Mobile Phone for Son

rathalian on 15/11/2021 - 12:44

Looking to get a phone for our 12 year old son so he can call home or sms.

I started looking at the simpler phones like the Nokia 8000 tough which has long battery life and would satisfy the above requirements, in addition to being tough (he kills phones) and on the cheaper side.

On the flipside though he will be going to high school next year where smartphones will dominate. Part of me is saying just give him something now he can stuff in his bag if he needs to make a call, and another part is saying in reality as a modern kid his friends will all be in the smartphone world.

Thoughts here?

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • jv on 15/11/2021 - 12:46
    +1

    Something from here… comes with warranty.
    I've bought a couple off them for my kids.

    https://www.phonebot.com.au/refurbished-handsets/apple-refur…

    Costs a few $ more than marketplace, but peace of mind and come with new batteries.

  • AndyC1 on 15/11/2021 - 13:24

    My son has a Nokia 2.3 and it does everything he needs and wants. You need to get a screen protector for between $5 and $10 plus a case. With the case for any child make sure the back is flat otherwise the screen will eventually crack as they put in their school bag and it will bend

    If you can get one it's $99 fro O.W.:
    https://www.officeworks.com.au/shop/officeworks/p/nokia-2-3-…

  • NatoTomato on 15/11/2021 - 13:53

    You're right. A high school kid needs a smart phone because everyone else will have one and he'll miss out on group chats and events hosted by his friends if he doesn't have that access. People these days won't jump over the smallest barrier (Send an SMS rather than a snap) so I think a smart phone is your best bet so he doesn't feel ostracized.

    I'm actually surprised he hasn't come across this yet!

    Don't buy top of the line flagship ones though, that's basically throwing money out the window. JV's on the money for once.

  • rathalian on 15/11/2021 - 13:56

    Thanks all - a refurb iPhone was on the books and we have Norton family so we can install that for now to lock some stuff down.

    • jayboi on 15/11/2021 - 21:24

      A good option will be a iPhone 6s or 7 for really cheap on Facebook marketplace or gumtree and remember CASH ON PICKUP. and take precautions such as checking serial number and imii for iCloud or carrier locks.
      You can find a 6s sometimes for $100 even or $150 for a 7
      Or for future-proofing an iPhone SE 2nd gen would be good value used at about only $300

  • SydStrand on 15/11/2021 - 14:10

    Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max 1TB

    • Fredfloresjr on 15/11/2021 - 14:23
      • Chatime, + yeezy
      • dust on 15/11/2021 - 14:38

        Nah chatime is trash.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/11/2021 - 15:08
    +1

    He needs a smartphone, anybody with a brick phone will be laughed at
    Iphone SE, or Iphone XR will do the job

  • koplik8 on 15/11/2021 - 15:25

    Some of the older refurbished iphones can be picked up pretty cheap with warranties. Check ebay or EB Games still does them too. Although I can't find anything about the warranty. I've got some refurbished consoles from them in the past that have been like brand new:

    https://www.ebgames.com.au/search?category=electronics&subca…

    To get a Preowned device ready for its new home, it first undergoes rigorous checks by our Refurbishment team.
    To make sure it lives up to the awesome standard you’d expect, we:
    Perform a check on all components
    Inspect all ports and inputs
    Refurbish or replace parts to meet our standards
    Format the device and restore the system
    Give it a good clean!
    On the rare chance that your device is anything less than awesome, give our Customer Service Team a call and we'll organise a free return and replacement.

  • MrThing on 15/11/2021 - 15:46
    -3

    gee a phone at 12, your funeral OP

  • fatherchicken on 17/11/2021 - 23:23
    +1

    Iphone XR at Big W https://www.bigw.com.au/product/apple-iphone-xr-64gb-black/p… then Woolies $150 12 month plan for 10% off 1 shop per month. I do 1 bulk shop as close to the cap of $500 as possible and get $50 off per month. Do it like that and total cost for the year is effectively $150 and your kid's happy with his iphone.

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