their iPad—doubling as a cover and offering an extra layer of protection.

Best Tracker for Kids: SyncUP TRACKER

If your kids always seem to be losing things like housekeys, lunchboxes, backpacks, wallets, purses, sports bags, bicycles, or musical instruments, this tracker is your new best friend! Here's why:

Thanks to a robust monitoring app, it lets you see an item's near-real-time location (or last known), plus it alerts you when pre-set virtual boundaries are crossed, or when it detects changes in light (e.g., a backpack was taken out of your child's locker), and more.
It does not rely on Bluetooth like some other trackers. Why is that better? Because distance is not an issue, so there's no need for the tracker to be in a specific range or near a smartphone to work—even if it's hundreds of miles away, the tracker can find it.
It's dust-and-water resistant and has a rechargeable, long-lasting battery (up to 7 days).

Best Tracker for Teens: SyncUP DRIVE

If you've got teens ready to hit the road, you're probably feeling a little anxious. That's why so many parents will love this device, which works in tandem with a monitoring app. Not only can it help detect things like crashes, hard breaking, speed, and the car's location—it also offers a lot of other extras. Just plug the on-board diagnostics reader into the OBD-II port of your teen's compatible vehicle and watch it go to work! Here's a closer look at what you can do:

Use the SyncUP DRIVE monitoring app to track the vehicle's location with real-time map views, while getting alerts about driving behavior, including speed, crashes, and any disturbances (potential break-ins, tow alerts, and more).
See trip histories, as well as updates about the car's health, including recall notifications, performance, and maintenance info via an easy-to-read dashboard on your phone.
Get 24/7 roadside assistance (for lockouts, jumps, tire changes, tows, and more.) It also includes a gas-price viewer and gas-station locator. Your teens will also love that it turns their vehicle into a Wi-Fi hotspot, offering connectivity for up to five devices.

No matter which devices or phones you choose for your kids—fun, safety and easy-to-use features are key. Still undecided?

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