Bilby vs handing over a phone
Lots of families answer “I want my music” with a spare phone or a cheap new one. That can work well. Here is the difference, and when a phone is the right call.
TL;DR
Bilby
A 2.8-inch touchscreen, headphone jack, speakers and the streaming apps. No calls or texts. Lock it to music with a free app.
A spare phone
With WiFi and Screen Time or Family Link turned on, a spare phone makes a decent music player. It is still a full smartphone, so there is more to lock down.
A new phone
If your kid needs calls, texts or location sharing, a phone does things the Bilby can’t. It is a bigger step than a music player.
Side by side
Same points, same order, for each one.
Bilby
- Main job — Music
- Calls and texts — No. It is a music player
- Screen — 2.8 inches. Fine for picking songs, not much fun for video
- Streaming — Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Tidal
- Headphones — 3.5 mm jack and Bluetooth, plus two speakers
- Parental controls — Android apps like AppBlock. Our setup guide walks you through it
- Cost — US$100, no plan
- Weak spot — A determined older kid can get around app-level locks, same as on a phone
A spare phone
- Main job — Everything
- Calls and texts — Only with a SIM and a plan
- Screen — Usually 6 inches or more. Great for video, which is the catch
- Streaming — Everything
- Headphones — Many newer phones have no headphone jack
- Parental controls — Screen Time on iPhone or Google Family Link on Android. Both are free and good
- Cost — Nothing if it is spare, plus a plan if you want calls
- Weak spot — Older phones stop getting security updates, and it is still a phone
A new phone
- Main job — Everything
- Calls and texts — Yes, with a plan
- Screen — Large
- Streaming — Everything
- Headphones — Often Bluetooth or USB-C only
- Parental controls — Screen Time or Family Link
- Cost — The phone plus a monthly plan
- Weak spot — Hard to take back once it is theirs
Which one should you pick?
Get a music player if…
What your kid wants right now is music. A music player gives them that without the rest of the phone, and you can hand over a phone later when they are ready for it.
Use a spare phone if…
You have one, it still gets updates, and you are comfortable setting up Screen Time or Family Link. It will cost you nothing.
Get a phone if…
They need to call you, text friends or share their location. The Bilby can’t do any of that.
When the Bilby is the wrong choice
Two cases where a phone makes more sense:
They need to reach you
The Bilby can’t make calls or send texts. If that is why you are thinking about a phone, get a phone.
You have a spare phone and like the controls
Screen Time and Family Link are good. If you already have the hardware, try that first.
Questions parents ask
Is a music player better than a phone for an 8-year-old?
For music, usually. It does the one thing they are asking for, and a small screen isn’t much of a draw for videos or games.
Can my kid watch YouTube on the Bilby?
It runs Android, so video apps can be installed. If you don’t want that, AppBlock can hide everything except the music apps you choose.
What parental controls work on the Bilby?
The same Android parental control apps you would put on a phone. We recommend AppBlock, which is free on Google Play, and our setup guide goes through it screen by screen.
Can the Bilby make calls?
No. It is a music player. It streams over WiFi and plays your own files offline.
Music first? Get the Bilby.
player, USB-C cable and case included. 90-day free returns.
More comparisons and guides: Bilby vs Yoto vs Toniebox · Bilby vs an old iPod vs a cheap MP3 player · Bilby vs handing over a phone · A first music player for an 8-year-old · Music without a smartphone · Setup guide