Gabb Wireless Review: A Safe Smartphone For Kids And Teens

A Hands On Review of Gabb Wireless for Parents

If you are reading this, you probably feel the same tension I do as a parent. Kids need to learn how to use technology, but you do not want to hand them a fully open smartphone with the entire internet in their pocket.

A smartphone designed to protect kids can actually be a powerful learning tool when it is set up the right way. It gives your child a chance to practice good digital habits, learn how to communicate, and handle responsibility while you still have guardrails in place. That is where Gabb Wireless comes in with their mantra, "Tech in Steps".

Gabb offers a lot of tools for parents and kids, like a curated app store, contact controls, location features, and the Gabb Messenger app for safer calling and texting. You can approve who your child talks to, manage what apps live on the phone, and use tools like Gabb Music and Gabb Maps to give them familiar experiences in safer versions of the apps people use every day.

If you want to raise good digital citizens and you are looking for a first phone for kids or a safe smartphone for teens, you are in the right place to think this through for your family.

Gabb Phone 4 Pro Review From A Dad Who Actually Used It

Gabb Wireless gave me a Gabb Phone 4 Pro to test drive. Overall, I like it. This review is part of a partnership and there are affiliate links, which means if you use my Gabb discount code THESECUREDAD, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you and you get a discount on a great phone.

What Gabb did not do is tell me what to say. Everything here is my honest opinion from using this phone with my family.

Why Gabb Works For Raising Good Digital Citizens

Most parents I talk to feel the same tension. We know our kids need to learn how to use technology, but we do not want to hand them the entire internet in their pocket. We want them to grow into good digital citizens, not be thrown into the deep end of social media and endless content on day one.

That is where a child safe smartphone like the Gabb Phone 4 Pro can make sense. It gives kids the smartphone experience without giving the creeps on the internet access to them.

Your child still gets a real device with a touch screen, apps, texting, calling, maps, and music. You still get parental controls, screen time limits, and a safer ecosystem. Instead of fighting to pull features away from a fully open device, you start with a phone that was built from the ground up for kids and teens.

Key protective features that Gabb offers:

• No open web browser

• No social media apps 

• A curated app selection

• Parent control over what apps are allowed

• Contact controls so parents can decide who kids can call and text

• GPS location features

• Messaging filters

• Content filters

• Unlimited talk and text

• Mobile talk, text, data, and video calling on Verizon’s network

Gabb Messenger is a big part of this story. It is the safe messaging system for the Gabb Phone 4 Pro. Kids can call and text, but it all happens inside an environment that is designed for families.

Parents can manage contacts and keep an eye on who their kids are talking to. Or if you child has earned your trust, parents can let kids add their own contacts. The phone does have a limited dialer meaning that they can call numbers like 911, but not unrecognized numbers. As a helpful tip, you may want to add 911 as a contact to make calling for help quicker.

How Messaging Works With Gabb

Messaging is usually one of the biggest concerns parents have with a kids smartphone. We want our kids to be able to text friends and family, but we also want to know they are safe. Gabb takes an interesting middle ground approach that is worth understanding.

With Gabb Messenger, parents do not see every single message their child sends or receives. Instead, only flagged texts become visible to parents. Messages are scanned for harmful or explicit content, and when something crosses that line it is flagged and sent to the parent to review. Everyday normal conversations stay private between your child and their contacts.

The reason Gabb only shows flagged messages is to help build a foundation of trust between parents and kids. The goal is not to read every word they write. The goal is to help kids learn to use technology safely, one step at a time. Gabb calls this idea “Tech in Steps.” Your child gets room to grow and communicate, while you get alerts when something looks unsafe.

For many families, this approach hits a healthy balance. Parents can trust that messages are being monitored for harmful or explicit content, and that anything concerning will be flagged. Kids get a chance to practice good digital behavior without feeling like every single text is being watched.

