Key Points:
- AT&T released a new smartphone specifically designed for children.
- The device is a modified Samsung Galaxy A16 with safety features.
- Parents can track location and set screen time limits easily.
- The phone costs $3 a month with a three-year service contract.
AT&T is trying to solve a common problem for modern parents: when to give a child their first smartphone. The wireless carrier officially launched the AmiGO Jr. Phone, a device that aims to balance a kid’s desire for a cool gadget with a parent’s need for safety.
The phone itself isn’t a toy. It is a modified version of the Samsung Galaxy A16. This means kids get a real smartphone experience with a large 6.7-inch display, a high-quality 50-megapixel camera, and a battery that lasts all day. However, AT&T has changed the software to put safety first.
Unlike a standard phone, the AmiGO Jr. comes with parental controls baked right into the system. Parents do not need to install complex third-party software to make it safe. Instead, they use the AmiGO app to manage everything. The features include live location tracking, so parents always know where their child is.
Parents can also set up “safe zones.” If the child leaves a designated area, the parent gets an alert. The app also allows adults to set strict screen time restrictions. This helps ensure that kids aren’t staying up all night playing games or scrolling through social media when they should be sleeping or studying.
While companies like Bark and Pinwheel have sold child-safe phones for a few years, AT&T is the first major mobile carrier to offer its own standalone product. This makes it easier for existing AT&T customers to add a safe phone to their family plan without dealing with a separate company.
The pricing is designed to be affordable. You can get the AmiGO Jr. Phone for just $3 a month through the AT&T website. However, there is a catch. You must commit to a 36-month contract to get that price. This deal is still cheaper than buying the Galaxy A16 outright for $200.
To round out the package, AT&T also introduced the AmiGO Jr. Watch 2. Together with their existing tablet for kids, the carrier is building a full ecosystem of devices that let families stay connected without sacrificing safety.
