Apple Iphone for teen - thoughts?

[scottmel]

DD12 soon to be 13 has an Itouch (which she saved for) and a celllphone that is rarely used. She told me it is too hard to keep track of both devices when out so opts for her itouch which she loves. At the top of her xmas list is the new iphone. I have no idea of cost, etc. but am thinking of getting it for her. She is really responsible kid and a good kid. Anyone get one for their tween/teen and regret it? Dataplan is about 40 a month to which she would pay 1/2 with allowance money.
Any other gift ideas for 12/13 year old girl?Itunes, club penguin, lego set.....covered....Thanks!

 

[MickeyHereWeCome!]

Dd, 11, has my old iPhone. She had an iTouch before, plus a cell, so this just combines everything. We have the cheapest data plan, so all in all, we pay about $20/month (10 for the line, 15 for the plan, and we get a discount through work). I think the 3GS is just perfect for that age. If you are eligible for a discount, you should be able to get one for about $50. Or you could even look on ebay, etc. I have no regrets giving it to her. She's a responsible kid.

 

[Fyrefly]

I'm a little confused because she says it's too hard to keep track of two less expensive electronics so you are thinking of getting her one expensive electronic? Doesn't she carry a purse?

An iPhone 4 just doing a fast google search will cost you at least $200 with a new contract, depending on carrier. I do think making her pay half the data is a good idea because that crap is expensive and frankly if you don't have fancy phones she could be doubling your phone bill by herself!

I guess my two cents about it will show how I was brought up, but here are my two cents on phones for teens:

I'm 22. I'm not THAT old. I didn't start carrying a cell of my own full time until I left for college at 17, mainly because I started driving full-time then. I personally don't see what is so important about giving a kid their own phone if they aren't driving. It seems like an unnecessary expense and sets them up to be the kind of creepy phone/texting zombies I have to deal with every day. I borrowed an old family phone to keep in touch with for rides after school activities etc. That being said, "kids these days" all seem to want one. So I guess if it's what she really wants and you don't mind getting it for her as a gift, it's probably no different then the stacks of books I was doing at that age. But please don't let her delve off into the cyberworld and lose all face to face human contact! The zombies are recruiting...

My other point is, why an iPhone? Does she want it because it's an iPhone, or because it has some feature that she wants that a Droid or some other smartphone can't do? My point is I wanted an iPod and my dad gave me at 13 for Christmas a more reasonably priced competitor's model with superior features, and a little chat about how the "it" brand isn't always the best thing and it's important to shop around for any electronics purchase to make sure you get the best value for your money. That's a good attitude to have about electronics and I lesson I think more kids should be taught given how they're EVERYWHERE. But that's my personal soapbox, take or leave as you will.

I think your payment plan is fair though. A $200 investment for a phone now but $40 a month in perpetuity is an extravagant Christmas gift!

As for other gifts because now that I soapboxed I feel like I should give you some extras...she likes Legos...good girl! I'm assuming if she's doing Legos at that age she might be into some of their Mindstorms stuff? It's making and programming robots, very age appropriate and a great outlet for Lego kids coming to the end of their age range to have some good fun. Then there's the heavily suggested girly products - hair gels, nail polish, whatever she's into. If she likes books I can give you a big list of good stuff but I'll leave it off for now because it will make an already long post even longer!

Good luck with your decision!

 

[ilovejack02]

My DS9 has an I touch , we put an app on it called text free.. he can send and receive texts , he can also receive phone calls.. so many minutes a month, it isn't much, but i think you can pay a little and get more minutes . He texts his grandmother all the time .

 

[scottmel]

OP here. i don't have an iphone myself and just gravitate towards that namebrand b/c it seems easy and cool to use! She doesn't carry a purse and is about as big as a string of spaghetti and looks comical with a touch in one back pocket and a phone in the other. Looks like a repairman! LOL. So she just tends to carry the itouch. If she has a current phone now (bought last Christmas but it ended up being close to free at costco) - I have Verizon - am I able to trade the phone in towards credit towards the iphone? Though if it is a surprise for Christmas that won't work so well as I would need to surrender the phone at trade in...Hmmm....Is that how a verizon trade works, I have never done it....She does so well in school - new school this year with demanding academics - and has been so organized and so on top of stuff. I want to reward her at the holidays! Thanks for the info....I know nothing about the iphone price/phone so hearing 200 was a nice surprise. Not as bad as I thought!

