The Parent’s Guide to Your Kids’ First Phones (Under $500)

When will you buy your child their first smartphone? It’s a question that comes up for every parent, often sooner than they expect. In 2015, 41% of children aged 6 to 13 used a smartphone. By 2020, that figure was just under half (46%). Younger generations are increasingly tech-savvy, and there’s a good chance your child has already come home, mentioned their friend has a smartphone and asked if they can have one too.  

Most Australian kids receive their first smartphone between the ages of 10 and 12, and the milestone typically coincides with the transition to high school. Smartphones help pre-teens stay safe, stay informed, keep in touch with friends and family, and access learning tools. Yet how do you find the perfect kids phone when money is tight and the choices are seemingly endless?

Refurbished phones let you save big on popular and reliable smartphone models with up-to-date features and security updates. As Australia’s leading refurbished device seller, OzMobiles has the smartphone brands kids want in new-like conditions. Here’s the OzMobiles guide to buying the right kids’ phone for less than $500.    

Quick Recommendations at a Glance

For parents wanting a quick decision factor matrix, the table below highlights how our top models under $500 address durability, longevity, and value for money.

Choosing a Safe and Affordable Kids Phone for School

Choosing the right smartphone for your child involves striking a balance between safety, reliability, and affordability. Built-in parental controls like Google Family Link and pre-paid plans to prevent bill shock help to protect both your children and your own peace of mind.

Why the First Smartphone Matters for Safety and Connection

Your child’s first smartphone is an important milestone that lets you keep tabs on their safety and allows them to check in with family and friends. It helps prepare your kids for an adult life that smartphones are a daily part of, and gives you the emotional reassurance that your children can call for help whenever they need to.

Parents should review established digital safety guidelines for children to ensure balanced screen habits early on. It’s easy to focus on the quantity of screen time itself, but it’s also important to know what they’re doing online and whether it’s affecting their lives outside of the device. If their use of their device is impacting their sleep, study schedules or real world connections, it’s likely their screen time is out of balance.

Another important topic is the responsible use of social media. Since 10 December 2025, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, and YouTube have been required to take reasonable steps to prevent Australians under 16 from having accounts. Under-16s, however, can still see publicly available social media content that doesn’t require a log-in.

Managing Screen Time and Security Settings Easily

There are many ways you can set reasonable expectations and enforce rules regarding your children’s screen time. The most common practices include:

• Have discussions with your children about your expectations for their screen time.

• Set clear expectations and limits, and give them an early warning when it’s almost time to wind up their online activity.

• Use built-in digital controls like Screen Time for iOS / iPadOS or Digital Wellbeing for Android to limit and monitor your children’s screen time. Android devices let you set daily limits on specific apps and both Apple and Android allow you to link your child’s device to your own.

• Establish daily and weekly usage schedules for your kids’ devices. For example, you can set stricter rules on weekdays than weekends and block games and entertainment apps during the school day.

Setting Up Communication Limits and App Restrictions

Make sure your device settings align with official school mobile phone policies to minimise distractions during class time. Luckily, setting up restrictions on communication and apps is pretty easy to manage through Apple’s built-in Screen Time settings.

You can turn on Screen Time in the Settings app on your child’s iPhone and also tap Turn On App & Website Activity to see a summary of their device usage. Creating a dedicated Screen Time passcode that only you know stops your child from bypassing these restrictions.

The Financial and Environmental Value of Refurbished Phones

There are some major differences between refurbished smartphones and regular second-hand phones. A refurbished phone is a pre-owned smartphone that a professional has put through a detailed inspection and repair process, restoring it to a like-new condition. Refurbished smartphones have to meet high standards in order to be released back onto the Australian market. They are available with warranties and, apart from a few minor cosmetic imperfections, you can count on them to function as well as brand-new phones.

