Inexpensive way to FaceTime kids
October 15, 2019 7:59 AM Subscribe
Looking for a device that would allow grandchildren (3 and 7) to communicate via FaceTime.
It could be an inexpensive phone or some other device.
I honestly don't know how other devices work, but we are willing to try alternatives.
IF you recommend something like a Kindle or iPod Touch, do I need to put them on my phone plan, or do they use wifi?
I know this sounds soooo ignorant, but it's hard to suss out from looking at the ads exactly how these things work, and we just want to talk to the grandkids!
FaceTime is a specific brand of video chat that can only be used by iPhones, iPads, and Apple PCs. However, if you just want to video chat and don't care which company it is with (which it sounds like what your situation is), then pretty much any device (tablet, phone, computer) with a front-facing camera will offer you several options. Many of those will be less expensive than an iDevice, so if you don't already have something that works, I would recommend using one of those.
Some of the most common services people use for videochatting (other than FaceTime) are skype, whatsapp, and google hangouts. All of them are free, and you may already be using some of them as tools elsewhere.
Also - as long as you're using them at home or somewhere else with wifi, then that's sufficient and you don't need to add them to any phone plan.
So, a few clarifying questions to help refine further answers:
-Do you actually need facetime, or just any video chat?
-Are you asking about a device for yourself or for the grandkids?
-Do they already have something with a front-facing camera? Do you?
-Do you prefer the form factor of a tablet, laptop, or phone?
-Would you like to use the device for anything else? Are there any features you know you want?
-Do you want to be able to use the new device away from home, or only at home? Do you/they have wifi at home?
-How big a motivation is price vs convenience?
posted by mosst at 8:09 AM on October 15, 2019 [8 favorites]
Some of the most common services people use for videochatting (other than FaceTime) are skype, whatsapp, and google hangouts. All of them are free, and you may already be using some of them as tools elsewhere.
Also - as long as you're using them at home or somewhere else with wifi, then that's sufficient and you don't need to add them to any phone plan.
So, a few clarifying questions to help refine further answers:
-Do you actually need facetime, or just any video chat?
-Are you asking about a device for yourself or for the grandkids?
-Do they already have something with a front-facing camera? Do you?
-Do you prefer the form factor of a tablet, laptop, or phone?
-Would you like to use the device for anything else? Are there any features you know you want?
-Do you want to be able to use the new device away from home, or only at home? Do you/they have wifi at home?
-How big a motivation is price vs convenience?
posted by mosst at 8:09 AM on October 15, 2019 [8 favorites]
FaceTime can be used over WiFi and can be used on devices without a cellular connection, such as an iPod Touch. FaceTime is, as noted above, limited to Apple devices.
posted by howfar at 8:10 AM on October 15, 2019
posted by howfar at 8:10 AM on October 15, 2019
You can use any smartphone inexpensively at Best Buy and install WhatsApp, which is the same as Facetime but not restricted to iPhone users. If you want to get an iPhone so you can specifically use Facetime, you can buy an Phone 6s 2nd hand on Gazelle for less than $150.
Either way you can use wifi, no phone plan needed at all!
posted by DarlingBri at 8:14 AM on October 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
Either way you can use wifi, no phone plan needed at all!
posted by DarlingBri at 8:14 AM on October 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
If this is intended for the kids’ use - check with the parents as well. Chances are they already have appropriate devices in the house that would facilitate video chatting. You’d just have to make sure you’re all using the same apps to chat.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:17 AM on October 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:17 AM on October 15, 2019 [5 favorites]
If you're concerned about the legal fine print, the minimum age for WhatsApp is 13 worldwide, and 16 in the EU. For AppleID/FaceTime, a child under 13 can have an account created as part of a family group.
posted by zamboni at 8:28 AM on October 15, 2019
posted by zamboni at 8:28 AM on October 15, 2019
How much are you willing to spend? You can get refurbished iPads for as little as $329 direct from Apple.
posted by slkinsey at 9:10 AM on October 15, 2019
posted by slkinsey at 9:10 AM on October 15, 2019
I'd highly recommend buying a used Apple device for this. Refurb from Apple is a good deal and has a solid warranty, but the phone or iPad could be 5 years old and still work just fine for FaceTime.
posted by sleeping bear at 11:03 AM on October 15, 2019
posted by sleeping bear at 11:03 AM on October 15, 2019
If you are good on using an alternative to FT, I use Duo with my kids (who have Apple devices while I have an Android). Works really well.
posted by AugustWest at 11:05 AM on October 15, 2019
posted by AugustWest at 11:05 AM on October 15, 2019
One point that hasn’t been covered yet: the kids could use a desktop computer, a laptop or a phone, but I’d really recommend a tablet/iPad.
