There was a time not too long ago when buying a power bank was as easy as choosing the cheapest portable battery that could charge your phone and quickly slip into your pocket, purse, or backpack. The hardest part was deciding whether it was time to ditch USB-A ports.
Technology
Why parents may want to delay smartphones for kids
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Parents everywhere wrestle with one big question. What is the right age to let a child have a smartphone?
Tweens ask for one long before many adults feel ready. At the same time, researchers keep sounding alarms about how early access may shape health and behavior. Now, a large new study gives parents even more to think about.
Published in Pediatrics, the research tracked more than 10,500 children in the national Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study. It found strong links between early smartphone ownership and higher odds of depression, obesity and insufficient sleep by age 12. The earlier kids got a phone, the greater their risk.
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What the study reveals about early smartphone ownership
The study compared 12-year-olds who owned smartphones with those who did not. Kids with phones were more likely to show signs of depression, carry extra weight and sleep less than their peers without devices. Researchers noted that these patterns held even after accounting for income, neighborhood, parental monitoring and other factors.
TEENS TURNING TO AI FOR LOVE AND COMFORT
Parents can lower these risks by delaying devices, setting limits and keeping phones out of bedrooms at night. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
They also looked at children who still did not own a phone at age 12. One year later, those who had finally received one showed more mental health concerns and worse sleep than those who still did not have a device. These shifts happened quickly, which raised concerns about how powerful the change can be.
Lead author Dr Ran Barzilay explained that parents should treat the decision like a real health milestone. A device changes how kids sleep, move and socialize. That combination may create more strain for a 12-year-old than for a 16-year-old who has more maturity and self-regulation.
Why age matters more than many parents expect
The research shows an association, not a direct cause. Yet the patterns match earlier findings. Kids with smartphones often stay up later, scroll more and move less. That mix can disrupt physical health and emotional well-being. Adolescence is a sensitive stage when small shifts in sleep or mood can have long-lasting effects.
Experts also pointed out how nearly every teen now has smartphone access. That makes the decision even harder for families who want to delay. Still, researchers say the data is strong enough to guide parents toward waiting when possible. Parents do not need perfect evidence to choose a slower timeline.
Pediatric mental health experts warn that a smartphone is not a simple tool. It opens the entire internet with no natural limits. Families need clear rules and protections and those steps require real work from adults. Many parents feel pressure to hand over a device early, yet the expert urged families to trust their instincts when deciding the timing.
The sleep connection families cannot ignore
Most experts agree that phones disrupt sleep. A large share of preteens keep devices in their bedrooms, which leads to late-night scrolling and overnight notifications. Even the glow of the screen can make it harder to fall asleep.
Researchers who study adolescent sleep and screen habits have found that many 11 to 12-year-olds keep devices within reach at night, and a notable share report being awakened by notifications. Experts in this field urge parents to move phones out of bedrooms overnight because better sleep can reduce some of the risks tied to early smartphone access.
EVEN THE FUTURE KING DISCOVERS SMARTPHONES ARE A ROYAL PAIN FOR KIDS AND PARENTS
Researchers found that kids who got phones sooner showed more mental health strain within a year. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)
The challenge is consistency. Many parents struggle to set rules when screens support school work, friendships and safety. Yet researchers stress that even one boundary, like no phones in bedrooms, can protect sleep and reduce stress.
How parents can use this information right now
No one wants to shame parents who already gave their kids a phone. Many families made the decision for safety or communication needs. The study does not claim that every early smartphone user will face health issues. It simply highlights patterns worth considering before making the call. Parents can use these insights to create a healthier plan.
1) Delay smartphones until children show readiness
Readiness is more than age. Look for consistent responsibility with chores, schoolwork and device-free rules on other screens.
2) Set clear family rules for screen time
Kids follow rules when they understand why they exist. Set limits that work for your household and adjust them as schedules and needs change.
3) Keep devices out of bedrooms at night
Nighttime use and notifications interrupt sleep. A “charging station” in the kitchen or living room solves this fast.
4) Talk often about online safety and emotional well-being
Short regular check-ins work better than one long conversation. Keep the tone open and supportive.
5) Use parental controls and app limits
Cell phones give parents straightforward tools to manage what kids can see and when they can use their devices.
TEENS FACE NEW PG-13 LIMITS ON INSTAGRAM
How to set healthy limits on an iPhone
Set downtime
- Open Settings
- Tap Screen Time
- Select Downtime
- Toggle on Scheduled
- Scroll down and set a schedule where only essential apps are allowed
Use app limits
- Go to Settings
- Tap Screen Time
- Select App Limits
- Tap Add limit to set daily time limits for social apps, videos and games
- Click Next and set the Time and Customize Days
- Click the Check Mark in the upper right-hand corner
Restrict adult content
- Open Settings
- Tap Screen Time
- Select Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions
- Tap App Store, Media, Web & Games
- Select Web Content
- Select Limit Adult Websites
How to set healthy limits on Android
Set digital wellbeing limits
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open Settings
- Tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls
- Select Dashboard
- Choose an app
- Tap App Timer and set a daily limit
Enable Google Family Link
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open the Family Link app on the parent device
- Add your child’s Google account
- Set app approvals
- Restrict content through Filters on Google Play
- Enable location and activity reports
Turn on SafeSearch (blocks explicit results in Google Search)
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open the Google app or go to google.com
- Tap your profile photo
- Select Settings
- Tap SafeSearch
- Turn on Filter explicit results
Strengthen browser protection in Chrome
Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer
- Open Chrome
- Tap the three dots
- Select Settings
- Tap Privacy and security
- Select Safe Browsing
- Choose Enhanced protection
- Click the Left arrow to exit.
