10 year olds first mobile phone - Recommendations?

Master Skooter

Master Skooter

Master Skooter

Soldato
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Somerset
It's my son's 10th birthday in September and we've finally decided that he could do with a mobile phone. He's been asking for one for about two years, but now he is allowed out and about (to the park etc) we've decided to get him one so that he can reach us/we reach him in an emergency.

His sister has an HTC Wildfire which was about £15 a month on Virgin, so looking to spend £10/15 a month tops. Virgin would be cool as he could call his sister and mum free (i'm on t-mobile).

To be honest any would do, as long as he can text/ring - but thought if it's going to last him two years I might as well get the best I can. Is there anything around £10/15 a month that is better than the Wildfire? I noticed the Samsung Ace is the same price. Both tariffs are:

Handset Free
Unlimited minutes to other virgin mobiles
100 minutes
500 texts
500MB Mobile Web

Any other suggestions?

Ta.
 
I personally would not trust a 10 year old on a contract, but that's just me.

Surely there's a chance they could just go wild and rack up a stupid bill and you wouldn't realize until it's too late? I know you likely trust your kids, but there's a chance they'd make a mistake/not realize they've done this.

I'd personally buy a Orange San Fran, overwrite the firmware and unlock (easy) and a giff gaff sim, you'll still be able to pay for it like a contract (eg £10/month for 250 mins, unlimited texts, unlimited internet) but if he does accidentally go over those limits he'll simply need to top up the sim, rather than racking up a bill. The £5/month saved will overwrite the cost of the San Fran in less than two years and you end up with more mins+texts and internet for your money
 
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is your 10 year old going to get any use from a smart phone? for that age i'd stay away from a touchscreen all together, just going to get broken/manky cracked sooner or later

doro phoneeasy (?) - cheap as chips, jcb phone - pretty solid or any decent nokia

giff gaff sims are good if you get a goodybag
 
10 year old in a park with a smart phone? Wow you must live in a phenominally nice town / villiage :)
But agree with other poster - payg would surely be the most sane way to go?
 
Why would you give a 10 year old a smartphone... on a contract? That is a tad... unusual.

Get him a basic-ish Nokia and a pre-pay card to limit the spending!
 
My 2 cents, I have a contract 600mins 5k txt and unlimited internet I never go over my limit as I called my provider and told them I don’t want to pay more than the monthly fee so they locked my spending on my account and presto, can’t dial 0800* etc but hey ho

I can only unblock it once a month, can’t buy apps etc either which suits me fine

Thought I’d share


Also 10 year old with a expensive phone? Get him a brick on a contract he drops looses dribble son it no biggie ;p
 
Only you can judge how responsible your son will be, and how careful he will be. If you trust him (and other people in your area), Streeteh's recommendation of a San Fran on giffgaff is your best bet.

But a contract is a big no-no IMO. Not really worth it and it will be far more money.

If you decide to go for the "dumbphone" route, a basic Nokia will be your (and his) best friend. Reliable, well made, it will just work, and do it's phone duties well. Good battery life too.
 
Little sisters are 11 they have a tocco lite on giff gaff (£5 for 60 mins and 300 texts) They don't even use all of that!

Got the phones for £30 new (open box returns) and they love them (:
 
Thanks for the views guys.

The Giff Gaff SIM sounds perfect. I only thought of a low end smart phone as he's used computers and my phones for years & likes all the free games you can get download. They seem pretty cheap nowadays, but more than happy to give him a basic traditional handset.

It will be a test for us both, you can't treat them like kids forever - it will be his responsibility. Rest assured it will be drilled into him if he loses it - that's it no replacement. I'm sure initially he may get a little over zealous with the calls/texts - the novelty of having a phone, but I'll be keeping a close eye on usage.

I've not looked for a while...how much are the San Fran's nowadays?
 
Just curious why you feel the need for a contract? Surely PAYG is just fine? Doesn't restrict you in anyway as far as what can do with phone. With likelyhood of kids losing these things or inadvertly running high bill just seems safer and more sense to get PAYG.

If it wasn't that smartphones are so expensive I'd rather be PAYG.
 
If he wants a better one when he's 16 he can get a job and pay for it himself.

Too many kids walking around with smartphones, ps3 at home, designer clothing. No concept of money-management.
 
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