iPhone 8/Plus iPhone 8 vs iPod touch for kid? Help!

[ssledoux]

So my grandson wants an iPod touch - he wants to be able to take pictures, and he can't take decent ones with his iPad, nor is it convenient.

If I get him a base touch, he'll have 32 gigs of storage, which for music, games and pictures isn't gonna be a ton.

If I get him a base iPhone 8 he'll have 64 gigs. Yes it's more, but AT&T is offering them free through today - like you add the line and get credited back for the phone itself. I'd have to pay for the service even though I'd likely shut it off on his phone, but I'm paying for service on his iPad that I could cancel.

Anyway, he's only 8. He definitely does not need the phone. I just don't know if it would be more practical to get it for him since he wants to take pictures too.

IDK I LOVE the iPod's size and his sister will want one for her bday, and I am NOT getting her a phone for sure.

WWYD? Suggestions?

 

[Shadowbech]

iPod touch in my opinion,

 

[DevinNj]

So my grandson wants an iPod touch - he wants to be able to take pictures, and he can't take decent ones with his iPad, nor is it convenient.

If I get him a base touch, he'll have 32 gigs of storage, which for music, games and pictures isn't gonna be a ton.

If I get him a base iPhone 8 he'll have 64 gigs. Yes it's more, but AT&T is offering them free through today - like you add the line and get credited back for the phone itself. I'd have to pay for the service even though I'd likely shut it off on his phone, but I'm paying for service on his iPad that I could cancel.

Anyway, he's only 8. He definitely does not need the phone. I just don't know if it would be more practical to get it for him since he wants to take pictures too.

IDK I LOVE the iPod's size and his sister will want one for her bday, and I am NOT getting her a phone for sure.

WWYD? Suggestions?

My son's 9 and he's had a phone for the last 2 years now. He was given my iPhone 7 to use as an iPod, for music playing and taking pictures, web browsing, etc. We added it to my plan last year and it's actually come in handy more than a few times. We have it pretty locked down and Verizon has parental controls that help us monitor and limit his usage. Last year Santa brought him an Xr (got a stellar deal) and he's been very responsible with it. I'd say if the monthly cost is cheaper than what you'd end up paying for the iPod, go for it. Get a good protective case as it is glass, and set any parental controls or turn off cellular/remove the sim card. In the future you may find having the phone to be beneficial. Just my .02 anyway.

 

[JPack]

Keep in mind the iPod Touch has similar camera hardware as iPhone 5. The iPad (2017, 2018) use the same hardware, so picture quality won't change much.

If you really want better photos, you'll need an iPhone 7 or newer.

 

[ssledoux]

Keep in mind the iPod Touch has similar camera hardware as iPhone 5. The iPad (2017, 2018) use the same hardware, so picture quality won't change much.

If you really want better photos, you'll need an iPhone 7 or newer.

Yeah that's what I was afraid of. I REALLY wanna go with the touch for several reasons, but wonder if he'll just be frustrated.

I mean 8 megapixels should be decent pics for an 8yo, right? I realize the "selfie" camera would be really crummy, but is an 8mp gonna be awful?

 

[Tsepz]

Get him the iPhone 8, take the SIM out and activate it when he is old enough for phone usage in a few years, the iPhone 8 will still be a good phone and a nice starter.

 

[JPack]

Yeah that's what I was afraid of. I REALLY wanna go with the touch for several reasons, but wonder if he'll just be frustrated.

I mean 8 megapixels should be decent pics for an 8yo, right? I realize the "selfie" camera would be really crummy, but is an 8mp gonna be awful?

If he already has a $329 iPad, the photo quality will be the same. It's the same 8MP sensor. The iPad display is bigger than an iPod so images might seem grainer but the quality is actually the same.

 

[akash.nu]

iPod touch with iCloud storage.

 

[ssledoux]

So IF I decided to go with a phone, what other options would I have? 7? SE? Which of those still have better cameras?

 

[BeatCrazy]

So IF I decided to go with a phone, what other options would I have? 7? SE? Which of those still have better cameras?

You can get a brand new SE for $100 via Visible prepaid. You don’t have to activate the service, so $100 all-in and it’s unlocked.

 

[eyoungren]

WWYD? Suggestions?

My wife and I have a standing policy that the kids don't get better than what we (the parents) have.

My son's first phone (when he was 13) was an 8GB iPhone 4s. He learned to manage a 2GB line.

He went from that to an iPhone 5 and a 6GB line because he had proven he was responsible. Then from that to a brand new iPhone SE.

My daughter has an iPhone 5. She lost it in the first week. I was able to get it back, but she no longer 'shares' with 'friends'.

 

[now i see it]

Get him a used phone. He'll probably drop it several times or lose it anyway.

When I was a "youngster" I got to use a Kodak X-15 Instamatic point & shoot film camera and I was thrilled with it.

The neatest communication thing available back then was walkie-talkies, but I never got one of those to play with.

An iPhone/iPod is such an advanced "Toy". Get him the cheapest used one you can find and he'll be thrilled.

 

[ssledoux]

He has an iPad (heck, he’s had them since he was a toddler because they are military and spent a LOT of time in the car). He’s pretty responsible with it. I’m gonna put a good case on it, so hopefully it be protected.

 

[retta283]

You could probably find a good deal on an iPhone 7, or an SE. The SE in particular would be cheaper than the touch, but make sure to get the 32GB or higher.