Computers/laptops aren’t portable (enough) to follow them when they’re running around/want to show you something that’s elsewhere etc.
Phones are too small to really see that much, esp since reading facial expression is much more difficult online than in person. Also, my kids (2 and 4) enjoy being read to by their grandparents, and phones are too small to really see the pictures, esp. since the grandparents have to hold both their phone and the book their reading from.
posted by eierschnee at 11:50 AM on October 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
Computers/laptops aren’t portable (enough) to follow them when they’re running around/want to show you something that’s elsewhere etc.
Phones are too small to really see that much, esp since reading facial expression is much more difficult online than in person. Also, my kids (2 and 4) enjoy being read to by their grandparents, and phones are too small to really see the pictures, esp. since the grandparents have to hold both their phone and the book their reading from.
posted by eierschnee at 11:50 AM on October 15, 2019 [1 favorite]
(Sorry, I can't tell from your question if this is for you or your grandkids or both)
A Kindle Fire 7 (7" high def screen) is like $50 so you won't cry when it's inevitably dropped. Use WhatsApp for video phone calls over wifi.
Kindles are theoretically restricted to the very limited Amazon App store but you can sideload WhatsApp from their website (briefly turn on "allow apps from unknown sources" in the security settings). You can download Skype and use over wifi as well but WhatsApp is more flexible.
The other annoyance is the "advertisement screensaver". You can pay more to get the Kindle without the promotional screen if you think the kids are going to be clicking on that (oooh princess game) but you can lock down the purchasing process to prevent that. There are also parental controls.
With a bit of effort, you can move all the extraneous home screen apps that you aren't able to delete into a folder and slide it over to the next "page".
The battery life per charge is very good. It uses a micro USB cable to charge (included) not the lightning cable that iPads/iPhones use.
btw, if their library has ebook lending, their parent can download library books to a Kindle; they're not limited to buying ebooks from Amazon.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:06 PM on October 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
A Kindle Fire 7 (7" high def screen) is like $50 so you won't cry when it's inevitably dropped. Use WhatsApp for video phone calls over wifi.
Kindles are theoretically restricted to the very limited Amazon App store but you can sideload WhatsApp from their website (briefly turn on "allow apps from unknown sources" in the security settings). You can download Skype and use over wifi as well but WhatsApp is more flexible.
The other annoyance is the "advertisement screensaver". You can pay more to get the Kindle without the promotional screen if you think the kids are going to be clicking on that (oooh princess game) but you can lock down the purchasing process to prevent that. There are also parental controls.
With a bit of effort, you can move all the extraneous home screen apps that you aren't able to delete into a folder and slide it over to the next "page".
The battery life per charge is very good. It uses a micro USB cable to charge (included) not the lightning cable that iPads/iPhones use.
btw, if their library has ebook lending, their parent can download library books to a Kindle; they're not limited to buying ebooks from Amazon.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 3:06 PM on October 15, 2019 [2 favorites]
The best option I can find, if you have a Facebook account, is Messenger Kids. They can use it on any device with a camera - my kids use it on Kindle Fire tablets. It lets the adult with a Facebook account choose who the kids can call or text. So there's no risk of them talking to strangers. It also has lots of filters and "games" the kids can use while video chatting with you or each other.
My kids use theirs via wifi, so there is no monetary cost. Since I am divorced, it is great for letting them see and talk to me on the nights they aren't with me. And since my parents (their Grannie and Grandpa) live 2,000 miles away, it allows them to video chat with them as long as the other person has Facebook Messenger installed.
posted by tacodave at 5:14 PM on October 15, 2019
My kids use theirs via wifi, so there is no monetary cost. Since I am divorced, it is great for letting them see and talk to me on the nights they aren't with me. And since my parents (their Grannie and Grandpa) live 2,000 miles away, it allows them to video chat with them as long as the other person has Facebook Messenger installed.
posted by tacodave at 5:14 PM on October 15, 2019
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It would be fine to set it up with wifi only.
I'd consider getting an older model iPhone used and don't put any apps on it except for FaceTime and the required system apps. Then lock it down so nothing can be added. Set up an icloud account for the kids (make it a child account) and you're good to go.
posted by k8t at 8:06 AM on October 15, 2019 [2 favorites]