With the domination of technology nowadays, even kids and teenagers are looking forward to having their very own smartphones. And as parents, it is our pleasure to give them the best smartphones for teenager. Luckily, there is an extensive list of high-quality smartphones for youngsters. But, with such a plethora of choices, the purchasing decision would be challenging.
As we go along, you will see evaluations and in-depth assessments of the best smartphones for teenager available on the market today. A well-informed purchase is within your reach with the help of this guide. Also herewith are the best features in this field in order to narrow the buying guide to its current top 5.
List of the Best Smartphones for Teenager
In 2023, it’s not easy for parents to find a good kid-friendly smartphone that meets their needs in terms of price, features, and design. Not to mention gaming performance and screen size.
Taking into account the aforementioned criteria, as well as features that may be relevant to parents like built-in GPS and access or parental control. This article will examine low-end, mid-range, and high-end Apple or Android smartphones that are appropriate for teens and younger children.
OUR TOP PICK
Apple iPhone 13 Mini
Although the iPhone 13 Mini is more expensive than most of the other options below, it’s often regarded as the best smartphone for teenager and young adults. The iPhone XR has a 5.4-inch screen and the same top performance as the iPhone XS. The increased durability allows for more than a budget phone. This iPhone is a good option if you want to buy your child a durable phone that they can use for several years without any problems.
As an Apple device, it supports a number of game controllers making it a capable gaming console. Apple also has a game subscription service called Apple Arcade that features a ton of fun options for the whole family. The 13th mini iPhone is also sleek and 5G-ready. Includes high-quality cameras that are a step forward from previous iPhone models.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Little in size, effortless to transport | 60-hertz display |
| A sharp and clear display | Good battery life, but the poorest in line |
| Superb Camera System | The cramped, small display is not ideal for multitasking. |
| Rapid operation | |
| The minimum storage capacity is 128 GB |
RUNNERS-UP
★ Samsung Galaxy A52
The 2021 Galaxy A52, a mid-range model, has a gorgeous 6.5-inch LCD panel and great speakers. It makes it an excellent media consumption device. Mid-range performance is adequate for 3D gaming, though not at high settings. The Galaxy A52’s main optical picture stabilization is included in this camera. As a result, you can take steadier videos, regardless of how cheap your phone is.
The A52 is equipped with a wide-angle lens and bokeh-effect portrait mode. The 6.5-inch screen and quad-camera setup on this affordable Samsung smartphone is great for watching films and playing light games. Examples of the latter are macro and wide-angle cameras. Both of which are ideal for artistic photography.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Stunning, high-resolution, 90 Hz AMOLED display | Around-the-clock plastic protection |
| Excellent camera, OIS is a huge assist | Quite hefty |
| A nice sound can be heard through the stereo | There may be a few bumps in the performance road. |
| Has an audio jack for headphones |
★ Apple iPhone SE 2022
iPhone SE (2022) is Apple’s most recent “affordable” smartphone. Although it retains the iPhone 8’s exterior design, it has been outfitted with state-of-the-art internals, making it the most sophisticated smartphone in its budget range. This makes it not only an excellent gaming device, but also an excellent camera, video, and selfie handset.
It features a modest (for 2022) 4.7-inch screen, but it’s slim and light (5.08 oz / 144.0 grams) and, given Apple’s past performance, it should receive an upgrade for several years to come. Along with the fact that it supports 5G networks, this is just another reason why the iPhone SE is so well-suited to the future.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Economically reasonable | LCD display rather than AMOLED display |
| For daytime shooting and video, the camera excels | This phone’s screen is very small for a device of this era. |
| The incredible speed of the processor | No night mode or wide-angle lens is available |
| Minimalist, lightweight, and compact iPhone with a vintage-styled button layout | Improvements have been made to battery life, but it’s still not very good. |
| Support for the C-band frequency band means 5G communication is possible | Minimal starting capacity of 64GB |
★ Samsung Galaxy A21S
The 6.5-inch screen and quad-camera setup on this affordable Samsung smartphone is great for watching films and playing light games. The latter category contains cameras with special features like wide-angle and macro lenses, which are ideal for artistic photography.
