If you’re looking to give your child their first phone, you may want one with training wheels.Along with our own tweens and teens, we’ve tested 13 flip phones and kid-centric smartphones. These phones allow your child to call, text, and take photos, but limit web access, social media, and other potential distractions.These starter phones have drawn increased interest as parents and caregivers weigh concerns that kids spend too much time on screens, along with a 2023 warning by the surgeon general that social media can hurt their mental health and well-being. All of the options have pros and cons — and none can sub in for ongoing conversations about social media, pornography, and healthy screen time habits.We also offer separate guides to additional options, including location tracking devices, kids smartwatches, and parental controls that can be installed on standard smartphones. If you’re still deciding between a phone and a smartwatch, see our breakdown of what each does.Everything we recommendThe Bark phone is a Samsung smartphone with Bark’s parental controls built in. It sends alerts about problematic usage. Connie Park/NYT WirecutterThe Pinwheel phone is also a Samsung smartphone with parental controls built in. It blocks social media but does include a library of vetted apps. Connie Park/NYT WirecutterThe iPhone 17e is the cheapest iPhone, and recently replaced the iPhone 16e (pictured). It can be paired with Apple’s Screen Time. It’s the most convenient option for families that are already using Apple phones — and the most coveted among teens. Connie Park/NYT WirecutterThe TCL Flip 2 is a dependable flip phone. It’s great for calls, but group texting is problematic. Connie Park/NYT WirecutterThe Bark phone is a Samsung smartphone with Bark’s parental controls built in. It sends alerts about problematic usage. Connie Park/NYT Wirecutter