As a parent I do suggest that you set the expectation that the phone is yours and the use of it is a privilege. That being the case you reserve the right to look through the phone when you deem necessary.

First Impressions And Unboxing Gabb Phone Pro 4

I have opened a lot of tech over the years, and the Gabb kids phone unboxing experience surprised me in a good way. When you open the Gabb Phone 4 Pro box it feels like a real modern smartphone, not a toy.

What you get with the Gabb Phone 4 Pro

Inside you find the phone, a USB C to USB C cable, and a SIM ejector tool. There is no wall charger included, which is common now. Gabb also sent me the official tempered glass screen protector for the Gabb Phone 4 Pro. That kit felt top tier and it actually included two full sets of everything. The only drawback is that there were no instructions, so you need to be comfortable applying a screen protector on your own.

The hardware itself makes a strong first impression. The Gabb Phone 4 Pro is built on a Samsung A15, so it feels like a real Samsung phone in your hand. The 6.5 inch Super AMOLED screen looks crisp and bright. It does not look or feel like a stripped down kid gadget. It looks like a normal Android phone that an adult might use.

I was got a great deal on an Otterbox case for this phone on Amazon. I do recommend getting a case because you know… kids.

Camera, Performance, And Battery Life

A big part of any Gabb Phone 4 Pro review is the camera and performance. The main rear camera is 50 megapixels, backed by a 5 megapixel ultrawide lens and a 2 megapixel macro lens. On the front you get a 13 megapixel selfie camera. Video recording goes up to full HD at 30 frames per second. For a child safe smartphone, the Gabb Phone 4 Pro camera is more than good enough for social media style photos, school events, and family trips.

In my testing, Gabb Phone 4 Pro battery life was solid. After a little more than four hours of active use, I still had about 47 percent left. For a typical kid who is not streaming video nonstop, that is plenty to get through a full school day and then some. The phone charges with a standard USB C port.

Gabb Wireless Service Plans And Pricing

When you pick a Gabb Phone 4 or Gabb Phone 4 Pro, you also pick a Gabb service plan that fits your child. All plans include unlimited talk and text, which is great. Gabb keeps this pretty simple with three phone plans and several contract options, so you are not buried in fine print.

• Starter plan begins around $24.99 per month

• Standard plan begins around $29.99 per month

• Advanced plan begins around $34.99 per month

Source: Gabb Wireless

All three phone plans are available for both the Gabb Phone 4 and the Gabb Phone 4 Pro. Each step up adds more features, so you can start with what your child needs today and adjust later as they grow. You can switch plans through your Gabb account, and if you change in the middle of a billing cycle you might see a small prorated credit or charge on that bill.

All of this rides on Verizon's network with nationwide coverage, which is important if you expect your child to use the Gabb Phone 4 Pro away from home. For most families, the combination of simple plan choices, contract flexibility, and automatic family discounts makes Gabb’s pricing structure pretty budget friendly.

Setup And Everyday Use

Setting up the Gabb Phone 4 Pro was simple. Inside the box there is a card that points you to Gabbs set up webpage. From there you either create a new Gabb account or sign in if you already have one. You can set up an account by entering my email, a password, parent name, and a four digit PIN. The process was quick and there are no confusing steps.

What stood out most to me is how polished the system feels. I have tested other kids cell phones with parental controls where the experience is fine but clunky. Menus feel rough around the edges and animations are choppy. The Gabb ecosystem is different.

The interface feels smooth and modern. It looks like Android because it is Android, with safety features and limits layered on top. In my opinion it is as close as you are going to get to an iPhone like experience on a kids focused smartphone.

What Wireless Carrier Does Gabb Use?

Gabb runs its own private network for security and account management, but behind the scenes it rides on Verizon’s towers. That means Gabb customers get coverage on the same nationwide 4G and 5G network that Verizon is known for, while still staying inside Gabb’s safer ecosystem for kids and teens.

