Review of the Other phone: a stylish, safety-first smartphone for children

Key specs

RRP: £279 | Manufacturer: Nothing | Hardware: CMF 2 Pro | Storage: 128GB | Camera: 50MP back 16 MP front | Operating system: Android | Size: 164 x 78mm | Weight: 185g | Battery life: Good

Our verdict

• Performance: Reliable and smooth overall.

• Quality and durability: Excellent build, fast performance and good camera for the price.

• Ease of use: The phone is simple for both children and parents to use.

• Value for money: Very good quality for £279. Feels more premium than many entry-level smartphones.

• Parental controls: Has plenty of effective filtering and supervision tools.

• Screen time management: Alerts work well but can appear frequently.

• Age-appropriate design: Minimalist layout helps reduce addictive scrolling; balanced freedom and control.

• Setup: Generally easy, but setup may be less intuitive if you're used to iPhones.

When my 10-year-old started asking for his own smartphone, I wasn’t sure where to begin. I wanted him to have some independence to message friends, call home and learn to manage his own device, but without the risks that come with social media or unfiltered content. That’s what led me to try the Other phone, a new device designed specifically to give children a safer start with technology.

Developed in collaboration with Mumsnet users, and built in partnership with Nothing and SafetyMode, the Other phone combines high-quality hardware with genuinely advanced safety features. It looks and feels like a proper smartphone, but with thoughtful safeguards that make it far more family-friendly than other phones on the market.

This collaboration brings together Mumsnet’s deep understanding of what parents need, Nothing’s award-winning hardware design - known for its sleek, transparent aesthetics and cutting-edge performance - and SafetyMode’s advanced software to create a phone that puts children’s wellbeing first, without compromising on quality or style.

The Other phone's standout feature is the SafetyMode software, which quietly monitors and filters what children see and share, not just across the web, but within apps such as WhatsApp and other major social platforms. It’s currently the only system that offers this level of protection, and it does so remarkably accurately, without feeling intrusive.

Parents can also manage everything remotely from app permissions and daily limits to content filters and location tracking, through an easy-to-use online dashboard. It’s flexible, too: settings can be adapted as your child grows and, when they’re ready, SafetyMode can be removed entirely to unlock full smartphone functionality.

After a few days of testing the Other phone with my 10-year-old, I was genuinely impressed by how well it balanced freedom and reassurance. It feels premium, works smoothly and the safety features are thoughtfully built into the experience rather than getting in the way. Once set up, it quietly does what it’s meant to, keeping children safe while using the phone without making them feel overly restricted.

Related: Read TechRadar's review of the Other phone

Key features of the Other phone

• SafetyMode software filters harmful content in all apps, including WhatsApp and major social media.

• Remote parental controls for apps, screen time, notifications and location.

• Minimalist, distraction-free home screen.

• Flexible safety settings that grow with your child - SafetyMode can be removed when your child is ready for a full smartphone.

• Sleek, premium build with fast performance and a clear camera.

• Social-media-free by default, keeping addictive apps off the device.

How we tested the Other phone

• Tested over a weekend with a 10-year-old

• Used multiple times a day

• Child used the phone with and without supervision

I tested the Other phone over a weekend with my 10-year-old son. He used it several times a day, sometimes while I was nearby and other times completely on his own, to see how it would fit into everyday family life.

The good news is that, while he enjoyed having the phone, he wasn’t glued to it. He’d check messages or take a few photos, then happily leave it aside to do something else, which felt like a healthy balance. The simple, uncluttered layout meant there wasn’t that endless scrolling or app-jumping you get on more complex devices designed to draw users in. My son used the phone when he wanted to, but it didn’t seem to take over - a really positive sign for a first smartphone.

Once testing was complete, my son and I scored the Other phone on the following key criteria: performance, quality and durability, ease of use, value for money, parental controls, screen time management, age-appropriate design, and setup.

The Other phone: initial setup and first impressions

Straight out of the box, the Other phone makes a great first impression. It has a lovely, solid build that feels reassuringly high-quality for the price, with a clean design and a good-quality camera. The photos my son took were bright and sharp, and the phone itself is fast and responsive. It doesn’t feel like a ‘budget’ option at all.

Setting it up took less than 10 minutes, which was a pleasant surprise. That said, because my older child and I both use iPhones, and the Other phone runs on Android, I found the process a little less straightforward than Apple’s Family Sharing system.

Once it was up and running, the phone worked smoothly and quickly, and my son was able to start using it straight away.

We also tried both the grid and list layouts to see which worked best. I found myself preferring the list view, as it feels calmer and more purposeful - it encourages kids to think of the phone as a tool rather than something to scroll through for entertainment. My son, on the other hand, liked the grid layout because it looks more like a traditional smartphone. I can see the appeal, especially for slightly older children but, for a first phone, the list mode does a better job of reducing that pick-up-and-swipe reflex.

- Product test feedback from Mumsnet user, veghan

How secure is the Other phone and what are the safety features like?

I was genuinely impressed by how well the safety features worked in everyday use. The built-in SafetyMode software felt reassuringly robust. It filtered out harmful and inappropriate content without overreacting or blocking harmless things. During testing, it only flagged genuinely inappropriate words or images, which gave me confidence that it was doing its job properly.

