A child's first phone has two jobs. It has to keep the child in touch, and it has to give the parent a say in who gets through, which apps go on it and where the phone is. Some phones on this list are built for kids from the start. Others are standard Samsung phones for teens who are ready for more freedom.
Technobezz is supported by its audience. We may get a commission from retail offers.
5 Best Phones for Kids in 2026
The Bark Phone (Samsung Galaxy A16) tops our list of the best phones for kids, with tamper-proof controls, GPS tracking and alerts for texts and social media.
T
Technobezz
Editorial Team
Updated November 11, 2026Nov 11, 2026
•11 min read
Get Deals Like These in Your Inbox
The best prices, straight to your inbox.
Add Technobezz on Google:Preferred SourceGoogle Discover
The Bark Phone (Samsung Galaxy A16) is the best overall pick. Bark says it scans texts, social media and online content and alerts parents to potential issues, its rules are tamper-proof, and parents can manage it from their own Android or iOS phone. It also adds GPS location tracking and a driving lock.
This page is for US parents choosing a phone for a child or teen. It covers kid-focused phones from Bark, Pinwheel and Troomi, and two Samsung Galaxy phones for older teens who need a regular smartphone.
At a Glance
| Category | Product | Why We Picked It |
|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Bark Phone (Samsung Galaxy A16) | Tamper-proof rules, content alerts, GPS tracking and a driving lock |
| Best for younger kids | Pinwheel Slim 6 | Approved contacts only, no social media and no web browser by default |
| Best for curated apps | Troomi Samsung Galaxy A17 5G | Pre-approved app store and a browser limited to approved sites |
| Best for older teens | Samsung Galaxy A37 5G | IP68 rating, 5,000 mAh battery and six years of security updates |
| Best simple teen phone | Samsung Galaxy A17 5G | Large AMOLED screen, Gorilla Glass Victus and long update support |
How we chose
We compared each maker's published specifications and the parental-control features they list for phones a parent might buy for a child. We also checked that each pick is sold new on Amazon, then matched each phone to the age group or family need its listed features suit best.
The best phones for kids right now
Bark Phone (Samsung Galaxy A16) - Best overall
The Bark Phone is a Samsung Galaxy A16 with Bark's monitoring built in. Bark says it scans texts, social media and online content and sends parents alerts for potential issues, so a parent can stay informed without reading every message. Its rules are described as tamper-proof, and parents manage the phone from their own Android or iOS device.
Bark also lists GPS location tracking and a driving lock that pauses the phone when it detects the child is in a moving vehicle. On the hardware side, Bark lists a 6.7-inch screen, 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, a 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging, a Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor, a 50MP triple-lens rear camera and IP54 water resistance. A Bark wireless plan is required to activate the phone.
Key highlights
- Samsung Galaxy A16 hardware
- Scans texts, social media and online content for potential issues
- Tamper-proof parental rules
- GPS location tracking and driving lock
- 6.7-inch screen, 4GB RAM, 128GB storage
- 5000mAh battery with 25W fast charging
Pros
- Monitoring covers texts, social media and online content in one place
- Rules are built to stay locked even if a child tries to change them
- Parents can manage it from either an Android phone or an iPhone
- Driving lock is a useful extra for teen drivers and passengers
Cons
- Requires a Bark wireless plan to activate
- IP54 water resistance, while the Bark Phone Pro on the same page is rated IP68
- 4GB of RAM, compared with 6GB on the Bark Phone Pro
Who it is for: Parents of tweens and teens who want broad monitoring and alerts on a full smartphone, managed from their own phone.
Skip if
You want to keep your current carrier, or you would rather block social media completely than monitor it.
Pinwheel Slim 6 - Best for younger kids
The Pinwheel Slim 6 is built for children who need a phone for calls, texts and approved apps, but not the open internet. Pinwheel says only approved numbers can call or text the child, and image texting can be allowed for some contacts and not others. It has no social media apps, no web browser by default and no adult apps.
