There aren't many smartphones tailor-made for children. You may question why and the answer is simple. Mobile phones are distracting and can be a gateway to naughty stuff on the internet. Thus, most manufacturers have concentrated on feature phones, especially for younger kids. However, if you're looking to get your kid a smartphone, we've rounded up some of the most legitimate choices available.
As a parent, I know this to be true. Children can be irresponsible and if you get them a high-end smartphone, be prepared for them to lose or break it. So try and spend as little as you can on the phone or get them a tough one. Regardless, we took a look at what we have on the Malaysian market. Teenagers are a different story but we've tried our best to list something for everyone.
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Sony's new flagship model, the Xperia XZ2, comes with all the high-end features you would expect from their top of the line model. This includes NFC, Bluetooth 5.0 and wireless charging capabilities.
Regardless of these features, where the XZ2 truly stands out is in the music department where support for LDAC and Hi-Res audio, and the newly designed speakers are touted to be 20% louder than those on other phones, making the XZ2's music playing capabilities a level higher than other smartphones.
In most cases, you would want to use earphones as other people around you may not be so appreciative of your music. Anyhow, the music pumped through a pair of good earphones is just as good. If you have a child who loves their music, this smartphone may be just right for them.
If you're searching for a super cheap Android phone for your kid, then the Leagoo Z6 may interest you. For a sub-RM200 phone, the specs are considerably respectable including a Quad Core processor, 1GB of RAM, 8GB of ROM, Dual Sim, 5MP Rear and 2MP front Camera, and a relatively large 5.0-inch FWVGA Screen.
Memory can also be expanded via an external micro SD card slot, and the phone battery should last for at least 8 hours. All in all, great for students, giving them enough power to do their homework but not sufficient enough to play heavy games.
Until the Asus ROG Phone is introduced to the Malaysian market, the MOTO Z2 Force Dual remains the king when it comes to gaming phones. The Z2 comes with a high-quality shatterproof Quad HD display which your kid can't destroy even in bouts of game rage.
Under the hood, the phone is powered by the latest Snapdragon 835 chipset which was tailored to play the latest games. There are also 12MP cameras on both front and rear. Best of all, the Z2 Force can be fitted with the Moto GamePad mod which turns the phone into an actual console with two analog sticks, a D-pad and lots of other shiny buttons to press.
The physical controls change the whole gaming experience and bring it on par with the latest consoles. So if you want to satisfy your kid before the ROG Phone is released, the Moto Z2 Force is the phone you'd want.
Samsung's mid-range Galaxy A6 Plus' primarily metal construction makes it feel more like a premium phone than a mid-range one. It features the extra large infinity display at 6 inches which fills up the front of the phone. Under the hood is a Snapdragon 450 1.8GHz processor and 4GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage. Sadly, this phone does not feature NFC.
But the real talking point is the A6 Plus' cameras where there's a 16 MP rear camera which is acceptable for a mid-range phone and get this, a large 24MP front camera equipped with illuminator LED flash just like the rear.
So clearly, if you have a kid who loves to take selfies, this phone would be just right as the front 24MP camera in combo with the infinity display brings selfie shots to a whole new level.
Compared to the P10, the Huawei P10 plus is a huge upgrade in terms of features. The first noticeable difference is the larger 5.5-inch QHD, followed by an upgraded camera and a diamond cut finish. The main selling feature of the P10 plus is the dual sensor Leica rear camera which takes outstanding photos and videos with a 20-megapixel sensor.
The camera is able to collect more light than most other smartphone cameras, making it great even in low light conditions, and the phone is powered by a Kirin 960 processor with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. If your child seems to be on their way to being the next Steven Spielberg, the P10 plus may be just right to hone their filmmaking skills.
The Samsung Galaxy J1 Ace is an entry-level smartphone which is equipped with adequate hardware to do just about anything your child needs to do. With a decent 4.3 inch super AMOLED display, 1.3 GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and 8 GB of built-in memory expandable via micro SD card, the phone can run most new apps right out of the box.
The 5MP autofocus rear camera comes with a flash for night pictures, and there's even a 2MP front camera for selfies and video calls. The smaller size of the J1 Ace also makes it easier for children to use. All in all, great value for your money.
If you feel like your child may wreck their phone outdoors, perhaps what you should consider getting them is a rugged outdoor phone. The AGM A8 outdoor smartphone delivers as promised.
A waterproof (up to 1m) and dustproof phone with a sturdy HD 5-inch display and a high capacity battery, the dual sim phone sports two cameras - a rear 13MP camera and a secondary 2MP front camera. Performance of the cameras may not be exceptionally great, but the rest of the package delivers and is especially suited for kids who engage in lots of outdoor activities.
The Ulefone Armor 2 Rugged phone is undoubtedly tough. With an IP68 certified body designed to handle shocks, drops, water and dust, your child will have a tough time ruining this phone. Sporting a 5 inch HD display, it runs on a MediaTek Helio 2.6GHz processor, P25 Octa Core GPU with 6GB of RAM to deliver powerful performance.
In terms of cameras, a 16MP camera on the rear and an 8MP camera on the front delivers excellent quality pictures. A built-in optical fingerprint scanner also ensures that the phone is rendered useless if stolen.
Disclaimer: The pricing shown is just a good indication of how much these products are worth. The prices could change based on the e-commerce promotions that are going on. If some of the products are not available, do email us at [email protected]. Thank you!