Hey folks, my wife and I use Pixel phones, but we’re starting to think about a phone for our kid, really just to be able to call 911, probably wouldn’t even get data. We’re looking for cheap and boring, the fewer features, the better. Also open to smart watches, tho we have no experience with them.

Are there any devices that fit the bill? I’m thinking something like an old Nokia brick from 20 years ago, but of course with VoLTE/VoNR.

Thanks for any help this community can provide!

  • @linearchaosEnglish
    5•1 year ago

    If you’re truly just after 911, Even a deactivated cell phone would call that in the US.

    We ended up getting the kid an Apple smartwatch with LTE. The monthly price when it’s not bad it’s like 10 bucks. The upshot being he could call us with it we could call him with it and find my iPhone can locate him at any time.

    • @adlrOPEnglish
      4•1 year ago

      Thanks! That would be an option, but we don’t have any Apple devices, so I’m guessing it would be tough to provision it, plus not sure we could use find my iPhone. Would be happy to be wrong here, tho!

      • pitninjaEnglish
        3•1 year ago

        I’m sure there are cellular Android Wear watches where the same concept could work, but you’d probably need to be a lot more careful about battery life.

    • pitninjaEnglish
      1•1 year ago

      I know they specifically said they want it to be able to call 911, but they probably also would like for it to be able to call them (the parents) as well as any other relevant adults. Your Apple Watch idea is a really good one and it’s also probably less likely to get carelessly lost by a kid.