As a parent and retail consumer expert, I know firsthand how overwhelming it can be to navigate the world of kids phones and plans. With so many options and considerations, it‘s tough to figure out the best fit for your child and family. One major carrier to consider is T-Mobile. While T-Mobile doesn‘t have phones or plans specifically marketed for kids, they do offer some great options that can work well for children while giving parents peace of mind. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll dive into everything T-Mobile has to offer for kids phones and plans in 2024, sharing my objective analysis and personal perspective every step of the way.
The State of Kids Phone Use
Before we jump into T-Mobile‘s specific offerings, let‘s set the stage with some key data points about children‘s phone use. According to a 2023 Common Sense Media survey:
- 45% of kids have their own smartphone by age 11
- 64% of kids have some kind of phone (smart or basic) by age 11
- The average age kids get a phone is now 10.1 years old
- 26% of 8-year-olds have a phone
As you can see, phone ownership among children is becoming increasingly common at younger and younger ages. A separate 2023 Pew Research Study found that a staggering 97% of teens have a smartphone. All of this data underscores the importance of carefully choosing the right phone and plan for your kid.
T-Mobile‘s Tablet and Smartwatch for Kids
Let‘s start by looking at the devices T-Mobile offers that are specifically designed with kids in mind. While not phones, per se, T-Mobile does sell the Alcatel Joy Tab Kids 2 tablet and the SyncUP Kids Watch. Both can be great starter devices for easing children into the world of tech and communication.
The Alcatel Joy Tab Kids 2 is an affordable 8-inch Android tablet with 32GB storage and a durable build. It has a simplified kids mode interface, parental controls, and pre-loaded educational content. You can get the tablet for free via 24 monthly bill credits when you add a qualifying line.
Retail price: $168
Plan: Simply Prepaid Tablet (starts at $15/month for 2GB data)
The SyncUP Kids Watch is a basic 4G LTE-connected smartwatch for ages 5-12. It allows calling and messaging with approved contacts only, along with GPS tracking. The watch is also free with 24 monthly bill credits when you add a line.
Retail price: $180
Plan: DIGITS with paired data (starts at $10/month)
In my opinion, a smartwatch can be a great first device for elementary-age kids who need a way to communicate with parents but aren‘t ready for a phone. The SyncUP watch is a solid pick with its durability, ease of use, and safety features. For a preteen or an older elementary schooler, a tablet like the Alcatel Joy Tab Kids 2 could be a good fit, especially with its excellent parental control options.
Setting Limits with Family Allowances
One of the best perks that T-Mobile offers parents is the Family Allowances feature, which is included for free on all Magenta plans with at least two lines. Family Allowances lets you set time limits, always-allowed contacts, and blocked contacts for your kids‘ lines. You can limit device use during certain times like school hours or bedtime.
Magenta plans with Family Allowances:
- Magenta: $70/month for 2 lines with autopay ($35/line)
- Magenta MAX: $85/month for 2 lines with autopay ($42.50/line)
These controls work on any phone or device on your account, not just the kid-specific ones. I love that T-Mobile includes this for free on Magenta plans, as many carriers charge extra for parental control tools.
Monitor with the FamilyMode App
For even more robust monitoring, there‘s the FamilyMode app which costs $10/month. FamilyMode works on any T-Mobile plan and offers content filters, app blocking, web history, and location tracking. You can see exactly how your child uses their device and set granular restrictions.
While pricier than the free Family Allowances, FamilyMode is great for parents who want that extra layer of insight and control. It‘s on par with competitors‘ offerings, like Verizon Smart Family ($9.99/month) and AT&T Secure Family ($7.99/month).
Basic and Dumb Phones
If you want to get your child an actual phone but aren‘t quite ready for a smartphone, T-Mobile has some "dumb phone" options that are great for kids.
I recommend the Alcatel GO FLIP 4, a simple and durable flip phone that costs $96 retail or $4/month on a payment plan. It has calling, texting, and a few bonus features like basic apps and an assistant button. The Alcatel GO FLIP 4 can be added to any T-Mobile plan, but the cheapest option is the Essentials plan which starts at $45/line for four lines with autopay.
For a true back-to-basics device, there‘s the Schok Classic Flip Phone for $72 retail. Running on T-Mobile‘s 4G LTE network, it does calling and texting with supreme simplicity.
