This $68 phone offers smartphone-generation kids the childhood that millennials missed out on.
Pinwheel
A new generation of kids is set to experience the excitement of directly calling their friends again. Pinwheel's newest product will allow children to have a genuine conversation without having to send multiple voice notes beforehand. The company has introduced Pinwheel Home, a retro-styled home phone tailored for kids aged 5 to 10, providing a means to connect with friends and family before they get their first smartphone. It supports voice calls exclusively, keeping social media, games, texts, and endless feeds out of the mix.
The landline makes a comeback, minus the phone jack.
Pinwheel
Pinwheel Home has an appearance reminiscent of a 1990s bedroom device. Although it connects via Wi-Fi rather than a standard phone line, this enhances its compatibility with contemporary homes. This feature adds flexibility, allowing placement almost anywhere there is a power outlet and wireless connection, without the need to contact a cable provider or drill into walls.
The smaller Pinwheel Home Spark starts at $68 and comes in white, black, blue, or purple. In contrast, the bulkier Home Classic is priced at $79, available in pink, black, or white, and includes a larger retro handset and stickers for personalization. Both models can be purchased directly from Pinwheel, with availability on Amazon scheduled for this fall.
Parents control the phones via Pinwheel’s existing Caregiver Portal. They can approve all contacts, set calling hours and time limits, review call logs, and more. Features like speed dial and voicemail are also included.
Calling another Pinwheel Home device is free.
Pinwheel
One of the most exciting new features, besides the design, is the Pinwheel calling network. Kids can call other Pinwheel Home devices without any charge through the company's Circle service, which utilizes a shorter Pinwheel Code instead of a typical phone number. Emergency calling is available on both free and paid plans.
To call regular mobile phones and landlines, a subscription is necessary. The $6.99 monthly Friends & Family plan provides a complete 10-digit number and allows calls to five approved outside contacts. The $9.99 Unlimited plan eliminates the five-number restriction.
Pinwheel intends to introduce three-way calling and closer integration with its children's watches and smartphones through upcoming updates. This could eventually enable a child to retain the same approved contacts and number when transitioning between a home phone and a mobile device.
Vikhyaat Vivek is a tech journalist and reviewer with seven years of experience focusing on consumer hardware.
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This $68 phone offers smartphone-generation kids the childhood that millennials missed out on.
Pinwheel's vintage-style home phone allows kids to make voice calls to pre-approved contacts, with set calling hours and no access to apps or social media.