Phone suggestion for my kid?

[Black Panther]

So I promised her that if she gets good marks in her finals I'll get her a phone. She would like something which looks adult and 'pro' but wouldn't mind if it's pink or purple...

Basically I don't know whether to get her a proper branded phone, or buy her something like this one (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/3-2-touch-screen-dual-sim-dual-network-standby-quadband-gsm-tv-cell-phone-w-wi-fi-java-black-59396).

She isn't keen on a brand, she just wants a good-looking kinky phone with a good camera and music.

Which brand and model would you suggest if you think it's better to get a branded one?
What do you think of all the phones at the dealextreme link above? Would it make more sense to get her one from there since it'd have more functions at a lower price?

[Frick]

There's only knockoffs on that page?

[theJesus]

Your daughter wants a kinky phone?

[Bundy]

She would like something which looks adult and 'pro' but wouldn't mind if it's pink or purple...

She is the same as all kids. She also may find the non brand phone unreliable, and/or have the branded one stolen or lost. I understand you want to reward her but I'd give her one of your old phones for a while, until you can be sure she will look after it properly.

[theJesus]

How old is she anyways? I don't really think younger kids need smart-phones.

[Black Panther]

There's only knockoffs on that page?

I'm not sure what 'knockoffs' mean :confused: I bought some stuff from there but nothing really expensive, like this (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/motion-activated-6-led-illumination-lamp-3156), and this (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/1-2-lcd-non-contact-digital-infrared-thermometer-with-laser-sight-50-c-380-c-35754), and this (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/multi-color-usb-glitter-decorative-mood-lamp-11129)...

Your daughter wants a kinky phone?

And darn the language barrier, by kinky I meant if the got glitters or shines or has weird funky functions or has the shape of Justin Bieber's face (ugh)... the more the merrier.. for her

How old is she anyways? I don't really think younger kids need smart-phones.

She's 9, all the time running around with her nintendo (which was much more expensive than what I budget for this phone). Would you suggest some Nokia, LG or Samsung or should I go for a generic $60 from that site?

[theJesus]

I'm not sure what 'knockoffs' mean :confused: I bought some stuff from there but nothing really expensive, like this (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/motion-activated-6-led-illumination-lamp-3156), and this (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/1-2-lcd-non-contact-digital-infrared-thermometer-with-laser-sight-50-c-380-c-35754), and this (http://www.dealextreme.com/p/multi-color-usb-glitter-decorative-mood-lamp-11129)...
"knockoffs" are copies or clones of brand-name stuff
And darn the language barrier, by kinky I meant if the got glitters or shines or has weird funky functions or has the shape of Justin Bieber's face (ugh)... the more the merrier.. for her
lol, here I was thinking whips and handcuffs

[theJesus]

She's 9, all the time running around with her nintendo (which was much more expensive than what I budget for this phone). Would you suggest some Nokia, LG or Samsung or should I go for a generic $60 from that site?
9? Just give her whatever basic phone comes for free with adding a line to your plan.

[sttubs]

I'm not sure which to get, but avoid the LG Chocolate or any other phone that you type with the touch screen. I believe the slide out keyboards are more durable. My daughter is on her 4th LG Chocolate because of screen failure and it's less than a year old, Verizon will only replace it with the one she has, at least till August 2012 then I can get her a different model.

[DaveK]

I got my first phone when I was like 11 or something, but I never used a phone that much until I was 12. Even then I went through like 3 crappy phones that I never used much. Just buy whatever cheap but somewhat decent Nokia you can at a store that's like €50-100 or something.

It's a little different with me, I had a high end smartphone as my first real phone but because it was an N-Gage it was only €99 compared to the €400-500 prices of other high end phones so I got lucky. It was basically the Galaxy S or iPhone 4 of its time, but without a camera :)

[MRCL]

Get her a Samsung touch screen phone from the previous generations. Fairly cheap meanwhile, but still fairly decent. Samsung makes great camera phones, and music is within every phone anyway so.

Just brake down the fact that without either Android or iOS installed, she won't be able to play Angry Birds and the like.

[Black Panther]

Angry Birds' no problem.
Though most of her playmates have their own phones, they obviously don't have anything latest tech.