Experts who study youth mental health stress that the point is not fear. It is preparation. Thoughtful rules, controlled access and earlier boundaries can reduce risks associated with early smartphone ownership. Small changes make a big difference when kids are still developing the habits that shape their health.
Pro tip: Add device protection
Kids download apps, click links and explore online spaces that can expose them to harmful content or scams. Strong antivirus software adds an extra layer of protection by blocking risky sites and unsafe downloads. It helps keep their device safer while you work on healthy screen habits.
The best way to safeguard your kids’ devices from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing their private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all their devices. This protection can also alert them to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping their personal information and digital assets safe.
Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your kids’ Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.
Take my quiz: How safe is your online security?
Think your devices and data are truly protected? Take this quick quiz to see where your digital habits stand. From passwords to Wi-Fi settings, you’ll get a personalized breakdown of what you’re doing right and what needs improvement. Take my Quiz here: Cyberguy.com.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Smartphones bring connection, opportunity and convenience. They also introduce stress distraction and real health challenges for younger users. Research keeps showing that age matters. A 12-year-old may not be built for the same digital world that a 16-year-old can handle with more confidence and self-control. Families do not need guilt. They need facts and support so they can choose what fits their values. As more data arrives, the message grows clearer. Slowing down may give kids the best chance to thrive online and off.
At what age do you think is right for a first smartphone? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.
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Copyright 2025 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Intel announced yesterday that it’s developing an entire “handheld gaming platform” powered by its new Panther Lake chips, and joining an increasingly competitive field. Qualcomm is hinting about potential Windows gaming handhelds showing up at the Game Developers Conference in March, and AMD’s new Strix Halo chips could lead to more powerful handhelds.
According to IGN and TechCrunch, sources say Intel is going to compete by developing a custom Intel Core G3 “variant or variants” just for handhelds that could outperform the Arc B390 GPU on the chips it just announced. IGN reports that by using the new 18A process, Intel can cut different die slices, and “spec the chips to offer better performance on the GPU where you want it.”
As for concrete details about the gaming platform, we’re going to have to wait. According to Intel’s Dan Rogers yesterday, the company will have “more news to share on that from our hardware and software partners later this year.” The Intel-based MSI Claw saw a marked improvement when it jumped to Lunar Lake, and hopefully the new platform keeps up that positive trend.
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This is not a happy topic. But it’s essential advice whether you’re 30 or 90.
If something happened to you tomorrow, could your family get into your digital life? I’m talking about your bank accounts, emails, crypto and a lifetime of memories stored on your phone or computer.
Big Tech and other companies won’t hand over your data or passwords, even to a spouse, without a hassle, if at all.
1. The 10-minute setup
Start with a Legacy Contact. Think of someone you trust who gets access only after you’re gone. Who is that? Good.
SECRET PHRASES TO GET YOU PAST AI BOT CUSTOMER SERVICE
One day, you won’t be here anymore, but your tech will bel. Here’s how to plan for that. (iStock)
· iPhone: Open Settings > tap [Your Name]. Tap Sign-In & Security > Legacy Contact. Go to Add Legacy Contact and follow the prompts.
· Google: Search for Inactive Account Manager in your Google Account settings. Choose how long Google should wait before acting (e.g., three months). Add up to 10 people to be notified and choose which data (Photos, Drive, Gmail) they can download.
Google has an “Inactive Account Manager” feature. (Chesnot/Getty Images)
2. The master key problem
Apple and Google don’t help with banking, insurance, investment or other sites or apps. You need a solid password manager like NordPass that offers emergency access features.
1. Open your Password Manager and look for Emergency Access.
2. Add a Digital Heir: Enter the email of a spouse or trusted child.
3. Set the Safety Delay: Choose a wait period. Usually 7 days is the sweet spot.
4. How it works: If your contact ever requests access, the app sends you an alert. If you’re fine, you hit Deny. But if you’re incapacitated and can’t respond within those seven days, the vault automatically unlocks for them.
Pro tip: Your Emergency Contact only gets viewing privileges. They can’t delete or change anything in your vault.
YOU’LL NEVER TRUST VIDEO AGAIN ONCE YOU SEE WHAT SORA 2 CAN DO
Facebook and Instagram have after-death options for accounts. (Karly Domb Sadof, File/AP )
3. Crypto and social media
· Crypto: Without your seed phrases, that money is gone. Store them physically along with any instructions and receipts of you buying crypto with your estate paperwork. If you use a crypto hardware wallet, keep that in a fireproof safe.
