Best iPhone for Kids
A child's first phone has different priorities than an adult upgrade. Cost matters because accidents happen. Size matters because kids have smaller hands. Parental controls matter because iOS's Screen Time is genuinely good. This guide works through all three.
Data last updated June 2, 2026 · Specs from Apple.com · Prices are June 2026 estimates
How the picks compare
Three options depending on age, budget, and whether you want a warranty. Refurb prices are June 2026 estimates.
| Model | Screen | Chip | Durability | Est. price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone SE (3rd gen) Top pick | 4.7" LCD | A15 | IP67, glass back | ~$180 refurb | First phone, any age |
| iPhone 13 | 6.1" OLED | A15 | IP68, Ceramic Shield | ~$330 refurb | Older child, better camera |
| iPhone 16e | 6.1" OLED | A16 | IP68, Ceramic Shield | $599 new | If you insist on new + warranty |
The picks explained
1. Refurbished iPhone SE (3rd gen) — best first iPhone for a child
138.4 × 67.3 × 7.3mm · 4.7" LCD · A15 Bionic · Touch ID · IP67
The SE is the cheapest way onto iOS, and cheap is actually the right call for a first phone. At around $180 refurbished, a cracked screen or lost device is painful rather than catastrophic. The 4.7-inch body fits smaller hands well, and Touch ID on the home button is easier for younger children to set up and use than Face ID.
The A15 chip is the same silicon as the iPhone 13, so it runs every current app without slowdown and will receive iOS updates for several more years. Apple's Screen Time parental controls, Family Sharing, and Find My all work exactly the same on an SE as on a $999 Pro. There is no parental-control advantage to spending more.
The camera is a single 12MP rear lens — competent for a child's photos. The LCD screen is less vibrant than OLED, but children are not typically comparing displays. The main trade-off relative to the iPhone 13 is the older screen technology and the lack of Ceramic Shield on the front glass.
Find a refurbished SE (3rd gen) →2. Refurbished iPhone 13 — for an older child who wants more
146.7 × 71.5 × 7.65mm · 6.1" OLED · A15 Bionic · Face ID · IP68
If your child is 12 or older and will use the phone seriously for photos, video calls, and social apps, the refurbished iPhone 13 at around $330 is a meaningful upgrade. The Ceramic Shield front glass — Apple's most drop-resistant glass — makes a real difference for a phone likely to be fumbled regularly. OLED brings noticeably better colour and contrast, and the dual camera system handles low-light and portrait shots far better than the SE.
Face ID works reliably for teens. The phone runs current iOS with every Screen Time feature the SE has. At IP68 it can handle a splash or brief submersion, which the SE (IP67) handles a bit less comfortably.
The price is nearly double the SE, so it's worth asking whether the extra capability matters to your specific child right now. See the refurbished iPhone 13 guide for grading details and what to look for.
Find a refurbished iPhone 13 →3. iPhone 16e — if you want to buy new
146.7 × 71.5 × 7.8mm · 6.1" OLED · A16 Bionic · Face ID · IP68
The iPhone 16e is Apple's current entry-level model at $599 new. It comes with a one-year Apple warranty and is the most capable of the three options. If you want peace of mind from a warranty and are comfortable spending the extra money, it is a solid choice.
That said, $599 is a significant spend on a phone a child may drop or lose within the first year. Refurbished devices from reputable sellers come with their own 30-to-12-month warranties. For most parents, the refurb SE or 13 is the smarter call. Compare all budget options on the best budget iPhone page.
Where to buy and what to add
A refurbished phone and a proper case are both worth it for a child's first iPhone.
Parental controls: what iOS actually offers
Apple's parental control suite is built into every iPhone. You do not need a third-party app or a special kid-targeted phone. Here is what each feature does.
- • Screen Time: Set daily limits per app category (Social Networking, Games, Entertainment), schedule a Downtime window when only approved apps are accessible, and lock the settings with a separate passcode the child cannot change.
- • Family Sharing: App Store purchases require your approval before they download. You see a notification and can approve or deny in seconds from your own iPhone. Works across paid apps and free apps with age restrictions.
- • Content restrictions: Filter web content, restrict explicit music and films, and set a minimum age rating for app downloads. Safari's built-in filter catches the majority of adult content without extra software.
- • Find My: See the phone's location on a map from your own device at any time. If the phone is lost or stolen, you can lock it remotely or trigger a loud sound to help find it nearby.