Parents use Pinwheel's Caregiver Portal to set schedules that make the phone act like a basic phone during school and overnight, to see the child's location with alerts when they leave or arrive at a saved place, and to check app safety ratings before adding apps. Pinwheel lists a 6.5-inch HD+ display, a 50MP rear camera with Quad Pixel, 64GB of memory, 4GB of RAM and a 5000 mAh battery, and says the phone is compatible with all major carriers.
Key highlights
- Safelist so only approved numbers can call or text
- No social media apps, no adult apps and no web browser by default
- Schedules for school time and overnight
- Location with arrival and departure alerts
- 6.5-inch HD+ display and 50MP rear camera
- 64GB memory, 4GB RAM, 5000 mAh battery
Pros
- Tight contact control suits a first phone
- Social media is left out entirely rather than monitored
- Works with all major carriers, according to Pinwheel
- App safety ratings help parents decide what to allow
Cons
- Parental controls run through a Caregiver Portal subscription
- 64GB of memory, half the 128GB listed for the Bark Phone
- HD+ display is lower resolution than the FHD+ screens on the Galaxy A17 5G and A37 5G
Who it is for: Parents of younger kids who want a first phone limited to approved contacts and apps.
Skip if
Your child is an older teen who needs a web browser or social apps for school or friends.
Troomi Samsung Galaxy A17 5G - Best for curated apps
Troomi puts its own safety software on a Samsung Galaxy A17 5G. Parents use the Troomi Parent Portal to set limits, schedule downtime and view real-time GPS location. Troomi offers a curated app store of pre-approved apps, and its Smart Browser lets parents name approved website domains and block the rest. There are no social media apps.
Troomi also supports safelisting of approved phone numbers, email addresses and web domains, and parents can choose whether new contacts need approval. The underlying phone is Samsung's Galaxy A17 5G, which Samsung lists with a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display, a triple-camera array with OIS, IP54 protection from water and dust, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus. Troomi says a new line of service is required.
Key highlights
- Curated app store with pre-approved apps
- Smart Browser limited to approved website domains
- Safelisting for numbers, email addresses and web domains
- Real-time GPS location in the Parent Portal
- 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display (Samsung spec)
- IP54 protection and Gorilla Glass Victus (Samsung spec)
Pros
- Lets a child use the web, but only on sites a parent approves
- Pre-approved app store reduces guesswork for parents
- Contact approval can be loosened as a child gets older
- Larger, sharper screen than the Pinwheel Slim 6
Cons
- Requires a new line of service
- Troomi's own pages list few hardware specs
- IP54 covers splashes and dust, not submersion
Who it is for: Parents who want a child to have some apps and web access, but only from a list they control.
Skip if
You want monitoring of social media rather than a phone that leaves it out.
Samsung Galaxy A37 5G - Best for older teens
The Galaxy A37 5G is a standard Android phone for an older teen who is ready for more independence. Samsung lists a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display, a 5,000 mAh (typical) battery and Super Fast Charging 2.0 that reaches up to 60% in 30 minutes. It is rated IP68, which Samsung bases on lab tests of submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes.
The rear cameras are a 50 MP wide-angle, an 8 MP ultra wide and a 5 MP macro. Storage and memory vary by configuration: Samsung offers 128GB with 6GB of memory or 256GB with 8GB, and this listing is the 128GB model. Samsung supports the phone with up to six OS upgrades and up to six years of security updates. Samsung's product page does not list parental controls, so any limits would come from separate tools.
Key highlights
- 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display
- IP68 rating
- 5,000 mAh (typical) battery
- Super Fast Charging 2.0, up to 60% in 30 minutes
- 50 MP wide, 8 MP ultra wide and 5 MP macro rear cameras
- 128GB with 6GB memory or 256GB with 8GB, depending on model
Pros
- The only IP68 phone here
- Long software support suits a phone a teen will keep for years
- Fast charging helps between school and activities
- Large FHD+ screen for schoolwork and video
Cons
- No parental controls listed on Samsung's product page
- The 128GB model has 6GB of memory; 8GB needs the 256GB version
- Gives a teen far more freedom than the kid-focused picks here
Who it is for: Older teens who need a full smartphone with strong water resistance and long update support.
Skip if
You want built-in monitoring or locked-down controls without setting up separate tools.
