Child-friendly alternatives

The newly launched Fusion X1 is a promising step forward in child-safe smartphones. Developed with Xplora – a leader in kids’ smartwatch tech – it aims to solve the challenge of making a phone that’s both child and parent-approved

It looks and feels like a real smartphone, with a large touchscreen, vibrant display, and high-quality camera hardware. What sets it apart is its robust app-level parental controls. Parents can manage access to every feature – from the camera to the browser – directly from their own device. All contacts must be pre-approved, and screen time can be completely blocked during specific hours. Location tracking is built in, with the option to set safety zones and receive alerts if your child leaves them.

We also love that HMD (the makers of Nokia phones) have designed the Fusion X1 to be easily repairable, making it a more sustainable choice. The battery, screen and charging port are all replaceable at home.

This is a phone that can grow with your child – balancing independence, safety and sustainability.

The Phone+ offers the look of a modern smartphone, but functions like a basic phone with no internet, GPS, or camera. It features a large touchscreen with a simple interface, providing access to contacts, messages, the phone dialer, and settings – nothing else. The box includes a customizable protective case, adding a fun touch to its otherwise functional design. There’s no music player, radio, or games.

At the time of writing, The Phone+ is available for pre-order, releasing August 2025. Be cautious about buying the original model as its 3G, which is being phased out. Priced at €149, it’s a bit pricey for its limited features, but it’s a completely safe option, eliminating the need for parental controls. Shipping from France adds around £20 in fees, but it’s unlocked and compatible with any UK network.

The Light Phone II stands out with its minimalist design and e-ink screen, similar to Kindle devices. While navigation can be slower, the battery lasts 1-2 days on a single charge.

The phone uses a monochrome, list-based menu that includes calls and texts, a music player, podcast access and a directions app. 

It does have hotspot capability, which if your child has unmonitored access to a laptop or tablet, could be used to get that device on the internet. If you’d prefer to disable the hotspot function, simply use a no-data SIM – it will turn off the directions and podcast functionality, but keep core features like calls and texts.

Shipping from the US adds extra costs, and while the newer Light Phone III offers a faster interface and larger screen, it costs significantly more at $599.

Logistically, there may be simpler options – but the Light Phone II remains a unique, thoughtful choice for families looking for a truly minimalist experience.

The Balance Phone has been created with children in mind, offering the ‘balance’ of a modern phone (it uses Samsung A16 as its base) and some ‘essential apps’, without access to open browsers and social media.

Promising peace of mind for you and the ‘freedom to explore responsibly’ for them, it features a bespoke user interface that only allows limited access to pre-selected apps. This does include WhatsApp, so you’ll need to decide if your child is ready for that, plus things like Spotify, Uber and Google Maps.

Balance Phone aims to create a safe environment that can give parents peace of mind without the need for constant monitoring, but does say parental control apps can be configured on the device if required.

Got a Samsung device already? You can also just buy the Balance OS – the same operating system as you get on the Balance Phone – on a yearly subscription (£69/year), which can be installed onto any Samsung phone.

Pinwheel, now available in the UK after success in the US, is a great choice for teenagers. It’s built on the Pixel 8A or Samsung J4+ smartphones, but with Pinwheel’s custom interface and parental controls baked in.

That means your child will feel like they have the ‘smartphone experience’, complete with the performance and cameras of a modern phone, but with the Pinwheel’s Caregiver Portal for your peace of mind. 

You can start with a basic setup and gradually add functionality as needed. It has over 1,000 vetted apps available, including WhatsApp, Spotify and Google Maps, though this choice may feel overwhelming for some.

The Pinwheel Caregiver Portal gives you full control, allowing you to customize screen time, monitor texts (even deleted ones), track location with GPS, and create a contact safelist. There’s no web browser or social media apps, but the phone does offer 5G connectivity for fast communication and GPS tracking.

The Caregiver Portal costs £13.99/month or £149/year, plus the cost of the phone and data contract.

The AirTag is a simple, affordable tracker that integrates with Apple’s Find My network, which means if you have an iPhone, you can pop it into a bag or coat and track it using the Find My app on your phone. As AirTags don’t have GPS, they rely on surrounding connected iOS devices to pinpoint and report their location (and wherever you are, you’re rarely far from one of those). However, if no Apple devices are nearby to pick up the AirTag’s Bluetooth signal, its location won’t update in the Find My app until there are. It’s one reason Apple itself says AirTags are for possessions, not people.

Tile Mate is an affordable tracker that works with both iOS and Android devices, and can be popped into a bag or coat. Similarly to AirTags, it relies on any device running the Tile app, or Amazon devices like Ring doorbells or Echo speakers, for helping to provide its location updates. This works pretty well in practice, particularly in built-up areas. However, they can’t guarantee pinpoint accuracy since they are reliant on the devices around them.