Phones & Devices For Kids: Smartwatches, Tablets & More

*This comparison guide was created by T-Mobile to help you explore products sold in our store. The opinions expressed here reflect our editorial perspective based on publicly available features, specifications, and articles.

*Product pricing and availability are subject to change. Visit our website for the latest offers on phones, devices, and accessories.

You want a phone or other device that’s fun for the kids, but also simplifies your world, offering a little peace of mind, while helping everyone stay connected. We've rounded up some of our favorite smartphones for kids, plus other devices that are kid-ready right out of the box or easily customizable with features to fit your family's needs.

Whether you need something that's perfect for playing games, doing schoolwork, keeping in touch, or staying entertained on road trips, we've got 10 ideas that both you and your kids will appreciate. Let's start with kids' phones and go from there.

1. Best Android Phone for Kids: Google Pixel 9a

The Google Pixel 9a might just be one of the best picks for kids and parents alike. It has Google smarts baked in, from top-tier camera magic to AI-powered convenience, without the high price tag of flagship phones. Built with Google's custom Tensor G4 chip, it's designed for speedy performance, smart photo edits, and advanced speech recognition. Plus, it’s backed by seven years of security and software updates. Why it’s great for kids:

Crystal-clear visuals. A 6.3-inch Actua display makes games, videos, and video calls pop in vibrant color, plus it features a smooth 120Hz refresh rate for silky performance.
Built-in safety smarts. The Pixel 9a includes crash detection, emergency sharing, and Google’s excellent parental control tools via Family Link.
Battery to match their energy. A 5,100mAh battery with fast charging gives them power all day, so they’re good to go from school to soccer practice and beyond.
Photos that wow. With Google’s image-processing wizardry, the dual-camera system (48MP main and 13MP ultrawide) captures sharp, vibrant shots every time, even in low light. The 48MP front camera also lets kids capture their best selfies.
Durable and dependable. The phone is IP68 water and dust resistant, and it features five years of updates to keep everything safe and current.

Two children walking while wearing their SyncUP KIDS watches.

2. Best Smartwatch for Kids (Android): SyncUP KIDS Watch 2

If you want to stay connected but have little kids who aren't quite ready for a phone, this cute kids' smartwatch is a win-win for you both. It has a lot of healthy-living tools and tracking capabilities built in, plus it's durable, boasts customizable characters/themes, and since it's made for children, it has Kids' Line Privacy features. That means, since the account is used by a child under the age of 16, their data won’t be used for advertising, plus, we’ll opt the line out of receiving marketing communications. Here are just a few other things it can help you do:

Stay connected with your kids via texts, calls, videos, or voice messages. See where your kids are 24/7, thanks to real-time secure location tracking and virtual boundary alerts.
Add an unlimited number of contacts, including emergency contacts, all pre-approved by you! There's even a designated 911 button for emergencies.
Give them access to full features or choose the School Mode setting to help them stay focused in class.
Let your kids capture all their best moments with a 5MP camera and have fun playing a selection of kid-friendly games.
Keep them challenged and on-the-move with a step counter that lets you set daily step goals. You can even set tasks, reminders, and rewards for your kids. There's also a built-in alarm, timer, and stopwatch.
Enjoy the peace of mind that durability brings. It's splash friendly and water resistant, and when you add a long-lasting battery to the mix, it's one of the best kids' watches for the littler ones.

3. Best Smartwatch for Kids (iOS): Apple Watch SE 2nd gen 40mm

Featuring a choice of cool band colors and the Apple design you love, this smartwatch is just right for parents who want to help their kids active, healthy and connected on the go. It has a huge Retina display with up to 1,000 nits of brightness, health tracking and notifications, emergency calling, and a powerful battery that lasts up to 18 hours. The best part? It works with Family Setup³ so you can keep tabs on your child via an app, even if they don't have their own phone. Here are the features you'll appreciate:

Connectivity for all. You can use the GPS + cellular model of the Apple Watch to hook your kids up to Family Setup in a blink. Just pair you child's watch to your iPhone and manage everything using the Apple Watch app.
Access to safety features. Kids can simply hold down the side button on the watch for help in an emergency.
Healthier goals. This watch can detect current heart rate, as well as high or low heart rates. Plus, you can customize it to help your child meet healthy activity goals by tracking Move minutes, time spent outdoors and more.
Grows with your kids. Even when your kids are old enough to have their own phones, they'll appreciate all the powerful features available to them on this smartwatch.

Best Trackers for Kids’ Stuff

If your child is constantly misplacing their backpack, lunchbox, or jacket, a good tracker is a small investment that delivers big peace of mind. Whether you're in the Apple or Android ecosystem, you've got excellent, affordable options to help you (and your kid) track their stuff.

4. For Android Families: Chipolo POP Tracker Tag

Fun, colorful, and works with Google. Chipolo POP is made for Android users, with bold colors and an easy-to-use app that integrates with Google’s Find My Device.
Out-of-range alerts. Get notified if your child leaves something behind at school or a friend’s house.
Loud ring. With a loud sound alert (up to 120dB), it's easy to find even in noisy spaces or under a pile of clothes.
Water resistant & long-lasting. Designed to survive everyday kid chaos, it’s splash-proof with a replaceable battery that lasts up to a year.

5. Best Tracker for Teens: SyncUP DRIVE

If you've got teens ready to hit the road, you're probably feeling a little anxious. That's why so many parents will love this device, which works in tandem with a monitoring app. Not only can it help detect things like crashes, hard breaking, speed, and the car's location, it also offers a lot of other extras. Just plug the on-board diagnostics reader into the OBD-II port of your teen's compatible vehicle and watch it go to work! Here's a closer look at what you can do:

Use the SyncUP DRIVE monitoring app to track the vehicle's location with real-time map views, while getting alerts about driving behavior, including speed, crashes, and any disturbances (potential break-ins, tow alerts, and more).
See trip histories, as well as updates about the car's health, including recall notifications, performance, and maintenance info via an easy-to-read dashboard on your phone.
Get 24/7 roadside assistance (for lockouts, jumps, tire changes, tows, and more.) It also includes a gas-price viewer and gas-station locator. Your teens will also love that it turns their vehicle into a Wi-Fi hotspot, offering connectivity for up to five devices.

No matter which devices or phones you choose for your kids—fun, safety and easy-to-use features are key. Still undecided?

You may also be interested in:

*Product pricing and availability are subject to change. Visit our website for the latest offers on phones, devices, and accessories.

*This guide was developed by T-Mobile for informational purposes, based on publicly available data. It reflects an editorial perspective to assist readers in comparing smartphone features and specifications sold in our store.

Sources:

^{https://www.t-mobile.com/privacy-center/our-practices/childrens-privacy-notice#section2}

^{https://support.apple.com/en-us/109036}

^{https://www.t-mobile.com/support/devices/warranty-exchanges}