· Social media: On Facebook or Instagram, go to Settings > Memorialization. Choose to either have your account deleted or managed by a contact who can post a final tribute.
Be sure someone knows the passcode to your phone. That’s important for 2FA codes, among other things.
One more thing. If you found this guide helpful, be sure to get my free newsletter at GetKim.com to stay tech-savvy and secure every day!
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Recently, however, brands have been slathering on features, many of which are superfluous, in an attempt to both stand out from the commodified pack and justify higher price points. It’s especially prevalent amongst the bigger power banks that can also charge laptops, those that butt right up to the “airline friendly” 99Wh (around 27,650mAh) size limit.
At CES 2026, we’re seeing a trend towards power banks with integrated cables, which is very convenient. But a similar trend to slap large, energy-sapping displays onto these portable batteries is just silly. And that’s just the start of the atrocities witnessed in recent months.
The power bank that pushed things over the edge for me is the $270 EcoFlow Rapid Pro X Power Bank 27k that I received for review. Here’s my review: it’s bad. Do. Not. Buy. As a power bank, it tries too hard to do too much, making it too expensive, too big, too slow, and too heavy.
The snap-on decorative faceplates are ridiculous and the proprietary magnetic modules for its Apple Watch charger and retractable USB-C cable are too easy to misplace.
The giant display EcoFlow uses scratches easily and is too dim to easily read outdoors. The confusing UX on the Rapid Pro X model is especially offensive in its touch-sensitive clumsiness. Nobody needs a display that takes 30 seconds to wake up from sleep and plays swirly graphics and blinking eyeballs when awake, slowly sapping the power bank’s energy reserves. The fact that it has a screensaver tells me that the product team completely lost the plot.
Anker’s also guilty of putting large displays onto its power banks. Most people don’t need anything more than four dots to show the remaining capacity, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to buy a power bank without a colorful LCD display. In the 20,000mAh range, Anker doesn’t even list a display-less model anymore. I, like many Verge readers, love to see the actually wattage pumping in and out of those ports — but the vast majority of people have no need for that.
Anker, like EcoFlow, also offers power banks with proprietary pogo-pin connectors, Both companies use those connectors to lure owners into buying expensive desk chargers that don’t work with anything else. Those extra-fast charging speeds are unlikely to justify the premium expense for most people.
Most people, even tech savvy Verge readers, don’t even need a power bank that can output 140W of power delivery over USB-C. The majority of non-gaming laptops require 65W or less. And the primary computing device for most people — the phone — only requires about 20W.
We certainly don’t need power banks with built-in hotspots when that’s already built into our Android and iOS phones. Baseus made one anyway.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity are becoming a common feature in some flagship power banks. I’m all for remotely monitoring massive power stations used to power off-grid homes and campers, but not a portable power bank that’s charging the phone in your hand or is plugged into a nearby wall jack.
We also don’t need integrated flashlights. Why random Amazon brand, why?
All these extra “features” just add weight, size, and cost to power banks. They also increase the risk that something will go wrong on a device that’s meant to always be with you and just work when you need it. And power banks don’t need any extra help justifying a recall.
One power bank trend I can get behind is integrated cables like the retractable version found on EcoFlow’s Rapid Pro Power Bank 27k (note the lack of “X” in the name). Always having a properly specced cable that matches the device’s max input and output is super convenient. I like that Kuxiu’s S3 MagSafe power bank, for example, neatly wraps the cable around the chassis to plug into a hidden USB-C jack. That way the cable can be replaced if it frays or breaks.
I’m also a fan of adding kickstands to MagSafe power banks that prop phones up at your preferred angle for extended viewing or recording. More importantly, a few companies are now adopting semi-solid state chemistry that makes their power banks less susceptible to thermal runaway, which was an industry plague in 2025. They cost more to buy, but they’re cheaper to own over their extended lifetimes.
I can’t help but enjoy the look of Sharge’s Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank, even though its integrated wall outlet and underwhelming specs for a battery pack of this size and price completely undercuts my entire argument. I’m a sucker for Braun design, forgive me!
There are still basic power banks available that charge phones and even laptops without too much feature creep and attempted upsell. If all you want is to charge your phone then there’s Anker’s trusty $26 PowerCore 10k or, if you’re feeling fancy, Nitecore’s $65 NB10000 Gen 3 Ultra-Slim USB-C Power Bank. If you also want to charge laptops then you might consider INIU’s delightfully named Cougar P64-E1 Power Bank Fastest 140W 25000mAh for $90, or even Belkin’s more capable $150 UltraCharge Pro Laptop Power Bank 27K coming in March.
The fastest and most powerful power banks with lots of gee-whiz features will often generate headlines for pushing the envelope of what’s possible. But the “best” power bank might not be best for you, when basic affordability is all you really need.
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