Buying guide
Best First Phone for Kids in Canada (2026): 5 Safe, Affordable Picks
The best first phones for kids and teens: cheap, durable, updated for years, and easy to control with Screen Time or Family Link.
The best first phone for most kids in Canada is a refurbished iPhone SE (3rd gen) if your family uses Apple, or a Samsung Galaxy A16 5G if you want Android. Both cost a fraction of a new flagship, get years of software updates and work with free parental controls: Screen Time on iPhone and Google Family Link on Android. For a teen, step up to the iPhone 13 or Pixel 8a.
Find the right first phone in 3 taps
iPhone or Android?
How old is your child?
What matters most?
Our picks
- 4.7"small screen
- Touch IDhome button
- IP67water resistant
Buy it if your child is 8 to 12, wants an iPhone, and you want the smallest, simplest one with a home button.
Skip it if they watch a lot of video or play games. The small screen and battery come up short.
Why we picked it
It is the easiest iPhone to hand a younger kid: small enough for small hands, a familiar home button, and the same A15 Bionic chip as the iPhone 13, so it stays fast. It runs iOS 27, so Screen Time, Family Sharing and Ask to Buy all work.
- 6.7"big screen
- 5000 mAhbattery
- 6 yearsof updates
Buy it if you want the lowest price on a new-generation phone with a big screen, a big battery and years of updates.
Skip it if you want water resistance for the pool or rain. IP54 handles splashes only.
Why we picked it
Samsung promises six Android upgrades and security updates until at least October 2030 for the A16 5G, which is rare at this price. The 5000 mAh battery easily lasts a school day, and Google Family Link handles app approvals, screen time and location.
- 6.1"OLED screen
- Face IDunlock
- IP68water resistant
Buy it if your teen wants a modern-looking iPhone with Face ID and a full-size screen on a budget.
Skip it if battery life matters most. The iPhone 13 lasts noticeably longer.
Why we picked it
A full-size iPhone with an OLED screen, Face ID, Ceramic Shield front glass and IP68 water resistance. It runs iOS 27, and it looks like the iPhones their friends have.
- 6.1"OLED screen
- A15chip
- IP68water resistant
Buy it if it is for a teen who will use it for school, photos and games for the next few years.
Skip it if the budget is tight. The iPhone SE (3rd gen) or Galaxy A16 5G cost less.
Why we picked it
The iPhone 13 has the same A15 Bionic chip as the SE, in a full-size phone with better cameras and longer battery life than the iPhone 12. It is the safest long-term iPhone pick for a teen at a used price.
- 7 yearsof updates
- IP67water resistant
- 120Hzscreen
Buy it if you want an Android phone that gets updates until 2031 and can be handed down later.
Skip it if you want the lowest possible price. The Galaxy A16 5G costs less.
Why we picked it
Google gives the Pixel 8a seven years of Android and security updates, the longest on this list. It has a great camera for the price, IP67 water resistance and Family Link built right in.
Compare the picks
| Phone | Screen | Unlock | Water resistance | Port | Updates | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone SE (3rd gen) | 4.7-inch LCD | Touch ID | IP67 | Lightning | Runs iOS 27 | $249.99 |
| Samsung Galaxy A16 5G | 6.7-inch AMOLED, 90Hz | Side fingerprint | IP54 | USB-C | Until at least Oct 2030 | $219.99 |
| iPhone 12 | 6.1-inch OLED | Face ID | IP68 | Lightning | Runs iOS 27 | $319.99 |
| iPhone 13 | 6.1-inch OLED | Face ID | IP68 | Lightning | Runs iOS 27 | $419.99 |
| Google Pixel 8a | 6.1-inch OLED, 120Hz | Fingerprint, Face Unlock | IP67 | USB-C | 7 years (to 2031) | $349.99 |
Update support: iOS 27 supports iPhone 11 and later, including iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd gen). Samsung promises Galaxy A16 5G updates until at least October 2030. Google promises 7 years of updates for the Pixel 8a from its 2024 launch. Checked October 21, 2026.
What to look for in a kid's first phone
- Parental controls that work. iPhone uses Screen Time and Family Sharing (app limits, Ask to Buy, Communication Limits, location sharing). Android uses Google Family Link (app approvals, screen time, location).
- Years of updates. Security updates matter more on a kid's phone than on yours. Every pick here is still supported.
- A price you will not cry over. First phones get dropped. A refurbished phone in Fair or Good grade works 100% and costs less. Our grades only describe looks.
- Durability. Water resistance (IP67 or IP68) survives a drop in the sink. Add a case on day one.
- Unlocked. So you can put it on the cheapest plan or a family add-on line. Read what an unlocked phone is.
Protect it. Grab a case, and consider SmartCare+: for phones under $250 it is $59.99 for a year and covers drops, cracked screens and spills, with repairs from $69.99. Every phone already has a warranty of 90 days to 1 year, depending on grade. SmartCare+ is not available in Québec.
How to set up parental controls
- On your iPhone, open Settings, tap your name, then Family, and add your child (create an Apple Account for them if they are under 13).
- Turn on Ask to Buy so app downloads and purchases need your OK.
- In Screen Time, set Downtime, App Limits and Content and Privacy Restrictions.
- Set Communication Limits so they can only contact people you approve.
- Turn on location sharing in Find My.
- Install Google Family Link on your phone.
- Create or add your child's Google Account during setup of their phone.
- Set app approvals, daily screen time limits and a bedtime.
- Turn on location to see where the phone is.
- On Samsung, you can also use Digital Wellbeing and parental controls in Settings.
What age should a kid get a phone?
There is no single right age. Many families start with a phone around the move to middle school, when kids travel on their own. What matters more than age is setting rules together: where the phone sleeps at night, when it is off during homework, and which apps are allowed. Parental controls make those rules stick.
Questions people ask
What is the best first phone for a kid in Canada?
A refurbished iPhone SE (3rd gen) for Apple families, or a Samsung Galaxy A16 5G for Android. For teens, the iPhone 13 or Google Pixel 8a.
What is the cheapest good phone for a kid?
The Samsung Galaxy A16 5G and the iPhone SE (3rd gen) are the lowest-priced picks here that still get years of updates. See today's prices in the table above, or browse the best phones under $300.
Should I buy my kid an iPhone or Android?
Match the rest of the family. If parents use iPhones, an iPhone makes Family Sharing, Screen Time and location sharing easy. If you use Android, Family Link is excellent and the phones cost less.
Is a refurbished phone OK for a child?
Yes. A refurbished phone works like new and costs much less, which matters for a phone that might get dropped or lost. Ours come with up to a 1-year warranty, at least 80% battery health and 14-day returns.
Does the iPhone SE (3rd gen) still get updates?
Yes. It runs iOS 27, the current version of iOS.
How long will the Galaxy A16 5G get updates?
Samsung promises six Android OS upgrades and security updates until at least October 2030.
Can I control what my kid does on their phone?
Yes. Screen Time on iPhone and Google Family Link on Android let you approve apps, set time limits and bedtimes, filter content and see the phone's location. Both are free.
Should I get my kid a smartwatch instead?
For younger kids, a cellular watch can be a good first step for calls and location. See which Apple Watch to buy.
Want more options? See the best phones in Canada, which iPhone to buy and which Samsung to buy.
Évitez le prix du neuf
Procurez-vous le iPhone SE (3e génération) d'occasion à partir de $249.99, testé par de vrais techniciens, avec une garantie d'un an et des retours sous 14 jours.