Refurbished smartphones have value both for you and for the environment:

• They will always be less expensive than buying the same phone new. When you buy refurbished, you can save hundreds of dollars, sometimes over a grand, while taking home a phone that is flagship-level quality.

• E-waste (electronic waste) is the quickest-growing component of the municipal waste stream and responsible for over 70% of the toxic chemicals found in landfill such as lead, mercury and cadmium. Australia produces around 20kg of e-waste per year compared to the global average of 7kg, but refurbished phones can help to reduce the trend. Refurbishing diverts smartphones away from ending up in landfills and gives them second lives. It also preserves natural resources and helps prevent further pollution by removing the demand to produce a fresh smartphone. A refurbished phone needs 87% less virgin materials than a new one and choosing one over a new smartphone saves 77.59kg of carbon dioxide.

Top Refurbished iPhones for Students Under $500 

iPhones are a great fit for students of all ages and highly recommended as a kid’s first phone. They’re intuitive, easy to use, and designed to seamlessly sync with other devices in the Apple ecosystem. They come with simple but effective parental control tools like Screen Time and Family Sharing, as well as private, seamlessly integrated location tracking.

Two of the most affordable and child-friendly models on the market are the iPhone 12 and the iPhone 13, both available refurbished from OzMobiles.

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Smart Parental Controls on Modern iOS Devices 

Built directly into iPhones, iPads and Macs, Apple’s parental controls allow you to decide when and how your children use their devices. Before you can set up parental controls, you need to set up Family Sharing on your device and add your child’s Apple Account. Once you’ve set up Family Sharing, it’s time to turn Content and Privacy Restrictions on. Parental controls are “training wheels” that protect your child from content they’re not yet ready to see and prepare them for responsible iPhone use as adults.

The best parental control systems include:

• Apple Screen Time: Built into your iPhone’s operating system, Apple’s Screen Time lets you remotely manage your child’s iPhone, set limits to how much time they can spend on particular apps, and limit their access at bedtime.

• Google Family Link: A free app that both iPhone and Android users can download, Google Family Link lets you limit how much time your child spends on their phone and make it inaccessible during bedtime and school hours. It’s most effective before children turn 13, as at that age they can sign up for an independent Google account of their own.

If your child already has a phone but it has a number of years under its belt, you might be rightfully wondering how you can strengthen its security. Perhaps you’re ready to help them switch to iPhone for the simple and intuitive security benefits? Refurbished phones make it easy for you to invest in your child’s safety with Apple technology at reduced prices.

How Certified Refurbished Tech Compares to Cheap New Phones 

Fresh out of the box in flawless condition, cheap new phones offer that pristine untouched appeal, with full manufacturer’s warranties. Buying a brand-spanking new phone, however, usually requires settling for an entry-level model without all the features you may prefer.

When you buy refurbished, you buy a phone that originally cost twice as much, and the only compromises you have to make are minor cosmetic wear and a less shiny appearance. Rather than prioritizing affordability alone, you can focus on premium features like flagship camera quality, sturdy aluminum or glass builds, and vibrant displays from the last few years.

Secure a Reliable Student Phone with OzMobiles

For an excellent deal on a kids’ phone without having to buy brand new, you can’t beat OzMobiles. Check out OzMobiles’ range of refurbished iPhones for under $500 including refurbished iPhone 12 and refurbished iPhone 13 models.

Every refurbished OzMobiles device is certified 100% fully functional and sold with a 12-month warranty and a 30-day risk-free return policy. We know battery life is important for staying in touch with your kids all day, which is why our 80-point checking process ensures that battery health is at least at 80%. Every purchase is backed by local retail standards and Australian consumer guarantees for complete peace of mind.

Ready to find the perfect fit? Explore the OzMobiles under $500 collection today to find a reliable, certified refurbished phone for your child with a 30-day risk-free return policy.

To find out more and to ask us anything, get in touch with the OzMobiles team!

or drop protection, an incredible camera, and guaranteed Apple software updates until at least 2028.