 

[Ember]

OP here. i don't have an iphone myself and just gravitate towards that namebrand b/c it seems easy and cool to use! She doesn't carry a purse and is about as big as a string of spaghetti and looks comical with a touch in one back pocket and a phone in the other. Looks like a repairman! LOL. So she just tends to carry the itouch. If she has a current phone now (bought last Christmas but it ended up being close to free at costco) - I have Verizon - am I able to trade the phone in towards credit towards the iphone? Though if it is a surprise for Christmas that won't work so well as I would need to surrender the phone at trade in...Hmmm....Is that how a verizon trade works, I have never done it....She does so well in school - new school this year with demanding academics - and has been so organized and so on top of stuff. I want to reward her at the holidays! Thanks for the info....I know nothing about the iphone price/phone so hearing 200 was a nice surprise. Not as bad as I thought!

Hang on a while before buying anything. The new version of the iPhone is on the way any day now, and the 4 should drop in price once it's launched. Of course, then if she wants the iPhone 5, you are likely in for sticker shock and a heck of a wait to get your hands on one, judging from the fervor that past models have generated. Personally, I don't see why kids at the age need smart phones, but to each their own. If she's responsible with it, and respectful of the people around her, I don't see the harm. It just seems young to be so plugged in.

 

[Kitzka]

My DD 13 has had an iPhone since she was 10. No problems at all. I have dropped or injured my iphone more ofte n (it has been dropped in hot soup, a basin of water while getting a pedicure, front screen shattered and the back screen).

Rumors are that the iPhone 5 is coming out soon so the price may drop on the iphone4. It shouldnt be significantly different from the iphone5.

You may want to contact Verizon about the phone. You mention that you got her other phone last year. You may still be under contract and if that is the case you won't be able to get the contract price ($200) for the iPhone. the non contract price is abt $500

The other thing I would recommend is get her the biggest sze you can afford. Dd has the 16 gig and it's almost full. She is big into music and has 10gigs of music and 3 gigs of other stuff. Has no videos. I have a 32 gig and have 20 gigs of music (she gets it from me I guess).

Lara

 

[scottmel]

Thanks Lara! I know DH and Iare both long overdue on a phone so maybe if I get the Iphone 5 under my contract I can give it to her? Not sure! but thank you!!! And yes my DD is very into the music videos too. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Leader of the Club]

my 14 y/o has an iPhone 4. It works for him. It's his hand-held gaming device, phone, camera and video camera all rolled into one.

he got his for $147 at Sam's club and I just added him to my Verizon acct.

 

[sissy_ib]

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[zurgswife]

DD12 soon to be 13 has an Itouch (which she saved for) and a celllphone that is rarely used. She told me it is too hard to keep track of both devices when out so opts for her itouch which she loves. At the top of her xmas list is the new iphone. I have no idea of cost, etc. but am thinking of getting it for her. She is really responsible kid and a good kid. Anyone get one for their tween/teen and regret it? Dataplan is about 40 a month to which she would pay 1/2 with allowance money.
Any other gift ideas for 12/13 year old girl?Itunes, club penguin, lego set.....covered....Thanks!

Depends on if you have ATT or not because I know that Iphone 3G are like $49. My son bought one a few months ago.

But depending on how much she uses it do you know you can skype call and text from the Itouch? My kids also so that. You might want to look into that.

 

[scottmel]

Wonder what the diff is between 4 and 5 version? Anyone know? Skype would be awesome...video cam another added bonus...147??? I can handle that! I will check Costco when I am there tomorrow. They gave me an incredible deal on her cell last year...Wonder though if I buy it now if they make me activate now or Ic an wait for Christmas? Will find out! Question for dataplan people that are in the know.....40.00 was for I THINK enough for 100 pages a day. I have no idea what that means but I was told it is the lower pkg but she could use wifi at home for free and not go against her data package. So I was advised to have her look at her videos, etc. here at home or with wi fi...meaning don't browse the internet just walking around town for no good reason. Does this make sense? For example if she loves videos can she watch one and download it onto her phone thus not going against her data package when she views it each time or does it not work that way?

 

[williamson_ja]

I'm a weird parent. I'll admit that right now. However, I would never do it. It's not a money thing for me. I just don't want my kids sucked into electronics all day. Kids are really losing touch with reality. Many of them text so much that they have forgotten how to have a normal conversation. I have 4 teenagers at home now and only the two oldest have a cell phone at all. Of those two, only the oldest has text allowed on the phone (he's 18 BTW). My 16 year old has a phone so that she can tell me if she is going to be late, etc. and because she's a driver and might need it in an emergency. So far, my plan has worked. Instead of texting all day, they have all pretty much gotten straight A's in school, gotten scholarships to college and have been amazingly able to communicate with other human beings. The funny thing is that they don't even ask for those things. It's a family culture. You can do what you want and I won't judge you for that because each family situation is different. However, you asked for opinions.

