Finding a first smartphone that doesn’t hand a child unrestricted access to the internet is a familiar headache for parents. OtherPhone, from UK company SafetyMode, is pitched as an answer: a Nothing Phone 3a Lite running software that scans content inside apps like WhatsApp and Snapchat in real time, rather than just blocking whole apps or websites the way Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link do.
What It Does Differently
Most parental control tools work at the app or website level: block Instagram, block a URL, done. SafetyMode says it works inside the content itself, so it can flag or block explicit images, cyberbullying language, or adult content wherever it turns up, even inside a private message. It also uses a graduated interface: kids start on a distraction-free list of apps, move to a familiar grid layout, then eventually to a full Android experience as parents loosen the settings.
Core Features (No Subscription Needed)
Content filtering across every app. App scheduling, so games can be blocked during homework and social media at bedtime. A word and website blacklist. Location tracking, included with the phone itself. All safety data is stored on the device rather than a cloud server.
SafetyMode Plus, priced at £5.99 a month after a free three month trial, adds remote management from a parent’s own phone, plus email alerts whenever the filters catch something.
Price and Specs
OtherPhone costs £249, down from £279 during a current sale, with the handset itself specced as a genuinely capable phone: a 6.67 inch AMOLED display, three rear cameras, 128GB storage and 8GB RAM. It ships with a case and screen protector, and orders come with 30 day returns and free delivery.
The Verdict
On paper, OtherPhone addresses a real gap: most “safe phone” solutions filter what a child can open, not what they encounter once they’re inside an approved app. Co-developed with Mumsnet parents and endorsed by figures including web inventor Tim Berners-Lee, it’s aimed squarely at parents past the “no phone at all” stage but not ready for open access. The catch is the same as any filtering software: how well it performs depends on real world use rather than a spec sheet, and families considering it should weigh the ongoing monthly cost of full remote management against the core, subscription-free protection already included.
You can view current pricing and colour options for OtherPhone here.