My difficulty lies in whether I should spend €60 to get her a branded phone, or whether I should spend the same amount to get her an unbranded one but with lots more kinky cool features..

[infanrtry18]

I'd say get her the unbranded one with more kinky features :P She is 9. I don't think she will be too concerned on the brand if it has cool stuff for her to do. But then again she is your kid so...I don't know her at all lol.

[btarunr]

See if you have Dell XCD28 (http://www.dell.com/in/p/mobile-xcd28/pd.aspx) in your area. It's a sweet little Android phone in the $150~$200 range (w/o contract).

[cheesy999]

Get her a Samsung touch screen phone from the previous generations. Fairly cheap meanwhile, but still fairly decent. Samsung makes great camera phones, and music is within every phone anyway so.

Just brake down the fact that without either Android or iOS installed, she won't be able to play Angry Birds and the like.

Don't, As an owner of a previous gen samsung touchscreen i can tell you that it will irritate whoever buys it a lot through lag and general slowness, and if your buying this for a 9 year old it will get thrown down the stairs the first time it does something like that

[Black Panther]

See if you have Dell XCD28 (http://www.dell.com/in/p/mobile-xcd28/pd.aspx) in your area. It's a sweet little Android phone in the $150~$200 range (w/o contract).

Looks sweet but it's way over my budget for her - she's young, and wants the phone more for bragging reasons (on the other hand I do want it for her so that in summer I can call her and know at which friend's boathouse she'd be in since all kids here run around each other's homes in summer here!

Lol we'd have kids playing with mine here; someone's phone starts ringing and "OK mummy, I was at Janet's but then we went to Kimberley's place, now we're playing in Mary's front patio"... without saying Mary's front patio would be 300 ft further up the coast... :rolleyes:)

They need a phone in summer. Either that or we could micro-chip them :D

I was looking at around $85... max $115.

[twilyth]

Here you go. A wrist watch cell phone with bluetooth and a built in spy cam. How's that for bragging rights - and under $100.

http://www.china-phone.org/cheap-mq988-sports-wrist-watch-cell-phone-quad-band-spy-camera-15-inch-touch-screen-mwt1018-p-1193.html?zenid=k2uhg77ephtkpjaf85nul9o555

http://img862.imageshack.us/img862/5503/175dfc1f9ca1a7f9b7ec294.jpg

You can find one's that are more girly. Just google shop for 'wrist cell phone'

[btarunr]

Looks sweet but it's way over my budget for her - she's young, and wants the phone more for bragging reasons (on the other hand I do want it for her so that in summer I can call her and know at which friend's boathouse she'd be in since all kids here run around each other's homes in summer here!

I'm not sure if giving a 5~10 year old a showy phone is a good idea. It would be encouraging her to pick form over function (ofc she doesn't know the 'function', but that's a different argument :)). Getting her started on Android would be great. That phone even packs a stylus, so it's easy to pick up, there's a lot in that phone that will serve as good tools. And of course there are plenty of games including SNES and SEGA MD emulators.

[DaMulta]

I think you should be a good mom, and get her a droid X 2

http://www.specsgadgetrelease.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Motorola-Droid-X2.jpg

http://www.specsgadgetrelease.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/New-Motorola-Droid-X2.jpg

[theJesus]

I still say just give her whatever cheap POS comes with the plan. She's 9 years old, she shouldn't need much. FFS, I didn't have a phone 'til I was 18 and I still have a cheap POS. It's there to make and receive calls.

[Black Panther]

I still say just give her whatever cheap POS comes with the plan.

Thing is I've got her number already, because with my plan they gave me 2 numbers, and I need only one. It wouldn't be worth buying another plan to get a free phone over here.

Btw, she knows how to use nearly all functions of my own LG Arena, she's quite technologically literate.


Edit: Lol at the first Android which popped up on ebay search! (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/A3000-Android-Dual-Sim-WiFi-Touch-Screen-Mobile-Phone-/270742125235?pt=UK_Mobile_Phones&hash=item3f097cfab3) (▲)

[theJesus]

Meh, I still say get her a cheapo phone and if she takes good care of it then get something nicer.

