The mobile phone is now one of the most used devices on a daily basis. Today, even teenagers need it as soon as they enter middle school. However, using a cell phone exposes teens to many risks beyond the many benefits associated with it.
You can therefore very quickly find yourself spoiled for choice when giving your teenager a phone. If you are wondering which phone to choose for a teenager, discover in this article the key criteria for making the right choice.
Choose a phone based on the teenager's age
In France, the average age for giving a cell phone to a teenager is 11 years old. However, even from this age, the restrictions required for adolescents may vary from one age to another. To this end, it is advisable to choose your teenager's phone according to their age.
The suitable phone between 11 and 14 years old
For adolescents aged 11 to 14, usage needs essentially consist of communicating on social networks . So you should consider giving them a smartphone that will allow them to access these social platforms.
However, you should avoid giving them high-performance smartphones. Manufacturers offer very interesting entry-level models However, you will need to opt for a shell to guarantee the integrity of the phone and increase its resistance.
These models are equipped with basic features to allow teenagers to take advantage of popular applications such as:
- Facebook ;
- WhatsApp ;
- Instagram;
- Snapchat, etc.
You can find these models at pretty good prices with brands like Samsung , Sony and Xiaomi .
The phone suitable for over 14 years
Over the age of 14, you can allow a teenager to use a smartphone from a reputable brand such as iPhone or Samsung . But it is recommended to turn to reconditioned phones . These are offered at much more affordable prices than new smartphones.
Consider parental control options
Regardless of which phone you choose for a teenager, parental control options are very important. Indeed, the dangers of the web have become more and more recurrent in recent years. You must therefore be able to closely monitor your teenager's use of their smartphone .
For example, it is crucial to have control over the time he spends on the internet in order to protect him against screen addiction . You must also be able to block access to malicious sites likely to offend its sensitivity.
Good to know : Tutorial for Blocking Unexpected Ads on Android and IOS !
For this purpose, an iOS 14 or Android 10 is the best solution. Both of these operating systems are equipped with excellent parental control features. They will allow you to keep tabs on almost everything your teen has access to .
Opt for a durable cell phone
The other very important aspect that you must take into account to successfully choose the phone for teenagers is the resistance of the device. Teenagers tend to be very awkward. However, there are phones fragile enough to break with the slightest fall. You must therefore opt for a resistant phone for your teenager to ensure its durability .
Generally, entry-level phones are not as fragile as large-screen smartphones. But you can also find smartphones on the market specially made to resist shock and even water.
You also have the option of equipping your teenager's phone screen with unbreakable glass for better shock resistance.