The best Android phones for kids in 2018

In the current high-tech setup, having a smartphone around your kids can be very useful and helpful to any parent out there. We all know how powerful smartphones have become, but this also comes at a steep cost. Given that kids cannot be trusted to never lose these gadgets, handing them an expensive phone can also be a huge risk. Still, this doesn’t mean you can’t get them a good phone.

The best Android phones for kids come in basically all shapes and sizes, something that makes it hard to pick the right one. In this post, we hope to help you have an easier task when shopping for the most little family member, but keep in mind that this post is targeting kids that can already handle these gadgets without any problems.

Related:

• The best Android phones below $100
• The best Android phones under $300
• The best Android One phones to buy

Xiaomi Redmi 6 and Redmi 6A

The first thing you’ll most likely consider when shopping for a smartphone for your kid is the price, mainly because you’ll probably be back shopping for a replacement for whatever reason sooner than later. With this in mind, you’ll want to get your son or daughter a well-built smartphone that can still handle the expected rough treatment while at the same time providing you with a great way of getting hold of them whenever you need them, even if it means through LTE calls.

With either of the Xiaomi Redmi 6 or Redmi 6A, you can hardly go wrong. First is you don’t have to break the bank to grab one. Second is you get a quality build and good enough hardware for optimum performance, even when gaming. These phones also promise a longer battery life, going for a full day on a single charge with significant usage or even two days on moderate usage.

Since the Redmi 6 is a little superior in terms of specs and features, it’s also a little costlier at about $180 (INR 7,999). Though, if paying the extra $30 or so isn’t part of your plans, settling for the $85 (INR 5,999) Redmi 6A won’t be a mistake either.

Specs

Note that the Redmi 6A is not yet available in most markets outside India, but once we get the details, we’ll update this post with purchase links for various regions.

→ Buy Redmi 6: India | USA | UK | Europe
→ Buy Redmi 6A: India

Huawei Honor 7X/Honor 9 Lite/Honor 9N

Huawei’s Honor division has a lot to offer for the kids. The huge selection of Honor phones and their affordable price tags make up for a great experience. But of course, you won’t be walking home with all available options.

From where we are seated, the Huawei Honor 7X is one handy phone that you can’t go wrong with. Although it has been around for a while, it’s one phone that offers great value for money and your kid will definitely like it from the onset. Even better is that the Honor 7X is easily available in the U.S. and a host of other markets across Europe and India as well. For those who wished to take advantage of carrier family plans, this is not the device to buy. Otherwise, the 7X is a great budget phone to buy for your kid.

Specs

• 5.93-inch FHD+ LCD display
• Kirin 659 chipset
• 3GB or 4GB RAM
• 32GB or 64GB expandable storage
• Dual16MP + 2MP main camera
• 8MP front camera
• 3340mAh battery
• Android 7.0 Nougat, upgradable to Oreo 8.0

→ Buy Honor 7X: USA | UK | Europe | India

Alternatively, especially for those in India, you can grab either of the Huawei Honor 9 Lite or Huawei Honor 9N. While the former has proven time and again that it’s one of the budget phones to beat, be it in terms of design, performance, or even photography, the latter rides on the back of the fact that it’s the newest kid on the block. The device also focuses on selfie performance, something you kid might enjoy. You should also find it great for video calling purposes.

In India, the Honor 9N has a price tag of INR 11,999 for the entry-level model while the slightly older Honor 9 Lite is currently valued at INR 10,999, but the problem is getting hold of one. If you can, though, there won’t be much to regret.

Specs

→ Buy Honor 9 Lite: USA | India
→ Buy Honor 9N: India

Moto E5 Play

Motorola’s latest budget phone is the Moto E5 Play and with its dirty cheap price tag, it essentially fits perfectly as one of the best Android phones for kids. Typically, the Moto E series is known for offering solid hardware and great stock-ish software on a budget and in the Moto E5 Play, you get exactly that.

Although the Moto E5 Play doesn’t include waterproofing, Motorola says the phone is coated with a water-repellent material that protects it against minor splashes. Even better is that it can be purchased via a handful of American carriers, meaning it can be added to family plans. In the U.S., the Moto E5 Play is as low as $70, but the price varies depending on where you get one. There’s no Moto Z5 Play in India, but the standard Moto E5 is available priced at INR 10,149.

Specs

• 5.2-inch HD LCD display
• Snapdragon 425 chipset
• 2GB RAM
• 16GB expandable storage
• 8MP main camera
• 5MP front camera
• 2800mAh battery
• Android 8.0 Oreo

Buy Moto E5 Play: USA | UK 

LG Stylo 4 (LG Q Stylus)

Folks in the U.S. will know this one as the LG Stylo 4, but in other parts of the world, it’s known as the LG Q Stylus. This is the best Android phone for kids that want a big screen on which to draw stuff with the help of the stylus. You don’t have to spend $1000 on the Galaxy Note 9 when it arrives so as to give your kid this experience.

In addition to giving your kid a great device to play around with, the LG Stylo 4 is also great a phone that can handle just about everything that’s thrown at it, including playing games and making video calls. But we all agree that it’s the presence of the stylus that makes the LG Q Stylus such a great device for kids.

Specs

• 6.2-inch FHD+ LCD display
• Snapdragon 450 chipset
• 3GB RAM
• 32GB expandable storage
• 13MP main camera
• 5MP front camera
• 3300mAh battery
• Android 8.1 Oreo

Buy LG Stylo 4 (LG Q Stylus): USA | UK

Nokia 2.1

There’s no denying that Android Go-powered Nokia 1 is a great phone for kids, but given the insignificant price differences and the massive hardware differences between the phone and its counterpart, the Nokia 2.1, there’s really no point of skipping the latter in favor of the former.

The Nokia 2.1 picks up from where its predecessor left off, coming in with front-facing speakers that kids playing games should love while retaining the big battery that highlighted the OG Nokia 2. The raw power is also way better than both the Nokia 2 and Nokia 1 and the fact that the device will be receiving regular software updates is an added advantage for your kid.

Like most phones on this list, the Nokia 2.1 shouldn’t cost you a fortune, where the device goes for about $120 in most markets. In India, you can have it for INR 6,999, which amounts to just $100.

Specs

• 5.5-inch HD LCD display
• Snapdragon 425 chipset
• 1GB RAM
• 8GB expandable storage
• 8MP main camera
• 5MP front camera
• 4000mAh battery
• Android 8.1 Oreo (Go edition)

Buy Nokia 2.1: USA | UK | Europe | India

Wrapping up 

As already pointed out, shopping for a new smartphone for the most little person in your family can be hectic. One thing we’d advice is that if you have an old phone lying around in the house, you can as well juice it up and make it your son or daughter’s new phone rather than getting a brand new one.

Did you like our picks? If there’s any other kid-friendly Android phone out there, feel free to hit us up with the details via the comments section below.