That said, it did flag messages fairly often, which sometimes made chatting a bit stop-start for my son. However, this highlighted just how active the filtering system is, which is very reassuring.

The filters worked so well that I didn’t feel the need to hover or constantly check what he was doing. He did, however, quickly discover that tweaking the spelling of a swear word in a message could sneak past the filter (predictable for a 10-year-old!) but, beyond that, he couldn’t bypass any of the restrictions or access blocked sites. Overall, it feels like a genuinely secure, child-friendly system.

I also liked that you can easily strip the Other phone right back to make it more like a dumb phone if needed. Turning off the browser, limiting access to apps, or disabling Wi-Fi is all straightforward, giving parents full control over how connected or disconnected they want their child’s experience to be.

The Other phone’s SafetyMode versus Google Family Link: what are the differences?

If you’ve ever set up an Android phone for your child before, you’ll probably be familiar with Google’s Family Link. It’s a handy tool that lets parents manage app downloads, set screen time limits, and apply basic content filters based on age ratings. You can also see activity reports and approve new apps. However, once an app is installed, Family Link doesn’t monitor what actually happens inside it - so while you can control which apps your child uses, you can’t see or filter the messages, images or videos they might encounter within them.

That’s where the Other phone takes things a step further. Its built-in SafetyMode software scans in-app content for harmful language, bullying or inappropriate images - even within messaging and social platforms. It can alert parents if it detects anything concerning, while still allowing kids to chat, message and browse safely. Parents can also control downloads, set daily limits and decide when certain apps can be used - all from a simple web dashboard that can be accessed remotely.

I found the Other phone’s SafetyMode very straightforward to use. I set the content level to “Moderate” and turned on the rude-word filter without any trouble.

Through Family Link, I could still manage most of the basics like screen time, app approvals and general filters. Both SafetyMode and Family Link complemented each other well. As such, the end result was a phone that genuinely felt safe and age-appropriate for my son to use independently.

- Product test feedback from Mumsnet user, Mrshockallz1726

How effective are the Other phone’s parental controls?

In short - very. My son was keen to try and download TikTok and Snapchat (of course), but quickly accepted that he couldn’t access them on the Other phone. The built-in restrictions worked exactly as they should, blocking age-inappropriate apps without me having to intervene.

Adjusting the safety settings was simple once everything was set up. The filtering system caught the main things you’d want it to, and the “Moderate” content level felt just right for a 10-year-old, giving him some freedom to explore, but within safe boundaries.

The “Oh dear, rude words” alert popped up quite frequently, so it was reassuring to know that the alerts do exactly what they were designed to do: flag potentially harmful language and keep communication safe. Overall, the parental controls feel well thought out - strong enough to protect, but flexible enough that children can still enjoy using their phone independently.

I also found setting app schedules very straightforward. It’s easy to set limits for individual apps or block access during certain times, like bedtime or school hours.

Is the Other phone easy to use?

Yes - very much so. My son could easily access messaging, phone calls and the Chrome browser without any confusion. He even mentioned that having Google Classroom on the phone was handy, as it was quicker to check than using a laptop. The interface is simple and uncluttered, which makes it easy for a 10-year-old to navigate independently, without me needing to step in constantly.

What do children think of the Other phone?

Over the weekend my son really enjoyed using it, he liked the sleek, “grown-up” design and the overall feel of the phone in his hands. At 185g, the Other Phone is light enough for children to hold comfortably. 

My 10-year-old found it easy to navigate the menus, open apps and send messages independently. The minimalist layout also helped prevent endless scrolling, which meant he could use the phone without getting stuck in a loop of distractions.

Is the Other phone good value for money and would you recommend it to other parents?

Yes! Overall, the Other phone is a solid, well-built first smartphone that feels surprisingly premium for £279. The design is sleek, it runs smoothly, and the camera is impressively sharp for the price. Most importantly for parents, the parental controls and SafetyMode features make it genuinely easier to use.

I would absolutely recommend the Other phone to other parents looking for a first phone for their child. It’s well-priced, thoughtfully designed and gives peace of mind to parents without feeling overbearing or restrictive for kids.

The Other phone is available now.

About the author 

Becky K has worked at Mumsnet for eight years and is passionate about comprehensive and trustworthy reviews for parents.

Originally from Ireland, Becky studied BSc Psychology at the University of London before returning to Dublin City University to earn her Masters degree in Journalism. She began her career on the news desks of several Dublin publications and worked in press relations and journalism in NYC and Australia before somehow tiring of endless beaches and blue skies, and returning to the UK.

A mum of two school-age children, Becky enjoys finding new and unusual days out that don’t cost the earth. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, reading, true-crime podcasts and ancient history.

About the editors

Tammy Jacks has over 20 years of experience in the publishing industry, holding key roles such as Managing Editor and Health & Beauty Editor for Woman & Home magazine in South Africa, and Assistant Editor for Living and Loving - a parenting title focused on children's health and development. As a researcher and writer, Tammy specialises in children's development, wellbeing and safety. Over the years, she has reviewed countless pieces of kids’ tech in the search for the safest and best-performing devices.

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. She has over nine years' experience as a full-time editor, seven of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing reviews and round-ups of the very best products for families.