LOUP
The phone before their first smartphone. Approved contacts only, no apps, no algorithms. E-Ink display, Wi-Fi connected, parent-controlled. Free LOUP-to-LOUP calling; add real phone numbers for $10/month.
$149
- ✓ Free US shipping, arrives in 3–5 days
- ✓ 30-day returns, no questions
- ✓ 2-year kid-proof warranty (drops included)
- ✓ Free LOUP-to-LOUP calls forever · real numbers $10/mo, cancel anytime
Hardware detail
Built like gear, not like a toy
USB-C + headphone jack
Charges in 70 minutes, runs 5 days. Yes, a real headphone jack — car rides are long.
Scroll dial + talk bar
Every control is physical, with detents you can feel. Operable inside a pocket, no looking.
Swappable back plates
The anodized back pops off without tools. Patterns, teams, or a plate printed with your own photo.
The honest comparison
LOUP vs. the other options
| LOUP | Smartphone | Kids smartwatch | Flip phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen time | Zero | 5+ hrs/day avg | Creeping in (apps, games) | Low but growing |
| Feeds & algorithms | None, physically impossible | The whole product | Some models | Browser included |
| Works on Wi-Fi | Yes — no SIM, no cellular bill | Yes (cellular) | Yes (cellular) | Yes (cellular) |
| Parent-approved contacts only | Yes, enforced in hardware | No | Usually | No |
| Battery | 5 days | 1 day | 1 day (less if used) | 2–3 days |
| Survives being a kid's | Built for it, 2-yr warranty | Add a $60 case & pray | Mostly | It's disposable |
| Kid actually thinks it's cool | That's the whole design brief | Yes (that's the problem) | It's fine | No |
| Price | $149 | $400–1,200 | $150–400 + plan | $40–100 |
Tech specs
The fine print, printed large
Hardware
- Body
- Anodized aluminum unibody, four colorways
- Display
- E-ink contact strip (no glow, no video, no apps)
- Controls
- Side scroll dial + push-to-talk bar + volume rocker
- Speaker & Mic
- Full-range speaker, dual noise-cancelling mics
- Durability
- IP54 splash resistant, drop-tested to 2 meters
- Size & Weight
- 4.3" × 2.6" × 0.5" — 118 g
Calling
- LOUP to LOUP
- Free forever, unlimited
- Real phone numbers
- $10/month, unlimited US & Canada, cancel anytime
- Voice messages
- Unlimited, end-to-end encrypted
- Contacts
- Up to 20, parent-approved only
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi only — no SIM card, no cellular bill
Battery & Charging
- Battery life
- 5 days typical use
- Charging
- USB-C, 0–100% in 70 minutes
In the Box
- Included
- LOUP device, USB-C cable, stickers, quick-start card
- Also included
- 2-year kid-proof warranty, 30-day free returns
Reviews
5.0 ★ from 5 families
★★★★★
“My 9-year-old calls me from the backyard fort like it's mission control. He has never once asked me for an iPad since it arrived.”
★★★★★
“We held out on a smartphone for our 12-year-old and were the bad guys for a year. LOUP ended the argument. She's reachable, we're relaxed, and she actually thinks it looks cool.”
★★★★★
“The build quality shocked me. It feels like an object from Braun, not a kids' toy. My son treats it like a treasure.”
★★★★★
“Our whole friend group bought them together. The kids call each other constantly — out loud, laughing, like we did in 1995 on the landline.”
★★★★★
“As a pediatric OT, I recommend LOUP to families weekly. It gives kids autonomy and connection without the dopamine slot machine.”