It doesn’t have the best performance, but it has a huge battery that we were able to use for just over 11 hours of nonstop YouTube watching on a single charge, which is impressive for a phone in this price category. The A21s is a good option to think about if a huge screen and low price are your top requirements.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Superb endurance for a battery | Low-quality speaker with no stereo sound |
| Streamlined and contemporary | Plastic frame, weak construction |
| A jack for 3.5mm headphones | Low processing power, poor performance in games, and resource-intensive programs |
| When properly illuminated, the main, ultra-wide, and selfie cameras all perform superbly. | Reduced resolution and poor color fidelity on the screen |
★ Samsung Galaxy A10e
The A10e is an innovation by the South Korean powerhouse that comes with a very attractive price tag and is a reliable device for consuming media. It has a big but still reasonable 5.8-inch IPS display, which makes it a delightful experience to watch films on YouTube or Netflix while using it. It contains a headphone jack, which could be useful in some situations.
For young children who have never used a smartphone previously, the Galaxy A10e is a great low-cost option because the consequences of losing or damaging a device are less severe. As a result of its low specifications, it is not appropriate for intense gaming, although it is perfectly capable of running 2D games that are more casual in nature.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Good battery life | Gets hot easily, not only while charging |
| Excellent price in relation to the value offered. | The phone is lagging while doing some operations |
| Features Face Recognition System | |
| Contains fingerprint reader |
★ OnePlus Nord 2 5G
The OnePlus Nord 2’s stunning 6.4-inch screen resolution and 90Hz refresh rate are arguably the phone’s best selling points. With such a high refresh rate, movies and games will look and run more smoothly. Despite its midrange price, the Nord is a powerful performer that can easily handle the newest mobile phone games. It has a mediocre speaker and no earbud port, both of which are major drawbacks. Still, when all is considered, this one of the best Android phones is a steal.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Among the quickest phones available at this price point | Increases in temperature with prolonged use |
| Incredible recharge times of only 30 minutes | No IP certification, no support for microSD cards |
| Numerous enhancements to the camera | It is not possible to charge wirelessly. |
| Excellent endurance for a battery | No jack for headphones |
| Fantastic cost-effectiveness | Limiting software updates to just two years |
| The glass back, a high-end design; built to be a showpiece |
★ Google Pixel 4a
The Google Pixel 4a’s camera rivals that of other premium mobile phones. Due to this, it is a highly recommended option for selfie and vlogger enthusiasts. As an added bonus, the Pixel 4a has a beautiful 5.8-inch OLED screen and a powerful Snapdragon 730G processor. Games with the highest system requirements can be played smoothly in modest settings. This phone has a headphone jack, which is great news for people who regularly use headphones.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Highest quality for still images | Lack of water-tightness |
| Excellent usability and refined programming | Construction using plasticine |
| Easy-to-carry construction | |
| Without a hitch | |
| Unbeatable price | |
| Availability of 5G |
★ Nokia 5.3
When it comes to Android phones, the Nokia 5.3 is one of the best values on the market because of its comprehensive features and quick performance. Both its lengthy battery life (up to 2 days on a single charge) and its superb “portrait mode” photography are strengths.
The display isn’t the clearest, but it still manages to wow with vibrant colors and sharp blacks. The sound quality of the Nokia 5.3 is also rather respectable, as evidenced by the presence of both a loudspeaker (although a single one) and a headphone port on the device.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Take crystal-clear photos with the 13-megapixel primary lens of the quad camera. | Touch-screen degrades easily |
| Power-conserving artificial intelligence-aided adaptive battery | Battery drains quickly |
| Enjoy uninterrupted gameplay because of the responsive Qualcomm Snapdragon 665’s high-definition visuals. |
★ Motorola Moto G8 Power
Playing a YouTube movie continuously for eight hours and 55 minutes, the Moto G8 Power survived for that long in our tests. It’s a great media player because of its large 6.4-inch screen and powerful processor. Even though it has a big 5000 mAh battery, it only weighs 197 grams and still has a port for headphones.
