So, it’s time for a student to head back to school. For some, back-to-school shopping might include the purchase of a new, even first, phone. The back-to-school season is the perfect time to pick one up. Most carriers and retailers offer discounts on both devices and service plans in the weeks leading up to the new school year, some even rolling into early September. If you’re planning to buy a new phone for your student, now is the time. But then comes the decision: which phone should you get?
We have rounded up a selection of great smartphones for students, for various reasons. There’s an option to fit the right budget, age range, and use cases. You’ll be pleased with any of these devices for your student.
Google Pixel 9: Best Affordable Premium Phone for Older Students
The newest Pixel phone, Google is known for offering premium features for value pricing, which is music to any parents’ ears. And the Google Pixel 9 is no exception. The most affordable of the new line, it boasts impressive specs to keep up with a student’s day-to-day needs, including a large 6.3-inch display, 12GB RAM, and up to 256GB storage (go with the most storage). The 24+ hour battery life is a necessity for busy students, along with the option to flip it to Extreme Battery Saver mode to get up to 100 hours in a pinch. With lots of built-in security features, including Google VPN, along with seven years of OS and security updates, this phone will last all through high school and beyond, or through an entire college or university run. When it comes to bang for your buck, you can’t beat a Google Pixel phone. Pricing starts at $1,099.
Apple iPhone 15 Pro: Best Apple Phone for Students
If your student wants an Apple Phone, you’ll probably be looking for the best deals. With the iPhone 16 likely launching in September or October, you can already find some good deals on the now current generation iPhone 15. You’ll want to go with the iPhone 15 Pro for a student because it will support all the new AI features coming with Apple Intelligence via iOS 18. Plus, it’s the first Apple phone series to use USB-C versus Lightning connection. This model also offers MagSafe charging for use with wireless chargers along with a wide selection of useful MagSafe accessories. Ones students will love include everything from phone grips to tripod attachments, and portable power banks. The iPhone 15 Pro is more expensive than you might want to spend on a student, starting at $1,449. But with the right back-to-school deal, trade-in, or payment plan through a carrier, you can find plenty of great back-to-school deals on this device. Ideally, hold out until the new phones are presumably announced next month and you might see even deeper discounts.
OnePlus 12R: Best Value Android Phone for Students
The OnePlus 12 is one of my favourite Android phones (though I’m primarily an iPhone user) and the OnePlus 12R is a great variant for students, offered at a fraction of the cost. At just $670 outright, it has a step-down processor, slightly smaller and lower resolution screen with less peak brightness, step down cameras (its front camera sports half the resolution of the OnePlus 12), but a bigger battery. Beyond this, it by and large runs much the same way with all the same features and functions you’d expect in a premium phone. Note, however, that it doesn’t come with wireless charging support. The better battery life and, most important, the massive difference in price, make this one ideal for students and parents who are looking for a great phone without breaking the bank.
Samsung Galaxy A35 5G: Best Starter Phone for Students
At just $400 on sale, the Samsung Galaxy A35 5G is as affordable as new smartphones come, making it the perfect entry Galaxy phone for a younger student. With an IP67 rating, it’s a relatively durable device with a 6.6-inch Super AMOLED display and Samsung Knox Vault security. With a main 50MP wide-angle camera, 8MP ultra-wide, 13MP selfie, and 5MP Macro camera, students can take decent photos and videos. The octa-core processor can keep up with demanding needs while the large vapor chamber can even handle intense mobile gaming sessions during downtime. Unusual for phones nowadays, the Galaxy A35 has a microSD slot to support additional storage up to 1TB. Students will love that the battery lasts up to two days per charge, and the phone supports Super Fast Charging. You won’t get the most premium specs with this phone, but as an entry phone for a younger student, it fits the bill.
Pinwheel Smartphone: Best Phone for Young Kids
Suitable for kids aged 8-14, especially for parents who are reluctant to get their kids a phone in the first place, the Pinwheel smartphone, which launched in Canada this summer, is a good option for peace-of-mind. Designed specifically with kids in mind, it removes access to social media and doesn’t have an open Internet browser either. Instead, kids can choose from a curated library of close to 1,200 popular apps with safety ratings based on age. Parents can monitor just about everything beyond traditional parental controls, including text messages. They can also designate contact lists and set usage schedules. This is done through the unique Caregiver Portal, which can be accessed remotely from their own mobile device or even a desktop computer. The idea behind this phone is to encourage healthy habits, and for parents to gauge responsibility before they are ready to let their child step up to a more premium phone with more access once they’re of an appropriate age.
There are four models in the line: the Pinwheel Slim 5 for $289, Pinwheel Plus 3 (made by Samsung) for $469, the Pinwheel Genesis for $149, and the Pinwheel Pixel 8A (made by Google) for $859. These phones require a Caregiver Portal subscription fee of $20/mo. or $240/yr. for the Caregiver Portal and enhanced parental controls. So, you’ll need to amortize this cost combined with the hardware price. But for peace-of-mind and compromise, it’s a solution that otherwise resistant parents might find more palatable.
Want to win one? We’re giving away a Pinwheel Plus 3 (made by Samsung) along with a one-year Caregiver Portal subscription, the prize valued at $709. Enter the contest for your chance to win.
Find The Right Phone
Finding the right phone for a student involves balancing cost of the hardware versus the right plan and carrier, and finding a model with the right features and specs that will be most important. The first decision to make is Apple versus Android, which will likely depend on what platform others in the house use. Second is figuring out a budget and which carrier: you can often add a child’s phone to a family plan, sharing things like data and paying on one bill. Third are features. Plenty of storage, an intuitive interface, security features like PIN codes and facial recognition, battery life, decent cameras, and parental control options are all factors to consider. For older students, you might want to look into what AI features are available on the phone, too.
Once you have armed your student with the right smartphone, especially when it comes to younger kids getting their first phone, make sure to keep on top of usage and ensure they are using the device responsibly.
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