Parents who are looking for a great first smartphone for their kids should consider the Kyocera Hydro VIBE waterproof 4G LTE smartphone for Sprint. The Hydro VIBE is a great device that the tech-savvy parent can certainly appreciate and includes a slew of great features. It’s an Android smartphone that has a great design and is waterproof, making it a great first smartphone. A further look at its features which I’ll let into below, can be the deciding factor in whether it is the right phone for your child.
One of the biggest reasons the Kyocera Hydro VIBE is such a great option for kids is that it is waterproof. Accidents happen, but with this smartphone, the user can spill a drink or accidentally splash water on it after washing their hands without fear of any damage. Kids can also feel free to take the phone to the pool and snap a few photos in or around the water. I have heard more than a handful of stories about losing a phone to water damage, including one friend who’s phone fell in the toilet. I have dropped a phone in the bathtub but luckily it had less than a half inch of water in it and I grabbed it quickly but I didn’t feel nearly as confident in its safety as I would with a waterproof phone.
The Kyocera Hydro VIBE has a 4.5 inch IPS qHD screen that has a resolution of 960 by 540 pixels. It is quite lightweight at only 139 grams. At the same time, it is fairly rugged at 0.43 inches in depth. It is submersible to 3.5 feet for up to 30 minutes! It includes a primary rear-facing 8mp camera that doubles as a video camcorder that takes quality images. It runs on Android’s 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system, which means there are plenty of great apps from Google Play that can be installed, including children’s educational apps that parents will love.
Sprint customers who have kids will find that the Sprint Framily Plan is the perfect package option to go along with this rugged waterproof phone. With it, everyone on the plan gets 1GB of data, unlimited talk and text for only $45 per month and bills can be separated by account so that each adult on the plan can pay their own way and for their own kids.
Wireless charging is also included in the Kyocera Hydro VIBE for Sprint. This technology is more and more becoming the norm in smartphones and makes it even more convenient to charge them without having to worry about connecting a cable wire. This device relies on PMA-enabled (Power Matters Alliance) wireless charging, which means the user can simply lay it down on a charging pad to recharge the battery. The wireless charger is sold separately and the phone will get the user through a good 14 hours of talk time.The importance of kids having their own smartphone these days cannot be under-stressed.
Cell phones are no longer considered luxury devices but necessities. Contacting parents during afterschool activities and being able to make calls during emergencies is a must. There are also other reasons for kids to own smartphones, such as being able to text when they are going to a friend’s house or need their parents to pick them up.The tech-savvy parent will also delight at the price of the Hydro VIBE. It is zero dollars down and only $9.59 per month for 24 months or $29.99 when signing up for a two year new contract or when renewing a current contract.
Unedited photos taken with the Kyocera Hydro VIBE
The photos below are photos that I took with the Kyocera Hydro VIBE. They are unedited with the exception of being resized and watermarked.
I hope this review of the Kyocera Hydro VIBE helps you, especially if you’re looking for a good, durable first-phone for your child.
Stay tuned (sign up for my daily rss/email updates in the box at the top of the right column) for more reviews of devices offered through Sprint as I enjoy being a #SprintMom Sprint Ambassador during which I will test various Sprint devices and service options over the course of the year.
Enjoy!
Alicia