It has mid-tier specifications, making it fine for casual gaming but probably not up to the demands of more demanding games even on the lowest settings. The G8 Power has a long battery life, a huge screen, and a reasonable price. However, it can be too big for people in their early twenties or those with tiny hands.
| PROS | CONS |
|---|---|
| Longest battery life ever | Focusing on 4K as the G8 and the power look for a shot |
| Affordable and relatively high-quality stills and video | The Lite has a standard micro USB charging port. |
| Excellent cost-benefit analysis | The Lite has a very sluggish UI and poor performance. |
| Plug-in headphones included casings, and a flashing indicator light (Lite) | In comparison to the Lite, the G8 and Power’s images lack sharpness. |
| Consisting of a sturdy plastic design, you won’t need to baby | Nighttime use of the G8 Power Lite is impossible due to its extremely bright minimum brightness. |
| The color temperature of all three LCD screens is significantly lower than average. | |
| The G8 Power, in particular, is quite hefty despite its plastic construction. |
A Parent’s Guide to the Finest Cell Phones for Youngsters
In this article, we will review the most crucial details you must not forget when looking for the best smartphones for teenager.
☑️Continually Powerful
You won’t want to waste your money on a cell phone that constantly breaks after deciding to get one for your kid. Because of this, it’s important to spend money on a solution that will last for a long time and still do a great job. If slow or sluggish response times are driving you crazy it might be time to get a new phone with a faster processor or fewer features.
☑️Limits for Parents
You should really consider getting a phone with parental controls if you’re concerned about your child’s safety in relation to their phone’s safe use. Therefore, a basic phone will do till you upgrade later. You can get a smartphone that lets you limit app usage and screen time.
☑️Duration of Use of a Battery
Having a constant means of communication between you and your children is a primary motivation for giving them their own best smartphones for teenager. If you get a phone with a short battery life, it might not make it through the day for your kids. So that kids can reach you whenever necessary, we suggest obtaining a cell phone with a battery life of at least one school day.
☑️Longevity
Young people have a tendency to drop or bump their phones, so it’s crucial to purchase a model that can be used without worry. You should look for phones with metal or strong plastic cases and tough glass on the screen. A phone with dust and water resistance is an attractive feature.
☑️Other Qualities of a Kid-Friendly Cell Phone
- Tough Materials – Waterproof, shockproof, and impact proof
- Handy Screen Size – Comfy in the palm and pocket of smaller hands
- Photos and Videos – A high-resolution camera can take sharp pictures of things that are still or moving.
- An Easy-to-Use Interface – Easy to understand and use the interface and its components
- Online Protection – Powerful safety measures
- Storage Capacity – There is plenty of space for all your media files, apps, and more.
- Smooth Performance – Capable of withstanding intensive software and work
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the most suitable cell phone for a young person?
The best smartphone for kids has a good mix of features that kids will find useful and safety settings that parents will like. You want to make sure that your kid has a phone that can keep them in touch with their loved ones throughout the school day without needing to be recharged.
Q: Is there a rule on how old a kid must be before getting a cell phone?
Experts at the Pew Research Center on Child Development say that parents should wait until their child is at least 12 or 13 years old before letting them drive. There are some activities that your kid might not be able to join in on because of his or her age. But you have the right to make a choice based on your child’s development and specific requirements.
Q: What phone should an 11-year-old have?
The best smartphone for your 11-year-old child will depend on his or her preferences and way of life. Think about why they want a phone so badly, and try to find a model that can fulfill that desire. It’s important to buy a phone plan that lets you monitor social media and email interactions with people outside your household.
Q: Should a child have a certain type of cell phone?
Which type of phone is appropriate for a child depends on their age, degree of maturity, and specific demands. Look for a phone that is simple to operate and has many parental controls if you are buying it for a child under the age of 13. It’s possible that more advanced features and functionalities would be more appreciated by a teen than by a younger child.
Final Words
Generally speaking, smartphones are a positive technological development. They make it simple for people to access the internet and save data. With the right app, a user’s phone can become a powerful tool. The ability to store and transport media files, images, and documents in a pocketable form factor are a powerful one.
Most smartphone-related complaints can be mitigated with readily available solutions. So, they are more of a benefit than a risk. Despite their security and social flaws, smartphones are incredibly useful tools that many people can’t live without. That’s why teenagers are also gearing to having smartphones.
With the list provided above, your buying decision will be guided accordingly. If you’re in the market for one, it’s imperative that you remember to keep in mind the essential criteria to evaluate. For sure, your youngster will surely love that amazing gadget that you give!
