Pinwheel Phone Review
When it comes to choosing a safe phone for your child, there are a lot of factors to consider. A popular phone to consider is the Pinwheel Phone. It offers a variety of features to help parents keep their kids safe online, but there are some important shortcomings you should be aware of. As a result, we are providing a comprehensive Pinwheel Phone review for you.
OUR VERDICT
The Pinwheel Phone is a good option for parents with younger children who need a more restricted smartphone. While it does offer a decent amount of customization and monitoring options, with no internet browsing, limited apps available, and no access to app stores, children may quickly outgrow the Pinwheel Phone, especially in teenage years.
FOR
Remote management
Remote text message monitoring
Customizable restrictions
AGAINST
Expensive
No web browser capability
Limited apps that child can download
Introduction
When you turn on the Pinwheel phone, the software automatically loads. Parents can then log in to a parent portal and set up the controls.
As mentioned above, Pinwheel phones don’t come with cell service, so parents must buy a separate cellular plan.
Pinwheel phones allow parents to set basic restrictions for apps. There are no time limits for apps. Pinwheel provides over 500 apps that parents can download onto their child’s phone. But it can only be downloaded if an app is on that list. Parents who want a specific app added can request it from Pinwheel.
Parents can also access other features like discovering the phone’s GPS location, creating a safe list of contacts and monitoring SMS text messages.
Pinwheel doesn’t offer a way to receive alerts about concerning messages. However, they have announced on their website that they will launch this service in 2023.
Pinwheel Mobile Phones
Pinwheel offers several options for parents who are interested in a safe smartphone with built-in parental controls: a cheaper option, a rugged option, and a more expensive option. All phones come with the same parental control features, so you are paying for the technical specs (which they do not list in their shop). Phones also do not come with cell service, so you will need to purchase that separately.
Pinwheel Slim 5
The Pinwheel Slim 5 is a BLU phone. At $199, it is the cheapest option by far. However, it is not compatible with the Verizon network, nor 5G.
Pinwheel Rugged 3
The Pinwheel Rugged 3 is priced at $249 and is a larger phone, intended to be able to handle rougher usage. The specs of this phone are on the lower end, especially for the price, and it is not compatible with AT&T, Verizon, and 5G.
Pinwheel Plus 2
The highest-end phone available from Pinwheel, the Plus 2 costs $329. It is a Samsung device that is compatible with all carriers and 5G.
How Pinwheel Works
When you turn on the Pinwheel phone, the software automatically loads. Parents can then log in to a parent portal and set up the controls.
As mentioned above, Pinwheel phones don’t come with cell service, so parents must buy a separate cellular plan.
Pinwheel phones allow parents to set basic restrictions for apps. There are no time limits for apps. Pinwheel provides over 500 apps that parents can download onto their child’s phone. But it can only be downloaded if an app is on that list. Parents who want a specific app added can request it from Pinwheel.
Parents can also access other features like discovering the phone’s GPS location, creating a safe list of contacts and monitoring SMS text messages.
Pinwheel doesn’t offer a way to receive alerts about concerning messages. However, they have announced on their website that they will launch this service in 2023.
Pros and Cons of the Pinwheel Phone
Pros
√ 600+ vetted apps available
√ GPS location
√ No internet, social media, or unsafe apps
√ Compatible with multiple carriers
Cons
x Limited customization
x Expensive
x Cannot download apps from Google Play
x No message alerts
What you get from the Pinwheel Phone
The Pinwheel Phone offers an array of features that cater to both parents and children:
Location Tracking:
Stay connected with your child’s whereabouts using our reliable GPS tracking feature. You’ll always know they’re safe and sound.
Contact safelist:
Manage and approve the contacts your child can communicate with, ensuring their conversations are limited to trusted individuals.
Emergency SOS:
Rest easy knowing that your child has access to a dedicated emergency button, instantly alerting you in case of any urgent situations.
Monitor text and call history:
Read texts and monitor calls as your child learns appropriate communication – without asking them to hand over their phone.
Does the Pinwheel Phone Have Internet?
The Pinwheel Phone is able to connect to WiFi and use cellular data. However, it does not come with any sort of internet browsing, so children are unable to visit any websites. While this may be suitable for a very young child, visiting websites will become a necessity as a child gets older. Parents may prefer a safe phone such as the MMGuardian Phone that offers filtered internet browsing as an option for when their child reaches that stage.
Can I Install Additional Parental Controls on the Pinwheel Phone?
Parents are not able to install any additional apps on their child’s Pinwheel Phone, other than the vetted apps that Pinwheel allows. Therefore, installing extra parental controls on the phone is not possible.
If you are interested in having more parental control options such as setting app time limits, filtered web browsing, or location tracking schedules, you should consider a phone that has more options such as the MMGuardian Phone.
What is the Cost and Availability of the Pinwheel Phone?
For the phone itself, the Pinwheel Slim 5 costs $199, the Pinwheel Rugged 3 costs $249, and the Pinwheel Plus 2 costs $329.
In addition to purchasing the phone, parents also need to purchase a monthly plan that covers the cost of the parental controls. For all phone options, the monthly plan starts at $14.99/month.
Pinwheel offers a number of accessories to purchase with the phone such as cases and screen protectors as well as protection plans against phone damage.
MMGuardian Phone vs Pinwheel Phone
The MMGuardian Phone has been mentioned several times in this article as it covers many of the weaknesses of the Pinwheel Phone. In particular, the MMGuardian Phone gives parents full control to be as hands on or off as necessary. This means it provides all of the functionality of the Pinwheel Phone but also provides additional features that parents can adjust as their child grows.
For example, not only does the MMGuardian Phone allow parents to set daily time limits for apps, it gives parents the option to download any app from Google Play, including web browsers which can be filtered by MMGuardian. The MMGuardian Phone also comes with AI-powered Safety Alerts which alert parents about concerning messages related to cyberbullying, drugs, and much more.
The MMGuardian Phone offers everything that the Pinwheel Phone offers, for less money. For a more in-depth look at the MMGuardian Phone vs the Pinwheel Phone, see our comparison article.