You do not add a Gabb line to your existing Verizon account. Instead, you pay Gabb directly for service, and Gabb phones are locked to work only on the Gabb network. The upside is that you get simple kid focused plans and strong national coverage. It is still a good idea to check coverage in your area, but for most families this setup gives you the reach of a major carrier with the guardrails of a kids first provider.

Network Data

One big advantage that sets Gabb Wireless apart from some other kids phone providers is how they handle network data.

Some kids smartphones only allow talk and text on the cellular network and then require WIFI for apps to work. Once your child leaves the house, a lot of their apps simply stop working. That can turn an expensive phone into a basic walkie talkie the moment they step off your home network.

The Gabb Phone 4 Pro uses network data for apps and maps on Verizon’s network on the Advanced plan. In my experience the network signal has been strong and consistent in normal coverage areas. Apps that are allowed on the phone can use cellular data, which makes the device much more useful as a first phone for kids. Your child can use maps, music, and approved apps when they are out of the house, not only when they are on WIFI.

Gabb Music and Maps

Gabb also includes its own safe versions of everyday tools. Gabb Music is a kid friendly music app that lives inside the Gabb ecosystem. It is fun and it gives kids a way to listen to music without dropping them straight into an adult streaming service. The tradeoff is that the library is not as robust as something like Apple Music. If your teen is a serious music fan, you will want to set expectations for them.

Gabb Maps is another helpful tool. It gives your child a way to see where they are going and learn basic navigation skills while staying inside a more controlled experience than a wide-open maps app tied into a massive data profile.

For many families this balance is ideal. You get a child safe smartphone that can still use data for the tools your child needs in the real world.

The Gabb App Store

Because this is a kids phone with parental controls, there are some trade offs you should know about.

When I first browsed the Gabb app store, I noticed right away that the games section feels limited. You are not going to see popular titles in there. Parents can request apps, but at first glance it definitely seems curated more heavily for school apps, learning tools, and utilities than for games like Retro Bowl or Angry Birds.

Gabb is very intentional about what they allow in the app store, and it lines up with their whole idea of “Tech in Steps” and helping kids grow into technology instead of getting consumed by it.

From my conversations and experience, the thinking here is pretty simple. Gabb wants kids to live beyond the screen. We know games are designed to be addictive and it is very easy for kids to end up glued to their phones for hours at a time.

On top of that, some games quietly open the door to the wider internet through chat features, ads, or hidden browser access. So Gabb limits which games are available on their devices to cut down on both screen addiction and risky internet pathways.

As a parent that can feel restrictive when your kid wants a specific game, but I also understand the reasoning. The app store is not meant to be a playground for endless entertainment. It is meant to be a controlled environment that supports school, communication, and a healthier relationship with technology.

Customer Service And Support

Any honest Gabb Wireless review should mention customer service, because at some point you may need help or at least have peace of mind knowing help is there if you want it.

I had a small issue and reached out to Gabb support. I was able to text with a representative, which I found very convenient. I did not have to sit on hold. The person I chatted with was helpful and professional, and the problem was handled quickly.

Gabb Wireless customer service hours are pretty generous. They are open six days a week. Monday through Friday they are available from 7:00 am to 6:30 pm Mountain Time. On Saturday they are open from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. They are closed on Sunday. For most families that is a solid window of time to get help when something comes up.

Gabb Review: Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, I think Gabb Wireless is a top tier choice for parents who want to give their kids the benefits of a smartphone without opening the door to the entire internet.

The Gabb Phone 4 Pro feels like a real, modern phone, not a toy. It gives kids calling, texting, maps, music, and a smooth user experience, while still keeping you in control with smart limits, curated apps, and tools that support raising good digital citizens.

If you have been on the fence about a first phone for your child, I believe Gabb Wireless is absolutely worth your serious consideration.

I recommend buying directly from Gabb’s website so you can take advantage of current offers and get the full Gabb experience. When you check out, use my promo code THESECUREDAD to save on your new smartphone.