Greatest smartphone options for teenagers (2025 present information)

Looking for kid-friendly methods to remain linked with out handing over a full-blown smartphone? Me too!
Here’s a vacation present information full of smartphone options that hold children secure and defend their consideration spans.

If you’re elevating a baby as of late, inevitably you’ll hear:

“Mom/Dad, when can I have a phone???”
Triple query marks included.

My solutions have ranged from “never” to “when you’re 25,” and on calmer days, a really affordable 17. I really like tech, however even I battle to place my smartphone down — how may I anticipate my child to do higher?

That’s the place these smartphone options are available.
As a tech editor at Gadget Flow, I see a ton of intelligent gadgets designed to maintain children linked with out tossing them into TikTok-land. These devices permit calls, texts, and have GPS—no FOMO included.

I’ve had numerous conversations with my oldest about when she will get a cellphone, and I do know so many mother and father are navigating the identical stress. Books like The Anxious Generation have solely made it clearer: our youngsters deserve area to develop up with out fixed digital noise.

So this 12 months, as the vacation want listing chatter ramps up, I’m specializing in kid-safe smartphone options that defend their consideration and provides us mother and father peace of thoughts.

Here are my favourite finds.

Gabb Watch 3e

You’ve in all probability heard of Gabb telephones — the internet-free “starter phones” for older children. The Gabb Watch 3e is their smartwatch tackle the identical thought, made for the 5–12 crowd. It’s cute, cozy, and consists of speech-to-text, so youthful children can fireplace off messages with out trying to find tiny letters. You additionally get a number of keyboard choices, dependable community protection, and wi-fi charging.

If you’ve ever anxious about getting separated on the mall or a busy playground, this watch is a lifesaver. I may additionally see it being tremendous useful for teenagers in after-school care —they’re actually one button away from listening to your voice.

Feature-wise, it’s stacked: GPS monitoring, Safe-Zone alerts, limitless calling and texting, and as much as 100 parent-approved contacts. There’s additionally a calculator, alarm, timer, and stopwatch.

I really like the main focus modes you may toggle remotely, plus the flexibility to create to-do lists in your child. Now, they gained’t neglect to search for their misplaced hoodie in school. Parenting win!

Amazon List Price: $149.99

Bark Watch

The Bark Watch was launched in December 2024 and has acquired stable critiques on-line. It’s a fairly cut-and-dry smartwatch with a give attention to security and communication moderately than video games and flashy extras. Parents say setup is tremendous easy, that means minimal ready (and whining) out of your children. Core options embrace GPS location monitoring, emergency SOS, and a number of other methods for teenagers to remain in contact.

It’s waterproof as much as 5 toes for half-hour, so it may completely survive my children’ day by day shenanigans. You may also monitor their texts, pictures, and movies for peace of thoughts. Plus, there’s a 5 MP selfie cam, reside location monitoring, school-mode schedules, distant shutdown, and even to-do lists/reminders—which completely makes life simpler when you want them to complete homework with the babysitter earlier than you get house.

Amazon List Price: $169

TickTalk5

TickTalk5 is widespread with testers for its FaceTime-style video chat, which makes it straightforward to name Mom, Dad, and even grandparents (love that it retains the generations shut!). Kids may also ship video and photograph messages they usually get entry to music, podcasts, and tales from iHeart Radio.

The security perks make my mother or father mind calm down: talk-to-text (no keyboard), an SOS 911 button, and a listen-in function. The SOS button connects children on to 911 or designated emergency contacts. If they’re harm or misplaced, they only faucet. The listen-in operate is very fascinating: you may silently name the watch, and it’ll quietly name you again so you may hear what’s occurring round your baby. Super useful when you’re anxious they’re not with the suitable folks otherwise you suspect bullying in school.

Amazon List Price: $159.99 Deal Price: $135.99, 15% OFF

KARRI Messenger

Stepping away from the smartwatch kind issue, the KARRI Messenger is a enjoyable voice messenger that retains mother and father and children linked. The trendy analog design, massive buttons, and a cute pixel dot show make it immediately kid-friendly. Worn like a necklace, children can obtain instantaneous messages from you, when you observe their location through GPS on the KARRI app. You may also arrange secure zones with push notifications and be part of one-on-one or group chats..

What I really like most is that children can document and ship their very own voice messages. It helps them follow utilizing a brand new machine and take into consideration what they wish to say earlier than sending it — a small step towards independence. If you’ve ever used a Yoto participant, KARRI’s look is analogous. Finally, the Karri case is Tap-to-Pay prepared…when you’re courageous sufficient for it!

List Price: $115.99 Preorder Price: $65.99

BoT Talk GPS Tracker for Kids

If you need one thing low-key but good, the BoT Talk GPS Tracker for Kids is a tiny tag with surprisingly massive brains. It makes use of AI to be taught your baby’s day by day routine and sends computerized alerts after they arrive or depart acquainted spots (like house, college, after-school actions). If one thing seems to be off, you’ll know quick.

It helps two-way voice messaging, so you may swap fast updates while not having a full smartwatch setup. You additionally get real-time location monitoring plus a motion historical past log, which is nice for peace of thoughts after they’re bouncing between college and extracurriculars.

As a bonus, you should use it to trace bikes, scooters, and even the household automobile. It does require a month-to-month subscription, and as soon as canceled, the machine can’t be reused, so be sure it’s the suitable setup for your loved ones earlier than you commit.

Amazon List Price: $59.99

Tile Pro by Life360

If your predominant objective is just conserving tabs in your kiddo in case you get separated, the Tile Pro by Life360 is mainly a sensible tag you may clip to them at airports, amusement parks, vacationer spots…you get the thought. It has the longest vary of all Tile trackers and works with each iOS and Android, making it straightforward to test their location out of your cellphone.

There’s additionally an SOS button your baby can press in the event that they really feel unsafe. It’s a small however significant layer of safety whenever you’re navigating crowded or unfamiliar locations collectively. And my favourite perk? You can add all of your Tiles proper into the Life360 app, so your folks and your stuff reside on the identical map. Handy!

Amazon Price: $34.99

Final Thoughts

Kids don’t want the infinite feeds, fixed pings, and digital rabbit holes that include a standard smartphone. What they do want is a approach to attain us—and for us to know they’re secure. These gadgets do precisely that: they provide communication, location, and a contact of real-world independence.

Whether you’re gifting this vacation season or simply planning forward, these kid-safe picks assist households keep linked whereas letting childhood keep…nicely, childhood.