On Friday, Apple's latest installments in its flagship family of smartphones will become available for all consumers. The iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C hit store shelves on Sept. 20. With the iPhone 5C going as low as $79 with a purchase at Walmart, many parents may be wondering if now is the right time to give their child a smartphone. USA Today did a little research to determine whether Apple's new device or an Android smartphone is a better deal for parents concerned with some of he risks of putting such technology in their child's hands.
"If you were to just consider the parental controls available through Apple's iOS versus Android, iOS would win hands down. You can easily shut off access to web browsing, the camera, video chat, installing apps, deleting apps and sharing location information, among other things. Plus, you can set content ratings for videos, music, books and apps, and even set a volume limit," writes USA Today's Suzanne Kantra of Techlicious.
She goes on to say that with Apple pushing iOS 7 as a software update on Wednesday, parents will also get the ability to automatically block access to adult content on the Internet or limit browsing to a list of sites they've approved for their children.
On the flip-side of the coin, Android offers significantly fewer features compared to iOS. All Android devices can do is restrict content for entertainment apps available through the Google Play store and requires a password before your child can make a purchase. It's important to note that the child will not be prompted for a password for free apps.
However, what Android lacks in built-in controls, it makes up for in third-party development. Apps like Kid's Shell, Kido'z and NQ Family Guardian are specifically designed to manage an Android-powered device for children.
Check here for a more comprehensive list of factors to consider including the price of the smartphones for kids, malware concerns and how to find the device should your child lose it, via USA Today.
