The basic, better and best mobile phone options for kids

Do you need guidance over choosing a mobile phone for your child? Photograph: Katherine Anne Rose/The Observer

If you have decided it is time for your child to have their first mobile phone, or they are due an upgrade, the choice can be bewildering.

There are various things to consider, from the handset and the mobile service to go with it, to parental controls and how well the phone fits in with the devices you already use.