Bring Your Own Kids Phone
Another great option is to bring an unlocked kids phone from another source and activate it on T-Mobile. Some of the best ones to consider:
- Gabb Phone Plus ($150): An Android smartphone with no internet, social media, or games. Pairs well with T-Mobile‘s Connect prepaid plan, which starts at $10/month for 1GB data.
- Pinwheel ($150): Android phone with curated healthy apps. Consider the Simply Prepaid plan starting at $40/month for unlimited talk and text plus 10GB data.
- Troomi ($180+): Tiered Android phone system that grows with your child. Troomi also offers its own network plan starting at $15/month, but you can bring the phones to T-Mobile for more data options.
Just be sure to check for compatibility with T-Mobile‘s network bands (which most unlocked phones have).
How T-Mobile Compares
T-Mobile‘s kids offerings stack up well against competitors, but there are a few other standout options to consider:
- Verizon GizmoWatch Disney Edition ($200): Fun themed kids smartwatch with communication features. Works with Verizon‘s $35/month Kids Plan.
- AT&T Filip Kids Smartwatch ($180): Basic kids watch with GPS and approved contacts only. $35/month on an AT&T plan.
- Troomi Wireless: Sells its own tiered kids phones bundled with plans starting at $15/month on its network.
- Bark Phone: A comprehensive kids phone system with a custom OS built entirely around monitoring and safety, but only works on its own network plans.
In terms of overall value and flexibility, I believe T-Mobile‘s combination of devices, plans, and free/paid parental controls is the winner. They may not have branded "kids phones," but the options can be cobbled together to fit any family‘s needs.
Choosing the Best Fit
With so many choices, how do you actually decide what phone and plan to get your child? As a parent of two kids (ages 8 and 12) and a consumer expert, here are my top tips:
- Consider your child‘s maturity level. Age is just a number – your child‘s ability to handle the responsibility of a phone may not match their peers.
- Start with a trial. A smartwatch or basic phone can be a good way to test the waters before graduating to a smartphone.
- Pick a durable device. Because, let‘s face it, kids break things. Look for shatterproof screens and waterproof ratings.
- Set clear boundaries from the start. A phone is a big privilege that should come with clearly defined rules. Take advantage of T-Mobile‘s parental controls to enforce your guidelines around screen time, internet access, etc.
- Teach responsible habits. Walk the walk by modeling healthy phone use yourself. Set designated screen-free times, discuss online safety often, and keep an open dialogue about what your child encounters on their device.
For my 12-year-old, we settled on a Gabb Phone Plus because of its lack of potentially problematic apps. For my younger child, a SyncUP Kids Watch has been perfect for staying in touch while at after-school activities. We use the cheapest T-Mobile data plans and have had no issues. But there‘s no singular "right answer" for every family.
Looking Ahead
As time goes on, I expect T-Mobile will only expand its offerings for the growing kids phone market. While they don‘t currently sell any mid-tier kids smartphones, I could see them adding options to fill in that gap between basic devices and full-fledged smartphones.
More advanced versions of the SyncUP Kids Watch also seem likely, as competitors like Verizon up the ante with sleeker form factors and features. I‘d love to see more free content geared towards teaching responsible phone use as well, either within the FamilyMode app or as bonus add-ons.
It will also be interesting to see how T-Mobile handles the inherent tension between giving kids more tech freedom as they age while still preserving parental oversight. More nuanced, tiered versions of Family Allowances would be a welcome addition for parents with multiple kids spanning different ages.
The Bottom Line
T-Mobile offers a robust, if somewhat piecemeal, selection of devices and plans suitable for kids. From the SyncUP Kids Watch to basic phones to BYOD options, parents can create a customized phone setup for their child. Free Family Allowances and paid FamilyMode parental controls add essential guardrails.
While T-Mobile falls short of having a single cohesive "kids phone" product, I appreciate the flexibility its lineup provides to fit any family‘s needs and budget. With a little research and planning, you can absolutely craft a great kid-friendly phone solution with T-Mobile.
The key is to think holistically about your child‘s tech readiness, your family‘s values around phone usage, and your budget. Don‘t be afraid to start small with a basic device and gradually step up to a smartphone as your kid demonstrates responsibility. And above all, keep those lines of communication open – the goal should be to teach your child to self-moderate and make smart choices so they grow into tech-savvy, considerate digital citizens.
