I recently wrote about how to deal with it when the kids finally ask for a smartphone, and found that there are some options with robust features and an honorable ethos, even if it was a little overwhelming to find the right level of protection. The Pinwheel Plus 4 probably offers the best balance of features and protection that I’ve seen to date.

Pinwheel uses custom software overlaid on a Samsung A15 5G phone, which bodes well for looks-focused teens who want to fit in and impress their peers with a device from a major brand. Most importantly, though, is the helping hand Pinwheel lends in protecting kids from the relentless digital age while giving them the freedom to learn healthy habits.

Wind Turbine Plus 4

The Pinwheel Plus 4 is a Samsung Galaxy A15 5G with Pinwheel’s custom software that promises to keep your kids’ digital lives safe. The phone comes without a browser, social media, or even the Google Play Store – all of which can be added later when your child is old enough to take on more responsibility – but is a smart and fashionable way to stay in touch or get in touch in an emergency.

Per

• Pinwheel software offers robust digital protection for children
• Branded product Samsung A15 5G
• 90 Hz display
• Long battery life
• Responsive support team

Disadvantages

• Pinwheel app reviews are great but limited in number
• Some steps to relax security precautions can be confusing

Price, availability and specifications

Cost-effective yet visually appealing

The Pinwheel Plus 4, Pinwheel’s second-best device (topped by a Google Pixel 8A), cleverly uses the brand’s own Samsung A15 5G as the hardware for its Pinwheel software. However, it’s only available from Pinwheel in a dark blue colorway, although Samsung’s non-Pinwheel A15 5G is available in other colors.

You can order a Pinwheel Plus 4 directly from Pinwheel for $329. Older model versions, namely the Pinwheel Plus 3, are available on Amazon, but I have not spotted the Plus 4 there yet.

What’s good about the Pinwheel Plus 4?

Policy: Protect children at all costs

Pinwheel promises ultimate control over your kids’ digital lives to protect them from the dangers of social media and screen addiction. They succeed on every level. In fact, the Google Play Store isn’t even available on the phone to begin with – but you can enable it later if you want. In terms of functionality, the Pinwheel Plus 4’s protection is even more robust than the competition right out of the box. It’s a communications device first and a fun camera/game console second. And when it comes to protecting kids from the downsides of social media and habitual gaming that lead to increased screen time, it’s honestly great.

The Pinwheel dashboard for caregivers and parents provides a comprehensive device overview, including location, app permissions, text messages/calls, and more. Pinwheel has even reviewed and rated hundreds of apps so parents can determine if something could be dangerous. The brand also offers excerpts on Why they are marked as such. Is it always perfect? ​​No. Does Pinwheel still do a pretty good job? Yes.

In addition to controlling app installation, Pinwheel also allows you to set schedules and time limits. You can also create a schedule specifically for school days and your children’s class time.

Ultimately, though, the phone’s power is there when you need it. It has an octa-core processor, a Super AMOLED display and 90Hz refresh rate, three main cameras, a selfie camera, USB-C fast charging, 5G connectivity, 8GB of RAM, and 128GB of internal storage that’s expandable. All of that is plenty. Your tweens can take pictures and videos, make calls and send texts (to approved contacts—if someone isn’t approved, the phone won’t even notify you, but the Caregiver Portal will), and play games.

What’s bad about the Pinwheel Plus 4?

The app selection is robust but not perfect

During my tests, I found that the app section in the Pinwheel portal does not have all the apps I needed for my test. In particular, there were no speed test apps that were tested or approved by the Pinwheel team. This gives you a good idea of ​​how great the app review system is, but still has blind spots. On the phone, the Google Play Store was not as on theBark Phone and in the end I actually needed it.

Related

I tested the Bark Phone, a rebranded Samsung Galaxy for kids and their worried parents

The Bark Phone takes a Samsung Galaxy A-series phone and gives it an armor

You may Request apps for review, but the timing of doing so isn’t ideal. That led me to simply enable the Google Play Store so I could download one. After enabling it, I logged in with my Google account, but I couldn’t tap the email field without Pinwheel blocking me. I had to contact Pinwheel support to get the issue resolved, and I’m not sure I would have figured out the workaround without help. Once it was obvious, it wasn’t hard, it just wasn’t very clear.

Apart from that, the cameras were not the best they could have been, and for some For tweens and teens, that could be a dealbreaker. Pinwheel offers the far better Pixel 8A as an option (in almost every area, including the camera), but you’ll pay $599 instead of $329 for the device, plus the normal monthly Pinwheel software fee and cellular service.

Should you buy it?

To protect your children and remain flexible? Absolutely.

The whole point of software like Pinwheel is to keep your kids safe in a relentless digital age where companies vie for their attention, show them ads, exploit their habits, and give them easy access to social media. So when they inevitably ask for a smartphone, having robust protection for your kids is worth your time and money.

On the competition side, there’s Bark and its Bark phone, whose hardware is currently based on the Samsung A14 5G but is a generation behind. Bark also offers access to the Google Play Store right out of the box and does a great job of protecting your kids – although your little ones may succumb to the temptation to scroll through every available app before asking for permission to download it. Ultimately, it’s always up to parents to make the right decision.

Remember that Bark is one of the software-based solutions that can also be applied to existing devices as additional subscriptions. You might consider installing it on an older phone if you still have one in good condition (including iPhones), as it could save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. Pinwheel is only available on Pinwheel phones.

Wind Turbine Plus 4

The Pinwheel Plus 4 is a Samsung Galaxy A15 5G with Pinwheel’s custom software that promises to keep your kids’ digital lives safe. The phone comes without a browser, social media, or even the Google Play Store – all of which can be added later when your child is old enough to take on more responsibility – but is a smart and fashionable way to stay in touch or get in touch in an emergency.

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