If you were to choose between the touch and the 8, I would give him the 8 but without a plan/card. Just make him use it like a larger iPod touch.

 

[44267547]

The iPhone 7th Gen was just updated with the A10 Fusion processor/2 GB of RAM versus the iPhone 8, which has the A11 Bionic/2 GB of RAM for the 4.7 inch model. For someone in a younger demographic, I would recommend the iPod touch, as long as they don’t need the actual phone capabilities of communication, I think the new 7th Gen iPod touch with a higher storage and updated processor should be sufficient, especially being that it starts at $199.

{And on a sidenote, I think iPod touch takes perfectly fine pictures, unless someone was a real camera aficionado, then yes, I would suggest a more recent version of the iPhone.}

 

[ssledoux]

Thank you for all the input! I think I’m gonna go with the iPod touch. It’s a good start to see how he does with something small and easy to misplace, and, depending on what he actually does with the camera, if he seems to really have a knack for it or gets a lot of use out of it, I can upgrade him to something with a better camera and more storage next year.

His sister is already asking for an iPod, and with her birthday only a few months after his, I’m sure I’ll be purchasing a second one, so I think less expensive is gonna be better.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Thank you for all the input! I think I’m gonna go with the iPod touch. It’s a good start to see how he does with something small and easy to misplace, and, depending on what he actually does with the camera, if he seems to really have a knack for it or gets a lot of use out of it, I can upgrade him to something with a better camera and more storage next year.

His sister is already asking for an iPod, and with her birthday only a few months after his, I’m sure I’ll be purchasing a second one, so I think less expensive is gonna be better.

Why pay 2x as much for a 7th gen iPod touch when a SE with a better camera is only $100?

 

[44267547]

Why pay 2x as much for a 7th gen iPod touch when a SE with a better camera is only $100?

Do you really think the differentiation of the camera between the SE and iPod touch are that much different to an eight-year-old to actually care/notice the photo quality differences? I’m sure the iPod touch is a perfectly fine device for someone of that age caliber.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Do you really think the differentiation of the camera between the SE and iPod touch are that much different to an eight-year-old to actually care/notice the photo quality differences? I’m sure the iPod touch is a perfectly fine device for someone of that age caliber.

Probably not, but the real question is why would someone pay $200 for an iPod Touch vs. $100 for a new/unlocked/no-commitment SE @ $100? Would be a no-brainer even if the SE camera wasn’t better than the Touch.

 

[44267547]

Probably not, but the real question is why would someone pay $200 for an iPod Touch vs. $100 for a new/unlocked/no-commitment SE @ $100? Would be a no-brainer even if the SE camera wasn’t better than the Touch.

For me, personally, I would rather have the updated processor with the A10 versus the A9, which means longer software support and probably better stability in performance, but that’s just my anecdote. So I would rather pay the extra $100 to have the iPod touch 7th Gen.

 

[ssledoux]

Probably not, but the real question is why would someone pay $200 for an iPod Touch vs. $100 for a new/unlocked/no-commitment SE @ $100? Would be a no-brainer even if the SE camera wasn’t better than the Touch.

Where could I get an SE for that price new?
[doublepost=1559926428][/doublepost]

For me, personally, I would rather have the updated processor with the A10 versus the A9, which means longer software support and probably better stability in performance, but that’s just my anecdote. So I would rather pay the extra $100 to have the iPod touch 7th Gen.

I kinda like the idea of the better processor as well, and I also just LOVE how light and thin the touch is, even though I’ll be putting it in a bulky case I’m sure.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Where could I get an SE for that price new?

https://www.visible.com/phones/#/. <— You don’t have to buy a plan or activate service. Just $100 (and maybe tax) and it’s good to go.

^^ No affiliation, but I did order a spare SE, because at that price, why not? Will give it to my 6-year old to use as an iPod Touch, eventually.

Save that extra $100 you would have spent on a 7th gen Touch for when a cheap device comes out in a few years with an A13 or similar.

 

[ssledoux]

So:

IPhone SE used, but exc cond (I think it still has warranty) unlocked, 132 gb for $150 OR

IPod touch 32 gb new for $199

The iPod has the better processor, but how much better is A10 over A9?
The SE has the better camera and a lot more storage.

WWYD??

 

[BeatCrazy]

So:

IPhone SE used, but exc cond (I think it still has warranty) unlocked, 132 gb for $150 OR

IPod touch 32 gb new for $199

The iPod has the better processor, but how much better is A10 over A9?
The SE has the better camera and a lot more storage.

WWYD??

SE brand new unlocked with warranty for $100. Easy

 

[44267547]

So:

IPhone SE used, but exc cond (I think it still has warranty) unlocked, 132 gb for $150 OR

IPod touch 32 gb new for $199

The iPod has the better processor, but how much better is A10 over A9?
The SE has the better camera and a lot more storage.

WWYD??

iPod 7th Gen easily. It’s lighter, has an updated processor, the performance isn’t necessarily the question you should be asking, it’s the sustainability with software updates that will exceed over the SE. That’s what you should be considering, especially being that your grandson won’t be updating his hardware every year due to his age. I’ve seen photos from both the iPod touch and SE, and for your grandson being eight years old, they’re negligible with the differences. Storage considerations may vary pending whatever he uses it for. (I.e.-Gaming, media, ect).