All of these work the same on a $180 refurb SE as on an iPhone 16 Pro. For a full setup walkthrough, Apple's support pages walk through each step.
Durability: what actually protects the phone
No iPhone is unbreakable. The most useful thing you can do is buy a heavy-duty case. An Otterbox Defender or similar case with raised lips around the screen absorbs far more drop damage than any glass rating. Add a tempered glass screen protector and the phone can survive most childhood accidents intact.
The iPhone 13 has Ceramic Shield on the front glass, which Apple rates as the toughest front glass in a smartphone. Real-world drop tests show it survives face-down falls better than standard glass. The SE has standard front glass — more fragile without a case. Both are worth protecting with a case regardless.
Consider adding an AirTag inside the case or attaching one with a keyring loop. At $29, it gives passive location tracking through Apple's Find My network — useful if the phone runs out of battery or is left somewhere without signal. It is a sensible addition for any child's first phone.
For a broader view of what makes a durable choice, see our guide to which iPhone to buy.
Why refurbished makes sense for a child's phone
Children drop phones. They leave them in pockets when it rains, sit on them, and occasionally lose them entirely. Buying refurbished from a reputable seller reduces the financial stakes without reducing the functionality. A graded refurb from Back Market or a similar seller goes through testing, battery checks, and cosmetic grading before resale, and comes with a warranty.
Refurb prices run roughly 30–50% below new. The iPhone SE (3rd gen) was $429 new when released; it is now around $180 refurbished. The iPhone 13 was $699 new; it runs around $330 refurbished. That gap matters when the phone may need replacing within a year.
See more on the refurbished iPhone SE guide and the refurbished iPhone 13 guide for what to look for in each grade. If the phone gets traded in later, the iPhone trade-in value page shows what to expect.
Which phones to avoid for a child
Any iPhone Pro model starts at $999 new and is designed around photography and performance, not durability under careless use. Pro titanium frames look premium but can be slipperier than the aluminum sides on standard models. The camera systems on Pro phones are genuinely better — but a child will not use a $1,099 phone meaningfully differently from a $330 one for everyday tasks.
The iPhone 16 Air is Apple's thinnest iPhone at 5.65 mm and weighs just 145 g. It is a beautiful phone engineered for minimal bulk. That makes it the wrong phone for a child's hands — thin phones flex more under drop stress, and the premium price means the stakes are higher when it lands screen-down.
If you are genuinely uncertain what fits your situation, the which iPhone should I buy guide covers the full lineup.
FAQ
What is the best iPhone for a child?
For most kids, the refurbished iPhone SE (3rd generation) is the best first iPhone. It costs around $180 refurbished, runs current iOS with full Screen Time parental controls, has a compact 4.7-inch body that fits smaller hands, and is cheap enough that an accidental drop or loss is not a financial disaster. Older children (12+) who want a better camera and Face ID will find the refurbished iPhone 13 (around $330) to be a strong step up.
Does the iPhone SE have parental controls?
Yes. Every iPhone running iOS 12 or later — including all iPhone SE models — has Apple's Screen Time, which lets parents set daily app limits, schedule downtime, filter content by age, and restrict in-app purchases. Family Sharing lets you approve app downloads remotely, and Find My lets you see the phone's location on a map. None of these features require a newer or more expensive model.
Should I buy a new iPhone or a refurbished one for my child?
Refurbished makes more financial sense for a first phone. Children drop phones, lose them, and outgrow them quickly. A refurbished iPhone SE at around $180 or a refurbished iPhone 13 at around $330 give full iOS functionality at 30–50% below new prices. Reputable refurbishers such as Back Market grade and warranty the devices, so you are not buying blind. Save the new-phone budget for when the child has demonstrated they can look after it.
What iPhone should I avoid buying for a child?
Avoid any Pro model and the iPhone 16 Air. The Pro lineup starts at $999 new and uses Ceramic Shield only on the front, with polished titanium sides that are more slippery than standard models. The iPhone 16 Air is Apple's thinnest iPhone at just 5.65 mm — a beautiful phone designed for minimal weight, not for handling by a child who is likely to drop it. Neither purchase makes sense when a $180 refurbished SE does the same parental-control job.
More buying guides
Not sure which iPhone fits your budget, or thinking about trading in an older model?