Hey folks, my wife and I use Pixel phones, but we’re starting to think about a phone for our kid, really just to be able to call 911, probably wouldn’t even get data. We’re looking for cheap and boring, the fewer features, the better. Also open to smart watches, tho we have no experience with them.

Are there any devices that fit the bill? I’m thinking something like an old Nokia brick from 20 years ago, but of course with VoLTE/VoNR.

Thanks for any help this community can provide!

  • Devgard@lemmy.worldEnglish
    122·
    2 years ago

    just putting it out there: giving them a cheap android phone will steer them away from android forever as they will be conditioned to think that all android are as cheap and terrible as the ones they have been given

    • Lucrix@lemmy.worldEnglish
      81·
      2 years ago

      Yeah give em a first gen iPhone SE. It works ok for now, plus they’re cheap. But since support ended they’ll soon start having some issues. That’ll definitely make them want an Android >:D

    • adlr@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      3·
      2 years ago

      Totally fair, tho we don’t need it to run Android. Some locked down OS that only does phone calls might be okay.

  • Stalinwolf@lemmy.caEnglish
    7·
    2 years ago

    Google needs to make the three Little Pigsels, a series of special starter Pixels for children. The three Pigsels come in Straw, Wood, or Brick, and feature a stock Android UI and a standard Pixel camera to get your child started on the correct path.

  • LostCause@kbin.social
    7·
    2 years ago

    I‘d also go the parental controls route, you can relax that gradually as they grow older instead of having to buy new phones.

    • adlr@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      2 years ago

      Excellent point. Yeah, we already use Family Link to manage screen time and it’s working well

  • meltylikecheeseEnglish
    6·
    2 years ago

    If you have any of your previous devices laying around, there you go. Otherwise you can always purchase the cheapest of the cheap like a $30 walmart phone. Data and apps can be limited but at that price point internet might be so frustrating to use that it’s a deterrent as is.

  • ThaijsClanEnglish
    6·
    2 years ago

    You could go this route. The phones have good various parental controls, relatively cheap and effective. Gabb Phone

  • linearchaos@lemmy.worldEnglish
    72·
    2 years ago

    If you’re truly just after 911, Even a deactivated cell phone would call that in the US.

    We ended up getting the kid an Apple smartwatch with LTE. The monthly price when it’s not bad it’s like 10 bucks. The upshot being he could call us with it we could call him with it and find my iPhone can locate him at any time.

    • adlr@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      4·
      2 years ago

      Thanks! That would be an option, but we don’t have any Apple devices, so I’m guessing it would be tough to provision it, plus not sure we could use find my iPhone. Would be happy to be wrong here, tho!

      • pitninja@lemmy.pit.ninjaEnglish
        2·
        2 years ago

        I’m sure there are cellular Android Wear watches where the same concept could work, but you’d probably need to be a lot more careful about battery life.

    • pitninja@lemmy.pit.ninjaEnglish
      1·
      2 years ago

      I know they specifically said they want it to be able to call 911, but they probably also would like for it to be able to call them (the parents) as well as any other relevant adults. Your Apple Watch idea is a really good one and it’s also probably less likely to get carelessly lost by a kid.

  • Whooping_SealEnglish
    4·
    2 years ago

    Do you still have an old android phone sitting in a drawer somewhere? Perhaps giving the child this with parental controls might be a useful solution. My rationale

    1. You can still use an app such as Signal or WhatsApp to communicate with them. These notably support encryption unlike SMS
    2. You can also use “find my device” (relevant android police article on this topic)
    3. This is cheaper than buying even a cheap dumb phone since you already own the device, and you can argue better for the environment since you’re re-using something instead of creating more e-waste
    4. Particularly if the Android phone is still updated, it is more secure than a dumb phone these days.
  • plo@kbin.social
    2·
    2 years ago

    Any phone would do just that. Get the cheapest dumb phone you can find. That way it also doesn’t break the bank when it eventually breaks.

  • key@lemmy.keychat.orgEnglish
    42·
    2 years ago

    Plenty of basic flip phones available for cheap, Tracfone has a Nokia for 20 bucks. Could look at phones targeted for seniors, like the jitterbug flip, if they’re really young but that would be more expensive than a basic flip phone.

    • adlr@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      1·
      2 years ago

      Thanks! Wouldn’t have thought of a senior type of phone. I’ll take a look!

      • Ataraxia@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        2 years ago

        Just be careful with the Jitterbug or lively phones because he will very likely end up with police at your house or school because he pressed the urgent button. And trust me when I say they can’t remove that function even if it’s cancelled. There are other elderly phones like through tracfone more appropriate for a child. Definitely avoid any phone with an emergency button as I’m sure he’s old enough to know how to dial 911.

  • Slapplebags@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    2 years ago

    I got a gently used sonim phone for $50 on eBay, they have industructable feature phones with great battery life.