 

[bemily]

I'm a weird parent. I'll admit that right now. However, I would never do it. It's not a money thing for me. I just don't want my kids sucked into electronics all day. Kids are really losing touch with reality. Many of them text so much that they have forgotten how to have a normal conversation. I have 4 teenagers at home now and only the two oldest have a cell phone at all. Of those two, only the oldest has text allowed on the phone (he's 18 BTW). My 16 year old has a phone so that she can tell me if she is going to be late, etc. and because she's a driver and might need it in an emergency. So far, my plan has worked. Instead of texting all day, they have all pretty much gotten straight A's in school, gotten scholarships to college and have been amazingly able to communicate with other human beings. The funny thing is that they don't even ask for those things. It's a family culture. You can do what you want and I won't judge you for that because each family situation is different. However, you asked for opinions.

Gosh, sometimes I feel that the generalizations made on these boards are utterly ridiculous. That is not said with any mean intent, but that is a pretty generalized statement stating that your children can communicate, scholarships, etc, because of the electronic restrictions you have placed on them. I am glad it worked for your kids, but on the opposite end of the spectrum my daughter is almost 14 and has an Iphone. Why? Because it was only 50$ and it combined the features of the Itouch and having a cell phone. She also has had an Itouch for 3 years before she got the Iphone a few mpnths ago. A phone was given to her by me because I need the peace of mind of knowing that she can always get me if needed because of all of her activities and I can always get in touch with her. She is well on her way to being a world class martial arts competitor already. She is a straight A student, communicates very well with other human beings and is on full scholarship this year at school in just the 8th grade and I suspect more to come for high school. I think it is wonderful that your children have done so well, but I truly dont believe whether a child has a cell phone or not will predict their future if a solid base is already in place.

So, to the OP, if you feel your child is responsible enough to have a cell phone, then you cannot go wrong with an Iphone. It is a good, solid phone and Apple is wonderful to deal with for any problems with it.

 

[SookieStackhouse]

Be sure to get a GOOD case, Otterbox or I've heard Lifeproof cases are amazing, and better than Otterbox.

 

[HeatherC]

Could anyone share how much the monthly fees are for the IPhone?

We have three Cell phones with unlimited texting with Sprint for about $120 a month includong taxes. Curious how much it would be to do an IPhone?

Thanks!!!

 

[labdogs42]

Ah and I have iPhones with 2g data each and unlimited texting and free wireless to wireless calls and we pay about $160 a month. If we added another line it would go up $35 a month with data.

I'd get the kid the iPhone. I was one of those people with an iTouch and a cell phone, so I feel her pain! If she is already used to the touch, the iPhone is perfect! You could also look at the option of her selling the iTouch to get money for the phone. The touch becomes pretty useless once you get the phone!

 

[scrapquitler]

Depends on if you have ATT or not because I know that Iphone 3G are like $49. My son bought one a few months ago.

But depending on how much she uses it do you know you can skype call and text from the Itouch? My kids also so that. You might want to look into that.

This is true, but using Skype and Instant messaging from the iTouch only works if you are somewhere where you can get on a wifi signal, so it's not like it can totally replace a phone (at least where I am, unlocked wifi is certainly NOT everywhere). I just wanted to point this out because some people don't realize the difference.

 

[Katy Belle]

DS14 got pushed into a pool with his phone in his pocket last week. His phone, not an i phone, was free, but to replsce it will be $160. Who will pay the $500 to replace her phone if something happens? Just something to consider.

 

[dzorn]

OP here. i don't have an iphone myself and just gravitate towards that namebrand b/c it seems easy and cool to use! She doesn't carry a purse and is about as big as a string of spaghetti and looks comical with a touch in one back pocket and a phone in the other. Looks like a repairman! LOL. So she just tends to carry the itouch. If she has a current phone now (bought last Christmas but it ended up being close to free at costco) - I have Verizon - am I able to trade the phone in towards credit towards the iphone? Though if it is a surprise for Christmas that won't work so well as I would need to surrender the phone at trade in...Hmmm....Is that how a verizon trade works, I have never done it....She does so well in school - new school this year with demanding academics - and has been so organized and so on top of stuff. I want to reward her at the holidays! Thanks for the info....I know nothing about the iphone price/phone so hearing 200 was a nice surprise. Not as bad as I thought!

Given that she carries them in her back pocket that is a cracked screen waiting to happen therefore not responsible enough. IMO.

Denise in MI