[de.das.dude]

lol. im more than twice her age and i use a 1100 :D

[jmcslob]

I use an LG 200 or something....a basic no extra function phone...I already got steady A$$ (married) I don't text more than 6x a month, I hate talking on phones and uhm I don't think they are advanced enough yet....When I can play Crysis on my phone or 18 months from now I'll get a nice one until then whatever..

I would get her a cheap phone to start...Your basic durable flip phone..and when she shows she can take care of it move on to a nicer Quick messaging phone in the 85 euro price range...

[remixedcat]

I just hate how disposable phones are you get it and it's allready obsolete and you don't even have enough time to really enjoy your phone cuase you get caught up in the craze and you can't relax enough. it's gotten pretty bad.

the biggest gripe I have is how the data plans have gotten worse... no more 20 dollar unlimited plans there all only like 2 or 3GB/mo and you pay like 60-80 bucks. you burn through that 2 or 3GB in less then a week with casual use. I'd burn through it in a day or two.

[DanTheBanjoman]

Nine year olds don't need phones. Give her a doll instead.

[theJesus]

I just hate how disposable technology is you get it and it's allready obsolete and you don't even have enough time to really enjoy your phone cuase you get caught up in the craze and you can't relax enough. it's gotten pretty bad.
Fixed that for you.
Nine year olds don't need phones. Give her a doll instead.
Agreed, except maybe for emergency only usage.

[de.das.dude]

Fixed that for you.

Agreed, except maybe for emergency only usage.


emergency only. its still faster to shout for help.

[theJesus]

emergency only. its still faster to shout for help.
Yeah, if somebody is there to hear you.

[twilyth]

that's why I suggested a wrist band cell phone. you never have to worry about her misplacing it and they all have builtin speakers so you don't need an ear piece or bluetooth to use it.

There are plenty of more feminine models to choose from if you look. The only downside is that they are a bit bulky, especially for a young child, but IIRC, some also come with a necklace mount.

The other downside is battery life. I got one of those a couple of years ago and it could go for about a day on standby but came with an extra battery you could switch out. I'm sure the most current models are a little better on battery life.

Even adults have trouble keeping track of their phones so I wouldn't give a child more than a couple of weeks before it was lost or damaged.

[Wile E]

Nine year olds don't need phones. Give her a doll instead.

My thoughts exactly. I just got my kids phones this year. They are 15 and 16 yo. The phones are crappy texting phones. No smart phones here. They pay for them by doing chores. The phones are essentially their allowance.

As for emergencies and cell phones, in the US, all cell phones will dial emergency services (911), even if they are deactivated or have no service plan.

[de.das.dude]

Yeah, if somebody is there to hear you.

my bad, i forgot it wasnt phoolbagan.
my place, its like a party 24*7.
theres people all the time :D

[Kurosagi]

Any Nokia phone,most Nokia phone are tough to be destroyed from drops,Nokia build quality is one of the best from my experience.

[xfire]

http://www.gsmarena.com/alcatel_ot_808-reviews-3186.php

I wouldn't go with unbranded cause they have bad build quality. Nokia's are known to be most durable.

[de.das.dude]

nokia def for a kid, not sony or samsung, them two have the wrost build quality, you drop em and they poop.

[DaveK]

nokia def for a kid, not sony or samsung, them two have the wrost build quality, you drop em and they poop.

I haven't had any problems with my Galaxy S, and that's pretty much all cheap plastic and I drop it a lot. It also has a Gorilla Glass screen which is virtually unbreakable, not sure about their cheaper models though but their cheaper models have terrible screens. They pretty much turn negative if viewed from beside the person holding the phone. Never had a problem with my old cheapo Sony Ericsson K610i either, and that cost €99.

Nokia hands down though, even my N95 8GB held up well after multiple drops and even against being thrown at the wall.

[Kurosagi]

The older gen Sony Ericsson and a few Samsung phones are actually tough plastic from drops. My brother had D600 and a Genio Touch and dropped them many times. They still work with chip off plastic.
But being a Nokia user for years until recently i find Nokia being toughest phone i have ever owned compared to my sony ericsson w380i and k800i.
I have mostly owned Nokia phones aswell until i switched to sony ericsson then nokia again then now my well...so called blackberry torch.