Samsung Galaxy A17 5G - Best simple teen phone
The Galaxy A17 5G is the simpler Samsung choice for a teen who needs a regular phone. Samsung lists a 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display, a triple-camera array with OIS for steadier video and brighter night photos, IP54 protection from water and dust, and scratch defense from Corning Gorilla Glass Victus.
Samsung promises six OS upgrades and six years of security updates, counted from the date of global manufacture in Q3 2025 rather than from the date of purchase. This is the same Samsung hardware Troomi uses, without Troomi's safety software. Samsung's product page does not list parental controls.
Key highlights
- 6.7-inch FHD+ Super AMOLED display
- Triple-camera array with OIS
- IP54 protection from water and dust
- Corning Gorilla Glass Victus
- 6 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates
Pros
- Large 6.7-inch AMOLED screen
- Gorilla Glass Victus adds scratch defense
- Long update window for a lower-tier phone
- No kid-phone service required
Cons
- IP54 is a lower rating than the IP68 Galaxy A37 5G
- Update window starts from Q3 2025 manufacture, not purchase
- No parental controls listed on Samsung's product page
Who it is for: Teens who need a standard phone and parents who want a simple phone with long software support.
Skip if
You want locked-down controls built in; the Troomi version of this phone adds them.
How to Choose
- Match the phone to your child's age. Pinwheel and Troomi leave out social media apps, which suits younger kids. Bark scans social media and texts and sends alerts, which suits tweens and teens who need more room.
- Check the service requirement. Bark requires a Bark wireless plan and Troomi requires a new line of service. Pinwheel says the Slim 6 works with all major carriers, with controls handled through its Caregiver Portal.
- Look for controls a child cannot undo. Bark describes its rules as tamper-proof. On a standard phone, controls depend on the separate tools you set up.
- Confirm Family Link support on standard Android phones. Google says Family Link lets parents set app time limits, require approval for new apps and locate a child, and that it runs on certain Android devices. Check that your model is supported before you rely on it.
- Read the water rating. IP54 covers splashes and dust. The Galaxy A37 5G is rated IP68 for submersion in up to 1.5 meters of freshwater for up to 30 minutes in lab tests.
- Count the update years. Samsung lists six years of security updates for the Galaxy A17 5G and A37 5G, which matters for a phone that will be handed down or kept for years.
FAQ
What makes a kids phone different from a regular phone?
Kid-focused phones such as Bark, Pinwheel and Troomi come with parental controls built in, such as approved contacts, app approval, location tracking and limits on social media. A regular phone like the Galaxy A37 5G has none of this listed on its product page, so controls have to be added separately.
Do kids phones need a special plan?
Some do. Bark requires a Bark wireless plan to activate its phone, and Troomi requires a new line of service. Pinwheel says the Slim 6 is compatible with all major carriers.
Can I see where my child is?
Yes, on each kid-focused pick. Bark lists GPS location tracking, Troomi shows real-time GPS location in its Parent Portal, and Pinwheel shows location on its Caregiver Portal dashboard with alerts for arrivals and departures at saved places.
Do these phones allow social media?
Pinwheel and Troomi say their phones have no social media apps. Bark takes a different approach: it scans social media along with texts and online content and alerts parents to potential issues.
Can I manage a Bark Phone from an iPhone?
Yes. Bark says parents can manage their child's Bark Phone from the parent's Android or iOS device.
Published November 11, 2026 Last updated November 11, 2026
Add Technobezz on Google:Preferred SourceGoogle Discover
More on phones
Deal
Samsung Galaxy S26 FE Phone sees price cut to $599.99
Buying guide
5 Best Foldable Phones in 2026
Buying guide
7 Best Smartphones in 2026
Buying guide
7 Best Samsung Phones in 2026
More buying guides
Buying guide5 Best Emergency Radios in 2026Buying guide6 Best Short Throw Projectors in 2026Buying guide5 Best Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combos 2026Buying guide7 Best Laptops for Video Editing in 2026Buying guide5 Best Laptops for Engineering Students in 2026Buying guideTop 6 High-End Laptops for 2026Buying guide6 Best Pet Cameras in 2026Buying guide7 Best Wi-Fi 7 Routers in 2026