The 'kids' phone market is expanding: a review of devices and prices

Why manufacturers are making phones for kids

According to TechCrunch, amid growing parental concern about the risks of unrestricted children's access to smartphones, more and more companies are bringing specialized kids' devices to market. Modern 'kids' phones usually look like ordinary smartphones on the outside — with a touchscreen and camera — but their software is heavily modified: the browser, social media, and app stores are removed or restricted. Parents control the device through an app: they approve contacts, track location, set screen-time limits, and in some cases receive alerts about cyberbullying, unwanted content, or suspicious contacts. A separate niche is minimalist devices for calls and messages only, as well as home phones for kids such as Tin Can and the recently released Pinwheel Home.

Smartphones with parental controls: Bark, Gabb, Pinwheel, Teracube

The Bark Phone, built on Samsung Galaxy hardware, allows calls and messages only to approved contacts and continuously scans texts, email, photos, and supported apps for signs of cyberbullying, grooming, suicidal thoughts, and other unwanted content, sending alerts to parents. Its distinguishing feature is the gradual unlocking of the browser and apps as the child grows older. The standard model costs $240 plus a mandatory plan starting at $29 per month.

Devices without internet and home phones

Gabb bets not on content monitoring but on completely eliminating online risks: its phones have no social media, browser, or app store — only calls, messages, and a curated set of preinstalled apps. Prices start at about $159.99, with service from $24.99 per month. Pinwheel lets parents approve every app, set daily 'modes' (for example, during school hours — calls and navigation only), and track location history; phones cost from $119, with the Caregiver Portal subscription from $14.99 per month without cellular service. The Teracube Thrive with its own Thrive OS shell (2022) offers browser filtering and app limits, but due to its more 'adult' features it is recommended for older kids: $99 and plans from $35 per month.

Newcomers of the season: Waffle and Yello!

In addition to mobile devices, the segment is being expanded by home devices: the Ooma MyPhone for $99.99 (service from $7.99 per month) works only with approved contacts via the Trusted Circle feature, supports 'quiet hours', direct 911 dialing, and call-log viewing by parents, while the Tin Can for $100 connects over Wi-Fi without a phone jack. Just recently, the Waffle Home ($119) and the portable Waffle Go ($169) entered the market — a screen device with three buttons for voice calls and voice messages; preorders are open, with shipments starting November 23. Finally, the Canadian carrier TextNow launched the kids' smartphone Yello! for $149.99 with a $19.99-per-month plan: outwardly it is an ordinary touchscreen phone, but without an app store, social media, or unrestricted web access, and parents can see the location and battery level and manage games and contacts.