Buying a mobile phone for my 11 year old son - advice required please

grumbler

geek84 wrote: »

Any further advice would be much appreciated.

You have not answered the questions asked in the post #2.
You have not said what you want and why you don't like the advices given so far.

What do you expect? There are hundreds of phones that can "take photos".
The cheapest start from £15ish.
The most expensive are £600+.

anonymousie

Pay as you go and IMHO turn the internet off.

He has no need at 11 for portable net access. He has access at school and no doubt a home PC to use.

Don't let the cyber bullies get into his home and his bedroom, or let him be sucked into these activities. 11 is very young to resist peer pressure etc

If he has net access he WILL look at all sorts of stuff that you don't want him too.

You also need to discuss with him the inadvisability of taking/sending inappropriate images- be it happy slapping or topless girls - yes you can discuss topless girls with an 11yr old boy honest....

My 16yr old has a samsung galaxy y. It's a neat, effective " pared down smart phone" . He loves it for what it can do. He knows it's not a " fashion statement" phone, but it's also not a mugger magnet.(cost £89, running a £5/month giffgaff goody bag)

adamc260

Stay away from contract.. kids/teenagers don't really get the concept of money (at least in my opinion) and a contract phone opens up the chance for them to run up a huge bill. On PAYG at least when it runs out.. it runs out!

Im_just_careful

If he is anything like my son (now 13) then a cheap smart phone on PAYG would be my choice.

The Nokia Lumia 710 is excellent for the cost at Carphone Warehouse.

Otherwise a cheap Android.

For pure data, PAYG on T-Mobile with their 6 month £20 deal is hard to beat.

Having said that, my son's school doesn't allow phones at school or on journeys to and from school and I think that is an excellent rule.

He has a cheapish feature phone (having lost the previous one in a 100 yard journey some how) but would like a smart phone.

geek84

Hi folks
Hi Folks

Many thanks for your kind replies.

I have decided to give him my old handset and put him on PAYG for the time being.

Once again, thank you all for your advice.

T_T_2

geek84 wrote: »

Hi folks
Hi Folks

Many thanks for your kind replies.

I have decided to give him my old handset and put him on PAYG for the time being.

Once again, thank you all for your advice.

Well done for opting for the PAYG option, you won't regret it! Out of interest, what was your old handset and was your son happy enough with this?